The new system is for select Jeep Wranglers and offers control of external accessories

Torrance, Calif. (June 9, 2016) – Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. is now shipping the X109-WRA 9-inch Restyle dash system for 2011-up Jeep Wranglers. In addition to its audio, video, navigation, and Bluetooth functions, this product goes beyond the infotainment system by offering control of other Jeep accessories right from the touch screen.

“Alpine Restyle Dash systems with 9-inch touch screens are the largest aftermarket screens available for the Jeep Wrangler,” said Steve Crawford, vice president and general manager, aftermarket business unit, Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. “The new X109-WRA empowers Wrangler owners to use the system for more than just entertainment by controlling other accessories that are part of the Jeep lifestyle.”

The X109-WRA consists of the main unit featuring a 9-inch touch screen, a dash bezel specifically fitted for the Jeep Wrangler, and vehicle specific wiring harnesses. The dash bezel completely replaces the factory radio footprint and has large buttons which are back-lit to match the lighting on the Wrangler’s gauge cluster.

Audio sources include a built-in HD Radio™ receiver, “Made for iPod and iPhone” music control, audio streaming, Pandora® internet radio control from a smartphone, FLAC music playback via USB, and SiriusXM programming (SXV300 tuner and subscription required, sold separately). Video features include a new anti-glare screen and HDMI input for connectivity to HDMI-enabled devices. The navigation system has pre-loaded maps of the United States and Canada, with free lifetime HERE Traffic RDS service.

The X109-WRA comes with an iDatalink® Maestro® module to retain select factory features like steering wheel controls. Vehicle information such as tire pressure and user selectable gauges can also be viewed on the screen. The “My Favorites” function lets the user assign shortcuts to the most-used features like audio sources, navigation commands, and phone settings.

System Expansion
Jeep Wrangler owners often add accessories like a light bar, winch, air suspension, etc. for their off-road adventures. These accessories can be controlled from the X109-WRA’s touch screen when used with the optional KAC-001 External Accessory Control Module (sold separately). The X109-WRA can control up to eight accessories, and a graphical icon and name can be assigned to each one for quick identification on the screen.  A simple press of the touch screen allows each accessory to be controlled as a pulsed, latched or momentary output, depending on how the accessory is configured.

The KCX-C250MC Multi-Camera Controller (sold separately) is helpful for Jeep Wranglers equipped with multiple camera systems. This optional module works with up to three camera systems and allows viewing modes from each camera to be controlled and monitored right from the X109-WRA’s touch screen.

Additional Features
The X109-WRA has a capacitive touch screen and a new GUI (graphical user interface) with 4-way swipe control so users are one swipe away from commonly accessed functions: swipe left for navigation, swipe right for audio and video features, swipe down to adjust the audio system or rear seat entertainment system (sold separately), and swipe up for Bluetooth and source selection. Within the audio and video page, the user can swipe across to access the entertainment sources connected to the system.
The X109-WRA is compatible with the new Alpine Connect app, which provides popular infotainment apps from leading content providers through the Alpine interface. Alpine Connect currently features apps from Yelp® and iHeartRadio, with more apps to be added in the future. The Alpine Connect app is free and available now on iTunes and Google Play.

Availability
The X109-WRA joins two other Alpine Restyle models for 2011-up Jeep Wranglers, the i109-WRA 9-inch dash system with Apple CarPlay and the X009-WRA 9-inch dash system. All products are available now, visit www.alpine-usa.com for a store locator.  
· X109-WRA 9-Inch Restyle Dash System for Jeep Wrangler, SRI $4,000
· KAC-001 External Accessory Control Module, SRI $250
· KCX-C250MC Multi-Camera Controller, SRI $200
· i109-WRA 9-Inch Restyle Dash System with Apple CarPlay for Jeep Wrangler, SRI $2,500
· X009-WRA 9-Inch Restyle Dash System for Jeep Wrangler, SRI $3,500 

The i109-WRA features the largest Apple CarPlay screen in the aftermarket

Torrance, Calif. (May 12, 2016) – Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. is now shipping the i109-WRA 9-inch Apple CarPlay touch screen system for 2011-up Jeep Wranglers. The product features the largest touch screen system in the aftermarket for Apple CarPlay.

