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How To Kill An Hour 2019

What Technology Is Popular In Cars Right Now

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A car can simply serve its purpose of getting you from A to B, or it makes commuting to work a lot more stress-free, and there’s not a chance you’ll have to spend your time under someone’s armpit on a cramped train. However, all cars have a certain amount of technology that makes driving that little bit more enjoyable. Here are some of the most popular technology features in cars right now.

 

Vehicle Tracking Software

When we lose something, or it gets stolen, it can be crushing when you have no way of tracking it. Now that phones and other electronic devices have the ability to be tracked, cars are now having this software installed into their hardware so that it’s possible for them to be trackable. This is not only good for drivers but for local authorities to help them spot stolen vehicles. There’s definitely a high amount of vehicles that get stolen each year, and if criminals are aware of these tracking softwares being in cars, it’s less likely to happen. Not only that, but they have less of a chance of getting away with it.

Rearview Cameras For Parking

Everyone has their strong points when driving and there’s the odd maneuver that perhaps aren’t so strong. A lot of the time, parking can be a difficulty for some drivers. Cameras are a great way to solve this problem, and now many cars have rearview cameras installed to help drivers navigate the tightest of parking spaces. It’s also good for when you’re reversing, and your viewpoint may not be as clear when looking at your wing mirrors. It’ll also help to provide footage of crashes and accidents when they happen. That’ll make your wheel repair that little more affordable if the damage wasn’t your fault.

Connecting Phone Apps

It’s no surprise that many of us are using our phones to control our lives. Not just ourselves but for our homes too. With apps that can control our lights to the heating of our home, even when we’re not at the property itself. So there are plenty of apps now that you can connect to your car, and that give you more features to use within the car itself. There are ones that can help you to lock your car doors remotely and to start the car so that it’s warm and ready on a cold winter morning.

Sound Alerts For Objects

Sound alerts for moving or stationary objects in the road are great for reducing the number of accidents that happen. Being on the road can be very dangerous, and a lot of accidents can happen from careless driving or just by not being attentive. So when you’re reversing back or trying to park, these beeping sounds that increase as you get closer to the object are very handy. It’ll certainly save you some money too!

 

Technology is only going to advance and who knows what will become of our cars in the future. Driverless cars exist after all!

Why Second-Hand Cars Are Perfect For Tech-Lovers

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Tech-lovers beware: you’re making a massive mistake. When it comes to the car in your life, there is always the urge to go with a brand spanking new model. After all, they have the best gadgets and gizmos, the things that keep you awake at night with excitement. Who cares if they’re expensive? They’re worth every penny! At least, that’s how you feel now. Usually, tech-lovers change their minds when the realisation hits – used cars are as appropriate as new motors, and they’re cheaper.

Here are the reasons you should start looking at the second-hand market the next time you need a whip.

 

Used Doesn’t Mean Old

Sure, it might be older than something that came out this year, but it’s not ancient. Looking 4 Car Finance has lots of models on their lot at affordable prices, and most of them aren’t as dated as 2012. Anything that came out post-2010 is fair game because all cars come with cool tech gadget these days. Whether it’s a 69 plate or a 60 plate, you’ll get everything from an ABS to an in-car sat nav with Bluetooth sync capabilities. And, because the registrations are almost a decade old, the cost will be significantly lower.

 

You Only Need Certain Tools

Car manufacturers have us in a tailspin with the way they market their products and services. As a result, it’s not uncommon to think you need everything they have and to fob the base model off as insufficient. Of course, the reality is different. There is only a handful of equipment you need, and you can find a list of our very own on this How To Kill An Hour post. The things that make a difference to the driving experience, such as dash cams and auto energy braking, should be on your list and everything else can go.

