I’m a huge fan of new technology.  Phones, tablets, computers, cameras, you name it.  But as much as I love innovation and the benefits innovation brings, there’a a byproduct of technology that I absolutely hate:  cords.

I simply can’t stand them.

And yet every time I buy a new piece of technology, I’m once again forced to add to my cord collection.  It’s as if companies think about every element of their new product’s design and feature set, and yet never consider how to eliminate the one thing everybody wishes wasn’t there.

And then I met Libratone.

Libratone is a Copenhagen-based company whose self-described purpose is “to liberate sound.”  How do they do it?  By combining kick-ass sound quality in a gorgeously designed package.  Best of all, however, is that they deliver sound wirelessly.  So if you have a piece of Apple hardware (computer, iPhone, iPad, etc.), any music or media you listen to on your device can be streamed wirelessly to your Libratone speakers, no cables required, with superb sound quality.  It’s as simple as that.

I met Libratone when I picked up their Libratone Lounge – a large, five-speaker soundbar that I use for my television as well as my iTunes library.  I loved the Lounge so much I picked up the Libratone Live, which is a smaller, more portable speaker set, still with awesome sound in a smaller package.  I’m going to share my thoughts on each, detail how they work and tell you why you need one.

Read on and find out how to enjoy unadulterated wireless audio bliss.

The Libratone Lounge ($1,299)

My first forray into the world of Libratone was the Libratone Lounge, the largest of Libratone’s offerings.  I purchased it for the simple fact that I hate the look of conventional surround sound setups, but I wanted more than the standard audio my television could produce.  The Libratone Lounge was the perfect medium, a beautifully designed speaker that offered superb audio quality without the distraction of a full surround setup.

At one meter long the Lounge is substantial, but it’s designed in a way that makes it an accent to your home’s style, as opposed to a distraction.  With key design elements including a fine Italian cashmere wool cover and a piano finish, the Lounge looks more like a piece of furniture than a speaker.  You can mount it on a wall (with the included wall mount), set it on a bookshelf, media center, etc., and because it’s available in five color options (which are user changeable), you can make it blend in or stand out from your home’s style as much as you want.

Audio wise, the Libratone Lounge is brilliant.  Inside, five dedicated amps power one 5-inch 50W bass, two ribbon-based 1-inch 25W tweeters and two 3-inch 25W mid range speakers, combining to offer 150W total.  From there, Libratone takes audio quality a step further thanks to their patented FullRoom technology.  Unlike conventional speakers that beam sound in one direction, creating a so-called “sweet-spot” in each room, Libratone’s FullRoom technology sends the sound waves multiple directions, bouncing them off walls and creating superb audio throughout the entire room.  Libratone calls it 360-degree listening, and it’s fantastic at enveloping the room with sound, even in different positions.  For more fine tuning, there’s even a Libratone app that lets you adjust the sound from your various mobile devices.  Simply input a few basic pieces of information about the Libratone’s positioning as well as the type of music you’re listening to, and sound quality is enhanced even more.

And then there’s the wireless functionality – the single greatest feature that makes the Lounge (and other Libratone speakers) so awesome.  Thanks to Apple’s AirPlay, any device that uses AirPlay can stream sound through the Libratone Lounge.  Setup takes a minute or two at the most, and once completed, you can select to play sound through the Lounge on any device that supports AirPlay (which is a feature built into iTunes).  For me, this includes my iPhone, iPod, iPad, and both Mac and PC computers, and all have worked flawlessly.

Best of all, it’s not just iTunes that utilizes AirPlay –  there’s a wealth of apps that incorporate AirPlay, so you can send music from apps like VEVO, YouTube, and iHeartRadio straight to the speakers.  On my Apple devices, browsing mp3’s online works through the Libratone wirelessly.  And on my newer Mac computers, I can even opt to set audio to output to the Lounge, so all sound from the computer is sent to the speakers wirelessly.

In short, if you have an Apple device and want to listen to music wirelessly, it’s not going to get better than the Libratone.  Every source that I use to music through my Apple device works with the Libratone speakers; they’re just significantly more awesome now that there’s no wires necessary to use them with my speakers.