“The i109-WRA is our first Restyle Dash System compatible with Apple CarPlay,” said Steve Crawford, vice president and General Manager, aftermarket business unit, Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. “We are excited to deliver the popular Apple CarPlay platform to Jeep Wrangler owners through our unique 9-inch screen system.”

Apple CarPlay
Apple CarPlay is the smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car. You can make and receive calls, access text messages, play music and get directions optimized for traffic conditions, all in a way that allows you to stay focused on the road. Apple CarPlay features Siri voice control in addition to working with touch screen controls. Corresponding audio, driving directions, and phone calls are played through the vehicle’s speaker system. With Apple Maps, Apple CarPlay can predict where the user most likely wants to go by using destinations from recent e-mails, text messages, contacts, and calendar entries. Users may also set destinations through a simple, conversational command to Siri (ex: “Take me to Joe’s house”). Apple CarPlay uses a Lightning connector and is compatible with iPhone 5 and later, and iOS 7.1 and higher.

i109-WRA Apple CarPlay System for Jeep Wrangler
The i109-WRA is Alpine’s first model to offer Apple CarPlay compatibility in the 9-inch screen size. It brings Apple CarPlay and a 9-inch screen to the Jeep Wrangler, both of which are not available as factory options. The i109-WRA is compatible with the 2011-up Jeep Wrangler and has a WVGA screen with 800x400 display resolution.

The i109-WRA comes with a dash bezel that replaces the entire Jeep Wrangler OEM radio area, creating a factory-like fit and finish surrounding the 9-inch screen. Dedicated hard keys on the bezel provide direct access to the phone, music and maps through Apple CarPlay. These features can also be accessed through Siri voice control. A vehicle specific wiring harness is included for plug and play installation. In addition to Apple CarPlay, the i109-WRA has an AM/FM tuner with RBDS (Radio Broadcast Data system) program display and one aux AV input source. Three (2V) preouts allow for additional amplifiers to be installed.

Additional Features
The i109-WRA retains select factory features like steering wheel control through the supplied iDatalink Maestro module. An optional rear view camera system can be added to the i109-WRA using the dedicated camera input (camera systems sold separately). The i109-WRA is compatible with the Alpine TuneIt® App, a free smartphone app that provides customized sound tuning. Users can easily adjust a wide range of sound settings including time correction, parametric EQ, crossover frequency, preset EQ modes and more. The settings are made through the app and uploaded to the i109-WRA for immediate sound customization.

Availability
The i109-WRA is available now for $2,500 SRI. Visit www.alpine-usa.com for a store locator.  

CNET -- During the keynote presentation at this morning's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced that CarPlay is going wireless.

As part of its iOS 9 discussion, Apple stated that the next generation of its iOS mobile operating system that powers iPhone devices will bring with it changes to the CarPlay smartphone integration software for automobiles. CarPlay will now feature support for new resolutions, new and more flexible aspect ratios, and higher resolution displays. The next version of CarPlay will also feature the potential for tighter integration with its host vehicle and will be able to tap into automotive data and even control certain functions of the car.

Apple is also cutting the requirement to plug in via Lightning connector. Currently, CarPlay users have to plug their devices into a USB port in the host vehicle via a Lightning cable to gain in-dash control of their smartphones. However, in future cars, iOS users will be able to get in car and connect without taking the phone out of pocket, with the only connection between the device and the auto being a wireless one, presumably Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or both.

Read the rest of the story here: http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/apple-cuts-the-cord-on-carplay/

Las Vegas, NV (January 9, 2016) – Dual Electronics Corporationannounced today the introduction of three new in-vehicle headunits and one A/V receiver. The key features include Apple CarPlay technology, built-in Bluetooth® technology with ID3 tag, direct USB control for iPod®/iPhone® devices, FLAC file playback, and 2.1A USB charging. The three headunits will be available in February, and the A/V receiver in January. All four models will be on display during the 2018 International CES in Booth 4121 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 9-12, 2018.

A/V Receiver

The DAC1025BT (MSRP: $319.99) double-DIN digital media A/V receiver features a 6.2” capacitive touchscreen LCD, Apple CarPlay technology, built-in Bluetooth technology (ID3 tag, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP) with an external microphone, direct USB control for iPod/iPhone devices, 3 pairs of 4V preamp outputs (F/R/S), a 10-band EQ and more. The DAC1025BT will be available in January.

