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Coming Next Issue
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Chip Foose |
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VW Phaeton W12 |
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Long Term Storage |
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Ultimate Ears |
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2005 Consumer Electronics Show
CES Lures Large Crowds and Improved Technologies (continued) |
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Panasonic expanded its MP3 line with a selection of E-Wear flash-memory portables, which support Windows Media Audio. This allows downloads for the first time as well as a doubled battery life of 18 hours (on one AAA alkaline battery). Unfortunately, the models didn’t support subscription-based WMA downloads.
A spate of autosound products this year focuses on DVD as an audio medium. Instead of just offering video playback, new DVD players from Alpine and JVC can store up to 8,000 MP3 music files on DVD. The Alpine IVA-D-310 multimedia station can playback MP3 encoded DVDs, a technology that essentially converts DVDs into a high-capacity music storage system.
Cobra Electronics displayed a variety of two-way radios. Its 2005 microTALK line provides consumers with extended communication ranges of four, eight, ten and twelve miles in a sleek design. The top-of-the-line model, the PR 4700 WX, offers privacy code options and a hand-free feature that recognizes and transmits when its user speaks.
Cobra also showed off its NavOne 3000, a portable plug-and-go navigation system. With a suggested retail price of $1,300, it features turn-by-turn directions and clear voice guidance to more than 2 million points of interest. The unit also is equipped with faster satellite acquisition.
In-car navigation devices were one of the highest growth products in car audio last year - a growth expected to skyrocket by as much as 100 percent in 2005, exhibitors explained. Car-navigation products are among the most advanced in car audio as well. Companies are evolving them into mini-computers with built-in hard drives that do more than navigate.
Some navigation products at CES offer up to 20 GB hard drives and double as MP3 players. But one of the more exciting features is real-time traffic - point-to-point directions. Alpine’s new in-dash DVD navigation system (called the NVE-N872A) is one of the first to offer XM’s NavTraffic ($1,500). Pioneer’s AVIC-N2 also offers a similar DVD-based navigation system.
Yamaha Electronics unveiled a wide variety of home theater components. Products included the YSP-1 Digital Sound Projector, which is a single source multi-channel surround sound speaker system ($1,499, March); DVX-C300 CinemaStation, an integrated receiver and DVD changer in one that offers 900 total watts of power ($499, March); and NS-125 and NS-225 digital home theater speaker systems to add power and quality to existing home systems (available in April with an assortment of prices).
On a networking note, RaySat developed technology that enables passengers in moving vehicles to access high-speed Internet and simultaneously view up to 500 live satellite TV programs. The device is a 5-inch, low profile phased array antenna, which sits flat on the roof of a vehicle. The antenna will become available later this year.
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