HD Radio Posts More OEM Gains

By Joseph Palenchar On Apr 23 2012 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — HD Radio posted new gains among automakers with announcements that Chrysler and Acura will offer the technology for the first time, Hyundai will expand HD Radio to seven vehicle models from six, and Toyota will offer it in the Venza for the first time.

In addition, Cadillac announced that the 2013 SRX will offer HD Radio technology with iTunes tagging as a standard feature. iTunes tagging lets users tag songs for later preview and purchase through iTunes

 

Select Retailers Outperforming Car Aftermarket

By Joseph Palenchar On May 21 2012 - 4:01am

NEW YORK – The mobile electronics aftermarket started the year more slowly than last year, but mobile electronics specialists, online retailers and A/V specialists that focus on the category have fared better and in many cases have continued to grow their 12-volt sales, industry participants told TWICE.

Dual Building Up Marine Presence

By Joseph Palenchar On Feb 28 2012 - 10:49pm

HEATHROW, FLA. – Dual is expanding its marine audio selection and offering such new features as direct USB control for iPods/iPhones and SiriusXM-ready capability.

Other new features include 7-channel NOAA weather band tuner, stereo Bluetooth with AVRCP, and basic control of select Internet radio apps on iPhones and other smartphones is also new. The latter feature is available for iPhones connected via USB and for iPhones and other smartphones connected to the heads via Bluetooth AVRCP.

Mother Nature No Friend To Remote Start This Year

By Lisa Johnston On Mar 26 2012 - 4:00am

NEW YORK — The 2011-2012 winter was not a good one for kids longing for snow days, snow plow owners longing for seasonal work, or — not surprisingly — the remote-start industry.

Despite an early freak snowstorm in the Northeast in late October, which prompted some retailers to load up in anticipation of another brutal winter, the remote-start category wasn’t given any help from Mother Nature. This was doubly unfortunate for a category that’s already often viewed as a luxury item in the soft economy.

Bluetooth, NFC Potential Seen In Aftermarket

By Joseph Palenchar On Apr 23 2012 - 4:01am

NEW YORK — Bluetooth and nearfield communications (NFC) technologies could become the technologies of choice for aftermarket mobile electronics suppliers that want to offer new convenience features to consumers.

Multimedia, Marine, Connectivity Get Dual Focus

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 10 2012 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — Multimedia A/V head units, marine audio products, and stereo Bluetooth connectivity to smartphones are among the key features that car audio manufacturer Dual Electronics is promoting here at ICES.

At the show, the company:

• is adding the first A/V head unit and first in-dash navigation system to its Axxera-brand series of aftermarket products sold exclusively to 12-volt specialists;

• expanding its marine audio selection with a completely new line of products offering new features;

Kenwood Makes More In-Car Smartphone Connections

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 11 2012 - 12:56am

LAS VEGAS — Connectivity is the key to Kenwood’s 2012 automotive head-unit lineup.

In launching 46 new products other than accessories, the company is expanding the number of CD receivers that control Pandora Internet radio on a USB-connected iPhone to 15, from nine, starting at a suggested $140.

More Car Amps, Speakers Bow; Demand Grows

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 30 2012 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — Autosound suppliers went to International CES with a variety of new amplifiers and speakers to keep the momentum going in both product segments.

For the 11 months ending November, retail-level sales of car speakers rose 5 percent to $165.4 million, and amplifier sales rose 5 percent to $72.3 million, NPD Group statistics show.

Pioneer Expands AppRadio SKUs, Taps Android

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 30 2012 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — Pioneer’s car electronics division expanded AppRadio technology to more head units to turn an iPhone 4 or 4S into an in-dash radio’s main source of content.

The company also extended AppRadio functionality in its new AppRadio2 head unit to turn select Android smartphones, not just iPhones, into a vehicle’s main source of content.

Alpine Builds More Bridges To Smartphones

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 30 2012 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — Alpine is building more bridges between its aftermarket car head units and smartphones, including Android and BlackBerry smartphones.

The advances come on top of an expanded selection of OE-look A/V-navigation systems, the latest of which features the first aftermarket nav system with 8-inch screen. The $1,499 nav system is packaged with Perfect FIT (Factory Integration Technology) installation kits that include dash panels to deliver an OE-look installation in 10 vehicle platforms.