CarPlay is a smart interface for iPhone, which allows the driver to voice-control (via Siri) music, navigation, phone and messaging apps, thus significantly reducing driver distraction. CarPlay launches immediately upon connecting an iPhone to the receiver via USB; the familiar app icons will appear on the receiver’s touchscreen, including the home button to activate Siri voice control. This consistent, familiar interface makes the iPhone integration truly seamless. The user can navigate and control the phone apps through the receiver’s touch screen or using Siri.

The Direct USB control for iPod®/iPhone® devices allows users to control their iPod/iPhone directly from the receiver’s front panel without using the CarPlay feature; available functions include browsing the music library, changing songs, adjusting volume, etc.

The receiver’s Built-in Bluetooth technology allows for hands-free calling (HFP), audio streaming and player control (A2DP & AVRCP). Users are able to answer a call, redial, or manage call waiting directly from the receiver. Audio streaming allows basic control including play/pause, back/forward, and volume, to be performed from the receiver’s screen. The receiver includes an external microphone for better voice intelligibility.

CD and Digital Media Receivers

The three new headunits in the 2018 lineup include 2 CD receivers: DXDM228BT (MSRP: $99.99), DC208BT (MSRP: $89.99); and 1 digital media receiver: DXRM58BT (MSRP: $79.99).

All three receivers features Built-in Bluetooth technology for hands-free calling (HFP), audio streaming and player control (A2DP & AVRCP). Users are able to answer a call, redial or manage call waiting directly from the receiver. Audio streaming allows basic controls from the receiver’s screen, including play/pause, back/forward, and volume up/down.

All receivers feature front panel USB inputs for music playback and 2.1A charging, allowing for convenient charging of electronics, including tablets and iPad devices. The receivers also allow for playback of high resolution FLAC files. Additionally 3.5mm aux inputs are located on the front panel and the receivers include detachable faceplates.

Additional product information:

DAC1025BT - Double-DIN Digital Media Receiver with 6.2” Capacitive Touchscreen LCD, Apple CarPlay™ Technology, USB Control for iPod®/iPhone® Devices, and Bluetooth®

• Works with Apple CarPlay™
• USB control for iPod® and iPhone®
• Built-in Bluetooth® with ID3 tag and external microphone (HFP, A2DP, AVRCP)
• Capacitive touchscreen
• 240 Watts (60 W x 4) MOSFET
• Rear USB input with 1A charge
• Rear RCA A/V input
• Rear-view camera input (RCA)
• Steering Wheel Control (SWC) Input (Compatible with PAC SWC Interfaces)
• 3 Pairs of 4V RMS preamp outputs (Front/Rear/Sub)
• 10 Band EQ
• 7 EQ presets (Pop, Rock, Jazz, Classic, Beat, Flat & User)
• Media playback: USB
• File formats : MP3/JPG
• AM/FM tuner with 30 stations presets (18FM/12AM)
• Wireless remote control

Available in January, MSRP: $319.99

DC208BT – CD Receiver with Built-in Bluetooth®

• Built-in Bluetooth® (HFP, A2DP & AVRCP)

• Front panel USB input (2.1 Amp charge)
• Front panel 3.5mm aux input
• 8 Character LCD
• 2 Pairs of RCA preamp outputs (F+R)
• 2 Band tone control (Bass/Treble)
• 4 Preset EQ curves (Pop, Rock, Classical, Flat)
• AM/FM Receiver with 30 Station presets (18FM/12AM)
• Wireless remote control
• Detachable faceplate
• 200 Watts (50 W x 4)

• File formats : MP3/FLAC playback

Available in February, MSRP: $89.99

DXDM228BT – Double DIN CD Receiver with Built-in Bluetooth®

• Built-in Bluetooth® (HFP, A2DP & AVRCP)

• Front panel USB input (2.1 Amp charge)
• Front panel 3.5mm aux input
• 8 Character LCD
• 2 Pairs of RCA preamp outputs (F+R)
• 2 Band tone control (Bass/Treble)
• 4 Preset EQ curves (Pop, Rock, Classical, Flat)
• AM/FM Receiver with 30 Station presets (18FM/12AM)
• Wireless remote control
• Detachable faceplate
• 200 Watts (50 W x 4)