 

They’re Installable

Okay, you’re a tech-lover so the idea of only using the necessary car tech is laughable. That’s fair. Still, there’s no need to fork out a fortune for a vehicle that’s overpriced when there is an affordable base model. Once you have a chassis, you can add to the skeleton of the car by installing the stuff you love. New brakes and a better suspension aren’t cheap, yet they’re more affordable when you do it yourself. And, the electricals are easy to get hold of and to install in the car’s interior. Essentially, you can do an Xzibit and pimp your ride!

 

Sometimes, Basic Is Good

Remember that pimped out cars make bad drivers. The next time you get behind the wheel of one without parking sensors, you should note how many times you back up without looking. It’s crazy. Plus, you might be a tech nerd but you’re also a car-lover and that counts for something. It means, deep down, that you love the sound of an engine and hitting the open road without any mod cons because it takes you back to a simpler time.

 

Used cars focus on the basics, and they get petrolheads’ hearts racing.

Old Honda How To Kill An Hour

Turning An Old Banger Into A Tech-Lovers’ Dream Whip

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Old Honda How To Kill An Hour

 

It’s easy to feel embarrassed about the car you drive, nowadays. Even vehicles which fall into the budget category have far more features at their disposal than those which were found just a few years before. When you have something which has been around for a couple of decades, though, this only gets worse, and can leave people feeling bad about their only mode of transport. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the work which can be done to give your banger an edge against even techiest of cars.

 

Finding The Car

 

The first stage in this journey will involve finding the car you want to transform, unless you already have one. Companies like Foxhayes Car Sales have been in this business for a very long time, making them a good direction to go in for anyone working to get their hands on a secondhand car. It’s always worth reading reviews for both the dealership and the car model you’re considering before you buy.

 

Giving It A Brain

 

Modern cars will have more than one computer at the heart. These systems control anything from entertainment to braking and steering, but you won’t need all of that. Instead, a single computer should do the trick, and there are loads on the market which are designed to occupy your stereo slots. You may need to buy a fascia to replace this in your car, but this will be worth it to give yourself a touchscreen, sat nav, and a range of other features.

 

Letting It Speak

 

This next option is a bit of a double whammy. While most cars have decent speakers, it will be a good idea to swap these out, with most models having convenient kits and guides available online. Along with speakers, though, having a tool like Google Assistant can also be very helpful. This can either be handled through your phone or the computer itself, but this will require an internet connection.

 

Connectivity

 

Next up, it’s time to think about connectivity, and how you’re going to keep your digital life moving forwards in a stone-age vehicle. WiFi hotspots are a good place to start, with loads of cell phone companies offering data packages which will be perfect for your time on the road. Along with this, it will also be worth converting the car’s 12v lighter port into a couple of USB connections, as this will make it easier to charge your devices.

 

The Gift Of Sight

 

One of the key features found on a lot of modern cars are sensors. Being able to avoid collisions, making it easier to park, and offering security in the case of an accident are all great benefits, and all of them can come from installing a simple camera system into your car. It will take some work to do this, but this will be well worth it.

 

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of turning an old car into something worthy of a tech-lover’s dream.

sunset straight road - how to kill an hour

What Gadgets Make Your Car Journey Comfortable?

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When you’ve got a long journey to go on, and you’ve got only your car to rely on as you go, then you’re going to need to outfit it with plenty of gadgets to keep you happy and comfortable. Sure, you can stop off at service stations whenever you get the chance to, but there’s still going to be hours in between!

 

Let’s make sure you’ve got just the right tech on your hands to make sure any future road trips or simple long haul work journeys are going to be a lot more fun and cozy. Here’s a few recommendations for you to consider.

 

sunset straight road - how to kill an hour

 

Grab a Dash Cam

 

Dash cams have a variety of purposes, and anyone who is anyone will have one in their car. So whether you’ve got useful something more affordable from the Hilton Car Supermarket, or you’ve just made a deal to drive the new electric mini, it’d be useful for you to have a dash cam on board.