Of course, should you wish to listen to music with wires, you can do that too.  Both the Lounge and Live include a minijack, meaning you can also choose a wired analog or digital connection.

The Libratone Live ($699)

I love my Libratone Lounge, but the one thing it doesn’t offer is portability.  At a meter long, it’s not exactly easy to transport around the house.  That’s where the Libratone Live comes into play.

Take all the great features of the Libratone Lounge, put them in a smaller, more portable package, and you’ve got the Libratone Live.

Whereas the Libratone Lounge notes a long, rectangular design, the Live boasts an upright design, making it substantially easier to fit into a variety of spaces (its exact dimensions are H 18.5 in. x W 7.7 in. x D 6 in.).  And like the Lounge, the Live boasts a gorgeous Italian cashmere cover in five color options, meaning it fits perfectly into both modern and classic home settings.  I use mine in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and office, and it fits everywhere easily (and looks great at the same time).

Inside, the Live boasts specs similar to that of the Lounge.  Five dedicated amps provide power for a 5-inch bass unit, a pair of 1-inch ribbon-based tweeters and a pair of 3-inch midrange drivers, offering up a total of 150W.  In terms of sound quality, the Live again offers exceptional sound from a single unit.  Bass and clarity are both fantastic, as is the ability to listen anywhere in the room with little deterioration in quality.  This again is thanks to Libratone’s patented FullRoom technology, which like an acoustic instrument, bounces soundwaves off walls and throughout the room, as opposed to in a linear path like other speakers.

And like the Lounge, you can also fine tune the sound of the Live with Libratone’s free app.  Enter the details of your Live’s positioning in the room as well as the type of music you’re listening to, and sound is delivered based on your unique configuration.

Lastly, there’s the wireless.  The glorious, glorious wireless.  The defining feature of the Lounge is wireless, and the same holds true for the Live.  Any AirPlay capable device works brilliantly with the Live, whether it’s your Mac/PC, iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple TV, etc.  Your entire music library from iTunes can be listend to wirelessly; apps like YouTube, VEVO and iHeartRadio can be listened to wirelessly; and any websites offering up mp3’s online can be listened to wirelessly.  Chances are, if you’re listening to it on your Mac or other Apple device, you can send it wirelessly to your Libratone Lounge.

Want music throughout your house?  You can even combine multiple Libratones speakers (both the Live and the Lounge) on the same network, and control each individually through iTunes.

Libratone Lounge and Live Conclusion

Ultimately, if you’re looking for superb audio quality in a gorgeously designed and crafted package, the Libratones need to be at the top of your list.  They look exceptional in any setting, bass and clarity are excellent, and the wireless functionality means you can listen to music from an incredible amount of sources wirelessly.  There simply isn’t an easier or better looking way to bring superb quality into your home wirelessly than the offerings from Libratone.

You can check out both the Libratone Lounge and Live in the gallery blow, or head over to the official Libratone website to check out the full lineup of Libratone products.

Whether you’re hiking through the Columbia River Gorge, rafting down the Colorado, snorkeling in Tahiti or texting from the shower, a dry iPhone is a happy iPhone.  It’s a lesson I learned after a recent kayaking trip that drenched both myself and my iPhone, which unfortunately resulted in a tragic, unavoidable iDeath.

The loss of my beloved iPhone taught me a valuable truth:  in wet conditions, a waterproof case is an invaluable safeguard in protecting your gear.

Which brings us to SealLine cases.

Based in Seattle and well-known for keeping a variety of gear dry via their dry bags and sacks, SealLine recently launched their eSeries and iSeries lineup of cases for a variety of electronic gadgets (including the iPhone).  They’re super lightweight, low profile cases that are completely waterproof, yet  they still allow you to use the full functionality of your chosen device (including touchscreen, voice and button functions).  And the best part:  you can save a few buck on an underwater camera, as the cases boast a SealLock zipper that’s IPX7 rated for full submersion up to 30 minute – easily long enough for you to use your device’s built-in camera.