• File formats : MP3/FLAC playback

Available in February, MSRP: $99.99

DXRM58BT – Double DIN Digital Media Receiver with Built-in Bluetooth®

• Built-in Bluetooth® (HFP, A2DP & AVRCP)

• Front panel USB input (2.1 Amp charge)
• Front panel 3.5mm aux input
• 8 Character LCD
• 2 Pairs of RCA preamp outputs (F+R)
• 2 Band tone control (Bass/Treble)
• 4 Preset EQ curves (Pop, Rock, Classical, Flat)
• AM/FM Receiver with 30 Station presets (18FM/12AM)
• Wireless remote control
• Detachable faceplate
• 200 Watts (50 W x 4)

• File formats : MP3/FLAC playback

Available in February, MSRP: $79.99 

Entertainment Leader's Wi-Fi Audio Streaming for Apple Devices Enables Customers to Seamlessly Send High Quality Audio From Their Favorite Streaming Services to the New Apollo Series Marine Stereos

Auckland, New Zealand – August 16, 2018 -- FUSION®, a worldwide leader in marine audio entertainment, announced today the addition of Apple AirPlay functionality to the new Apollo Series marine audio entertainment systems. Offering the industry’s first Apple iOS Wi-Fi streaming, the new feature is available with a free software update.

Compatible with all current Apple iOS devices, AirPlay is incredibly easy to use allowing seamless device-to-device audio streaming. Unlike Bluetooth which offers limited-range streaming and compression of audio files to lower-quality formats, AirPlay offers significantly greater range for complete vessel coverage and transmits lossless audio at 44.1khZ, resulting in pure audio playback.

“We went through an extensive application process to demonstrate to Apple why FUSION marine stereos are unique in construction and worthy of AirPlay designation,” said Chris Baird, managing director of FUSION Entertainment. “Unlike our competition, we recognize that a boat is not a car, and have built our systems from the ground-up specifically for the demanding needs of our discerning clientele. Having the official Apple AirPlay distinction further solidifies FUSION as the premier innovator in the marine audio space and sets the Apollo series even further apart amongst audio entertainment systems.”

The FUSION RA770 is the flagship of the new Apollo Series, epitomizing creative design and technological brilliance. The world’s first purpose-built marine entertainment system with a one-piece glass touchscreen display, built-in Wi-Fi streaming, Digital Signal Processing Technology (DSP) and PartyBus capabilities, the RA770 takes marine audio entertainment to the next level. The FUSION Apollo Series also includes the SRX400, delivering a truly powerful feature set in a compact versatile form factor. Like the RA770, the SRX400 offers Apple AirPlay, Wi-Fi streaming, DSP and PartyBus functionality.

Along with Apple AirPlay, Apollo users will benefit from the new Fusion-Link App update. It features a modernized user interface, over-the-air software updates, the ability to set up DSP profiles directly from the app and remote PartyBus control. Connecting to the app through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi allows the user to stream music in any zone, control volume, and access all music sources from anywhere on the boat. The Fusion-Link update is free to download through the Apple App Store® or Google Play™ and gives users the power to control their entertainment experience right from their fingertips.

FUSION, the leader in marine entertainment, is dedicated to offering innovative solutions that enhance personal leisure time on the water. FUSION, owned by GARMIN, builds products that exceed regulatory standards using the latest technologies at GARMIN’s international ISO accredited manufacturing facility.

For more information on Apple AirPlay functionality, the FUSION Apollo RA770, SRX400, FUSION or its entire line of audio products, please contact 623-580-9000 or visit www.fusionentertainment.com.

In-store staff to win prizes for selling qualifying JVC products through June 30

LONG BEACH, CALIF. – April 14, 2016 (MEDIAWIRE) – JVC Mobile Entertainment, producer of lifestyle-enhancing car audio products, is kicking off the third iteration of its DrivePoints promotion for authorized JVC retailers. The company announced the new promotion with an email to its retail dealer base this past week.

DrivePoints is intended to reward the sales personnel and installation staff at participating JVC Mobile retail outlets. Between April 1 and June 30, 2016, retail sales staff earn and accumulate points that can be redeemed for prizes when a qualifying JVC product is sold.

"DrivePoints is part of a larger program to strengthen the relationship between JVC and the specialist mobile electronics community," said Hazim Jainoor, marketing manager. "The performance and build quality of our products is traditionally underrated, and we're able to maintain attractive price points and still deliver decent margin to our retailers. We're excited to reward loyal dealers for doing something they already love to do."

