For the people who have done their shopping list, make sure you save one for your car. And just in case you are thinking of the ideal gift for your car, a car DVD player would be neat. Not all motorists have the luxury of having one due to budget issues but apparently LightInTheBox.com is offering a special holiday deal for car DVD players which may reach up to 30% of savings or some other car goodies.

For people who would buy a car DVD player today, they will either get a rear view camera worth $30 or a 30% discount on multiple DVD players. LightInTheBox.com offers a range of about 250 types of Car DVD player catering to different demands and budgets. With that deal, maybe it is about time to improve that in-car entertainment. Check them out here!

(Source) Press

Tags: budget issues, budgets, Car DVD player, car dvd players, car entertainment, goodies, holiday deal, motorists, rear view camera, shopping list

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With all the talk about enjoying car audio through various mediums, the Sony XDRF1HD HD Radio Tuner should be something worth noting. It provides more choices and crystal clear sound that should let you enjoy AM/FM radio stations with clarity. It has 20 preset stations, clear and static-free radio stations with no monthly fees to worry about. Additionally, it comes with an audio jack and a fully functional remote control that should deliver the quality in-car entertainment to complement your car.

Price: $82.99

(Source) Amazon

Tags: amazon, car entertainment, car price, choices, clarity, fm radio stations, free radio stations, hd radio tuner, mediums, preset stations, remote control, Sony

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You can add another feature to look forward to for upcoming Chrysler vehicles. Audiovox has announced that they will start supplying Chrysler dealers with FLO TV Entertainment System which should perk up the in-car entertainment being demanded today.

The FLO TV service is live mobile TV with the capacity for up to 20 channels with something for everyone. This includes programs like sports, news, children’s shows and reality TV. The system includes a OE headrest DVD and seat top solutions which can integrate with factory rear seat entertainment systems. A Mopar 7” DVD screen, remote controls and a small antenna is also included, promising better car entertainment for future Chrysler vehicle owners.

(Source) Press

Tags: antenna, audiovox, car entertainment, Chrysler, chrysler dealers, chrysler vehicle, chrysler vehicles, entertainment system, entertainment systems, flo, mobile tv, reality tv, rear seat, seat entertainment, sports news, tv entertainment, tv service

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Parting with a car (1990 Toyota Corolla AE92)you have dreamed of having since you were in college has to be one of the hardest things to do. After fulfilling everything you had wanted to do with it, ranging from mechanical, body works, interiors and simple in-car entertainment audio system, one can imagine the cost and effort a person would put into it. I realized that effort but in the end, it all boils down to practicality and needs.

The Toyota Corolla 16 Valve does not have the common problems of high fuel consumption nor major car repairs. The AE92 had nothing to fix except perhaps for some minor paint job if you really wanted your car to stand out and live to its “Car Show” finish. But you have to take into consideration the year issue. The car is depreciating in cost and while you would want to part with it at something more, you just have to admit that you will not get it for the value you had gotten it along with modifications you had already spent on it.

Why should you read this? When it comes to selling your old car, you have limited options. Especially if you have a car that is reaching the 20 year age limit, you have to make decisions. Unless you are the famed car collector, if you are going to sell it, sell it now when the market value is still acceptable. Prolonging it will only drive the car value lower and eventually you may find it outrageous.

Figures? I had sold the car for about $2,200.00. I had bought the car as well for almost the same amount and then spend over $2,000.00 in modifying it. In the end, that amount used for improvement became my means of living a dream.

In the end, it was the depreciation value that claimed that investment even if the car still looked great. The next best thing to do with such a car? Don’t sell it to the car buying business wolves. Sell it to a friend who will value it. That is exactly what I did. Now the problem is, what car will I use to replace it!

Tags: body works, car collector, car entertainment, car repairs, car show, car value, depreciation, fuel consumption, living a dream, mechanical body, paint job, practicality, Toyota, toyota corolla, toyota corolla ae92

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Today, we often find the need for places that offer WiFi connection. Some providers have affiliated themselves with certain stores to place their WiFi access and now it looks like people who are having their cars serviced can enjoy WiFi hotspots to kill the time.

Beginning today, anyone can turn their “ride” into a rolling WiFi hotspot. Autonet Mobile, the world’s first internet service provider for vehicles, announced nationwide availability of its wireless router at more than 3,300 Advance Auto Parts, Inc., stores and online at www.advanceautoparts.com. Advance Auto Parts becomes the largest national automotive retail chain to sell Autonet Mobile as an in-car entertainment accessory.

Autonet Mobile turns the car into a WiFi hotspot and is compatible with all car, truck and RVs makes and models, allowing internet access for every passenger. The monthly service is half the cost of a cell card and maintains a constant connection even when the car is moving. Autonet Mobile is perfect for families, road warriors and small business people who want to access the internet and business applications while away from the office.

Autonet Mobile works with any WiFi enabled device, including netbooks, Apple’s iTouch and iPhone, laptops, and gaming devices.

(Source) Press

Tags: advance auto parts, advance auto parts inc, auto parts stores, Autonet Mobile, business applications, car entertainment, car truck, gaming devices, hotspots, internet service provider, iPhone, itouch, netbooks, retail chain, road warriors, wifi hotspot, wireless router

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Brace yourself for better in-car entertainment as Molex unveils the new HSAutolink Interconnect Systems. The high speed data bus connector and cabling system encompasses technologies incorporated from other Molex high volume products and industry standard applications such as Universal Serial Bus (USB 2.0), Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS), 1394 Auto (FireWire), FlexRay and Ethernet (AVB).