 

They can be used to record first hand footage of a car accident, which can both help you in court and with your insurance company. You’ll also have an upper hand over anyone who’s acting dangerously on the road – it’ll be much easier to report someone speeding in the rain on the motorway if you’ve got footage of them doing so. All in all, it’ll make your long journey safer, and that is the number one thing to put a driver’s mind at rest.

 

A Versatile GPS

If you’ve got a SatNav in the car, good on you. It’ll make the drive you’re on a lot smoother, and quite a bit faster, and you’re never going to have to pull over to break the map out. If you’re someone who travels a lot for work, this can be a Godsend in making a meeting on time!

 

But your GPS needs to be versatile, in the modern day and age. It needs to be updated with all the new roads, and traffic information as it happens, and that means it’s going to need an internet signal as well. Which is why it’d be better to turn your phone into your onboard GPS, and then add on another gadget to give you a bigger display to work off of, and to keep you totally hands free. Something like a HUDWAY Glass allows you to watch the virtual road, as well as control the music you’re listening to and recieve your texts as normal, all at the same time.

 

Something to Monitor Your Tires

 

A quick little recommendation to finish off – have a piece of kit in your cockpit that’ll keep track of everything your tires are going through. Take a look through a few tests of the top kits on the market currently – it’ll stop punctured tires from being a surprise, and tell you when you next need to stop to top up the pressure.

 

So, how many of these gadgets do you have onboard? You’ll need them!

Whistle 3

Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker & Activity Monitor

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Whistle 3 is an all-in-one, waterproof, GPS location and activity tracker for cats and dogs.

Special features include:

  • Receiving ‘Proactive Alerts’ such as; email, text or app notifications when your pet leaves their safe place, using Wi-Fi.
  • Nationwide Coverage: The whistle uses advanced GPS and cellular technology to pinpoint your pet’s location.
  • You can monitor your dogs activity and track their daily activity to see when and where they went!

Whistle’s app is available on Apple an Android.

To buy Whistle 3 click here!

Strava Running and Cycling GPS

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Millions of runners and cyclists use Strava to record their activities, compare performance over time, compete with their community, and share the photos, stories and highlights of their activities with friends.

Track Your Runs and Rides for Free
• Activity Tracking: During and after activity, get key stats like distance, pace, speed, elevation gained and calories burned, as well as an interactive map of your activity
• Personal Challenge: Participate in monthly Challenges designed to push you further
• Segments: Runs and rides can get long — see how you fared on sub-sections of your activity with Strava Segments

To download Strava Running and Cycling GPS please click here Apple / Android

To listen to the guys chatting about Strava Running and Cycling GPS please click here!

Episode 208 Strava / Drive Now

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Check out your house from a decade ago!

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There’s a time travel feature on Google Maps and here’s how to check how your home looked 10 years ago! Now this may not work for everyone but here’s how:

1. Log onto Google Maps on your PC or laptop

2. Type your post code

3. Grab the street view guy to your street and reposition him so you can see your house. 

Find the date in the top right hand corner

6. If there is a clock you’re able to time travel click on it!

7. Now you can see a drop down timeline of all the previous images! 

Is it any different?!

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here! 

Waze GPS and Navigation

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Ever been late to work and thought, if only I knew that there was traffic, BEFORE I left the house? Or I wish I knew that the road works where THERE before I left the house?! Well now you don’t have to worry anymore! (Well, if you have people that are using this app as well as you that is) Waze is a community based gps and traffic app that is based around people around you notifying others of real time traffic and road information, saving every one a whole heap of money, time and petrol!

By using this app you can get to your destination a lot lot quicker due to your friendly neighbourhood drivers letting you know to avoid certain areas because of traffic jams or road works. Not only that but as our roads are always changing there is also map editors who work improve, update and upgrade Waze’s maps. to reflect whats happening in your area to keep as relevant as possible.

If you wasn’t sold as of yet, Waze also offers real time updates on petrol prices so you’ll always be aware of the most cheapest car juice around.

To download Waze please see the links below:

Apple

Android

To hear the guys thoughts on Waze, please click here!