Another component of the specialist push is the introduction of the company's first multimedia receiver equipped with Apple CarPlay™, the KW-V820BT. The double-DIN unit also brings back the El Kameleon moniker with its black, buttonless face when turned off. The KW-V820BT is expected to ship in May.

Authorized JVC retailers can register for DrivePoints, as well as log and redeem points, by going online to www.jvcdrivepoints.com. A list of qualifying products can be downloaded at mwire.co/JVC-DP16.pdf.

6-3-20-16 -- Kenwood USA, manufacturer of advanced-technology driver entertainment systems, is now shipping its 2016 line of multimedia receivers. The receivers, which debuted at this year's CES, include both the Kenwood and Kenwood Excelon lineups, which feature Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

The collection includes 15 new double-DIN multimedia receivers—12 of which supplant the previous year’s models—across the KENWOOD and KENWOOD eXcelon lines. Key improvements address consumers’ desire to seamlessly and safely access smartphone-centric apps through an intuitive interface, as well as performance enhancements to support onboard navigation and source selection.

The 2016 multimedia platform received a processor upgrade resulting in improved stability and faster startup. The additional power also supports a completely new graphic user interface that delivers album art, navigation instructions and source selection in vibrant color and clarity. To personalize the interface, users can add shortcuts to their most-used sources on the home screen, select from a variety of backgrounds and switch between information sources by swiping across the display. For models with built-in Guidance by Garmin®, navigation maps and icons are more informative, and routing and recalculating are faster, thanks to new solid-state memory and a doubling of data transfer speeds.

The number of models embedded with Apple CarPlay™ has increased from four to eight, encompassing the four new topline models across KENWOOD and KENWOOD eXcelon. When a compatible iPhone® is connected to the receiver via USB, the Apple CarPlay interface lets the user access select entertainment and information smartphone apps on the receiver’s display, as well as use Siri® to make selections, provide navigation directions and deliver search results by voice.

As well, the number of units equipped with Android Auto™ has doubled to four models in 2016. Created to extend the Android experience into the vehicle environment, Android Auto provides useful information at the right time, in addition to turn-by-turn navigation, music selection and more. A combination of voice and simplified touch menus lets the driver access Android Auto’s features with minimal distraction. Phones connected through the USB port now benefit from new rapid-charging technology that delivers up to 1.5 amps.

Sound quality was enhanced in the 2016 line. Available on select KENWOOD eXcelon receivers, High-Resolution Audio Playback decodes up to 192KHz, 24-bit FLAC- or WAV-embedded files from media connected through the USB port, which now supports more types of storage media. For all 2016 receivers, a built-in 13-band equalizer enables precise audio adjustments. To further tailor audio to the vehicle environment, the user can access new features to adjust digital time alignment, sound stage height, ambiance and volume based on ambient road noise, powering the built-in amplifier or external amplifiers through three sets of RCA outputs.

Previously featured only on key models, all 2016 receivers now support the ability to have two phones actively connected via Bluetooth at the same time, letting the driver and passenger select which phone will be broadcast through the audio system. All models also receive the latest Hands-Free profile, supporting high-quality calls at twice the bandwidth of the previous profile.

In addition to audio and the user interface, all 2016 multimedia units can now better interface with the larger vehicle world. Each supports connection of two cameras (front and rear view) to help avoid obstacles while parking and maneuvering. Most new units also support connection with iDataLink® Maestro, an add-on vehicle gateway device that enables the receiver to read vehicle information, control specific factory features and connect to factory installed entertainment and safety peripherals.

For more details, please visit the KENWOOD website at www.kenwood.com/usa.

