Consumer Electronics Show: News and Notes

Here are some more things we saw at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

-- While it came onto the market at the top end, HD Radio is now trickling down to even entry-level cars. To emphasize that, parked in the HD Radio booth at CES was a Jetta, a 2012 Focus and a Forester, all relatively affordable rides that can come with the improved radio reception of HD. This allows clearer sound and greater communication with the listener by having broadcast stations to send out as many as four signals on what used to be seen as a single frequency. Thus KPIG 107.5 or whatever station you choose, could become four stations with HD. You can even get album art on your audio display. HD also now allows you to tag songs you like for purchase on iTunes. It's on 80 models from 17 manufacturers. See hdradio.com

-- Ford demo'd a downloadable AppLink that allows greater hands-free control of connected mobile devices on the 2011 Fiesta. The Mustang will be next to get it.

-- A company called Absolute Software has licensed the LoJack name to retrieve stolen laptops. It'll also freeze the device so the thief can't empty your hard drive. It will cost about $38 a year. See absolute.com

- The hands-free DriveSafe.ly reads text messages and e-mails aloud. It's $13.95 a month at DriveSafe.ly.

- The Anti-Sleep Pilot is a button on your dashboard that detects when you are getting drowsy. If you don't hit it at prescribed times it gets you to pull over and take a break by flashing a red light and beeping at you. Price is $249. For that price you could hire someone to ride with you and slap you. It is not yet available in the U.S.

-- ProTextor is a downloadable app that blocks phone calls and texts while the phone's owner is driving faster than five mph. Perfect for teens and adults with ADD. A one year subscription is $9.95. See protextor.com

-- Mavia is a device that plugs in to your car's OBD system and uses your mobile phone to alert you if someone driving the car has gotten into an accident or strayed from their planned route. It'll also find your car in a parking lot and find other mavia-equipped friends nearby. It is coming this summer for $200. See mavizontech.com

-- Cobra's iRadar continuously downloads data on speed and redlight camera locations and tells other iRadar owners about it when you find one. It's $149. See cobra.com

-- Fulton Innovation's wireless chargers handle everything from mobile phones to Tesla electric roadsters. The roadster charger sits buried in the cement in your driveway and sends 1.5 kw of power through the four inches of air between the ground and your car. Sensors shut it off when the neighbor's cat crawls underneath. As if that wasn't cool enough, Fulton is also doing wireless conductivity of grocery products. Yes, grocery products. We saw cereal boxes that lit up when placed on the end of the shelf, which was just about the coolest thing we saw at CES. Who knew CES would make grocery shopping cool? See fultoninnovation.com

By Mark Vaughn