Pioneer AVIC-Z1 GPS with "intelligent navigation"

Pioneer doesn't want you to think of its AVIC-Z1 as a GPS unit; the acronym doesn't even appear in the company's press release for the AVIC. That's okay by us even if it's a marketing gimmick, though we imagine some consumers will be a little confused about how the Z1 gets its navigation data. Marketing-speak aside, the Z1 looks like it has some interesting features, including a 7-inch touchscreen display, a 10GB hard drive, voice recognition, the ability to automatically remember frequently traversed routes for quick recall (though, honestly, we hope you don't actually need to use a GPS for a route you take frequently), and built-in CD/DVD player, FM, XM and iPod controller.

[Google Nazi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I soooooooooooooo need this to get to my local walmart and Mc D!! But to be honnest it's only semi-cool. It needs to have like a TV, s-video and stuff.

Also like an Instant Messenger and Windows Vista so it's all like... VROOOOOMMMM!!! *illegal operation* and while you get pissed at it you will crash because you we're paying attention to the people you were chatting on IM.

so bored... lol

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I remember checking these units out a while ago and - if I remember correctly - with the Pioneer ones (not necessarily THIS one) you had to STOP the car to input for directions.

[GeneMack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Yes, almost all navigation units make you stop the car to input destinations, change from navigation to DVD mode, or any other distracting settings.

And it is a simple matter of grounding the correct wire to bypass this safety feature. And anyone that is really interested in installing one of these units already knows about this.

[GeneMack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Sorry, the above comment sounded like I was being a smart ass.

What I meant was that anyone that gets one of these things installed is going to know how to bypass the security feature, rendering the feature useless.

[aprodite @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Imagine driving to work one day, and you Avic says:

"Say there Jim-Bob, I've notice you drive this way quite often, but if we take a left on 7th, and cut down Princess Drive, we'll avoid that nasty jam we always get caught up in, plus we shorten the length of the journey by 3.5 miles, and save $1:20 in gas per trip."

Now that would be truley awesome, I can't wait until we really have technology like that.

[Dolph Mathews @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I just wanted to point out that I (and I'm sure many other people) use their GPS units on frequently traversed routes for the sole purpose the the ETA or miles-left-to-go functions. "Are we there yet?" "No, we'll be there in 27 minutes."

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I do use my GPS unit everyday to go to work and get back home. Why, just because of TMC (Traffic Message Channel). The real-time traffic information received by the GPS unit makes it warn me about any traffic jam or accident on my way and proposes me an alternative to bypass the problem. Works great and saved me already from hours of traffic jam not only when going to work but also during my holidays all over Europe!
Daniel

[Rishard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have one of there older models, and it doesn't require me to stop the car to do that . . . either that or when I had the installer set it up so I could drive and watch dvd's (this is not a default) it might have made that change as well.

[Robert Aitchison @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have an AVIC N-1 and is surely could benefit from a hard drive, sometimes even in an are you are semi familiar with you may want to look for a store or resturaunt so I'd have to pop in the navigation DVD. If a hard drive could hold all, or at least most of the data that the DVD does that would be a fast improvement.

Probably my biggest pet peeve about the N-1 is that for "safety" reasons they disable dront seat DVD viiewing (sensible) and they disable virtually all of the navigation system when the parking brake is off. What this means is that not even the passenger is able to operate the navigation system when the car is driving. Thankfully it's relatively straightforward to disable to parking brake check to enable my passenger to operate the nav system. I was told that a "feature" of the AVIC N-2 was that you were no longer able to work around this limitation, presumably it now uses GPS signal to determine if the vehile is in motion, which means I guess you're screwed if you want to watch a DVD on a long ferry ride. Presumably the Z-1 has the same limitations that the N-2 has.

As far as the features of the Z-1:

The smart routing feature sounds good, sometimes the N-1 can pick a pretty stupid route, there was lots of room for improvement there.

The brand icons sound great for when you are travelling to anoher city, a lot of people (myslef included) like to stik with what they know in a strange place and this would make that easier.

The bluetooth option is huge, I'd love to be able to turn my Avic into a hands free system.

One thing I don't see there is an option to re-enable the steering wheel controls that are no doubt in the ast majority of cars that the Z-1's drivers have. Even my sub $20k Mazda3 has steering wheel mounted controls that are useless with the N-1. I'd pay $100 in a haeartbeat, maybe as much as $250 if I could get my steering wheel controls back (there are adapters that use the infared port on the AVIC but they suck, I'm talking a wired interface from the steering wheel to the unit.

