1997 Ad

Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, Jan 26, 1998

Most systems continued to use global positioning satellite (GPS) technology in some form, but applications such as Microsoft's AutoPC that mixes CD and voice synthesis software with PC processor, and Daewoo Datus Div.'s portable RouteFinder, have changed navigation concept. Still others, including Audiovox, Mobile Security Communications and RoadTrac, use GPS variation for car-tracking security system.

Gone from show were pure GPS navigation systems that frequently sold as option priced above $2,000. In their place were products such as Clarion's AutoPC-based system combining voice navigation with in-dash CD player, expected to be around $1,200 when it's sold as option in fall. Slightly cheaper is sub-$1,000 RouteFinder that ships in May featuring 4.1 [inches] LCD screen, speaker for voice directions, Type III PCMCIA slot for Navigation Technologies' map databases. RouteFinder uses Windows CE operating system.

Car navigation is "one of those things that's going to be constantly migrating and changing," RoadTrac Operations Dir. Dawn Tucker said. Her company is marketing Ceres car tracking system that combines hard-wired cellular phone with GPS technology into monitoring product for security and emergencies. Ceres is priced at $659 for system containing driver-activated car-jack alert to $859 for one that adds keyless entry system. Monitoring service has $19.95 monthly fee.

More sophisticated AutoPC and Datus products bring PC processor inside car for first time. Clarion CD head unit has Hitachi 64-MHz processor and mapping software from Navigation Technologies and Etak, while Datus uses Advanced Micro Devices 486-based 100-MHz processor. Clarion also has CompactFlash slot in head unit for range of applications including Flex paging protocols. Clarion AutoPC, which starts full production in June, also has 8 mbyte RAM and USB serial ports for connection to CD-ROM drive, Clarion Pres. James Minarik said. Device has detachable faceplate, 8-color, 256x64-pixel TFT LCD display, 200-word voice activated control. AutoPC, backed by Nissan, won't appear in car design until 2000, industry sources said. RouteFinder has 10-key keypad, built-in GPS antenna, infrared port for PC data transfer.

Despite advances, navigation systems still have long way to go before reaching consumer mainstream, said executives we polled in Las Vegas. "Dedicated navigation systems haven't been the killer application for the consumer," Minarik said. However, he said: "If you start to integrate it with cellular phones, voice recognition and other applications, then it starts to make sense."

Companies also have overcome major obstacle by offering mapping software for 70% of U.S., including most metro areas, industry sources said. Still to be crossed is price barrier, with mass marker for car navigation expected emerge under $500, Datus Mktg. Dir. Michael Higgins said. "This is going to happen in stages and the products that are the easiest to use and give the most satisfaction will be the whiners," he said.

While navigation systems at show made major strides toward consumer market, some companies that sell product in Japan remain on sidelines in U.S. "We don't think the market is there yet and we're afraid that if there are too many options the consumer may become confused and not buy anything," said Nakamichi Technical Dir. Robert Shoji.

Sherwood unveiled first DTS decoder for car and moved to tighten distribution of its Sherwood, Targa and Urban brands. DTS/Circle Surround is designed to reproduce multichannel audio in car by decoding both DTS and matrix surround encoded music. Unit ships in March at $599. Decoder is housed in half-DIN chassis and contains 20-bit A/D converter, 24-bit Motorola DSP chip to decode both DTS and Circle Surround.

Sherwood also has moved to cut overlap among 3 car audio brands and shorten lines to bring more focus to products, said Jeffrey Hipps, senior vp-mktg. & development. For example, he said, Targa amplifier line was cut to 8 items from 14 year ago, and 10-disc CD changers use same design for 3 brands. Sherwood brand will target independent ear audio dealers, Targa is aimed at CE retailers, Urban at discounters, Hipps said. "We had too many and too similar products that we competed against ourselves."

Nakamichi introduced its first in-dash 6-disc CD changer expected to be available in June at $700-$800. Changer uses technology that squeezes discs together to fit inside single DIN design, Shoji said. Car and home audio supplier MTX broadened product lines to add accessories. Line included 92 items grouped in 4 categories - (1) Interconnect cables for installer, competition and expert segments. (2) Power cables. (3) Speaker and primary wire. (4) Battery terminals.

Long-time car audio supplier Fultron introduced Memphis branded products, replacing those sold under own and Aria banners. Fulmer brand, one of oldest in car audio, debuted in 1967 and changed to Fultron 10 years later.