The I’m’s big, bright touchscreen gives you easy control of apps and features. But strapped to your wrist, the I’m is a chunky beast. Maybe some extra bling will help. For just under 15 grand, I’m makes a version cased in white gold and encrusted with diamonds. If you can afford a watch like this, you already know what time it is - time to retire to Tahiti.
Grooveshark Bluetooth Internet Radio Car Kit by Livio Radio
$119.99 for Apple iPhone; $99.99 for Android devices at www.livioradio.com.
Just as most cars don’t have a collision-avoidance system, many of us lack access to satellite radio, with its wonderfully diverse listening choices. But there are millions of options on the Internet, and Livio Radio makes it easier to tune in from any vehicle.
The car kit plugs into a cigarette lighter jack. It includes a Bluetooth chip so you can connect wirelessly to your smartphone and an FM radio transmitter to link to the car’s audio system. A free app delivers streaming music from Grooveshark, a Pandora-like service that plays random selections from your favorite genres; jazz, classical, rock, whatever. Your phone’s 3G data service delivers the tunes, feeds them to the car kit via Bluetooth, which pumps out an FM broadcast to the car radio. You can also listen to other streaming audio services, or play tunes stored in the phone’s memory.
The setup process had a confusing, Rube Goldberg quality, and I had trouble getting it to work at first. But it eventually all came together. No more tuning in the same-old, same-old on the morning commute. Even satellite radio can’t match the sheer variety your smartphone can deliver. But be careful if you don’t have an unlimited data plan. Internet audio can be awfully addictive.
iOnRoad driving safety app for Android smartphones
Free at Android Market; a version for Apple’s iPhone is under development
