Azentek Smart Mirror Review and Hands-On

By: Ben Vollmer, Car Audio Nationals/Team SoundDomain

A few weeks ago, I posted a blog  with a video about a new product from Azentek called a SmartMirror. Well, I bought one, and man am I happy I did! The box arrived and I was so excited. Inside the box  there is the mirror, different mounting brackets for different types of windshield mounts, a microphone, and power cord assembly. The unit has a "Getting Started" manual for using the product, but the complete users manual is supposed to be online. After poking around for some time on the Azentek website, I still couldn't find the manual. So much of my discovery was make just from poking around.   

The unit feels OEM. It doesn't feel like other units I've looked at that are somewhat cheesy - the Azentek is as solid as they come. On the passenger side of the mirror is an SD card reader used by Navigon to supply the maps and programs required for the GPS. 

So here is the unit hooked up to my trusty Astron power supply in the Ferrari Garage. 

Tomorrow Tech: Blindspot Cameras to Replace Mirrors?

Now, for us living in the modified car world, using cameras in place of mirrors is nothing new, we've been doing it for years. Back-up cameras, although not a replacement for a rearview camera, are now just about as common as side-curtain air bags, so what's next? How about a side view camera that  replaces the side view mirror? Toshiba has developed a side-view camera system that acts as a blindspot mirror, and can recognize the distance of a a car from your vehicle, using lines on the screen that change color depending on how close the car is from your vehicle, from green to yellow to red. I'd imagine this would make into commercial vehicles before it made it into passenger vehicles, but it's a cool technology none-the-less. You can never have too many cameras or screens in a car!

Source: Far East Gizmos

New Multifinction Mirror is Feature-Packed, Ugly

I don't know... This design just doesn't do it for me. I'd much rather have my video screen hidden and integrated into the mirror glass than added on as an extra section to the mirror. This just looks kind of cheap, but to each their own! In case you couldn't tell, this is another GPS navigation rearview mirror system. The mirror features handsfree cellphone capability via Bluetooth technology with caller ID, a 3.5" touchscreen, GPS navigation with voice guidance, an SD/MMC card slot for MP3, WMA, WAV, MPG, WMV, JPG, eBook, and PDF support (OK, that's an impressive list...). The mirror also features LED backlighting, supports 8 different languages, and has a built-in reverse sensor circuit for a rearview camera system. This is made by some Chinese manufacturer, so it's unclear whether or not if it will ever make it to the states, but I"m sure we'll see this design come from somebody, sometime.

in the forums!

Source: Shehnzen MCD Electronics via Slashgear

Here's Looking Out: Cheetah GPSmirror

OK, since we're on the subject of radar and laser detectors, check this out: the Speed Cheetah GPSmirror. This mirror incorporates a GPS chip and comes preloaded with huge database of red light and speed measurement cameras for the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. When your vehicle approaches one of these hazards, the mirrors provides a visual and voice alert to warn you of the upcoming trap. The database is upgradeable via Cheetah's website and for a limited time includes a lifetime of free updates! You can also add your own locations for personal reminders.

Now that's cool all by itself, but it also offers a host of other handy features.

(More details, videos and pics after the jump)