As already noted, the cases come in two series: iSeries cases, designed specifically for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and iPod nano devices; and eSeries cases, which fit a variety of e-readers, GPS units, tablets and mobile phones. With all the cases, you have full use of device features through the case, allowing you to stay in touch, take photos or videos, or disappear into your favorite novel in any place and weather condition you choose.

If you’re planning on heading out for a wet excursion and taking your favorite gadget, I highly recommend picking one up.  At $25 for the iSeries iPhone case and $35 for the iSeries iPad case, it’s a cheap insurance policy.  Head over to the official SealLine website to check out the full lineup of cases and other waterproof gear and/or purchase one online.

The jury for the Mobile Excellence Awards evaluated the submitted innovations using five main criteria: strategic initiative, impact of technology used, creativity, ease of use and reach and execution and market success. ” This year’s entries were extremely impressive,” said Executive Director of the Mobile Excellence Awards and CEO of the ITV Alliance, Allison Dollar. “They demonstrate a range of innovation and depth of creativity that prove just how fast and how far mobile has come”.

smart is the first car brand to develop its own drive app for the iPhone. Together with the smart kit and cradle for the iPhone the popular phone becomes a multimedia trip computer that is optimised for the smart fortwo in terms of function and design. The smart drive app for the iPhone has all the important features needed whilst driving: phone calls via hands-free system, your own extensive music collection, internet radio and a clever navigation system with a special smart touch. There are also smart extras – for example the Car Finder that will guide you back to wherever you parked your car.

The new smart drive app for the iPhone is simple to operate and features extra large buttons among other things. The new app makes urban mobility even easier and more fun – the declared objective of the smart philosophy.

Two new elements developed by smart make the two-seater car and the iPhone a perfect team:

• The smart cradle for the iPhone with control unit and microphone serves as a stylish and functional holder. It charges the iPhone and also functions as a hands-free system using the loudspeakers of the smart radio for sound output and automatically muting it when phone calls are made.
• The smart drive app for the iPhone is the world’s first drive app on the market to be developed by a car brand. It combines all the features needed on the road in a single app. All the functions are extremely easy to use thanks to extra-large buttons and extra-large letters.

smart driving with the smart drive kit for the iPhone has been possible since August 2010. The smart cradle for the iPhone will be available from smart dealers at a price of €240 (German list price with VAT plus fitting costs). The smart drive app for the iPhone can be downloaded from the App Store at a one-off price of €9.99 for the basic version (price in the European countries where it will be available). The navigation upgrade with up-to-date maps costs €49.99 per year.

As consumers increasingly turn to mobile devices to manage their lives from wherever they are, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has introduced an upgraded version of its mbrace telematics platform that connects the in-car navigation system in its vehicles with drivers’ iPhones. Developed by its partner Hughes Telematics, Inc. (HTI), the new mbrace Mobile Application version 2.0 allows Mercedes-Benz customers to take their mbrace services with them when they leave their vehicles. Mercedes-Benz is the first manufacturer to extend connected services in this way.

The mbrace Mobile Application version 2.0 builds on the automotive industry’s first fully integrated smartphone application which was launched by Mercedes-Benz and HTI in November 2009. That application allows customers to use their phones to unlock their vehicles, locate their vehicles in crowded parking lots, and find nearby or preferred dealers among other services. Version 2.0 includes all of those features and also allows customers to seamlessly access Mercedes-Benz Concierge services while away from the vehicle. The concierge can access the caller’s location information to deliver relevant entertainment recommendations, restaurant locations, directions, traffic updates and more. Requested destination information can then be sent directly from the concierge to an in-vehicle navigation system.

The new application also allows users to save multiple accounts in the log-in screen and assign nicknames, making it simple and quick to access multiple mbrace accounts from one device.

