CHICAGO
— Cobra Electronics
added to the radar
detector/iPhone app fray
with the launch of its iRadar
Detection System at a suggested
$169.
The system packages a
radar/laser detector with a
free iPhone app that lets users
control radar-detector
settings via the touchscreen
of a Bluetooth-connected
iPhone. In addition, the app
uses the iPhone’s GPS to
alert users of known driving
hazards and speed- and redlight
cameras via Cobra’s
Aura Camera and Driving
Hazard database. Alerts can
be relayed through the radar
detector.
The app also lets consumers
use their iPhone to view
past alert locations as well
as their current speed, compass heading and
car-battery voltage.
The radar/laser-detector unit
operates as a stand-alone detector
when not paired with the app.
An Android version of the app
is expected to be available in the
first quarter of 2011.
If a user is traveling in a friend’s
car with an app-equipped
iPhone, a Cobra spokesman
told TWICE, the iPhone will receive
alerts of known hazards
and cameras via its GPS technology.
Although the app works with
a Bluetooth-equipped iPod
Touch, the Cobra spokesman
told TWICE that it would have
more limited functionality. Because
it lacks GPS, he said,
users would not be able to get
hazard and camera alerts.
