Only time will tell whether this smart satnav, which is being developed at the University of Portsmouth, will carry out what it's intended to do. Its creators say it could make life a whole lot easier for motorists by avoiding those frustrating pile-ups that are never ever fun - especially when you want to wee!

The not-so-easy to remember Congestion Avoidance Dynamic Routing Engine, monitors the conditions of the road ahead and analyses live traffic information to give drivers the chance to avoid congestion. It also gives drivers the opportunity to feed back information about their journey and the road conditions, which will consequently assist other drivers.

There's something very creepy about teddy bears that have been transformed into high-tech pieces of equipment. It kind of takes away their childish innocence and turns them into something more sinister. We've already seen the Teddy Spy Cam and the morbid Suck UK teddy bear lamp. Well, this robot teddy bear is a sat navigation system (although there's no screen so it wouldn't make the best sat nav) and a breathalyser too. These aren't necessarily two things you'd combine into one gadget but it is a robotic teddy bear, and it's from Japan - expect the un-expectable.

It sounds like it could be a bit frustrating though, and will probably end up on the floor of your car because it confronts drinking drivers by saying, "You haven't been drinking have you?", or if its sensors detect reckless driving it'll say "Watch out".

There are so many sat nav systems out there it can be quite difficult to even muster a cheery woohoo when a new one is unleashed onto the world unless they're really special. Presenting Mio's satellite navigation unit which is no ordinary sat nav. It's a Knight Rider branded, KITT voiced GPS unit, with dual LED scanner lights (just like KITT's dashboard) and a start-up message that says "Hello Michael, where do you want to go today?"... genius (and brilliant if your name's Michael). Not only that, it also represents your position on the map with a cartoon version of KITT.

There's not a country in the world where people aren't currently freaking the hell out about petrol prices. And the environment. And congestion. Actually, that last one might just be London, but by god it's a bitch. So, it's with perfect timing that Firebox launches the Ego Electric Scooter, which means you don't have to pay for petrol, road tax or the congestion charge. You'll get 40 miles of travelling per 8 hour charge, although with a top speed of 30 miles, it's more suited to a city than zooming about the countryside.

Not very is my response to that question!!! Tree huggers and eco-warriors everywhere will be rejoicing with their hands to the sky when they hear a company is currently working on bringing us electric inflatable cars. This isn't some kiddie car designed to hush up the kids when you want a moments silence oh no. This is an actual fully functional car that you build yourself in around two hours, which you can then drive around in afterwards.

The inflatable car, by XP Vehicles is made from different non-metal materials like polymer fibre and NASA-grade inflatable material. It will arrive in two boxes for you to assemble with a pal and as the car is electric, it uses a variety of different battery/fuel cell technologies. Its inflatable exterior also means the vehicle is really light, therefore boasting a potential range of 30 miles on a single charge. The car also has some 'hot-swap' battery technology, which means your lightweight vehicle has the potential to extend its range to 2,500 miles.

Now I like cars as much as the next person, but due to lack of funds and living in a city where you have to pay money just to use your car (damn congestion charge) I am sadly without at the moment. Perhaps I could indulge my Top Gear fantasies with these little numbers, though. You can choose between an Audi, a Ferrari or a BMW, and they look like tiny model cars.. but they're working mobile phones! Encased within their plastic shell is a working mobile, with a 2-inch touch screen and a 1.3 megapixel camera!

This weekend I was probably one of the few people who didn't see Harrison Ford's latest epic adventure. There seem to be a lot of bad and positive reviews, so perhaps Ol' Harrison could use a few suggestions on the kit he needs to keep on top form.

No, Godzilla hasn't been busy stomping Batmobile replica's into the ground, this car has actually been designed like this! It stands at only 48cm above the ground and is currently the worlds lowest street-legal vehicle! It was created by the dedicated/crazy Perry Watkins in 2006, and has recently reached completion. It's even equipped with a 100mph jet engine and is a working flattened copy, identical to the original Batmobile! See after the jump for another pic.

It's impossible to embrace all new technology, all of the time, unless you've got the bank balance of Donald Trump. One area of tech lag is often the car - it's the only area left where CDs are still cutting edge.

This Bluetooth Cassette is designed to allow you to pipe songs from your Bluetooth equipped phone or MP3 player to your car stereo. The internal battery will bag you five hours of playing time, but there's a car charger included.

$45 here [via OhGizmo!]

Yup, it's another pink sat nav. We don't come across these too often, so it's imperative we bring your attention to this pearlescent pink design complete with pretty pink carry case (both functional and stylish).

Something tells me Median's limited edition GoPal E3215 Glamour Edition sat nav unit is aimed at the ladies. Unless you're a dude completely and wholeheartedly into your pink gadgets (which some men are).

Would you fancy sparking up with Hello Kitty? Something about the combination of cutesy kids idol and cigarettes seems to twist my stomach slightly, but there's no denying it's fairly unique. When plugged into the car's power port, the face lights up a fetching red, and it also powers your mobiles, whilst still being a functional in-car lighter. Whether this will be available in the UK I don't know, as so far it's just Japan who gets the joy of Hello Kitty on their commute, as it's only compatible with Japanese phones. There's not even a price, so I guess a trip to Tokyo is in order if you're really craving one. Then again, I'd love to see it up close.. how about flying me over Sanrio?