“Version 2.0 of the mbrace Mobile Application takes the convenience and connectivity of mbrace further than ever before, allowing customers to access connected services anywhere, anytime,” said Sascha Simon, who heads up advanced product planning for MBUSA. “Imagine you’re away from your car talking on your iPhone to Mercedes-Benz Concierge. The agent can provide you with a great restaurant suggestion and simultaneously send the destination both to your iPhone and into your car. That’s what makes the system so great: the flexible architecture allows us to continually add new features as mobile technology evolves, keeping us on the cutting edge of innovation and connected services for our customers. This latest mobile application is a perfect example of that, and we will continue to add more features and connectivity on an ongoing basis.”

In addition to the new mobile concierge service, Roadside Assistance on the iPhone also has been enhanced with the mbrace Mobile Application version 2.0 so that when a call is initiated, the customer’s location information is transmitted to the Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Center, allowing for more efficient and accurate service in the time of need. In instances when the vehicle may not be accessible, may not have power, or is in an unknown location, the mobile application allows Mercedes-Benz to help their customers by pinpointing exactly where to send assistance.

As the first automaker to offer a mobile application truly integrated with the vehicle, MBUSA continues to be an industry leader in bringing new connected technology to market. For customers on-the-go, the mbrace Mobile Application provides simple and seamless connectivity to the ever-expanding set of Mercedes-Benz mbrace services.

“Mercedes-Benz mbrace was designed as a platform for continuous innovation,” said Erik Goldman, president, HTI. “The release of mbrace Mobile Application version 2.0 extends new services beyond the vehicle, giving Mercedes-Benz customers the freedom to seamlessly enjoy personalized service even when they’re not in the driver’s seat. We look forward to working with Mercedes to continue expansion of the mbrace Mobile Application service and feature set, enabling enhanced connectivity and interaction between the mobile device and vehicle.”

As consumers increasingly turn to mobile devices to manage their lives from wherever they are, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has introduced an upgraded version of its mbrace telematics platform that connects the in-car navigation system in its vehicles with drivers’ iPhones. Developed by its partner Hughes Telematics, Inc. (HTI), the new mbrace Mobile Application version 2.0 allows Mercedes-Benz customers to take their mbrace services with them when they leave their vehicles. Mercedes-Benz is the first manufacturer to extend connected services in this way.

The mbrace Mobile Application version 2.0 builds on the automotive industry’s first fully integrated smartphone application which was launched by Mercedes-Benz and HTI in November 2009. That application allows customers to use their phones to unlock their vehicles, locate their vehicles in crowded parking lots, and find nearby or preferred dealers among other services. Version 2.0 includes all of those features and also allows customers to seamlessly access Mercedes-Benz Concierge services while away from the vehicle. The concierge can access the caller’s location information to deliver relevant entertainment recommendations, restaurant locations, directions, traffic updates and more. Requested destination information can then be sent directly from the concierge to an in-vehicle navigation system.

The new application also allows users to save multiple accounts in the log-in screen and assign nicknames, making it simple and quick to access multiple mbrace accounts from one device.

“Version 2.0 of the mbrace Mobile Application takes the convenience and connectivity of mbrace further than ever before, allowing customers to access connected services anywhere, anytime,” said Sascha Simon, who heads up advanced product planning for MBUSA. “Imagine you’re away from your car talking on your iPhone to Mercedes-Benz Concierge. The agent can provide you with a great restaurant suggestion and simultaneously send the destination both to your iPhone and into your car. That’s what makes the system so great: the flexible architecture allows us to continually add new features as mobile technology evolves, keeping us on the cutting edge of innovation and connected services for our customers. This latest mobile application is a perfect example of that, and we will continue to add more features and connectivity on an ongoing basis.”

In addition to the new mobile concierge service, Roadside Assistance on the iPhone also has been enhanced with the mbrace Mobile Application version 2.0 so that when a call is initiated, the customer’s location information is transmitted to the Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance Center, allowing for more efficient and accurate service in the time of need. In instances when the vehicle may not be accessible, may not have power, or is in an unknown location, the mobile application allows Mercedes-Benz to help their customers by pinpointing exactly where to send assistance.

As the first automaker to offer a mobile application truly integrated with the vehicle, MBUSA continues to be an industry leader in bringing new connected technology to market. For customers on-the-go, the mbrace Mobile Application provides simple and seamless connectivity to the ever-expanding set of Mercedes-Benz mbrace services.

