Cadillac no longer is the Cadillac of automobiles; that would be Lexus, Mercedes, or BMW. But Cadillac continues to be the most technically innovative and exciting of the traditional upscale U.S. brands. The company gave a technological upgrade to its recrafted best-selling model, the DeVille, firmly planting a foot across decades and perhaps centuries, with the 2006 DTS.

The DTS is one of the first vehicles with the promising OnStar Turn-By-Turn navigation. Its efficient (for a V8) Northstar engine is world-class. The optional MagneRide shock absorbers allow the same car to ride firmly or softly, depending on road conditions.

On the other hand, Turn-By-Turn experienced teething problems in our testing, the suspension was too soft, interior fit-and-finish isn't that of a $50,000 car, and the DTS is huge, at 208 inches in length; you could just about park three Mini Coopers nose-to-tail in the space taken up by two of these jumbo-size Caddies. And the only transmission is a four-speed automatic, whereas competitors offer five to eight speeds.

OnStar Turn-By-Turn Navigation

OnStar Turn-By-Turn navigation is covered in depth elsewhere on TechnoRide. Here's the short version: OnStar provides lockout help, stolen vehicle tracking, and airbag deployment notification for $200 a year, with the Safe & Sound plan. Or you can get all that, plus operator assisted navigation, for $400 a year with the Directions & Connections plan, in which an operator guides you as you wend your way to the destination. With OnStar Turn-By-Turn, which isn't priced yet but is likely to come in at about $300 a year, you call the OnStar advisor and explain where you want to go; only in this case, the operator downloads trip information to a rudimentary GPS system that has turn-by-turn voice instructions plus a one- or two-line display ("Elm Street 0.4 miles"), and perhaps a directional arrow. DTS is one of the first cars to get Turn-By-Turn, but most of the GM line will have it by the end of 2007.

Turn-By-Turn is great in theory, because you can't screw it up. All you have to do is push the blue OnStar button on the rearview mirror. But OnStar can screw it up. During my testing, I suffered lost calls, long holds (leading to more lost calls), OnStar's inability to find obscure streets that are on the NavTeq and TeleAtlas map databases OnStar uses(as OnStar acknowledged later), and the service's inability to download trips to my test car's GPS. When I requested mainstream (urban/suburban) addresses, though, OnStar operators found them even when I didn't have the full name, and for the most part, downloaded them successfully. Though Turn-By-Turn is imperfect, I believe OnStar operators will likely find more locations online than you can by using a disc-based, in-car system.

Additionally, OnStar doesn't work in remote areas. The 2 percent of the population that OnStar says it doesn't cover is far larger in geographic terms: Some of the Adirondack Park area, rural areas in the Midwest and Southwest, and a lot of the Rocky Mountains. And if you opt for belt-and-suspenders navigation by purchasing Cadillac's $1,795 DVD-based in-dash navigation system, OnStar can't download the route to an otherwise first-rate nav system.

Other Technology

Most of the Cadillac DTS's other good technology lies hidden away. The NorthStar V8 is several years old now, yet still competitive in terms of output (275 hp to 292 hp) and economy, relative to its size. The DTS performance package includes MagneRide shock absorbers, which vary resistance instantly by using an electromagnetic current acting on metal particles in the shock-absorber fluid.

Every DTS comes standard with XM Satellite Radio (also an MP3-playing CD player)delete it and you get a $200 credit, which is about what other automakers should charge to add satellite radio (not $500 or $600). Some models offer power-ventilated seats. On a hot day, it's comforting early in the ride and helps keep you alert later.

For long trips, active cruise control (ACC), which keeps pace with the car in front of you, is something of a bargain at $1,695. Other high-end cars charge as much as $2,200. Traction control, ride leveling, rear sunshade, and Xenon headlights are standard.

Cadillac's Web site is easy to navigate, and you can easily build a car: For the Cadillac DTS, at least, there are only a half-dozen options. You can then search local dealers for cars in stock, but that's poorly implemented. Rather than a list of cars that come closest to the one you just created online, you get a list of all DTS models at the nearest dealer, the next nearest, and so forth. The owner site, as with all GM models, won't let you register until about two months after buying the car. Once that's squared away, you can see the status of your car's health, uploaded via OnStar, and decide whether you need to make service appointments.

