Kenwood Adds Pandora Control To 9 Heads

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 6 2011 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — Kenwood is launching its first nine automotive head units with Pandora Internet radio control, offering its first head unit with two iPhone/iPod USB ports, and adding HD Radio to an in-dash multimedia/ navigation unit for the first time.

At booth 1801, Kenwood is displaying Pandora in all five new in-dash multimedia/ nav systems, in two upper end CD receivers, and in its two mech-less digital media receivers, which lack CD but connect to alternate sources such as iPods and USB drives.

In other changes, Kenwood will:

 

 

Clarion Expands Key Feature Sets To More Head Units

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 6 2011 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — Clarion is coming to International CES in an expansive mood.

The mobile electronics supplier is expanding its selection of head units with frontpanel iPod/iPhone USB ports, expanding its selection of HD Radio-ready head units, and adding more head units with iTunes Tagging.

Also at the show, the company is unveiling:

• its first head with built-in HD Radio;

• a new mech-less digital media receiver (DMR);

• two new flagship all-in-one A/V-navigation (AVN) head units;

Phoenix Name Rises Again In Car

By Joseph Palenchar On May 17 2010 - 4:01am

CLEARWATER, FLA. — AAMP of America is bringing back the Phoenix Gold brand in a big way since the company purchased the brand from Rodin in September 2009.

AAMP is reemphasizing the Phoenix Gold name on packaging and on the product itself, a spokesman said. Rodin, on the other hand, stressed the Ryval and RSD brands on packaging and products for the past six years or so, although the Phoenix Gold name also appeared, he said.

CAR BRIEFS

By Editors of TWICE On May 17 2010 - 4:01am

FLO TV Adds PPV

SAN DIEGO — Making good on its promise to offer new services, FLO TV launched its inaugural pay-per-view (PPV) broadcast.

The company began offering Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts on an ongoing basis starting with a May 8 event that was broadcast live as it happened and was rebroadcast continuously for 24 hours.

The price was $44.99 for viewing through the company’s handheld Personal Television and through installed FLO TV-equipped in-car A/V systems marketed by Audiovox.

Survey Forecasts Mobile DTV Demand

By Joseph Palenchar On Jun 7 2010 - 4:01am

ALPHARETTA, GA.— American consumers are on the fence about their desire for a free or subscription-based Mobile DTV service that delivers content to handheld and in-vehicle tuners even when the tuner is in motion, an online survey by MarketSource found.

Walmart Keeps Car Electronics Simple

By Lisa Johnston On Jun 7 2010 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — As with many of its CE categories, Walmart goes for the less-ismore approach when it comes to car electronics SKUs.

Locations visited by TWICE kept the car-A/V selection simple and — not surprisingly — fairly entry-level. They offered switching systems to demo various combinations of head units and speakers, including subwoofers. And they featured touchscreen displays that consumers can use to review the features of specific products and get recommendations for installation accessories.

Clarion To Connect Smartphones, Cars

By Joseph Palenchar On Jul 6 2010 - 7:00pm

TOKYO — Clarion is the latest automotive electronics supplier to team with Nokia and the Consumer Electronics for Automotive (CE4A) group to bring to market a standardized interface that connects smartphones to OEM and aftermarket in-car infotainment systems.

Earlier this year, Alpine joined the effort to promote the standard, called Terminal Mode.

MERA Names Cook Exec. Director

By Lisa Johnston On Jul 6 2010 - 7:07pm

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. — Chris Cook has been appointed as the new executive director of the Mobile Electronics Retailers Association (MERA), replacing Barry Vogel.

Cook, who was previously MERA’s industry relations director, will be tasked with all aspects of the associations’ management.

When asked about his plans, Cook told TWICE, “We’re accelerating everything to get to KnowledgeFest in October. We brought on Paul Pirro, who’s working on that.”

FLO TV Promo Discounts Subs For Vehicle Installs

By Joseph Palenchar On Jul 6 2010 - 7:10pm

SAN DIEGO — FLO TV has reduced its one-year and three-year prepaid subscription prices through Sept. 30 when purchased with an installed invehicle FLO TV system.

The discount is available with systems sold through new car dealers and through aftermarket car electronics retailers.

The promotion brings the price of a three-year subscription down to $299, or $8.30/month, compared with the non-promotional three-year price of $499, or $13.86/month.

MarketSource Survey Finds 12-Volt Potential

By Joseph Palenchar On Aug 30 2010 - 4:01am

Alpharetta, Ga. - A sizable percentage of U.S. adults wants to replace their car stereo system or add such features as HD Radio, Internet radio, satellite radio or hands-free Bluetooth capability, a MarketSource survey found.

Those are some of the findings of an exclusive nationwide online survey for TWICE by MarketSource, a market research company and provider of integrated sales and market services, which compiled responses from adults of at least 18 years old in 505 households.