The Dodge Charger offers a rear-seat video system with a 7-inch screen that folds out of the center console.
Ten years ago, watching a movie in vehicle was still a novelty, whereas today it's a standard part of most family road trips. And it's no coincidence that the increase in the popularity of in-car video parallels the advent of the DVD about a decade ago, which went on to become the most quickly adopted consumer-electronics product of all time.
While videocassette players for cars were available as far back as the late '80s, it took movies on shiny discs for mobile video to really take off. But now that the DVD is a mature technology and the disc-based format—particularly DVD's predecessor the CD—is slowly going the way of the dinosaurs, a whole new way to bring video into a vehicle is starting to emerge and promises to make taking movies on the road even easier and potentially cheaper.
Dramatic Price Drop
But don't put all your DVDs on eBay just yet; the popular format isn't going away anytime soon. In fact, it's still the most viable way to get video into your vehicle, and DVD-based products continue to offer the widest range of options and the best value. The prices of all car DVD systems have dropped dramatically in recent years. For example, aftermarket in-dash DVD players from major manufacturers such as Alpine, Kenwood and Pioneer are now available for around $1,000—half the price they were only a few years ago.
With an in-dash DVD player, however, you'll need to install monitors elsewhere in the vehicle for drivin' movies. Players sold in the U.S. with screens in view of the driver are required to have an "interlock" circuit so they don't display video while the car is in gear, although some unscrupulous installers bypass it. For a custom-installed video system—complete with an in-dash DVD player, headrest monitors, wireless headphones and installation—you can expect to pay between $3,000 and $3,500. But you can knock about $500 off that total if you go with a single screen in an add-on overhead console instead of headrest-mounted monitors.
A less expensive alternative to a custom-installed mobile video system is an all-in-one overhead console that includes a screen, a DVD player and headphones. These have also come down in price in the last few years and companies such as Audiovox and Panasonic offer systems from about $600 to $800. Plus, they also cost much less to install.
A middle-ground, low-hassle option is an all-in-one system that replaces the factory headrests. VizuaLogic's A-2000 system ($1,999), for example, comes with two replacement headrests, each with a 9-inch screen and one with a side-loading DVD player. The headrests fit a variety of popular vehicles and are covered in OEM-style upholstery. It's also a plug-and-play system that installs easily and the stock headrests can be returned to the vehicle at resell time or at the end of a lease. The system comes with wireless headphones or audio can also be transmitted by an FM modulator to a vehicle's stock stereo system.
Hard Drives Make It Easy
VizuaLogic is also leading the drive towards a disc-less mobile theater system. Late last year the company introduced its VMOD system ($699), which is essentially a hard drive media server for the car. The VMOD's 40GB hard drive can store an alphabet soup of A/V formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, DivX video, iTunes movies and TV shows. Data can be downloaded through a USB slot, and an onboard PC-card slot allows wirelessly streaming files from a home PC to the VMOD via Wi-Fi. And since the VMOD is basically a car PC, complete with an Intel Celeron 1.4 GHz processor, you can even load your entire iTunes library so that you never have to plug in an iPod.
Speaking of iPods, in the same way that the portable music player has revolutionized in-car music listening, the iPod video promises to potentially change video viewing in vehicles. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January, two major aftermarket car stereo companies debuted iPod-video capable products. Alpine's KCE-415i iPod video interface ($90) allows an iPod video to connect to rear-seat monitors, while Kenwood's KCA-iP300V iPod Video Direct Cable ($50) mates with several of the company's in-dash DVD receivers.
Directed Electronics introduced its Portable Entertainment System ($799) at CES. With its 10.2-inch LCD screen, built-in DVD player and roof-mounting system, the PES looks like an ordinary overhead video console. But in addition to detaching from its car mount to become a portable, the PES also has a dock for an optional digital video recorder (DVR) that video files can be ripped to, and when the DVR is removed the dock accommodates an iPod video. The PES also has A/V input and outputs for adding a videogame console, and its built-in rechargeable battery has 3 hours of playback time. The ceiling mount also includes an FM transmitter so that audio can be played through a stock system as well as a TV tuner.
OEM Action
DEI's PES is similar to a system OEM supplier Visteon introduced to the aftermarket in 2004, sans the DVR and iPod dock. Visteon's Dockable Family Entertainment System is a detachable mobile-video player with a 10.2-inch screen and integrated DVD player that later made its way into several production vehicles as a dealer-installed option.
Last year, Visteon expanded the backseat-babysitting capabilities of the DFES by partnering with videogame giant Nintendo and incorporating that company's GameBoy Advance system. In addition to playing DVDs, CDs and MP3 and WMA music files, the system handles hundreds of Game Boy Advance titles via a top-loading slot. It comes with a wireless game controller, and kids can carry a separate Game Boy Advance console into the car, plug it into the unit via a high-speed Game Link cable and go head to head with their friends. Expect to see this Visteon product migrate from the aftermarket to an OEM application as well.
While automakers are sometimes slow to incorporate the latest consumer-electronics trends due to long product lead times, car companies were quick to jump on the in-car video craze. Today most minivans, SUVs, crossovers and even pickups offer some sort of rear-seat entertainment option. Even the new '08 Porsche Cayenne now comes with one. And now passenger cars are getting in on the movie action.
The flagship Lexus LS 460 L can be ordered with a 9-inch screen that drops down from the headliner, while Infiniti's top-of-the-line M35/45 is available with an optional flip-down 8-inch screen. On the domestic front, Dodge offers a rear-seat video system in '07 Charger R/T and SXT models with a 7-inch screen that folds out of the center console. A comparable system is also available in the '08 Dodge Avenger and Magnum and the Chrysler 300. The '07 Chevy Malibu Maxx offers a similar system with a 7-inch monitor, a remote control, videogame jacks, rear audio controls and two pairs of wireless headphones.
Watch the Road
Although most of the systems covered here are for rear-seat use only, it's impossible to discuss mobile video without addressing the issue of driver distraction. In the same way that some people will drive a sports car irresponsibly, some will also use mobile video products without regard for the safety of others on the road. It all boils down to personal responsibility and good sense, but the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the electronics industry trade group responsible for the annual CES, is working to educate consumers about the dangers of driver distraction—and how some of these products can help reduce distractions as well.
"CEA is dedicated to the issue of in-vehicle safety," says CEA spokeswoman Megan Pollock. "Last year, for example, we launched the Watch the Road campaign [www.digitaldriver.org] in an effort to help keep consumers informed. We're also seeing that consumers are realizing the benefits of in-car entertainment and navigation systems. Like anything," she adds, "when used properly these products are great tools for helping drivers focus on the road. Consumers just need to remember to follow state laws and common sense when putting these products to work."
Doug Newcomb has been writing about car electronics since 1988, as editor of Car Audio and Electronics, Car Stereo Review, Mobile Entertainment, Road & Track Road Gear and as a freelance writer. He lives in Hood River, Oregon.
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