Favorite Car Gadgets

As further evidence of my pathetic weakness for cool gadgets, I feel compelled to supplement my earlier post on my favorite home technologies with a reckoning of absolutely necessary automotive accessories...

1. Omnifi DMP1 Digital Media Player

This product successfully extends the notion of an automotive MP3 player with a Wifi antenna that automatically synchronizes your car's music collection with PC-based directories. Add music to your collection during the day, and while you sleep at night the Omnifi software pushes it to a 20 GB drive in your trunk. The hard drive is removable and USB-mountable to any PC, so it's also handy for backing up photo collections, just in case. Works great.

2. Solar Panels

The factory-installed (but now discontinued) solar panels on the roof of my 2004 Mercedes sedan power an automatic ventilation system to eliminate that stuffy summer heat. Well designed--actually fits in between the front and rear sunroofs. And the solar panels dissuage the guilt of driving such a politically incorrect gas guzzler. Hell, my car should qualify for the carpool lane!

3. Tennis Ball Hanging On String


As far as Automotive Parking Guidance Systems go, nothing beats the old Tennis Ball Hanging on String of Garage Ceiling. Park your car and then position the ball so it hits your windshield at just the right moment. Far more accurate and reliable than the laser measurement systems or hokey traffic signals. For households with kids, I recommend this upgraded version.