KENWOOD USA announced it is set to ship two new smartphone-compatible multimedia receivers this month. The Excelon DDX6902S (MSRP $850.00) and DDX6702S (MSRP $800.00) expand the family of units equipped with Apple® CarPlay®, the Apple-produced in-vehicle interface for iPhone®. 
While the pair’s predecessors—the Excelon DDX9902S and DDX9702S—are equipped with both Android™ Auto (a smartphone interface made by Google to work with late-model Android-powered smartphones) and Apple CarPlay, the two new units focus solely on the iPhone. Siri®, Apple’s voice-activated and voice-responsive intelligent assistant, is the user’s primary interface to select entertainment options, open apps, reply to text messages and get turn-by-turn directions.
“We are committed to enhancing the connected lifestyle,” said Tony Mercado, marketing manager for KENWOOD. “iPhone users have deeply integrated relationships with their devices, and extending the safe function of those devices in the vehicle is vital. Adding the Excelon DDX6902S and DDX6702S to our current flagship units lets us deliver that fun and functionality to more consumers at lower price points.”
Each multimedia receiver features a high-sensitivity, 6.2-inch screen bordered on the left by a physical knob and menu buttons. In addition to controlling the multimedia unit, the screen connects to an optional back-up camera to automatically show the view behind the vehicle while in reverse gear.
Onboard entertainment options include a full suite of content including digital channels via HD Radio®, CD and DVD, and terrestrial AM and FM. Both units are also SiriusXM-Ready™ and can connect to the optional SXV300 tuner (sold separately) to access hundreds of audio channels (subscription required). With a connected smartphone, the entertainment options increase with built-in control of Pandora® Internet Radio and iHeartRadio®.
Built-in amplifiers enable each unit to power directly connected speakers, making them ideal drop-in replacements for factory radios. For custom applications, the Excelon DDX6902S includes three 5-volt pre-amp outputs and a 7-band equalizer. The Kenwood DDX6702S includes three 4-volt pre-amp outputs and a 5-band EQ. For more details please visit the Kenwood website at  www.kenwood.com/usa.

LONG BEACH, CALIF., August 3, 2020JVC Mobile Entertainment is pleased to announce the shipment of 2 new Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ ready multimedia receivers; the KW-V660BT (MAP $369.95), and KW-V66BT (MAP $369.95).

The CD/DVD playback equipped KW-V660BT and KW-V66BT extend JVC’s already impressive offerings of multimedia receivers to a current total of 12 to date for 2020. They provide a simple step-up solution from the KW-M560BT and KW-M56BT CD/DVD-less digital multimedia receivers, which began shipping earlier this Summer.

“Although we’ve seen a trend in consumers moving towards digital media entertainment options, there is still a significant demand for CD/DVD playback equipped models,” said Steve Cote, JVC Eastern Regional Sales Manager. “By featuring an immense value combination of driver safety options, sound quality, various media type support, and unique features such as Gesture Touch Control, these models are ready to impress!”

Some of the most notable features on both the KW-V660BT and KW-V66BT include:

• 6.8” WVGA Capacitive Touch Monitor

• Apple CarPlay™ Via USB

• Android Auto™ Via USB

• SiriusXM® Ready

• USB Mirroring for Android Phones*

*App Required (Mirroring OA for JVC App)

• DVD and CD Playback

• Built-in Bluetooth®

• Rear USB Port with 1.5A Rapid Charging

• Digital Time Alignment

• 13-Band Graphic EQ

• Rear View Camera Ready

• Mounting Sleeve and Trim Plate Included

For more information on JVC Mobile Entertainment, visit http://www.us.jvc.com/car.

JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of JVCKENWOOD Corporation and is a leading developer of car entertainment products for the consumer market, two-way radio communications systems for public safety, private industry and amateur users, and video equipment for the broadcast and professional markets. For detailed information, call JVCKENWOOD USA at 1-800-252-5722 or visit us at http://us.jvckenwood.com, www.kenwood.com/usa and www.us.jvc.com/car.

Technology Review -- “Where would you like to go?” Siri asked.

It was a sunny, slightly dreamy morning in the heart of Silicon Valley, and I was sitting in the passenger seat of what seemed like a perfectly ordinary new car. There was something strangely Apple-like about it, though. There was no mistaking the apps arranged across the console screen, nor the deadpan voice of Apple’s virtual assistant, who, as backseat drivers go, was pretty helpful. Summoned via a button on the steering wheel and asked to find sushi nearby, Siri read off the names of a few restaurants in the area, waited for me to pick one, and then showed the way on a map that appeared on the screen.

The vehicle was, in fact, a Hyundai Sonata. The Apple-like interface was coming from an iPhone connected by a cable. Most carmakers have agreed to support software from Apple called CarPlay, as well as a competing product from Google, called Android Auto, in part to address a troubling trend: according to research from the National Safety Council, a nonprofit group, more than 25 percent of road accidents are a result of a driver’s fiddling with a phone. Hyundai’s car, which goes on sale this summer, will be one of the first to support CarPlay, and the carmaker had made the Sonata available so I could see how the software works.

