By 2018, all new cars will be required to include backup cameras, thanks to a new set of regulations implemented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). But until that time comes, many cars new and old will still be sold without an integrated camera. It’s cars like these that are the perfect candidate for a new product called Pearl RearVision.
Designed by a group of ex-Apple employees, Pearl RearVision is a smart backup camera designed to work hand-in-hand with vehicles to help increase safety, both for the driver and bystanders.
Powering the visuals of the wireless device is a pair of high-definition cameras, which are secured inside a custom license plate mount. It uses a smartphone as its screen, which enables users to view both the wide-angle display, as well as a more magnified view for precision parking.
An included adapter plugs into the vehicle’s on-board diagnostics port (OBD) and works hand in hand with the Pearl app. Using the cameras, the app analyzes the visual information and sends intelligent alerts to notify drivers of any potential objects in the path of the vehicle.
To operate without the need for wires, the Pearl team has integrated solar panels on the bottom side of the license plate mount. These negate the need to drill into the vehicle that it’s mounted on, and make the install as simple as tightening a few screws.
The Pearl RearView is currently available for pre-order. At $500, it’s quite pricey compared to other third-party backup cameras, but Pearl hopes its simple setup, all-in-one solution, and three-year warranty will entice consumers to bite the bullet.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.