Should You Buy?

If you're interested in a DTS, the Performance model, costliest of the four lines (the other three are Luxury I, II, and III), is the way to go. It comes with the 292-hp engine and MagneRide shocks standard. Spring for active cruise control, and possibly the sunroof ($1,200), but don't take the DVD nav; presumably, GM and OnStar will iron the kinks out of OnStar Turn-By-Turn, or perhaps you won't be as picky a user as I am. I can't see paying for the DVD navigation system (even if it's pretty good) when you can't download the OnStar routing.

Ironically, the biggest and bulkiest Cadillac Sedan is front-drive only (ironic since the behemoths were the last to abandon rear-drive a decade ago). Front drive is helpful when you're driving in snow, but a perceived disadvantage for buyers who want world-class handling from a 4100-pound, 17-foot-4-inch vehicle. If you dial in exactly the right steering input on twisty country roads, the DTS tracks smoothly through curves. If you need to adjust the steering input, it's a handful driving at the legal limit.

You might be interested in a DTS if you need loads of backseat room (the Presidential limousine is based on the DTS), reasonable handling, and traditional styling. The DTS carries cues from the New Cadillac design, which has been done to its best, edgiest effect in the razor-edged CTS sport-sedan and SRX sport wagon, and a bit less sharply done in the mid-size STS touring sedan, but least of all with the DTS.

Equipped the way you want it, a DTS will cost you $54,000. For $10,000 to $15,000 less, you can get essentially the same car in an optioned-to-the-teeth Buick Lucerne. That's a lot to pay for the Cadillac wreath on the hood.

Every driver has been in a situation where it's just not clear if passing another car is a good idea. BMW is working on a new technology to help drivers better assess their passing opportunities: Dynamic Pass Predictor (DPP). Using digital map data, the DPP will let you know what's coming up on the road ahead.

DPP calculates passing conditions using road geometry data, the speed of your vehicle, and sensor-generated speed information about the vehicle ahead. With this information, the navigation system screen visually highlights the road sections that would require a driver's increased attention. This is especially useful in case of sharp turns, junctions, or speed limit changes. Though DPP can tell you when it's not safe to pass, it can't recommend passing, since it can't detect oncoming traffic.

BMW Group is working on DPP with NAVTEQ Electronic Horizon, the company providing the digital map data to fully develop the application. There's no announce date as yet for when the technology will be available.

To read more about car safety technology, click here.

The three-wheeled Carver is a hybrid, but not in regards to its engine: It's half car, half high-performance sports bike. It's controlled by throttle, brake, and steering wheel, like a traditional car, but with a front half that pivots like a motorcycle and tilts up to 45 degrees in each direction in order to turn. Its rear remains fixed and parallel to the road on conventional car tires, which allows for excellent grip and handling, while the front runs on motorcycle tires.

The Carver runs on a bike-size 660-cc turbocharged inline engine. Though tiny and producing only 60 hp, the lightweight Carver has a 0-to-60 time of 8.1 seconds and can reach a top speed of 115 mph, with 43 mpg fuel efficiency. A built-in Dynamic Vehicle Control (DVC) system allows it to tilt by taking into account the critical factors involved, for the best balance and performance. DVC is always active except at speeds under 6 mph and when reversing, for visibility reasons.

You can purchase a Carver from Carver North America for $40,000 but it won't be delivered until January, 2007. Venture Vehicles also plans on producing a flexible-fuel hybrid version, which is expected to maintain the current version's performance, while doubling its fuel efficiency, and burning ethanol as well as gasoline, according to Political Cortex. Venture Vehicles hopes to have the flex-fuel version on the road by early 2008 for the much lower price of $16,000.

On August 9th, Blogging Molly and I had the chance to play the preproduction version of the Desperate Housewives game for the PC. We're both Desperate Housewives fans, so we were as giddy as Susan meeting Mike for the first time!

Developed by Liquid Entertaiment and published by Buena Vista Games, "Desperate Housewives: The Game" can be described as a sexier version of "The Sims". Although you can't be any of the housewives in the game, you can be your own housewife, with the objective of uncovering the scandals and shocking secrets of Wisteria Lane and keeping after your family in 12 episodes.

