Steve Jobs announced the long awaited iPhone 4 Tuesday and it looks like a really great hardware and software update.

Here at CarCheckup we’ve asked ourselves if now is the time for the iPhone to overtake personal GPS devices like TomTom and Garmin as rulers of your dashboard navigation.

Here is our staff breakdown based upon the specs of the yet to be release phone:

The Good!
    No additional device to carry – It’s nearly always with you when you need it.
    Extended battery life over the iPhone 3GS – You’ll still want to plug into a car power adapter.
    Higher Resolution Screen – Sharper screen = less eye strain and sharper graphics
    Multi-tasking – Run your Navigation application and other apps at the same time
    Better Antenna – Case integrated antenna with and glass front & back should help GPS accuracy

The Bad!

    Small-ish 3.5 inch screen - smaller than the typical Personal Navigation Device
    Longer trips will still need a power adapter – .
    Big name GPS apps cost nearly as much as a stand alone GPS
    Less speed/Accuracy than a stand-alone personal GPS – It’s yet to be seen if the iPhone will be able to hold it’s own vs. stand alone GPS in terms of update speed and accuracy.

The real question becomes…What will software developers do to maximize GPS applications abilities on the new iPhone 4 platform?  We’re as anxious as you are to find out!

Preorders for the Apple iPhone 4 start on June 15th.  iPhone 4 deliveries start on 24th.

Will you be ditching your GPS for an iPhone 4 based solution?  Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think!

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The geek part of me thinks this is really neat…and a little creepy.

GM has produced a system comprised of cameras to monitor the driver, night vision, radar, ultraviolet lasers, and GPS that will display of ton of useful data to the driver without them taking their hands off the wheel.  The system collect data on your surroundings, combines it with things like maps, landmarks, and GPS data and projects it on the windshield using ultraviolet lasers.

No more missing a speed limit sign or not being able to see the edge of the road in foggy conditions.

Check out this video of the system in action:

Pretty impressive stuff, huh?

I really like the integrated GPS display.  They are spot on with the “last 100 yards” issue.  I know this would reduce a lot of travelers headaches.

What do you think?  Cool or Creepy?

Vote in the comments below!

Google Android, the open source cell phone operating system from internet behemoth Google, has made the jump from phone to car.

The Rowe 350 has started production on March 18th and will be officially launch at the Beijing Auto Show on April 23rd and will feature Android 2.1 as the operating system for the GPS computer/DVD Player.

Android 2.1 is the same software that powers the Google Nexus One and Motorola Droid.  It is being widely pushed by Google as the ultimate operating system for mobile devices…and apparently cars as well.

What makes this interesting is that the Android platform is built specifically to take advantage of wireless technologies like 3G cellular connections and other wireless technologies.  The Android platform also has application marketplace similar to the one available from Apple with it’s App Store.

It’s not hard to imagine that the system would be able to install new applications from the app marketplace to make it truly extendable.  If this system allows users to install any application from the app store, then the possibilities are almost endless.

For those not familiar with the Android platform, this will give you an idea of what type of applications are available:
Searchify – perform translations, calculations, unit conversions, wikipedia searches, calendar entry
Weatherbug – Allows you to get instant weather updates.
Meebo – Let you send/receive Instant Messages on pretty much any platform
Facebook – Access Facebook from Droid to keep you with your friends
Twidroid – Twitter client for Android
FourSquare – Find your friends and see what they are doing
Yelp – Find food and restaurant reviews.

Nearly anything is possible once you open an auto to a application marketplace like this.

Rowe is a luxury brand of SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation,) and has been partially built utilizing technology  licensed from MG Rover.  Rowe doesn’t currently sell in the US or UK, but according to multiple press sources the plan for US availability is “in the works”

Would you be anxious to have an Android powered car?  Or would you want to wait a few years until the “bugs” are worked out?  Let us know what you think in the comments below

The CarCheckup graphics and video gurus have been at it again. The result of this caffeine driven marathon creative session?

A new CarCheckup masterpiece for your enjoyment!  Lights….Camera….Action.

Hope you enjoyed watching that as much as we enjoyed making it for you!  What did you think?  Should we give our creative team MORE caffeine or have they reached their frenzied capacity?

Let us know in the comments below!

Nissan has announced the recall of 179,000 US vehicles today due to problems with the break pedal becoming lose.

Affected Models include:
Some 2008 – 2010 Nissan Titan Pickups
Some 2008 – 2010 Infinity QX56
Some 2008 – 2010 Nissan Armada
Some 2008 – 2009 Nissan Quest

Nissan has found that a pin that is used in the pedal assembly can come loose, causing a reduction in break force.  The more mileage on the car… the more likely it is to start showing signs of being loose.

The recall for this break problem officially begins on March 22, 2010.

As per usual, Nissan will be contacting owners who’s vehicles are affected by the recall and provide them with information on how the recall will be conducted, etc.