[via Far East Gizmo's]

Like that? Check out more Hello Kitty gadgets here!

I've raved before about my love of Tom Tom's and how they're so easy to use, so I was naturally happy to hear that their new and improved range the x30, has started shipping. It replaces the older x20 range, and has far more features. There are five models to choose from, equipped with everything from advanced lane guidance to maps of 35 countries. They all have Bluetooth connectivity for a stress free journey and you can also get up to the minute traffic information through the RDS-TMC traffic receiver.

Now I love Archos players. Like really, really love them. The problem is I also adore a whole bunch of other gadgetry, and my handbag has really started overflowing to an unacceptable degree. Honestly, a camera, a mobile, a PMP and a Tom Tom? It can't be done.

Well, Archos has now announced the launch of a GPS In-Car-Holder for the Archos 605. The PMP snaps easily into the bracket, which acts as a satellite receiver, and all related maps of the UK or Europe are downloaded into the hard drive on the player.

Yup I know April Fools day was yesterday, but this does appear to actually be a real car, so the jokes on you. Created by a guy who can only be described as certifiable , crazy , very, very bored, this is an Opel car which has been stripped of all the metal on the chassis and been replaced with wooden planks. But not just thrown on any which way, no they've been carved and sawed and lovingly placed till the car itself seems to be some crazy tree/car hybrid. It may work well enough in the arctic conditions pictured, but I wouldn't like to imagine it in the full heat of summer (overheated engine anyone?) Then again, in a cold climate I can just imagine an abundance of rotten wood. Ewww. Still, kudos for the ingenuity.

[ via Born Rich]

Like that? For more car gadgets see here.

I seem to be knee deep in rechargeable LED gadgets this work, but it's all for the greater environmental good, so bring it on. After the dinky but not really necessary candles comes this far more indispensable gadget. Anyone who's ever owned or borrowed a car knows that an emergency torch is a very, very useful thing. This one doesn't waste energy or require hand cranking either, with the ability to charge quickly in the car's cigarette lighter.

We wish! But we like to encourage GEAR4's optimism, with the release of the new AirZone FM Dock. The "Made for iPod" unit is an FM transmitter designed to let your iPod play through a radio, iTrip style.

Small and sleek, it's handy for the car or a holiday; the teeny dock also features a back-lit LED screen, four adjustable presets and support for stereo sound with full bass. It draws power from the iPod itself so unlike a lot of in-car sets it doesn't require batteries or an external power supply.

Despite the gales and hail we saw over the weekend, it is technically just a couple of weeks from officially being springtime. It's March, damn it! That means we should all be thinking about holidays and days out.

In honour of that, here's a list of five useful mobile services, applications and sites for when you're on the go.

1. Map24Mobile

An alternative to Google or BlackBerry Maps, this site provides totally a totally free, downloadable mobile application covering not just the UK but Europe and the US as well. There are seven map regions in total and 15 languages to choose from, so providing you're not going too far off the beaten track in those areas, you're covered.

Katie pulls out her much-loved BlackBerry Pearl and compares it to the brand new Pearl 8110, complete with 3D GPS and revamped interface.

BlackBerry

Like that? Read this: MWC 2008: BlackBerry Pearl has a coat of many colours

Vodafone is offering a new service for non-business users tempted by the ample charms of the BlackBerry 8110. Vodafone Sat Nav, a partnership between Vodafone UK and Telmap, has been launched as the first operator-branded sat nav consumer service in the UK.

There are four devices ready to use the service for a charge of £5 per month; those are the aforementioned BlackBerry, the Nokia N95, the Nokia N95 8GB and the Nokia 6110. The interface offers 3D maps and navigation, plus there are directions, traffic alerts and millions of points of interest listed for you to browse through. Business users have already been able to use the service on the Pearl 8110 and BlackBerry Curve.

Vodafone UK

Like that? Read this: The BlackBerry Pearl is released in Pink! | Shiny Review: Blackberry Pearl 8120

I tend to bristle when technology is described as "perfect for women" just because it's pink - and, quoting the press release, "nail friendly"*. However, I have finally let it sink in that while this will, for some women, be the equivalent of being forced to play Hello Kitty Online until your eyeballs bleed, for others this will be the perfect product.

For that latter group, then, I introduce the Binatone Carrera S350. Now, I've reviewed a Carrera model before and they're pretty straightforward and user-friendly, inexpensive touchscreen sat navs; this one's hook is that it comes with a selection of interchangeable fascias in white, silver, zebra stripes and, of course, pink. Maps are for UK and Ireland and include UK safety camera locations. There's an MP3 and MP4 player too, plus points of interest information all for £100 from Argos.

*"There's even a helpful stylus (a wand for pressing the screen)". - Yes, my teeth are gritted.

Binatone

Like that? Read this: Virtual Cable satnav points the way with a 3D red line | Merian Scout Navigator GPS: sat nav and audio guide in one | Shiny Video Review: Medion GoPal Sat Nav