The new, sturdy family of HSAutoLink connectors and cables will bring USB and other technologies into the information and entertainment systems in vehicles. Molex’s HSAutoLink solution is the critical link that enables the USB 2.0 for connecting passenger portable devices such as MP3 players, flash drives and portable navigation systems.

Molex is working with all potential in-vehicle technology providers and industry standardization efforts to expand this newly introduced family of high speed connectors that meet the rigorous demands set by USCAR and leading OEMs on a global basis. The automotive industry-standard interface known as USCAR-30 supports USB 2.0 requirements for OEM system certification.

Molex will be speaking about the HSAutolink and presenting a demo of the product at the 1394 Automotive Tech seminar to be held in Detroit, USA, April 30, 2009.

(Source) Press

Tags: automotive industry, bus usb, car entertainment, entertainment systems, flash drives, flexray, high speed data, molex, portable navigation systems, technology providers, universal serial bus, vehicle technology

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In-car entertainment takes a new look as Fujitsu Electronics has reportedly announced the first ever 1394 Automotive controller that transmits high-definition video over the 1394 in-vehicle multimedia network. The new Fujitsu MB88395 controller can simultaneously transmit multiple streams around the vehicle, such as HD video (1,280 dots x 720 lines) from Blu-Ray DVDs, digital TV, and car navigation images.

The Fujitsu MB88395 uses a high-speed 800Mbps physical layer and link layer, along with the Fujitsu proprietary SmartCODEC, which provides high compression and can transmit HD video without perceptible latency. This combination brings the rich-HD experience to rear-seat entertainment, reduces vehicle weight and improves fuel efficiency.

The combination reduces the system cost of in-vehicle multimedia networks by up to 30 percent, while reducing the number of wire harnesses by a maximum of 70 percent, and can reduce the environmental impact by approximately 10kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year for a car traveling 10,000km. That roughly translates to the amount of CO2 a beech tree absorbs in one year.

The controller can transmit HD video from Blu-Ray DVDs and digital TV, as well as high-resolution navigation images. For example, an HD video stream (1,280 dots x 720 lines) from a Blu-Ray DVD that has been decompressed has a rate of 885 Mbps. With subsequent compression by the SmartCODEC, the rate becomes 249Mbps, so two channels can be transmitted in the 800Mbps bandwidth.

The MB88395 is available now in samples in 224-pin FBGA packages. Pricing begins at $17.00 each.

(Source) Press

Tags: beech tree, blu ray dvd, car entertainment, car navigation, carbon dioxide, co2, digital tv, fuel efficiency, high compression, multimedia network, multimedia networks, multiple streams, seat entertainment, video stream, wire harnesses

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It was only a matter of time before we saw Blu Ray players made for cars. And with this announcement, it looks like Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric beat everyone to the gun. Mitsubishi Electric recently announced that it plans to bring its single-DIN automotive Blu-ray Disc player to the market. The player is just a third of the volume of the company’s home theater Blu-ray disc player.

No information as to whether Mitsubishi will sell the player as a standalone option or build it into its vehicles, and pricing information or more specific release information is likewise unknown.

(Source) Tech On

Tags: blu ray disc, blu ray disc player, car entertainment, entertainment solutions, home theater, Mitsubishi, mitsubishi electric, Prototype, unnamed player

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Kenwood has not been active in the world of car audio as of late. One of the known brands in providing in-car entertainment, it has quietly preserved its market position.

However, with this announcement, they are bound to get back on track. Kenwood announced nine new in-dash DVD receivers for 2009, representing the most comprehensive line-up in the company’s history. Given the state of the economy, it comes as no surprise that the first model to hit the market is geared toward the value-conscious customer.

The DDX514 will sell for an MSRP of $799, and boasts a 6.1″ QVGA LCD touch-screen panel, a mini A/V input on the front for connecting a portable device, and a volume control knob.

The unit comes with the ability to play back DVDs, MP3/WMA audio files, CDs, and can connect with Bluetooth, iPod/iPhone, external mass storage devices, and satellite radio (in some cases, via optional accessories). The optional KNA-G510 ($800) also affords add-on GPS navigation.

(Source) Here’s How!

Tags: car audio, car entertainment, gps navigation, iPod, receivers, touch screen

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Cars on the move are susceptible to frequency breaks, particularly if you are driving your car out of a coverage area. Antennas are normally reliable but today, you have to invest in more than that to get good signals. Such is the SmartScan FM Transmitter. It does the DC outlet charging, it offers good sound quality, and a little something extra that makes it a true in-car entertainment hub.

Additionally, the RoadTrip with SmartScan will work with just about any iPod that uses the now-standard dock connector. A variety of cradle adapters are included in the package, accepting everything from the iPhone and iTouch to the iPod nano and iPod classic.

With a flexible steel neck, auxiliary output jack, SmartSound Plus technology, and clever design, the Griffin RoadTrip with SmartScan is probably one of the best iPod FM transmitters you can consider getting for your car.

(Source) HTLounge.net

Tags: antennas, car entertainment, Cars, fm transmitter, griffin roadtrip, ipod nano, smartsound

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Breaching and penetrating the fine lines of the mid-size sedan markets, the new Mazda6 i Grand Touring possesses an impressive list of features starting off with a preppy engine and cabin tech features.

When viewed from the front or rear quarter, bulging fenders, a low nose, and sweeping roofline makes this midsize car look absolutely sporty.

However, when viewed from the side, its slab-sided profile belies its newfound size. No longer can detractors complain about its diminutive size compared with the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima in the midsize sedan segment, because the Mazda6 has grown in nearly every dimension.

Standard Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming are big plusses as well for drivers and passengers who put premium on in-car entertainment.

(Source) CNet Review

Tags: car entertainment, mazda6, Nissan, nissan altima, Toyota, toyota camry

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