CARgo: Online with OnStar and DUO

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1. Factory stereo upgrade: The Silverline DUO Vehicle Integration Kit from DICE unites the iPhone, Internet radio and your factory car stereo into a seamless experience that firmly hammers one more nail into the CD coffin. The Kit is compatible with Livio Radio, an Internet radio service that boasts more than 45,000 stations; and the DUO allows the service to be controlled by a host of factory car stereos. Drivers of a Toyota car would need to purchase the kit specific to their vehicle, as would the nine other manufacturers that are supported. Users download the Livio app to their iPhone and connect the iPhone to the DUO, which is in turn connected to the car stereo. Internet radio arrives via cellular connection, and the factory car stereo controls the entire experience. It’s actually priced at a level similar to that of a low-end car stereo replacement, but to get this functionality, you’d probably have to purchase a more expensive mid-level unit. Or you could opt for this excellent poor man’s upgrade. $190; visit

2. OnStar’s ready for its close-up: In 1995, General Motors introduced OnStar, a revolutionary service that allowed drivers to interact while on the road with live operators who could provide emergency services, remote vehicle diagnostics and navigation. The exclusive service was and is a smash success. Today, OnStar is a subsidiary of GM and has decided to bust out on its own with the FMV, an aftermarket rear-view mirror that features the OnStar telltale buttons that provide access to emergency response, security tracking, navigation and a built-in Bluetooth component. Install this puppy, subscribe to OnStar and you are up and running in any type of car, not just a GM. It’s to GM’s credit that it can launch its OnStar product as a standalone service, as it speaks volumes about the ubiquitous nature of the brand. Equally telling, though, is the fact that GM is willing to let its former crown jewel no longer be exclusive. Modern technology has probably diluted the unique OnStar impact, but it is still an emergency and convenience service worth considering. $375 plus subscription; visit

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