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It has been a long time since I designed a stickman pattern. The series of stickman patterns I did a few years ago are still some of the most downloaded patterns I have. Yes, I'm just as surprised as you. I don't know why but I have always liked to draw stickmen in poses. It started when I was young and made flipbook stickman animations. I'm sure my mom thought I was wasting my time but 50 years later I am working full time drawing silly things. If you are new here and want to see my other silly stickman patterns just go to my online catalog and type stickman in the search box. I just want to bring to the attention of any new Scrollsaw Workshop readers my free online pattern generator. It is very basic and only does two types of patterns. It makes custom keyfobs and custom desk nameplates. Both of these projects are something that almost everyone can use and an easy project for the scroll saw. Watch the video demonstrations and you will be making patterns in minutes.
Toyota Entune is an integrated multimedia navigation and telematics system, introduced in 2011, that uses mobile apps to provide a variety of in-car entertainment and information services. The system operates by connecting to a user's smartphone via Bluetooth or USB to access apps like music streaming and GPS navigation. Entune also emphasizes safety through voice recognition technology, allowing drivers to operate the system hands-free. We've witnessed a surge in gadgets designed to keep us informed and entertained while on the move -- initially from the automotive aftermarket. Now the car companies themselves want in on the action, and they're providing more and more complex, digitally connected gizmos as factory equipment. Using a driver's cellular phone as a data carrier, Entune connects with a host of concierge-like services from inside an Entune-equipped Toyota vehicle. Japan-based Toyota certainly isn't the first to enter this field. Telematics systems, a broad term that describes on-board electronics used to communicate data about safety, vehicle location, vehicle condition and more, have been around for several years.
Perhaps the most recognized of these systems is GM's OnStar service. More recently, Ford Motor Company has been gaining traction with its SYNC service, which provides information, entertainment and all-around digital connectivity in concert with a driver's cell phone. In this article, we'll focus on the Entune system, taking a look at its features, the technologies that power it and how it's used. Curious to know what you'll find on an Entune-equipped car? Bing: The Microsoft-backed search engine is tuned to work with Entune as a point of interest (POI, in industry lingo) finder. When the vehicle is parked, a touch-screen keypad lets you type in search terms -- if you don't know the name of a specific place, you can enter a generic term, like "food," and Bing will retrieve the names of restaurants, delis, even grocery stores, along with their locations and directions if you need them. A natural voice recognition feature kicks in for you to give voice commands if you're driving.
Now your poor planning doesn't have to provide ammunition for dirty looks or a scolding -- you can see what's playing, and where, on the fly, with this service. It's even possible to buy the tickets from your car, for participating theaters. Pandora: In case you've just woken up from a lengthy cryogenic slumber, Pandora is the algorithm-based online music service that tailors playlists based on other songs you like -- you listen to it at your PC. With Entune, you can get it in the car as well. Data services: So far, these services include gas station price comparisons (and directions); current stock prices; sports scores (with the ability to specifically track your favorite teams); traffic incidents (so you know what routes to avoid), and weather, including extended forecasts, current temperatures and radar maps. Naturally, there's a CD player; but you can also get it with a DVD player (set to play only in "Park"), Sirius XM satellite radio and the completely digital HD Radio.
As high-tech as the Entune unit is, the real technological heavy lifting is done by other devices. But don't worry about additional hardware purchases -- in fact, you probably already own exactly what you'll need. Using your cell phone (and your carrier's monthly data plan allotment) as a data conduit, Entune is able to communicate with the remote servers that process your requests and feed them back as information on the car's navigation screen. Providing the link between your phone and the Entune system installed in the car is a familiar system -- Bluetooth. If, however, you find the process of synching Bluetooth devices too troublesome, Entune can also pair up with your phone using a plain old USB cable. Likewise, there might be map updates, bug fixes or other reasons Toyota or an Entune user wants to bring an older system up to date. Unlike a recall or technical service bulletin, you won't have to bring an Entune-equipped car to a shop to update the system.
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