“Mercedes-Benz mbrace was designed as a platform for continuous innovation,” said Erik Goldman, president, HTI. “The release of mbrace Mobile Application version 2.0 extends new services beyond the vehicle, giving Mercedes-Benz customers the freedom to seamlessly enjoy personalized service even when they’re not in the driver’s seat. We look forward to working with Mercedes to continue expansion of the mbrace Mobile Application service and feature set, enabling enhanced connectivity and interaction between the mobile device and vehicle.”

We told you it was coming, and today it’s official.  We’ve finally managed to procure a 32GB Apple iPhone 4 in black, and we’re giving it away to you, our lovely readers.  By now, I’m sure you already know the iPhone 4’s extensive feature set.  It’s a phone; it’s got built in video calling; it’s got a new high resolution retina display; it records HD video; it’s got a 5 megapixel camera built in; and of course, it takes advantage of Apple’s huge app store.  At present, it’s the best phone on the market.

To win the new iPhone 4, the rules are the same as they were for Apple iPad giveaway.  First, leave a comment on this story telling us you want one (one comment per account please). It’s as simple as that. Once you’ve left a comment, you’re good to go. We pick the winner completely at random, and if we pick you, an email will be sent to the email address you used to register your eMercedesBenz account. We’re also giving you an optional two additional entries in the giveaway.   First, “like” eMercedesBenz on Facebook, and leave a comment on the Facebook entry for this story telling us you want one there as well. Secondly, follow eMercedesBenz on Twitter, and re-tweet this article with the title “#Win an #iPhone4 in the #Apple #iPhone 4 #Giveaway @eMercedesBenz”.

The one stipulation is that you must comment directly on this story to be registered – you can’t use just Facebook or Twitter. If you do use additional entries on Facebook and/or Twitter, feel free to let us know in this comment section – as it makes our job searching the additional entries a little easier. The deadline for entering is Monday, July 12th at 12:00 pm midnight, and we’ll announce the winner on or before July 16th.

As always, best of luck to everyone that enters. And before I go, a bit of legal to avoid potential lawsuits:

*No purchase necessary. This giveaway is void where prohibited by law. The winner(s) will be chosen at random by a member of the eMercedesBenz editorial staff. Taxes if applicable are the responsibility of the winner. This giveaway is for the 32GB Apple iPhone 4 only.  All other costs relating to the use of the iPhone 4 including (but not limited to) voice, data, texts, 3G and wi-fi plans are the responsibility of the winner. eMercedesBenz is not liable for anything relating to this giveaway.

Mercedes-Benz service functions are now available as a free application for the iPhone in Germany. The new Mercedes-Benz Service App helps in emergency and breakdown situations through practical emergency, step by step. The contact to the service hotline or a Mercedes-Benz service is now a fast, mobile operation, and an integrated photo and notes function facilitates accurate documentation of damage.

Regular advice and information from Mercedes-Benz is present as are other practical daily living aids, such as the reference when the next service is due for general inspection of the vehicle.
In addition, the Mercedes-Benz Service App offers useful functions for each driver. It offers a parking assistant using automatic geo-positioning, and retrieves the parked vehicle displays. The modular Mercedes-Benz Service App will also grow in the future through through a series of new feature updates.

The Mercedes-Benz Service App is currently available in the German App Store and is available for download.

smart is the first car brand to develop its own drive app for the iPhone. Together with the smart cradle for the iPhone the popular phone becomes a multimedia trip computer that is optimised for the smart fortwo in terms of function and design. The smart drive app for the iPhone has all the important features needed whilst driving: phone calls via hands-free system, your own extensive music collection, internet radio and a clever navigation system with a special smart touch. There are also smart extras – for example the Car Finder that will guide you back to wherever you parked your car.

Furthermore, the smart drive app for the iPhone can be tuned with a further function tailored to the smart fortwo electric drive. This shows customers the current charging status of the smart fortwo electric drive’s battery, the distance that can be covered, nearby charging stations and the distance to them. If the smart fortwo electric drive is plugged into a socket, the app shows how long it will take to fully charge the battery again and the time at which this will be completed.