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have the AVIC N1...which I think is the one prior to this one, or 2 beofre this one. I love mine and use everytime I hit the road (leaving town of course). I must say the miles to destination is the best, its great knowing how many minutes to go and such. One thing I wish was added was something telling you XXX miles to next city. I don't know but that would be cool. I have mine set up where I can input anything I want while driving, I can also watch DVD's while driving and I have the IPOD interface so I can control my idod using the AVIC N1.

Mine offers other inputs such as video cams, or you can hook the digital camera up to view pics, and there is a TV hook up also.

XM radio too

[JN @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"One thing I don't see there is an option to re-enable the steering wheel controls that are no doubt in the ast majority of cars that the Z-1's drivers have."

The N1, N2, and now the Z1 all have a wired remote input on the back of the unit. A company called Soundgate makes adapters that splice into your factory steering wheel controls and then plug into the wired remote input.

Also, the interlock system on the N2 and D1 is easily bypassed. Search for "AVIC-N2 bypass" on google for more info.

[JN @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

BTW, here's an actual pic of the unit, from the press release:

http://gearlog.com/photos/gearlog/images/1640/original.aspx

[Geoffrey Hoffman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

For what it's worth: the older one's (N1, I think)just tapped the parking brake to see if you were stopped or not. The solution was to either ground that wire instead, and/or just leave the break pushed/pulled one click.

The newer models (the N2) ties into the GPS as well to see if you are traveling, since people were using the above mentioned trick. The good news is that if you google it ("avic-n2 byass solder r197"), you'll find that you can bridge 2 contacts to disable this safety "feature". It annoys me because frequently my passenger is doing the navigating (which is their job anyway), so why can't THEY be the one's doing the inputting?

[AFD @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Really glad to see they've added internal storage to the AVIC-series. I never liked the idea of needing to use the DVDs to load map data onto the N1 and N2 models.

According to the article, the Z1 includes a 30GB HDD, of which 10GB is reserved for music.

[jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

looks great. I have the Avic-N1 and man, that hard drive is huge. It sucks to have to take out a dvd or cd to find directions. Also, you can probably use it to store music, which would have come in handy on more than one occasion. And bluetooth? Now we're talking! However, I have read that no future models of pioneer units like this will have the workaround for watching a DVD while driving. Oh well, if you really want to do that, just get the N1.

[mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

You can have a work around for the Z1 to play dvds or set the new destination. Do a google search for gps jammer. I would have it set up via an on/off switch.

[mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

You can have a work around for the Z1 to play dvds or set the new destination. Do a google search for gps jammer. I would have it set up via an on/off switch.

[mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

This thing sounds more intelligent than the N2, and if there is no easy bypass then a gps jammer is your only solution. Also, I imagine they put a 5mm high 1.8" 30gb hard drive in it instead of the thicker 1.8" hard drives. Right now the biggest 5mm thick drive is 40gb, but by the time this thing is released in Spring 2006 the 60gb 5mm drive should be out. Swapping out the 30gb for a 60gb would be a must.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Does anyone know if Pioneer will offer a Double-Din version?

[Pete @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Nice unit. Like it.

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The Z1 is a double-din. The picture shown at the top of this page is an N1 or N2.

[Dustin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Jimmy or anyone who knows:
It was stated that the new AVIC-Z1 had a "USABLE IPOD INTERFACE" (Posted Nov 2, 2005, 4:53 PM ET by jimmy). I was thinking of getting the AVIC-D1, even though it doesn't play DVD's, due to the iPod adaptor. What are the cons to using the iPod on the D1? Can this adaptor be used to transmit video from the iPod, or does a separate a/v input have to be used? Are there any other cons I should be made aware of (oher than the 2V pre-outs)?

[HeavenSoldier @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Here is another link, with information

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/051116/20051116005813.html?.v=1

[drew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I plan on buying one of these when it's available. Anyone know what price point to expect? Also, anyone know where I can get dimensions, cause I am going to have to cut up my dash to get it to fit.

[King of the road @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I'm buying one of these for my 92' Corvette. I've already replaced the sorry old Bose system with a Pioneer 2-din, and Infinity Kappa surround...however these feautures plus the GPS will be a lot nicer to find some of those "not so congested roads" when I'm doing my Sunday cruise. Thanks to the up to date traffic feature. Is the traffic feature built into the unit or is is a separate option you have to buy like the older units? Also, I've seen people trying to sell the by-pass features on ebay, is there a site where one could obtain this info free?