While you're waiting to buy a new electric car that's basically a computer on wheels, a new startup is trying to make smart, well-designed products that will put a little bit of technology into your existing car.
Pearl is the name of the startup, and RearVision is its first product. It’s a backup camera and alert system that’s easy to install. It’s basically a license plate frame with two cameras.
Those cameras sync to your phone, either through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. So start the Pearl app on your phone, and you'll see what's behind you as you back up your car.
Pearl’s CEO, Bryson Gardner, was one of the key people behind several Apple products, including the iPod Nano, and his team at Pearl has over 50 former Apple employees. He tells me the rear-view camera is only the first of a set of computerized accessories for your car that the company is currently building.
We took it for a spin this past weekend. So is it worth $500?
The PearlRearvision is a set of HD cameras built into a license plate holder. Here's what it looks like when it's installed.
The Pearl RearVision doesn’t just include the smart license plate holder. It also comes with a phone mount, installation screwdriver, and magnetic stickers for your phone.
One of the nicest touches on the Pearl RearVision is that it’s solar-powered. A set of solar panels run along the bottom edge of the license plate holder, so the part you install on your car shouldn’t need any extra power. But if it does run out of juice, there’s a built-in USB cord too.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider