When I was a kid, we had an example of the very latest high technology electronics in our kitchen: a transistor radio. This amazing device was light and portable, ran for ages on a set of batteries and would come to life instantly when switched on, offering a choice of sources of entertainment from around the world. I seem to recall that it used an incredible seven transistors to achieve this feat. … Read More
Ford announced in England that in-car CD players are going the way of cassette tapes. The company noted that each Focus in the UK is equipped with an auxiliary input socket for connecting MP3 devices, and Bluetooth for wireless connection.
Ford said it’s increasing the availability of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio to UK customers, and will launch Ford SYNC next year. So customers won’t … Read More
Tags: MP3 devices, Ford Sync, reel-to-reel tape players, Bluetooth, cassette tapes, 8-track players, Ford, Ford Focus, Chrysler, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)
I thought everybody but me had a smart phone but Tony Kraatz, lead engineer for GM’s new infotainment system, the Chevy MyLink, reminded me that, in fact, not everybody has one, so you won’t need one to use MyLink. Any Bluetooth phone or USB device will work, and if you don’t have either of those you can use the 7-inch color touch screen, steering wheel controls, or voice commands to control the radio, … Read More
Tags: IHS iSuppli, Gracenote, Infotainment, Bluetooth, turn-by-turn navigation, Chevrolet, Add new tag, Chevy Volt, Nuance, OnStar, GM, Chevy Equinox, Pandora Internet radio, Stitcher Internet radio, Chevy MyLink
The market research firm iSuppli recently predicted that factory-installed Wi-Fi will grow from about 174,000 this year to 7.2 million in 2017. That got me thinking about in-vehicle Internet access.
iSuppli said automakers increasingly view wireless connectivity as a key competitive differentiator, and I am sure they do, but there is little consensus on how to provide that connectivity and little evidence … Read More
Tags: Harman Automotive, General Motors, in-vehicle Internet access, Audi a8, USB mobile broadband modem, Autonet Mobile, Wi-Fi, WLAN, Amazon, Chrysler, iSuppli, eBay, Marvell Technology, Ford, Bluetooth, Subaru
I want lots of connectivity in my next car and have every reason to expect it (and, of course, to use it responsibly). We’re talking-cutting edge technology of the kind increasingly available to mid-range buyers; features like Internet access, voice recognition, full-color touch-screen displays, diagnostics, and various forms of infotainment.
I was a bit surprised to learn that all of that and more … Read More
Tags: OLED Displays, Network Car, LCD, Android, Bluetooth, Linux, Microsoft, Netscape, 3G Cellular, Google, Delphi, DSRC, IBM, Infotainment, Bob Schumacher, COMDEX, Internet Access, DVB-T, DVB-SH, Genivi Consortium, QNX, Voice Recognitiion, Wi-Fi, Touch-Screen Displays, USB, Smartphones, Sun Microsystems
How long will it be before we start referring to car dashboards as a user interface, or is it already happening? It seems like only yesterday, and probably was, that automakers were concerned about offering hands-free Bluetooth. Now it’s smartphone connectivity. Cars are fast becoming another network node. An extension of our connected consumer electronics lifestyle; where we want to do whatever we … Read More
Tags: Visteon, Human-Machine Interface (HMI), Bluetooth, Mercury Milan, Range Rover, Jaguar Land Rover, Lincoln C Concept Vehicle
Does anyone still listen to CDs in their car or have we all migrated to iPods and other personal storage devices, and/or to HD or satellite radio? With so many more infotainment choices available now, and digital music downloads on the rise while CD sales continue to decline, can automakers just do away with CD changers?
Someday they will follow 8-track and cassette players to the technology afterlife, … Read More
Tags: Infotainment, IMS Research, iPod, Bluetooth, Cassette Player, 8-Track Player, iSuppli, Satellite Radio, HD Radio, CD Player, SBD, Clarion Corporation of America
Jim Martens
J VanDomelen
Nazita Saye
Michael Ford
Robin Bornoff
Dennis Brophy
Mike Jensen
Tom Fitzpatrick
Max Clark
Patrick Carrier
Mark Laing
Travis Mikjaniec
Chris Hallinan
Christopher Hallinan
Bernard Sutton