Nissan is also recalling 419,000 in the US due to faulty gas gauges.

According to Nissan:

“Vehicles at higher mileage levels may have fuel gauges which incorrectly indicate the amount of fuel in the tank. This may result in the vehicle running out of fuel while the gauge reads greater than empty,”

Nissan is saying that there is an issue that causes the fuel gauge on some Nissan vehicles to show 1/4 tank of gas when they are, in fact, empty.  Nissan is recommending that drivers of affected vehicles maintain at least 1/2 tank of gas to insure that they don’t get stranded.

Affected Models Include:
Some 2005 – 2008 Nissan Titan Pickups
Some 2005 – 2008 Infinity QX56
Some 2005 – 2008 Nissan Armada
Some 2006 – 2008 Nissan Frontier
Some 2006 – 2008 Nissan Pathfinder
Some 2006 – 2008 Nissan Xterra

The recall for this fuel gauge problem officially begins on March 22, 2010.  It’s being conducted in two batches, but the details on how it’s being broken up has yet to be released.  I would suspect that it’s being conducted in two batches due to parts availability.

Is anyone else getting tired of all of the recalls?

Are manufactures being hyper-proactive announcing recalls after seeing the aftermath of the Toyota recall?

Sound off in our comments below!

The US Department of Transportation officially released a new website that focuses on the risks associated with distracted driving on US roads.

From the homepage of distraction.gov

At the U.S. Department of Transportation, we heard America’s call to end the dangerous practice of distracted driving on our nation’s roadways. Distracted driving is a serious, life-threatening practice and we will not rest until we stop it.

We are leading the effort but you are the key to preventing distracted driving. The message is simple – Put it down!

We will work across the spectrum with private and public entities as well as advocacy groups to tackle distracted driving, and, we will lead by example. We have taken first steps — The President’s Executive Order has established a new way to approach driving – by putting your device down and paying attention to the task at hand.

Internally, the department’s agencies are already working together to share knowledge and promote a greater understanding of the issue, and identify additional strategies to end distracted driving. Check back to this site often so you can stay abreast of our progress and to view the latest updates and information.

The site contains links to recent news on distracted driving, links to the various state laws regarding texting and cell phones, statistics on distracted driving, as well as videos messages made for TV and even a video message from Oprah Winfrey.

What I find interesting is that normally one thinks of cell phones and texting when they think of distracted driving.  The DOT is considering a much larger list.

Other distracting activities include:

• Using a cell phone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a PDA or navigation system
• Watching a video
• Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3 player.

I know it unnerves me when I’m driving next to someone and notice that they are reading a book, shaving, or putting on makeup while driving with their knee, but I think this is really the first time I’ve heard the government come out and address these types of behaviors in the same category as cell phones and texting. 

It will be interesting to see if this gets any traction and if we start hearing more about it.

What do you think of the distracted driving laws in your state?  Let us know in the comments below.

Wow!  What a month for manufactures!  First Toyota with their recall problems…Now Honda has a massive recall of their own.

According to Honda’s press release they are expanding the driver’s side air bag inflator on over 375,000 of their 2001 & 2002 vehicles.  The problem lies in the airbag inflators possibly causing the airbag to deploy with too much pressure causing the air bag to rupture. 

Directly from the press release on Honda’s site as linked above:

In total, Honda is aware of 12 incidents related to this issue as of February 2010. While Honda was aware of two additional events when the decision to first expand the recall was made in July 2009, we are not aware of any new events that have occurred after July 2009. However, we have concluded that we cannot be completely certain that the driver’s airbag inflator in the vehicles being added to this recall at this time will perform as designed. Therefore, we have decided to add certain 2001 and 2002 Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V, and selected 2002 Acura TL vehicles to this recall.*

* We are also adding one (1) Honda Pilot and one (1) Acura CL vehicle, each produced in late 2002, to this recall.

    Honda owners can see if they are impacted here or call they can call 1-800-999-1009
    Acura owners can see if they are impacted here or call they can call 1-800-382-2238.

Have you been effected by this recall?  Let us know how Honda treated you in the comments section.

Toyota has announced a recall today for their some Prisus and all HS 250h.  Some drivers have reported that the ABS system on their car feels “inconsistent” when traveling over bumpy or slick roads.

Prisus that have been sold between May 2009 and January 2010 could be effected.  All 250h are effected.

Toyota is saying that the fix is a simple software update to the car’s ABS computer.  That’s good news!  At least it’s a pretty quick an painless fix.

In the meantime, Toyota is recommending that drivers on slick roads apply even, steady pressure even if the pedal if your ABS system engages.  That really is the same advice that all manufactures give relating to ABS systems, so there isn’t anything really new there.

For more info you can visit Toyota’s press release about this recall.

Poor Toyota has has it’s share of problems over the last few months.