To begin, select your housewife and the clothes, shoes, and hair type you wish for her to have. You even get to choose what you want your husband and children to look like (imagine that). We called our character "Mollifer" and dressed her in a sexy purple tracksuit with long, dark hair (okay, so we're partial to Gabby's character).

When the game play started, we were presented with a budget in order to purchase furniture, plant a garden, and clothes and even to play Texas Hold'em with the over wives. We planted some flowers in our front yard (boy, those bulbs weren't cheap, either!). Then, we wanted Mollifer to whip up some food in the kitchen, so we pointed the computer mouse to the kitchen. This is our favorite part of the game, because you get to learn recipes, use your mouse to stir batter, and become a novice cook. We prepared some French toast, but unfortunately our food quality was given a "D" grade! Though, we did make the French toast in a timely manner, so we scored an "A"!

You can perform any activities in the DH game as you would in "The Sims", such as take a shower (with your private parts blocked out) and watch TV. But the cool thing is that you can converse with the cast of DH! Mollifer walked through the Wisteria neighborhood over to the Mayer house to talk with Susan. You can choose from three different responses each time a character talks to you, and each response is either mean, polite, or fake. We couldn't help clicking on the "mean" response, because we wanted to see Mollifer get real bitchy! Then Mollifer couldn't help herself by visiting Mike's house to flirt with him a little. You can also visit Edie, Bree, Gabrielle, Lynette, Edie, and Paul's house.

And of course the game wouldn't be the same without Mary Alice Young narrating in each episode! The voices of the other characters weren't finished recording yet when we played the preproduction version. You can also make decisions during game play that will affect the outcome, but you'll have to wait until the game is released to know what those decisions are!

Overall, if you're obsessed with the show, then you'll love the Desperates Housewives PC game. It's an extremely addictive game (we didn't want to stop playing it)! The only unfortunate thing is that you can't play an actual character from the show, but interacting with them is just as fun. We can't wait until the official release, so look for a more detailed review in the next month or so.

Desperate Housewives: The Game will ship sometime in October 2006 (specific day undecided for now) and will sell for $19.99. Designed for operation on Windows XP and the (hopefully) soon-to-be-released Windows Vista.

Gearlog has more screenshots of the DH game!

Updated 8/21 @ 8:13pm to clarify launch date and that you can make decisions during game play that affect the outcome.

A housewife waving to Carlos.

Your character's house.

Aerial view of house.

Wisteria Lane

Game-play in the house.

Conversating with another housewife.

Girl talk.

The Scavos, probably fighting about the kids.

Is Lynette trying to dump her kids on you?

Bree's probably telling this character something snarky.

ZAP's new all-electric vehicle, the Xebra, turned a lot of heads during a recent 15-minute test drive. The Xebra is the latest in the company's efforts to bring clean vehicles to the mainstream market.

The Xebra can reach a top speed of 40mph with a reach of 40 miles. It plugs into a conventional outlet without an extra charger and comes with either nickel-metal-hydride or lithium-ion batteries. (Using LI batteries improves acceleration, speed, and driving range.) The Xebra costs around $9,000; you can reserve one and sign up for a test drive at ZAP's website.

ZAP, which stands for Zero Air Pollution, believes it is well-positioned to catch the next revolution in transportation, which will favor efficient eco-friendly vehicles. The company offers a variety of electric and alternative vehicles, including scooters, ATVS, and bikes. The company also plans to produce an ethanol-fueled car, the Obvio. It will have 175 hp, with a 0-to-60 time of 5 to 6 seconds, according to ZAP CEO Steven Schneider. The Obvio should sell for about $14,000.

Though major car companies are becoming more interested in alternative-fuel vehicles, ZAP believes those companies won't dominate the next generation vehicles. ZAP founder Gary Starr said, "No covered-wagon company became a major car company, and typewriter companies didn't take over the computer industry."

To read more about alternative fuels, click here.

Franklin Fuel Cells reported on August 9 that it has successfully "tested, demonstrated, and proven" its patented, proprietary Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) technology on 16 different hydrocarbon fuels.

Among the fuels tested on the SOFCs were: propane, methane, ethanol, natural gas and diesel.

