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Apple CarPlay coming to Pioneer's in-dash systems this summer
Apple CarPlay in an aftermarket dash system? You bet! And you may not even need to spend a dime. Pioneer's NEX line of five in-dash head units, priced from $700 to a whopping $1,400, will score CarPlay compatibility through a firmware update in early summer. NEX owners with an iPhone 5, 5c or 5s will be able to use Apple Maps for navigation, listen to music and other iTunes content, and tap Siri to make phone calls and send text messages. Pioneer's devices already in stores will be able to take advantage, so there's no need to wait for CarPlay integration to go live before picking one up.
RetroSound's Bluetooth-enabled in-dash radio for classic cars now up for grabs
Sure, slamming an 8-track into your vintage car may give it the look and feel of yesteryear, but it'd also bring the frustration inherent in outdated media. Cue RetroSound's freshly-available Model Two: an in-dash radio that pairs classic looks with modern features. According to Retro Sound, the Model Two is the only radio made specifically for vintage autos that carries the Made-for-iPod designation, and the only one in its class packing hands-free call features as well. Using Bluetooth, the hardware can connect to iOS and Android devices and pipes audio from any app through a car's sound system. If you prefer auxiliary input or USB connections, the kit has those covered too. As for hooking up to sound systems, the rig packs front and rear RCA pre-outs, separate subwoofer outputs and a baked-in 25-watt x 4 channel RMS power amplifier, to boot. Retro Sound promises the rig mounts into "virtually any classic vehicle," and even carries a bevy of bezels, faceplates and knobs to make sure it the piece of tech mimics an original factory radio. The kit's 32,000-color LCD back-lit display might give passengers a hint it's from this century, but with a $400 price tag, such bells and whistles are welcome. For a look at the faceplate and knob combos, jab the bordering source link.
Garmin K2 in-dash infotainment system brings a hint of glass cockpit to the road
Many pilots would agree that Garmin's aviation products are some of the most desirable solutions in the sky. Multiple flight displays and advanced avionics offer the ultimate glass cockpit experience, even in a single-engine Cessna. Now, the company is hoping to bring some of that functionality and style to ground-based vehicles, with the K2 in-dash infotainment system. We saw some early hints of this impressive rig over at our sister site Autoblog during least year's CES, but Garmin is finally ready to drop the curtain officially, sharing the very first render and plenty of details to boot. At the system's core is a 10-inch touchscreen, with a customizable 12-inch instrument panel positioned just behind the steering wheel. That second display is where you'll find all the essential gauges, but it also provides navigation, vehicle info, along with communications, including text messages and email, and more info on whatever music you're currently playing. K2 is powered by a dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 processor with the ability to feed content to multiple screens, including some for passengers in the back. There's onboard 3D navigation and plenty of realtime info, including gas prices, traffic and weather forecasts. Of course, the system connects to your smartphone over Bluetooth, providing access to data, media, and the like. There's also a heavy helping of voice control. Now, while all that sounds fairly par for the course, Garmin reps seem to be very excited about K2, and based on the company's track record in the aviation sector, we're more than a little curious ourselves. Fortunately, we're told to expect some hands-on time at the show, and while we haven't seen anything beyond the render above just yet, we should have plenty more to report in the days to come. Until then, feel free to drive past the break and take a gander at the PR. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Garmin multi-sensor controller concept replaces touchscreen interface with in-console dial rig
Garmin may be in the early stages of navigating its way from the narrow roads of portable GPS to the in-car infotainment highway, but the company appears to be on the right path, directing focus away from dedicated compact devices and towards permanent in-dash installations. The latest advancement places a greater emphasis on improving control systems, marking a potential departure from the touchscreen in favor of a console-mounted multi-controller that enables adjustments while minimizing distractions. The system combines a proximity-sensing rotary controller that displays the appropriate interface as your hand approaches, along with a touchpad and a variety of selection buttons with functionality that varies depending on the current menu. In addition to the obvious GPS module, the system would enable HVAC control, car monitoring and even smartphone app integration. The multi-sensor controller is still in the concept phase -- the project doesn't even have a proper name yet -- but it does appear to be a practical solution for future vehicle interfaces. You'll find a few more details in the blog post after the break.
Garmin partners with Suzuki for company's first in-dash infotainment system
Sure, the portable GPS may still have a home among multi-car families, or drivers that have yet to make the jump to a smartphone, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the dedicated device's share decline over the next few years. At the same time, in-car infotainment systems are clearly gaining in popularity, so it only makes sense for one of the world's largest handheld GPS makers to make the jump to in-dash. Garmin's partnering with Suzuki for its first factory-installed infotainment system, which includes a 6.1-inch "high-res" touchscreen, a CD player and AM/FM radio, internal flash memory, along with USB, AUX jack and Bluetooth connectivity. The voice control-enabled system also includes backup camera support, Pandora integration and an SD card slot for loading updates. One benefit of vehicle integration is access to the car's speed sensors, allowing the GPS to follow along accurately when it doesn't have a signal, such as in enclosed areas or tunnels. You can also use Garmin Smartphone Link to access traffic, weather and fuel price info. The in-dash system will ship with most American 2013 model year Suzuki vehicles, along with select cars sold in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Russia. I'll also be on display at Suzuki's New York Auto Show booth next week, if you happen to be planning a trip to the Big Apple.
Pioneer AppRadio hands-on (updated with video!)
We got a chance to experience Pioneer's iOS-connected in-dash AppRadio in action this afternoon, and even got to see the thing running in a real-deal automobile. So did it meet our expectations? Well, to be perfectly honest, we didn't know what to expect, but for what it promises, which is bringing the convenience and connectivity of iOS apps to your car, we suppose it does a fine job -- even if it only supports a handful apps at the moment. More after the break. %Gallery-124475%
Pioneer's AVIC-ZH09 GPS navigation systems take augmented reality on the road
While it may not be the first GPS navigation system we've seen sporting augmented reality, Pioneer's latest in-dash series may offer the first built-ins to bring AR to the open road. Using a windshield-mounted camera, the AVIC-VH09CS and AVIC-VH09 stream live footage to a 7-inch in-dash display, adding layers of pertinent information to real-time video. Among other things, the AR-capabilities provide visual cues that alert drivers to the changing of upcoming traffic lights and the exact distance of the next turn. Both systems sport a USB port, SD reader, CD and DVD drives, and Bluetooth. Pioneer will let them loose in Japan later this month for an as of yet undisclosed amount, but it looks like American drivers will just have to keep rolling with plain old reality for now.
