Thinkware and BlackVue Unveil Most Connected Dash Cams at CES 2020

Our team here started off the new year with a quick trip to Vegas for the 2020 International Consumer Electronics Show, or CES. For those who are new, CES is the world’s biggest consumer technology show that reveals all the hottest new tech gadgets that will be stocked in stores in 2020 and beyond. At this year’s CES, both the media and fans of tech got a chance to experience the brighter, hands-free future that the 4,500 exhibitors are promising with smart diapers, faucets and showers, grill, air-purifiers, microwaves, vacuums and even cycling helmets and motorcycles.

Some people go to CES for the shiny gadgets, robots and TVs. Some go for the nexus of technologies (the 5G, IoT and AI). Our team went to Vegas for all that plus more - the upcoming lineup of Thinkware and BlackVue dash cams that are said to be the most connected yet.

Thinkware unveiled a few new exciting products in Las Vegas and one of which is the T700, their most connected dash cam to date that uses LTE Cat 4 technology to transmit videos.

Other exciting new products to expect from Thinkware later this year include:

• Blade - a dual-channel Full HD dash cam system that connects to your vehicle’s head unit, allowing you to tap into the dash cam’s camera right from your car’s in-cabin screen
• QXD Mega 4CH - a Full HD 4-channel dash cam system that covers front and rear, as well as left and right of the vehicle to give you the most comprehensive coverage of the surroundings of the vehicle

In a booth not too far away, BlackVue introduced their upcoming DR900X and DR750X, designed to replace the existing DR900S and DR750S. They will be quite similar in terms of specs, however, with a few brand-new features: improved thermals (which will improve overall heat resistance), built-in voltage monitoring (for Parking Mode) and the addition of a micro USB port for an optional external 4G LTE WiFi router.

Whether it is a refresh of existing dash cams or the releasing of completely new models, both Thinkware and BlackVue have one thing in common: it seems they are taking a break from video resolution. The Thinkware T700 is merely a Full HD camera and BlackVue is not pushing out any 8K camera either. Instead, both companies are focusing on connectivity, specifically 4G LTE connectivity. But what is 4G LTE connectivity and why is it the next big thing?

In the case of the Thinkware T700, which comes with a built-in LTE connection, you no longer need to use a mobile hotspot device to connect the dash cam to the Thinkware Cloud. With built-in LTE connection, the T700 will connect directly to the cloud. In other words, the dash cam can alert you to any incidents (such as break-ins and hit-and-runs) anywhere you are. Remember how Brian, Thinkware’s Head of Business Development, can tap into the dash cam in his car that’s parked in a lot on the Strip. Well, Brian can also tap into the dash cam in his dad’s car, in Korea, while he’s partying it up in Sin City!

The same concept behind BlackVue’s external WiFi router module. But hooking it up to the DR900X or the DR750X, you’re opening up the possibility to connect the dash cam directly to BlackVue Over-the-Cloud servers without needing a mobile hotspot device, such as your mobile phone.

LTE-capable dash cams come in handy when you need to live stream from the dash cam for a real-time look at your car and the surroundings, especially when you are away from your car. Previously, you will need to hook up your dash cam with a mobile hotspot and many people simply use the hotspot functionality on their mobile phone. It works great as long as the mobile phone is the car, but the moment you step out of your car and take your phone with you, your dash cam’s pretty much SOL.

But with the built-in or external LTE module, the dash cam has the capability to be connected to the Cloud at all times, making it accessible from virtually anywhere, even on the other side of the world. All you need is a Cloud account (free on Thinkware Cloud, free option available on BlackVue Over-the-Cloud), a smart phone and the mobile viewer app (both Thinkware and BlackVue have free iOS Android apps).

Another feature of the Thinkware T700 that’s worth mentioning is the built-in SOS button. Designed for emergency situations, just a push of the button will allow the dash cam to send an alert and upload a 10-second buffered footage clip to any smartphone that has the Thinkware Cloud app connected to the dash cam, thanks to the built-in 4G LTE connection.

Samsung coins this the age of experience and it’s evident that CES 2020 was all about enhancing experiences: the way we work, play and live, the way we connect, the way we interact, the way we experience life. And we have to agree that both Thinkware and BlackVue were spot on with their latest LTE dash cams - going beyond just capturing the road ahead and focusing on the connection between driver and car and thus enhancing the experience of driving, on and off the road.

Most importantly, by making dash cams more connected, they are making dash cams more useful and making our drivers and our roads safer.

Special thanks to Brian, Aiden, Jade, Karen, Minjung, Billy and Thinkware.

Also, special thanks to to Mr. Jung, Maria and the rest of the BlackVue crew at CES 2020.

Thank you for sharing all the exciting product information with us and we can’t wait to seeing the new Thinkware and BlackVue dash cam on our shelves!

Until then, Safe Driving and be sure to sign up for our newsletters to stay up-to-date on all exciting news and deals!