Gadgetory

we cover a lot of new high-tech cars here at CNET but I know most of you are not in the market for a new car you've already got one you just wish it didn't have a cassette deck I think we've got you covered with our top 5 ways to tack up your car the one you already own let's go number 5 a car app gateway you know you've drooled over how some of the new cars have apps that let you locate them remote start them unlock the doors and more you can add that to your car with a kit like the Python DSM 250 or some others cost about 300 bucks but you'll probably double that once you pay for wiring adapters and some dude to put it in and if you install one in each of your cars they all show up on the app at once which makes you look like a baller that's cool five to seven bucks a month service fee not so much number for a DSP audio processor I know you never heard of one of these most people have it they combine a new amp and a digital signal processor a DSP in one box that intercepts your stereo sound on the way to your speakers and makes it sound a whole lot better G BLS ms8 is a good example it does a sound map of your car with its included sampling microphone and uses an LCD controller to set it up vanette delivers perfect EQ 5.1 surround lots of great volume and an aux jack all from your current existing sound system the downside is it costs 800 bucks and doesn't add bluetooth streaming or any of the other modern inputs that's where number 3 comes in a Bluetooth input adapter you want this it lets you stream stereo audio from your smartphone or tablet to the aux jack in your - without wires these devices typically include hands-free calling as well belkin's adapter is a good example at under 50 bucks Street and like a 5-minute install the downside is bluetooth streaming doesn't sound as good nor work as simply as that old $3.00 cable you got at Radio Shack number 2 is OnStar FMV that stands for for my vehicle cute not really this is a rear view mirror with OnStar services built in it places the mirror that's already in your car and then you've got help when you crash into a tree Bluetooth hands-free calling a vehicle locator turn-by-turn navigation concierge services all that stuff the mirror price has come way down it's like under a hundred bucks now installed but the service each year on you $200 or $300 if you want turn-by-turn navigation and no matter how much you pay OnStar FMV doesn't let you do remote start lock unlock any of that stuff we talked about earlier before I take you to number one there's the possibility you already have the best way to tack up your car your modern smartphone let's face it it's a killer infotainment and nav device with typically great voice command and scads of driving apps and nowadays the displays are big too but I bet you mount yours on a flimsy piece of crap suction cup on the windshield which is illegal in most states anyway so get your phone a great car mount look at the pan of ice in dash line the CUDA mounts or the pro clip series for something solid and cleanly installed that makes your phone feel like car tech not just tech that happens to be in the car okay the number one way to check up your existing car is probably a double din receiver the flagship units pack up punch the top models from Pioneer and Alpine give you a big touchscreen all the modern input sources voice command turn-by-turn navigation could almost double that for more great ideas on car tech in new cars or the one you've got check out our show CNET on cars at sea net on cars comm i'm brian coulis thanks for watching