<![CDATA[Gizmodo: car tech]]> http://cache.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gizmodo.com.png <![CDATA[Gizmodo: car tech]]> http://gizmodo.com/tag/car tech http://gizmodo.com/tag/car tech <![CDATA[ Mobile Microwave Brings Food Nuking Into Your Automobile ]]> Roadsters who want their Hot Pockets on the go can now invest in a In-Car Microwave Oven! This mobile meal maker is made of a robust steel construction, boasts an LED screen with touchscreen operation, and can be powered either via your 12 volt cigarette lighter socket or directly by the car battery. The company supplying this modern marvel warns that your vehicle had better already be started before using the direct-from-car-battery method, lest your battery become discharged. Also, going with the 12 volt option means a cup of coffee will take roughly six minutes to heat up. But even slowly nuked food has got to be better than some of those roadside dining options, right? Get yours imported from the U.K. for $167. [Product Page via Cnet]

]]> Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EDT Elaine Chow http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5037884&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[ Review: Smart AC 120v/USB Inverter For the Car ]]> The 12-volt adapter in a car is nice for radar detectors and GPS devices, among other non-cancer-causing activities. But this inverter can use the ciggy adapter to power USB and AC stuff, up to a claimed 120 watts.

It works well, too.

I had it charging a Sony Ericsson by USB cable, and also powering up the monster 85 watt MacBook Pro powerbrick while both devices were active. But not at the same time. The USB cable didn't want to charge the phone while the MacBook was gulping down juice. The inverter also hummed away, like an overhanging power line ready to zap a pigeon. The solution? I charged the USB device from my laptop. I'm sure the USB wouldn't flake out if I'd used a less demanding AC device. (Not a space heater.) Bonus—it's a three-pronged adapter.

The manual does a good job of outlining the dangers of using your car battery for this sort of thing. They recommend for every three hours of use, starting your car and running the engine 20 minutes.

I give this thing a thumbs-up at $40 from Think Geek. – Brian Lam

[ThinkGeek]

]]> Thu, 24 May 2007 21:15:14 EDT Brian Lam http://gizmodo.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=263510&view=rss&microfeed=true