Car Electronics
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Voice Command Gains Ground In Car StereoBy Amy Gilroy, January 8, 2009Advanced voice control is infiltrating the high end of car stereo A/V navigation, with Kenwood, Jensen and Azentek now joining Pioneer in offering the feature. Advanced voice recognition (that does not require voice training) may also be found in a car kit from Innotech and in a new car computer from Dashboard Electronics. More
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Bluetooth Broadens its ReachBy Amy Gilroy, January 8, 2009Bluetooth has become a must-have feature in the step-up car stereo aftermarket products as more states enact hands-free calling laws and consumers become aware of the feature, said suppliers. In 2009, vendors are embedding Bluetooth in more car radios, where last year it was offered chiefly as an add-on option. More
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iTunes Tagging Sweeps Car AudioBy Amy Gilroy, January 8, 2009iTunes tagging is now available from nearly every leading car stereo brand, introducing what suppliers hope will be another incentive to purchase HD Radio products. iTunes tagging lets consumers bookmark favorite songs heard on HD Radio for purchase later on iTunes, although Pioneer is introducing a model that lets you bookmark songs on analog FM stations as well HD Radio stat... More
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Cache Enters Car AudioBy TWICE Staff, January 8, 2009By Amy Gilroy — Cache, a new brand of OEM integration product for the car, is launching at International CES. The brand shares the same parent as Diamond Audio, and it is entering the market with a line of products "less complicated" than OEM integration products from top tier suppliers, it said. More
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Clarion Bows Marine-Grade In-Dash A/VBy Amy Gilroy, January 8, 2009Clarion is debuting one of the first marine-grade in-dash DVD/monitors for the marine market at International CES In addition, the company is broadening distribution of its portable MiND GPS/Internet device at $649.99. This was previously sold through two retailers — Car Toys and Crutchfield. More
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Directed Shows Color 1-Mile Remote StartersBy TWICE Staff, January 8, 2009By Amy Gilroy — Directed Electronics is introducing its first full-color remote transmitters that have a 1-mile range. Under the new Responder HD series, the two-way transmitters also include a new click wheel on the side of the unit that lets users scroll through various functions and assign their favorites to one of four buttons. More
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More Mech-Less Radio Models DebutBy Amy Gilroy, January 8, 2009Mech-less radios, or those that play music from iPods but don't have CD mechanisms, are still a small niche, but one that is performing well for a few suppliers. Approximately 145,000 mech-less radios sold last year from January through October, according to The NPD Group, up from about 25,000 the year prior. More
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iPhone-Like Screens Reach Vehicle A/VBy Amy Gilroy, January 8, 2009The 12-volt market is taking a cue from the iPhone and unveiling new head units with touch-screens that let you swipe a finger across the display to scroll through songs on an iPod. The feature is on display here at International CES in new Alpine and JVC car stereos and in a Mio portable GPS device. More
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CES 2009: Garmin Offers Map Update ProgramBy my Gilroy, January 7, 2009Las Vegas — Garmin announced it will offer a new map update program that lets users, for a one-time fee, download quarterly updates to maps and point-of-interest information for the lifetime of their personal navigation device (PND). More
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Audiovox Sues VizualogicBy Amy Gilroy, January 5, 2009Hauppauge, N.Y. — Audiovox has filed a complaint for patent infringement against Vizualogic, a division of TMI Products, Inc. More
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TomTom To Compete With MapquestBy Amy Gilroy, December 18, 2008Concord, Mass. — TomTom announced a new beta Website that like Mapquest or Google Maps, offers door-to-door directions. More
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Blaupunkt Sold To AureliusBy Amy Gilroy, December 18, 2008Hildesheim, Germany — Bosch, the parent of car stereo company Blaupunkt USA, said the division has been sold to the Aurelius Group. More
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Sirius Approves Reverse Stock SplitBy Amy Gilroy, December 18, 2008New York — Sirius XM said its stockholders approved a possible reverse stock split of its common stock and other proposals. More
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Cellphones Take On Outdoor GPS UnitsBy Joseph Palenchar, December 18, 2008Little Rock, Ark. — Wireless carrier Alltel Wireless launched an application it contends will make outdoor GPS units obsolete. More
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Clarion Drops RepsBy Amy Gilroy, December 17, 2008Cypress, Calif. — Clarion is letting go of its independent manufacturer’s representatives and is switching many of its car stereo retailers over to regional distributors. More
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Transplant Bows GPS With Fuel CalculatorBy Amy Gilroy, December 17, 2008Rochester, Minn. — Transplant GPS is introducing one of the first portable GPS devices to offer a “gas counter” that can calculate a best route based on the most efficient gas route. More
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Panasonic, Harman Exit GPS MarketBy Amy Gilroy, December 16, 2008New York — Panasonic and Harman/Kardon are the latest suppliers to exit the portable GPS segment as that market matures and the economy toughens. More
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Blaupunkt, Looking For Partners, May Be SoldBy Amy Gilroy, December 16, 2008Broadview, Ill. — In response to shifts in the consumer electronics car radio market, Blaupunkt is looking for partners for its car radio consumer business and may put that division up for sale. More
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Magellan Sold To Mio ParentBy Amy Gilroy, December 15, 2008Santa Clara, Calif. — GPS maker Magellan Navigation announced it entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Magellan consumer products division to MiTAC, the parent of GPS rival Mio, in a deal expected to close in January. More
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JL Audio Sets E-Tail Program With DealersBy Amy Gilroy, December 15, 2008JL Audio announced it is working with Shopatron to launch a program to sell products from the Internet that may be picked up at a JL Audio dealer or shipped to the customer from that dealer. The program will generate new retail sales for dealers and will also help cut shipping costs to JL Audio, said Shopatron. More
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