The new smart drive app for the iPhone is simple to operate and features extra large buttons among other things. The new app makes urban mobility even easier and more fun – the declared objective of the smart philosophy.

smart has prepared the way for modern city vehicles with lots of innovative ideas and has redefined urban mobility. And Apple brought new ideas to mobile phones with the iPhone. The new smart drive kit for the iPhone is now bringing the lifestyle phone to the smart fortwo as a multi-talented companion. Marc Langenbrinck, Managing Director smart brand and Head of Sales & Marketing smart says “The smart fortwo and the iPhone are both lifestyle icons. This is why the smart drive kit is ideal for our smart community.”

Two new elements developed by smart make the two-seater car and the iPhone a perfect team:

• The smart cradle for the iPhone with control unit and microphone serves as a stylish and functional holder. It charges the iPhone and also functions as a hands-free system using the loudspeakers of the smart radio for sound output and automatically muting it when phone calls are made.
• The smart drive app for the iPhone is the world’s first drive app on the market to be developed by a car brand. It combines all the features needed on the road in a single app. All the functions are extremely easy to use thanks to extra-large buttons and extra-large letters.

Really smart – the clever app from smart

Listen to music, make phone calls and find your destination straight away – the smart drive app for the iPhone masters all this and makes city driving even easier and more pleasurable.

Media. Enjoy your entire private music collection with the app. Thanks to an integrated web radio function you can also listen to your favourite foreign radio stations and podcasts whenever you want. The song ID function of the app enables you to obtain information online about titles and singers of songs that are being played on the radio or on web radio.

Phone. The hands-free system and all important functions needed to make phone calls are automatically available as soon as the iPhone is put in the smart cradle. Keypad, contacts, favourites, call lists and other telephony functions are clearly arranged for simple use.

Map. The basic version of the app shows the vehicle’s position on a map of the area (“Follow-me maps”) and enables points of interest to be found via both the on-board database and off-board using Microsoft’s “Bing” search engine. The navigation upgrade is a highlight and turns the iPhone into a full navigation system with maps for Europe or the USA – enabling navigation without being online. A smart guides you to your destination on the display of your iPhone. Street names are not only shown but also read aloud. In addition, traffic information can be called up in realtime so that you know where traffic jams are.

Assist. With the Car Finder your iPhone will automatically remember where you parked your car when it is removed from the cradle and it will find the way back for you after a day’s shopping. The app from smart also uses the GPS function of the iPhone for a further service. Should roadside assistance ever be needed, the driver can give his or her precise position via a direct line to the smart hotline.

Available from the summer

smart driving with the smart drive kit for the iPhone will be possible from June 2010. The smart cradle for the iPhone will be available from smart dealers at a price of €240 (German list price with VAT plus fitting costs). The smart drive app for the iPhone can be downloaded from the App Store at a one-off price of €9.99 for the basic version (price in the European countries where it will be available) and $9.99 in the USA. The navigation upgrade with up-to-date maps costs €49.99/$49.99 per year and will be available in the second half of 2010.

If you’re one of the millions of consumers that have jumped on the Apple iPhone and/or iPad bandwagon, the Mercedes-Benz Museum has just launched a new iPhone and iPad app that’s worth checking out.  It’s called the Mercedes-Benz Super Sports Car app, and it features technical information on a variety of historical Mercedes models that were on display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum last month in their special “Super Sports Car Exhibition”.  Select models highlighted include the 1929 Mercedes-Benz SSK, the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Coupé, the 1976 Mercedes-Benz C 111 II-D and the 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster, to name a few.

Unfortunately, I dropped my antiquated 1st generation iPhone last week and am still iPhoneless, so I haven’t had a chance to download it for myself and can’t comment on its functionality or coolness factor.  Nevertheless, for those of you looking to add a little more Mercedes to your favorite Apple device, it’s free, so it doesn’t hurt giving it a test run to see what you think.  To download the Mercedes-Benz Super Sports Car iPhone and iPad app, you can head over directly to the Apple App Store and grab it for yourself.

