Torrington Nta-3244 Thrust Bearing on 2040-parts.com

Car industry needs to agree on an app standard

Application developers who want their programs to run in cars are flush with options -- too many options. They can choose to target Toyota Entune standard, Ford Smart Device Link, BMW Connect, and many more. All, by the way, completely incompatible with each other, meaning that any programmer who wants their app in multiple cars has a long road ahead of them.

EyesOn design awards 2012 winners announced at NAIAS

The Detroit-based EyesOn Design competition winners have just been announced at their traditional time, late on the second press day of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury, which this year included Ralph Giles (Chrysler), Derek Jenkins (Mazda), Lorenzo Ramaciotti (Fiat/Chrysler), Peter Schreyer (Kia) and Franz Von Holzhausen (Tesla) had a much greater array of products to choose from than in recent years; this is a somewhat rejuvenated Detroit auto show. From the cars on display at the show, the judges shortlisted the Ford Fusion, BMW 3-Series and Cadillac ATS for the best production car award.

Test your car's audio quality with iTunes playlist

General Motors audio engineer Matt Kirsch, who did the sound work for the Chevrolet Cruze, has developed an iTunes playlist that helps drivers test their cars' audio quality. The “10 Songs for an Audio ‘Test Drive'” playlist includes: “Don't Know Why” by Norah Jones “Diamonds and Rust” by Joan Baez “No One” by Alicia Keys “Hotel California” by the Eagles “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas “Rock That Body” by the Black Eyed Peas “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap “He Mele No Lilo” by Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu (from Lilo & Stitch) “Bird on a Wire” by Johnny Cash “Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box” by Radiohead While “Boom Boom Pow” and “Rock That Body” should have accurate and powerful bass beats, “No One” and “Bird on a Wire” should feature clarity in the vocals. Kirsch's playlist is available for download at http://tiny.cc/c2ach.