The concept car Visteon and 3M put together for CES showcased such future technology as wireless charging and connectivity for portable devices to eliminate unsightly wires dangling from the dash.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held in Las Vegas each January, is where tech geeks and freaks converge for the unveiling of the latest gadgets and gizmos, ranging from mega TVs to tiny portable anything. The mobile electronics portion of CES is traditionally sequestered in the Las Vegas Convention Center's North Hall, derisively dubbed the "boom room" because of the deafening bass from hundreds of pounding subwoofers.
But automotive technology is no longer the redheaded stepchild of CES. At last year's opening keynote address, Bill Gates introduced the groundbreaking Microsoft/Ford Sync system. Evidence of the further melding of auto and consumer electronics at CES 2008 included GM honcho Rick Wagoner becoming the first auto exec to deliver a keynote.
Read: Microsoft/Ford Sync system
But the real proof that car tech is taking a more prominent role at CES was the slew of new products introduced, six of which we've selected here as best of the show. They're divided into two groups to keep expectations in check: hardware and vaporware. The former you'll see in vehicles or on retailers' shelves in the next few months, and the latter are concepts that may (or may not) make it into your car's cockpit in the future.
Hardware
Satellite radio has added much-needed musical variety to drive time, and now SIRIUS Travel Link promises to deliver on-demand content on the road, such as fuel prices, weather, sports scores and movie listings. Select 2009 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with a next-generation navigation system will come with a free six-month trial of SIRIUS Travel Link. The hope is that once you enjoy getting gas prices and the locations of over 120,000 service stations, weather reports with real-time radar, and information about movie theaters such as location, show times and ratings, you'll be willing to pay an extra $6.99 a month for the service.
Boom times for the car audio aftermarket may be over, but the industry is still nimble enough to offer solutions to existing car owners that automakers can't. Scosche's BlueFusion, for instance, allows adding hands-free calling as well as wireless music streaming from compatible Bluetooth devices. And while there's plenty of products that accomplish this, BlueFusion also lets you get Caller ID on your vehicle's existing in-dash screen, answer or end calls using factory steering-wheel controls or buttons on the stock radio. The best part is that it's a plug-and-play installation, which means no permanent alteration to your ride. BlueFusion is available for GM, Honda and Toyota vehicles, and Scosche plans to add other makes by the end of 2008. MSRP is $399.99, excluding installation.
HD Radio hasn't come close to hitting critical mass, but with iTunes Tagging, the technology could connect with the millions of drivers who bring their iPods along for the ride. It allows the "tagging" and downloading of songs heard on HD Radio to an iPod at the touch of a button. The next time the iPod is synced with iTunes, the songs pop up and are available for purchase. The technology works with aftermarket radios from Alpine, Dual, Jensen, JVC and Sony, and as more car manufacturers offer HD Radio (BMW/MINI, Ford/Jaguar, Hyundai and Volvo are all onboard) it will likely migrate to the OEMs.
Vaporware
Like the concept cars that carmakers unwrap at auto shows, future technologies that auto-electronics suppliers debut at CES may not hit the highway this year, the next, or ever. But it's always cool to see what their designers and engineers can cook up. Visteon and 3M put together a vehicle that featured a 3D instrument panel that can be used to display detailed navigation information, a widescreen heads-up display for night vision, wireless connectivity and charging for portable devices, and proximity sensors that cause controls in the center-stack to illuminate only when a hand approaches.
Hughes Telematics' DriveConnected plans to connect your computer and your car. Via a Web portal, you can configure Telematic's "Daily Reports" that cull personalized entertainment, news, sports scores and stock info for your commute, plan your route using real-time traffic data and set up to receive audible e-mails. The system lets you file emergency contact info (the name and number of your physician, for example) in case of an accident, and even sends emissions data to your state's DMV (with your permission, of course) so that you can be automatically mailed a smog certificate. Hughes Telematics has already partnered with Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz, but it's up to the automakers to implement the various aspects of the system.
Broadcast TV is one of the final frontiers of in-car entertainment. And while several companies offer mobile satellite TV, the price is prohibitively high, reception can be sketchy, and the bulky antennas require that you drive a large vehicle such as an SUV. At CES, Kenwood showed the world's first mobile Digital Television (DTV) receiver based on the MPH system developed by LG/Zenith and Harris Corporation. Kenwood has set the tentative availability of the receiver for the end of 2008 — no coincidence, since the FCC will pull the plug on analog TV transmission in February 2009.
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. His new book, Car Audio for Dummies, is available from Wiley Publications. He lives in Hood River, Oregon.
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