Since 1999, automakers like BMW and Delphi Automotive have been looking toward SOFC technology as a promising alternative to traditional combustion engines. BMW and Delphi plan to introduce SOFC technology into automobiles as auxiliary power units hopefully in the next decade. These units would run the vehicle's electrical systems, easing the load on the engine, and allowing for smaller more efficient engines.

The most attractive feature of SOFC systems are their fuel flexibility. Because they can run on a variety of fuels, or electrolytes, SOFCs eliminate the need to provide hydrogen as a source of fuel. But being able to run on multiple widely available petrochemical fuels also frees American automakers from dependency on any one fuel in case of a shortage. Franklin Fuel Cells believes its improved SOFC technology is key in enabling smooth transition off of fossil fuels, the company has said.

The SOFC systems operate at high temperatures up to 1000 degrees Celsius. This high temperature makes it more efficient than both Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which run on hydrogen, and combustion engines. These systems run clean and quiet, and, because they don't get poisoned by carbon dioxide, they can run on many different fuels.

PEM cells require 4 steps to convert liquid to gas fuel. In contrast, SOFC systems only require one step to remove sulfur from the fuel before it can be used. However Franklin Fuel Cells reports that its fuel cells require no reformers or de-sulfurizers. This makes for smaller, more efficient, and cheaper SOFCs.

One of the main obstacles keeping SOFC systems out of vehicles is their high operating temperatures. Warming up the fuel cell to 1,000 degrees Celsius can take around 45 minutes, and the material needed to withstand that heat is expensive. Engineers are working to lower the operating temperature under 700 degrees Celsius which would solve some of these issues, the company said.

This week on Gearlog Radio: Panelists discuss Dell's exploding battery problem, the 4.1-million laptop-battery recall, and why we were completely wrong about it when we first posted; the hot new Verizon ExpressCard and why, exactly, it's so hot; the strangest back-to-school gadgets we could find, including the librarian action figure and the in-locker disco ball; and a roundup of techie duckies from Molly K. (for "kwack") McLaughlin.

Next week: Tune in for all-new hosts!

Download the MP3.

On this week's show:

• Dell's Exploding Laptop Problem
• Verizon's EVDO ExpressCard For MacBook Pro: Almost Too Easy
• 10 Strangest Back-to-School Gadgets & Gear
• Put All Your Ducks in a Row

Hosts: Robyn Peterson and Sascha Segan

Panelists: Dan Costa, Jen DeLeo, Cisco Cheng, and Molly K. McLaughlin
Audio Engineer: Scott Bernstein

 

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Reading mobile phone stories from Reuters can be tricky, because the news service is European-based and doesn't differentiate between European and US model devices. That said, I want to puncture the gleeful joy of Treo addicts everywhere: the new Treo coming out on September 12 is not for you. It's a European product, to be released on European carriers, using European phone bands. It will not be sold here.

Obviously, Palm is working on new Treos for the US; they haven't given up on their core market and major product line. Rumors are flying out there on sites that actually post rumors, like Engadget Mobile. I don't post rumors. But I'm pretty sure the new Treos for the US will not be announced in London on Sept. 12.

One other interesting little tidbit: I've noticed that the new EuroTreo will run Windows Mobile, and work with 3G GSM (aka UMTS) networks. That jibes with what Palm told me a while ago about the Palm OS not being able to handle the simultaneous voice and data connections on those networks. That's important for US readers because it puts Cingular subscribers in a bind - either they'll get Palm OS and the slower EDGE network, or Windows Mobile and the faster HSDPA network, whenever Palm decides to finally put out a 700-series model on Cingular.

They say that the bedroom is where all of the magic happens. Whether you're afraid of the dark, tired of smelling like feet, or want to get kinky with your iPod in bed, here are ten gadgets and gear for your sanctuary. And remember, when the devices are rockin', don't come a-knockin!

Nightly Natter:
Color-Call Caller ID System by Brookstone ($29.99)
For those late-night chats with your lover or when you're busy doing the deed, it's important to know whether or not you should answer the phone. The Color-Call Caller ID System can help. Using ColorSmart technology, assign a phone number or group to one of four colors (red, green, blue, purple) so you'll know who's calling from across the room. Holds 100 numbers and features a high/low dimmer.

