Pioneer uses WiMAX to buffer content into your commute

by Tim Stevens posted Jun 23rd 2009 at 8:02AM

What the world needs now is another distraction to keep a driver's eyes off the road, and Pioneer is ensuring wheelmen of the future will have something other than the asphalt to focus on with what it's calling the Network AV playback system. It relies on WiMAX to send your entire backlog of Knight Rider episodes straight to your Trans Am, and could stream every track from the Ronin Original Motion Picture Soundtrack too. Pioneer also envisions its technology beaming data to your backyard and anywhere else you can get a WiMAX connection -- which, right now, isn't too many places. But, hey, at least with this tech you can drive somewhere that does. Optimistic video after the break.

[Via DigInfo]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video, Transportation, Wireless

Tags: network av, network av playback system, NetworkAv, NetworkAvPlaybackSystem, pioneer, pioneer network av, pioneer network av playback system, PioneerNetworkAv, PioneerNetworkAvPlaybackSystem, wimax

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Freakin Ijit @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:07AM

[as noted a few times in the past with other similar devices]

Not legal in many states if the driver can view it.

Neutral

Freakin Ijit @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:37AM

An Engadget article from the past:

http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/14/now-its-illegal-to-watch-tv-while-driving-in-illinois/

[as some of the comments mention, the illegality in many/most places is NOT a monitor but the content that the monitor is displaying in view of the driver - a couple comments actually cite the law of a couple states saying that navogvation, for example, is perfectly fine]

Neutral

MJZimmer88 @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:02AM

Dont worry... I dont think that's a real car the guy in the photo is driving.

Neutral

Gad Get @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:14AM

Always look where you're going. Never, ever focus on the asphalt; it's very distracting.

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loosely_coupled @ Jun 23rd 2009 2:53PM

Yeah, this is a TERRIBLE Idea. What are they thinking demo'ing a media display for the drive?? WTF?

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ShadowMaker @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:48AM

Michael. Watch out for that pedestrian. Michael. Michael.
Michael. Put your hand back on the weel!

Neutral

slavishog @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:57AM

Why the attitude, Tim Stevens? This is about reporting technology, not about your negative opinion on how people will use (or abuse) it... we can all figure that out. Tell me that the future will not have mobile access to their home network. You think its a joke? That's like 10 years ago stating that we needed distracting cell phones like we need a hole in the head. That would have been a good story...but wait... someone did say that! The idea seems to be here that they are looking at options for using WiMAX which even though in its infancy, is a step forward in tech. Go back to bed and try it again. Without the 'tude.

Neutral

Mark @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:53AM

Because this is Engadget; you have to be snarky here! It's just a rule. That means you criticize things you report on for no apparent reason, and then toss in a technical term like "ping" and "buffer", used ever so slightly incorrectly, because that makes you an artsy snarky blogger!

:-D

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b3tan @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:03AM

Worst mock-up...ever

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Freddie @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:16AM

Man, I can't wait to buy a car made 100% from rounded plastic.

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Sid @ Jun 23rd 2009 9:18AM

Wow, nice car. Looks like its from Demolition Man - completely fake.

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Eric @ Jun 23rd 2009 10:37AM

I for one cannot wait for movies while I'm driving. I can only imagine how much fun to get driving tips from Steve McQueen while I'm touring San Francisco.

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er ic @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:11AM

Yeah I'm just happy Pioneer doesn't actually have anything to do with interior car design or dash layout. The only way they could have done their device a bigger disservice would have been to put it in a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe. Wait, maybe that would have been better...

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