Together with the vehicle-specific smart cradle for the iPhone the popular phone becomes a multimedia trip computer that is optimised for the smart fortwo in terms of function and design. The smart drive app for the iPhone has all the important features needed whilst driving: phone calls via hands-free system, your own extensive music collection, internet radio and a clever navigation system with a special smart touch. There are also smart extras – for example the Car Finder that will guide you back to wherever you parked your car. The new smart drive app for the iPhone boasts an outstanding design and is simple to operate thanks to extra large buttons. The new app makes urban mobility even easier and more fun – the declared objective of smart’s philosophy.

Trendsetters keep coming up with new and surprising ideas. smart prepared the way for modern city cars with lots of innovative ideas and redefined urban mobility. And Apple brought new ideas to mobile phones with the iPhone. The new smart drive kit for the iPhone is now bringing the lifestyle phone to the smart fortwo as a multi-talented companion. Marc Langenbrinck, Managing Director of the smart brand and Head of Sales & Marketing at smart says “The smart fortwo and the iPhone are both lifestyle icons. This is why the smart drive kit is ideal for our smart community.”

Two new elements developed by smart make the two-seater car and the iPhone a perfect team:

• The smart cradle for the iPhone with control unit and microphone serves as a stylish and functional holder. It charges the iPhone and also functions as a hands-free system using the loudspeakers of the smart radio for sound output and automatically muting it when phone calls are made.
• The smart drive app for the iPhone is the world’s first drive app on the market to be developed by a car brand. It combines all the features needed on the road in a single app. All the functions are extremely easy to use thanks to extra-large buttons and extra-large letters.

Really smart – the clever app from smart

Listen to music, make phone calls and find your destination straight away – the smart drive app for the iPhone masters all this and makes city driving even easier and more pleasurable.

Media Enjoy your entire private music collection with the app. Thanks to an integrated web radio function you can also listen to your favourite foreign radio stations and podcasts whenever you want. The song ID function of the app enables you to obtain information online about titles and singers of songs that are being played on the radio or on web radio.

Phone The hands-free system and all important functions needed to make phone calls are automatically available as soon as the iPhone is put in the smart cradle. Keypad, contacts, favourites, call lists and other telephony functions are clearly arranged for simple in-car use.

Maps The basic version of the app shows the vehicle’s position on a map of the area (“Follow-me maps”) and enables points of interest to be found by using the on-board database or off-board via Microsoft Bing. The navigation upgrade is a highlight and turns the iPhone into a full navigation system with maps for Europe or the USA – enabling navigation without being online. A smart guides you to your destination on the display of your iPhone. Street names are not only shown but also read aloud. In addition, traffic information can be called up in realtime so that you know where traffic jams are.

Assist With the Car Finder your iPhone will automatically remember where you parked your car when it is removed from the cradle and it will find the way back for you after a day’s shopping in town. The app from smart also uses the GPS function of the iPhone for a further service. Should roadside assistance ever be needed, the driver can give his or her precise position via a direct line to the smart hotline.

smart drive kit camera – even more safety in future

The researchers at Daimler AG are currently working on developing inno-vative driver assistance systems for users of the smart drive kit for the iPhone – features that are only available in Mercedes-Benz E- and S-Class cars to date. A camera fitted on the windscreen is needed as an additional element to transmit pictures of the area in front of the car to the smart drive kit for the iPhone via WLAN. This will enable the future application to identify traffic signs with speed limits, for example, and to warn the driver if he or she is driving too fast. In future smart drive will be both an infotainment and a driver assistance system.

Available from the summer

smart driving with the smart drive kit for the iPhone will be possible from the second quarter of 2010. The smart cradle for the iPhone will be available from smart dealers at a price of €240 (German list price with VAT plus fitting costs). The smart drive app for the iPhone can be downloaded from the App Store at a one-off price of €9.99 for the basic version. The navigation upgrade with up-to-date maps costs €49.99 per year.

Daimler researchers are currently putting the final touches to the smart drive kit camera functions.