iPhone-a-licious

Up until now, I hadn’t jumped on the iPhone bandwagon. However, yesterday I was listening to an automotive podcast, and they mentioned a new iPhone app called Dynolicious. You install the software on your iPhone, and then place the phone in your car while driving. The software can then be used to calculate the car’s performance statistics, such as 1/4 mile ET’s, 0-60 times, horsepower, etc. While, there are devices (such as the G-Tech) that can calculate these statistics, they can’t be used to make calls, take pictures, play music, surf the web, etc., etc., etc.

Hearing about this software was one of those “blow your mind” moments for me. It is an amazing application of the iPhone’s technology, and also made me think about just how powerful the iPhone is. It will be interesting to see what other creative applications will become available for the phone. Gaming possibilities could be a huge use of the technology. While it’s not exactly a Nintendo Wii, tapping into the accelerometers could lead to some exciting gaming on the small screen. After a quick look at the iPhone app store, and it looks like there are already a few games that utilize the accelerometers, but it could be fascinating to see what else is available in the upcoming months.

It might be time to go phone shopping this weekend….

2010 Camaro

Yesterday Chevrolet revealed the production 2010 Camaro to the public. Video of the event can be seen here. I've been a long time fan of the Camaro, and have had high expectations of the new model ever since the concept was released. Based on the information so far, it appears that the car is going to live up to my high hopes, and beyond. Looks like it's time to start making room in my garage for a new addition!

Saving money on gas

Like a lot of people, I have a lengthy commute to work. As the price of gasoline continues to rise I have been thinking a lot about ways to save money on fuel. My wife and I have been carpooling to work, which means we can drive either her vehicle or mine. Hers is an SUV, and mine is something a little sportier. Mine gets better MPG, but runs on premium so it costs more to fill up. Neither one is cheap to drive, so we have thought about buying a third vehicle to be our work commuter. But, what would be the best option? We have considered buying a new compact, a new hybrid, a used sedan, or possibly buying a used diesel car and converting it to run on waste vegetable oil. Each of these choices has a wide variety of costs involved and offers different benefits. To weigh out the options, I put together an Excel spreadsheet that compares the cost of fuel for each vehicle, and how long it would take to recoup the costs of purchasing another vehicle. I thought spreadsheet might be helpful for others, so it is available for download here.




Just fill in the shaded cells with your vehicle choices, and compare the results. The other cells contain formulas that can be edited if you want to make the calculations based on different assumptions.


There are other expenses to consider such as insurance, and maintenance, but I think this is a good start.