Photo: Screenshot from Vimeo
Pearl, a company started by several veteran employees from Apple, has showcased its first product. It's a smart rearview camera, which connects wirelessly to your smartphone and shows video footage when reversing.
It does not require professional installation, and no wires have to be drawn through the car to ensure its operation.
The nice part of the device, called Pearl RearVision, is that it recharges automatically, and connects seamlessly to your smartphone. It works with both Apple and Android handsets, but in certain conditions.
Users must own an iPhone 5 or newer with iOS 9 or newer, while Android customers must have a handset with Bluetooth 4.0 and Lollipop 5.0 (or newer).
The Pearl RearView has a pre-order price of $499.99, and the shipping is free for a limited time. Customers will receive a license plate frame with the Pearl camera set, an OBD car adapter, and a phone mount.
The latter works with magnets, and is attached to the vent grill of the ventilation system. It is supposed to fit most cars. However, the OBD connector is only suitable for cars with the OBD II system, which has become standard in 1996 on the U.S. market.
The license plate frame is used to recharge the battery required for the two built-in cameras, and for the wireless unit needed to send images to your phone. At the same time, the OBD device is used to turn the system on and determine when to shut it off.
We inquired if there is a risk of draining a car battery, but Pearl representatives explained that it consumes a very small amount of power, and this hazard has been eliminated by design. We asked about this possibility because most OBD adapters can lead to battery drain if left in the port.
For the moment, the product is only available in the USA. In a brief discussion with Pearl representatives, we found out that they will offer it in Puerto Rico as well. When asked about export plans, the company representative stated that they are not aware of any expansion to other markets.
This product reminds us of FenSens, a device that is composed of two license plate holders that work as aftermarket parking sensors for just about any car. In their case, the battery lasts for about five months, and is rechargeable by the user.
The system from Pearl does not require user recharging, and a day’s worth of sun will bring enough energy for a week. The built-in battery of the Pearl RearView comes with a capacity to hold one month’s worth of use.
It does not require professional installation, and no wires have to be drawn through the car to ensure its operation.
The nice part of the device, called Pearl RearVision, is that it recharges automatically, and connects seamlessly to your smartphone. It works with both Apple and Android handsets, but in certain conditions.
Users must own an iPhone 5 or newer with iOS 9 or newer, while Android customers must have a handset with Bluetooth 4.0 and Lollipop 5.0 (or newer).
The Pearl RearView has a pre-order price of $499.99, and the shipping is free for a limited time. Customers will receive a license plate frame with the Pearl camera set, an OBD car adapter, and a phone mount.
The latter works with magnets, and is attached to the vent grill of the ventilation system. It is supposed to fit most cars. However, the OBD connector is only suitable for cars with the OBD II system, which has become standard in 1996 on the U.S. market.
The license plate frame is used to recharge the battery required for the two built-in cameras, and for the wireless unit needed to send images to your phone. At the same time, the OBD device is used to turn the system on and determine when to shut it off.
We inquired if there is a risk of draining a car battery, but Pearl representatives explained that it consumes a very small amount of power, and this hazard has been eliminated by design. We asked about this possibility because most OBD adapters can lead to battery drain if left in the port.
For the moment, the product is only available in the USA. In a brief discussion with Pearl representatives, we found out that they will offer it in Puerto Rico as well. When asked about export plans, the company representative stated that they are not aware of any expansion to other markets.
This product reminds us of FenSens, a device that is composed of two license plate holders that work as aftermarket parking sensors for just about any car. In their case, the battery lasts for about five months, and is rechargeable by the user.
The system from Pearl does not require user recharging, and a day’s worth of sun will bring enough energy for a week. The built-in battery of the Pearl RearView comes with a capacity to hold one month’s worth of use.
Google News