Hands-on with with new MSN Direct devices

By Digital Trends Staff Updated October 25, 2009

Microsoft has moved on from the SPOT watch from a few years ago, taking MSN Direct and its FM radio technology for distributing on-location data from your wrist to the automobile. Now with almost 30 partner devices (granted, many of them are Garrmin), the service is expanding in interesting ways.

First up in the next few months: the Garmin 885T will be powered by MSN Direct for GPS-enabled services such as flight information, much more detailed and expansive traffic data for major cities, and real-time weather radar maps. It will be released in the next few months.

The Kenwood DNX7140, Alpine PND-K3msn, and Nextar Q4-MD will also be released soon as devices integrated with the car. Meanwhile, the Suzuki SX4 offers a cradle in the car that integrates with the electrical system in the car. And, BMW will offer a Garmin device in the X3, 3, or 1 series, and Pioneer is working with the Toyota Scion for a similar device.

Today, MSN Direct delivers traffic, weather, gas prices, movie times, news, stocks, local events, and a send to GPS feature. 70% of the US population is covered with an FM radio system that’s based on the older SPOT watch technology.

Digital Trends Staff

Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…

Mobile

iPhone 13: First customers get their hands on Apple’s new device

iPhone 13 camera app text

Across the Pacific, in places like Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, the first iPhone 13 customers are now receiving their new handset.

That’s because in those places it’s already Friday, September 24 -- the official release date of Apple’s latest smartphone, which the company unveiled last week.

Mobile

New iPhone 13 Pro putting pro-level abilities into anyone’s hands

iPhone 13 Pro

With the reveal of the new Apple iPhone 13 Pro, there's finally a phone that can create professional-looking photography and video in a pocketable device. Features include ProRes video support and 4K 30 frames-per-second (fps) recording through the camera app. Apple purports that the phone lasts 1.5 hours longer than the Pro Max 12. For videographers, it will feature macro slow motion and also include a 3x telephoto lens.

The most intriguing video feature is Cinematic Mode, which automatically does focus tracking based on the subject in the display. If the main subject looks back at someone else, the phone will detect this and focus on that element or person instead. The focus can be changed after recording.

Mobile

Samsung’s new upcycling program turns your old phone into a SmartThings device

samsung galaxy upcycling at home ces 2021 smartthings

The smartphone business isn't exactly the most eco-friendly. Companies have been working to correct that in recent years, like through programs that disassemble and reuse the metals inside of our phones, but there's still a long way to go. Samsung has announced an alternative solution to the problem, though -- the new Galaxy Upcycling at Home initiative that envisions your old Galaxy phones as smart home devices.

Galaxy Upcycling at Home works with Samsung's SmartThings smart home system and allows users to designate their old phones as a number of different things.