CarPlay certainly seemed more intuitive and less distracting than fiddling with a smartphone behind the wheel. Siri felt like a better way to send texts, place calls, or find directions. The system has obvious limitations: if a phone loses the signal or its battery dies, for example, it will stop working fully. And Siri can’t always be relied upon to hear you correctly. Still, I would’ve gladly used CarPlay in the rental car I’d picked up at the San Francisco airport: a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. There was little inside besides an air-conditioning unit and a radio. The one technological luxury, ironically, was a 30-pin cable for an outdated iPhone. To use my smartphone for navigation, I needed a suction mount, an adapter for charging through the cigarette lighter, and good eyesight. More than once as I drove around, my iPhone came unstuck from the windshield and bounced under the passenger seat.

Android Auto also seemed like a huge improvement. When a Google product manager, Daniel Holle, took me for a ride in another Hyundai Sonata, he plugged his Nexus smartphone into the car and the touch screen was immediately taken over by Google Now, a kind of super-app that provides recommendations based on your location, your Web searches, your Gmail messages, and so on. In our case it was showing directions to a Starbucks because Holle had searched for coffee just before leaving his office. Had a ticket for an upcoming flight been in his in-box, Holle explained, Google Now would’ve automatically shown directions to the airport. “A big part of why we’re doing it is driver safety,” he said. “But there’s also this huge opportunity for digital experience in the car. This is a smart driving assistant.”

CarPlay and Android Auto not only give Apple and Google a foothold in the automobile but may signal the start of a more significant effort by these companies to reinvent the car. If they could tap into the many different computers that control car systems, they could use their software expertise to reimagine functions such as steering or collision avoidance. They could create operating systems for cars.

Google has already built its own self-driving cars, using a combination of advanced sensors, mapping data, and clever navigation and control software. There are indications that Apple is now working on a car too: though the company won’t comment on what it terms “rumors and speculation,” it is hiring dozens of people with expertise in automotive design, engineering, and strategy. Vans that belong to Apple, fitted with sensors that might be useful for automated driving, have been spotted cruising around California.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/538446/rebooting-the-automobile/

The award-winning iLX-107 with 7-inch touch screen is now available in North America

Torrance, Calif.(June 29, 2017) — Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. is now shipping the iLX-107, the first aftermarket in-dash receiver dedicated to wireless Apple CarPlay.

“Apple fans have been eagerly anticipating a wireless Apple CarPlay solution, so we are excited to deliver the iLX-107 as the first aftermarket system with this technology,” said Steve Crawford, vice president and general manager, Alpine Electronics of America, Inc.

The iLX-107 is an AM/FM receiver with a 7-inch WVGA capacitive touch screen and LED backlighting. iPhone owners can use CarPlay to make and receive calls, access text messages, play music, and get directions optimized for traffic conditions in a way that allows them to stay focused on the road. CarPlay is accessed through the iLX-107’s touch screen or through Siri voice control, and the resulting music, driving directions, messages, and phone calls are played through the vehicle’s speaker system. CarPlay is compatible with iPhone 5 and later.

The iLX-107 was recognized at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with a CES Innovations Award for outstanding design and engineering in the In-Vehicle Audio/Video category.

Additional Features

The iLX-107 has three (2V) preouts, one aux input, and a rear view camera system input (camera system sold separately). It has a mechless design with a flat, tablet-like faceplate and a 5 7/8-inch mounting depth. When the iLX-107 is used with an iDatalink™ Maestro module (sold separately), select factory vehicle features can be retained and information like the gauge screen or parking assist screen can be viewed on the 7-inch display (the retained features and vehicle information will vary by vehicle). External vehicle accessories like a light bar or motorized tonneau cover can be controlled from the iLX-107’s touch screen with the addition of the optional Alpine KAC-001 External Accessory Controller ($250 SRI, sold separately).

The iLX-107 wireless Apple CarPlay system is available now for $900 SRI. Visit the Store Locator on alpine-usa.com to find the closest authorized Alpine retailer.

CarPlay, iPhone and Siri are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iDatalink is a trademark of Automotive Data Solutions, Inc.