San Diego – Sony extended
the factory warranty on its planned XAV-701HD and XAV-601BT in-dash A/V
receivers.
Both touchscreen-equipped
models are expected to be available this spring.
The XAV-701HD will come with three-year
warranty and will retail at $700. The XAV-601BT will come with two-year
warranty and will retail for $550. They were introduced CES.
Both models control
Pandora on a USB-connected iPhone, control Pandora on Bluetooth-connected Android
and BlackBerry phones, and feature MirrorLink, the industry-standardized
technology that enables compatible head units to display the user interface,
apps, and content of MirrorLink-compatible smartphones. The head units’
touchscreens also control smartphone apps and functions in the same way that the
linked smartphone’s touchscreen control
apps and functions.
MirrorLink is
planned for Android and Symbian smartphones.
Both head
units also display iPod/iPhone-stored video and app video on their large
touchscreens via USB, and both control an iPhone-stored Telenav navigation app
that only Sony heads will be able to control. Both heads are also the company’s
first A/V units to accept an optional navigation module, which will incorporate
TomTom navigation technology.
The XAV-601BT
features 6.1-inch screen and full detachable faceplate. The step-up XAV-701HD
adds 7-inch motorized screen that slides down to reveal a CD slot, plus
embedded HD Radio. It’s the first Sony A/V head unit with embedded HD Radio.
Both nav-ready
A/V units are also the company’s first A/V units with connection to Sirius XM’s
new outboard universal tuner, joining multiple other head units launched last
year with the connector.