Panty Pleasure:
iGroove Panty for iPod nano (Currently out of stock, $12.95)
You've heard of the iBoxer. For a more sexier look ladies, try the iGroove Panty on for size. It's made of black lace with a pink ribbon and removable pocket to hold your iPod nano.

Smelly Shoes:
Shoe Deodorizer from SmartHome ($14.99)
I keep all of my shoes at the bottom of my bedroom closet, and everytime I open it, I get an unpleasant aroma that fills my room. I know, so gross! Looks like I may need to invest in the Shoe Deodorizer! It uses an ionization process to clean the source of the odor. It's powered by an AC adapter or 4 C batteries. Just place the device into your shoe and pray that the odor disappears!

Nightmares No-More:
Blue Moon Night Light by Solutions ($29.95)
Sometimes the dark can make me feel a little uneasy. Maybe that's because of all the horror flicks I watch! To save me from my nightmares is the Blue Moon Night Light. Place the light underneath your bed and watch it give a blue glow from 14 bright LEDs to your room.

Buzzing Bed:
OhMiBod by OhMiPod ($69)
The OhMiBod can vibrate to the beat and rhythm of music coming from your iPod. Measures 5 1/2" long (insertable) and 1 1/8" in diameter. Includes a 5-foot freedom cord, universave headphone connector, multi-speed end cap, and velvet privacy pouch.

Pleasing Pillow:
Stereo Memory Foam Pillow by Abcron Corp. ($39.99)
This isn't an ordinary pillow. It rocks you to sleep by connecting to your MP3 player and playing music through the built-in speakers. Made of memory foam for a good night's sleep!

Space Saver:
Computer Desk Bed (Available in twin only, $2,079)
Not everyone can have a decent-sized bedroom. Free up some space with the Computer Desk Bed. Just fold the bed up to reveal a wooden computer desk.

Late-Night Lurking:
Lighted Slippers by Brightfeet ($39.95)
Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night for a glass of water. But I hate turning on the lights. So I'd find a perfect use for the Brightfeet Lighted Slippers. When it's dark, the light sensors in the slipper will turn on and shine the LEDs to light your way. Powered by 2 replaceable lithium batteries (included).

TeddyBear Tenderness:
Plush Light-Up Animals by Glo-E ($19.99)
How cute are LED stuffed animals? I wish I had these when I was a kid. Perfect for kids or the kid in you. Choose from a bear, monkey, or puppy. Changes to 7 magical colors. Automatic shut-off.

Sleep Strugglers:
Sleeptracker from SmartHome ($148.99)
Find out how well you sleep at night. With Sleeptracker, set the alarm time and the alarm window for 0 to 30 minutes. The wrist-watch device then monitors your body for optimal waking moments and wakes you when you're most alert during that set window of time. It's also water-resistant in case, you know, you wet the bed or something.

I've spent the past week with a pre-production model of Nokia's new E62 smartphone, and I'm extremely impressed. With a very usable keyboard, a big screen, lots of email options and two terrific Web browsers available, this is GSM's answer to Verizon's Motorola Q. (The E62 will probably appear on T-Mobile or Cingular.) As long as Nokia can deliver stable software, the E62 could outmatch the popular Q in nearly every area of performance; PDFs look gorgeous on this thing, and push email comes through beautifully (even though the Good push client I was using eats up battery life.) If you haven't used Nokia's new Web browser, your eyes will goggle -- this looks more desktop-web-browsing-like than any handheld I've ever seen. Yes, the built-in EDGE modem is slower than Cingular's new HSDPA network, but given the pathetic buildout of Cingular's HSDPA I can understand Nokia wanting to go with the more popular standard for now.

One odd omission from a consumer perspective is some sort of desktop software to help you reformat video to play on the device. You can play video on the E62, but it requires some geekery to figure out how to transcode it. Maybe this is just that I'm less experienced with the E62's Symbian operating system than I am with Palm and Windows Mobile, but the latter two OSes basically let you drag and drop video into their desktop software. Symbian is like the soccer of handheld OSes, tremendously popular in Europe but mysterious to most Americans.

Ultimately, that will be the E62's challenge: businesses, who could most benefit from the device, may be loathe to adopt the so far unfamiliar Symbian OS. But those who overlook the E62 simply because it isn't part of their Microsoft volume-license contracts will be missing out on a terrific handheld.

Read more in my full review on PCMag.com.