LG And Mercedes-Benz Team Up To Develop A System To Power Self-Driving Cars

LG is partnering up with Mercedes-Benz to make the future of driving smarter and less about the drivers themselves.

The Korean company announced that the duo are jointly working on “next-generation camera systems” which they said will allow computers and algorithms to handle “some aspects” of the
driving experience. LG told The Verge that it will provide the “core components” of self-driving cars from Mercedes-Benz in the future.

That joint system will be based on LG’s existing ‘ADAS’ (Advanced Drive Assistance System) products — which include cameras that produce alerts when a vehicle changes lane, read road signs, check the driver’s health status and issue proximity-based warnings for obstacles — by licensing Mercedes-Benz’s fascinating 6D Vision technology to advance LG’s tech.

We could be looking at a range of things, from cars that automatically slow based on what is ahead of them — per the video below — right up to fully self-driving vehicles.



LG also confirmed that it will begin to use its own home entertainment and mobile technology within automobile, so that might seen increased integration with its mobile devices and new options for in-car entertainment.

The integration between smartphones, our in-the-pocket-computers, and automotive is increasingly irresistible.

Google has been working with auto-makers since early this year via its Open Automotive Alliance, and it opened APIs for its Android Auto project last month. Beyond that, the company is being tipped to build its next version of Android into cars directly.

Apple has CarPlay, which integrates the on-dashboard system with iOS devices for music, maps, calling and more.

CarPlay is built into newer vehicles from the likes of Audio, Ford and Honda, but it is also supported by in-car entertainment systems — like the Pioneer AppRadio 4 which we took for a spin recently.

Away from mere integrations, plenty of companies are working on fully autonomous driving solutions for the future. Google is perhaps the most notable, and it released a first prototype of its self-driving car earlier this week.

Stylish Withings Activité watch tracker goes up for pre-order at $450

When we first heard about the Withings Activité watch tracker in June, a price of $390 was on the cards; now that pre-orders have officially opened for the wearable device, the cost has been set at $450. That’s above the price of your average Android Wear smartwatch (the LG G Watch R retails for $300) but you get plenty of style and sophistication for your cash.

If you want something that looks more like a watch than a cut-down smartphone then the Withings Activité might be just what you’re looking for. Encased in scratch-proof touch-sensitive sapphire glass and a stainless steel finish, the watch is water-resistant and uses a standard watch battery — that means it can last for 8 months, at which point you replace it and start again.

There are no phone notifications or email alerts on the Activité — the only smart functions are its fitness tracking capabilities, which can keep an eye on how many steps you take throughout the day and the quality of the sleep you’re getting (there’s a smart vibrating alarm that can wake you up in the morning too). All of this data syncs wirelessly with an accompanying smartphone app that lets you review your progress and set new goals. Only an iOS app is available at the moment but an Android version is on the way.

Other features include the ability to instantly detect when you go swimming and automatic time zone switching when you’re traveling around the globe. If you’re prepared to put your $450 down for a Withings Activité then there are black or white models available. Delivery is promised before the general launch at the end of November, though the wearable device is currently listed as out of stock, so you might have to hang on a little longer.

G Watch R News: LG’s stunning round Android watch makes its way to South Korea first

LG’s second Android Wear smartwatch, the G Watch R, is about to go on sale. Revealed at the beginning of September, news of the new device’s launch is beginning to spread. Here’s what we know so far.

Updated 0n 10-08-2014 by Andy Boxall: LG has set the G Watch R’s release in South Korea for October 14.

When the G Watch R was announced, we were told to expect its eventual release to come around October time. Now, the company has confirmed in a blog post it’ll be up for sale from October 14, but sadly, only in South Korea at the moment. Local network Olleh already has the G Watch R on its website, where it has been priced at 352,000 won, which matches early rumor reports.

Initial speculation published by Korean news source ETNews, indicated the G Watch R would be out on October 16, while ZDNet Korea weighed in and said the watch would be on sale on October 7, although possibly restricted to pre-orders through certain retailers.

Both reports stated the price would be around 352,000 won, which equates to approximately $330, making the G Watch R about $70 more expensive, locally, than the first G Watch. In the U.S., the G Watch costs $230, so we could estimate the G Watch R’s price to be between $270 and $300 when it finally goes on sale.

The G Watch R shuns the angled design of the G Watch, and wraps a circular 1.3-inch P-OLED touchscreen in a metal body, complete with a leather strap. This gives the G Watch R a more traditional “watch” look, over the slightly geekily styled examples that have dominated the smartwatch scene over the past year.

LG’s round smartwatch will be the Motorola Moto 360’s first true competitor, coming equipped with Android Wear, a heart-rate monitor, a clever power-saving feature, and a cool style all of its own. We were impressed when we gave it a try at the IFA tech show.

Now all we have to do is wait for an international release date. We can’t imagine LG wanting to wait too long, given the Moto 360’s increasing popularity, and recent UK launch.