Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Audi introduces the next MMI]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/21/audi-introduces-the-next-mmi/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/21/audi-introduces-the-next-mmi/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/21/audi-introduces-the-next-mmi/#commentsFiled under: , ,



If you're buying an A8 this year, prepare to spend a lot of time getting to know your new MMI system. We have consistently thought that Audi's buttons-and-knob interface is the best, and it looks like they've put an entire NASA team on the job of making it better. A seven-inch TFT screen with 800x400 resolution is now controlled by an 8-position joystick. Moving from one screen to another is done via "elegant crossfades," which sounds a bit PowerPoint-ish, but we'll wait until we see it to judge. And among other improvements, navigational maps can be rendered in "birds-eye perspective" 3D, with topographical map coloration. The only thing missing is the Encyclopedia Britanica. You can check out the exhaustive press release after the jump.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi introduces the next MMI

Audi introduces the next MMI originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a8audiaudi a8audi mmiAudiA8AudiMmicar audioCarAudioelectronicsmminavinavigationsatnavMon, 21 Jul 2008 13:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Scion picks a partner for HD Radio]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/18/scion-picks-a-partner-for-hd-radio/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/18/scion-picks-a-partner-for-hd-radio/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/18/scion-picks-a-partner-for-hd-radio/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Scion has selected iBiquity Digital to provide HD Radio technology in some of its audio systems. Scion hasn't said how it plans to integrate iBiquity into Scions, or which cars will get the systems first, but the partnership marks another incursion of HD Radio into the mass market -- BMW, Ford and Jaguar already offer it, with Volvo opening the HD spigot next year. HD Radio offers stations the ability to transmit multiple programs over a single FM frequency with crystal clear reception -- and there are more than 1,600 stations across the nation, available to 83-percent of the country. In the future, HD plans to introduce features that will match or better those offered by satellite radio. But unlike satellite radio, HD is free.

[Source: Toyota]

Scion picks a partner for HD Radio originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiocar audioCarAudiohd radioHdRadioibiquityscionFri, 18 Apr 2008 18:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Retro Sound radio brings modern music to your classic car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/15/retro-sound-radio-brings-modern-music-to-your-classic-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/15/retro-sound-radio-brings-modern-music-to-your-classic-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/15/retro-sound-radio-brings-modern-music-to-your-classic-car/#commentsFiled under: ,



The great thing about vintage cars is, well, they're vintage cars. One of their drawbacks is vintage sound from vintage speakers and vintage playback capabilities. For those times when neither 8-tracks nor some gaudy modern stereo system will do, the Retro Sound Model One keeps things looking smartly classic.

The Model One is essentially modern mechanicals in a classic face -- it's even got chromed knobs, and the mounting system is so flexible that it works with stereos that only use one knob. In addition to 24 presets and a host of outputs, it's also got a USB connection and an auxiliary port, so you can play from just about anything, and the display shows the track names. And if the Retro Sound is still too modern for you, you can get the remote and hide the radio entirely in the glovebox.

[Source: Retro Sound]

Retro Sound radio brings modern music to your classic car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiocar audiocar stereosCarAudioCarStereosclassic car audioclassic car stereosClassicCarAudioClassicCarStereosmodel oneModelOneretro soundretro sound model oneretrosoundRetroSoundModelOnestereosFri, 15 Feb 2008 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Surprise! Ford's SYNC sells cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/03/surprise-fords-sync-sells-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/03/surprise-fords-sync-sells-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/03/surprise-fords-sync-sells-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ford developed its SYNC system with Microsoft and has an 18-month exclusive license to sell the system, which is something we weren't aware of until recently. It turns out, however, that the exclusive rights aren't being wasted: Ford reports that SYNC-equipped cars are finding twice as many buyers as cars without SYNC. One dealer said "People who won't spend a dollar more for power door locks have to have SYNC." Keep in mind this news is coming from Ford, but clearly SYNC is appealing to the common customer.

The multi-media controlling option appears to have won so many over by being easy to learn, genuinely useful for different age groups, and cheap at only $395. Scott Burgess of The Detroit News, when building his dream car, called it "the best $395 option of 2007." It also appears to be inverting the car buying decision for some, with people knowing that they want a car with SYNC then choosing among the available models.

SYNC is still young, though. If the kinds of things that PC owners and Microsoft critics have bemoaned for ages begin to creep in, then the fortunes of SYNC could sink just as quickly. But for now it's good times, and if you've been checking out SYNC from the sidelines, you might be interested to know that v2.0 will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in a couple weeks.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Surprise! Ford's SYNC sells cars

Surprise! Ford's SYNC sells cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car audioCarAudiocesfordford syncFordSyncmultimediasyncThu, 03 Jan 2008 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[CES 2007: The Cars of CES Part IV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/12/ces-2007-the-cars-of-ces-part-iv/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/12/ces-2007-the-cars-of-ces-part-iv/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/12/ces-2007-the-cars-of-ces-part-iv/#commentsFiled under: , ,



In Part IV, the final installment in our CES Car Show, you get VW Beetles and a four-door GTI used as a guitar amp, a Roush Mustang, a mostly untouched (thank god!), bright red Lotus Exige and various other autos we saw around the show.

While we didn't get to hear the GTI in play, but the Beetles actually sounded quite good. We know some amateur bands that have amps that sound much worse than the car's speakers. Then again, it could be their guitar-playing abilities. We can't wait until someone puts together a concert with about 20 Beetles on stage as amplifiers. Could you bill it as The Beetles United?

Enjoy all 22 high-res 1280x photos in our gallery.

CES 2007: The Cars of CES Part IV originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car audioCarAudioCES 2007CES 2007 carsCES audioces car audioCES car showces custom carsces mobile audioces speakersCes2007Ces2007CarsCesAudioCesCarAudioCesCarShowCesCustomCarsCesMobileAudioCesSpeakerscustom carsCustomCarsfree guitarFreeGuitarVolkswagen First actVolkswagen free guitarVolkswagen guitarVolkswagenFirstActVolkswagenFreeGuitarVolkswagenGuitarVW first actVW guitarVwFirstActVwGuitarFri, 12 Jan 2007 11:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Mitsubishi cuts deal with SIRIUS Satellite Radio]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/01/mitsubishi-cuts-deal-with-sirius-satellite-radio/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/01/mitsubishi-cuts-deal-with-sirius-satellite-radio/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/01/mitsubishi-cuts-deal-with-sirius-satellite-radio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mitsubishi Motors North America announced Monday that it will offer SIRIUS radio as a standard feature or factory option, starting with four models this fall, and expanding to the full Mitsubishi product line next year. All SIRIUS-equipped vehicles will include a pre-paid six month subscription.

The first models to come standard with SIRIUS will be the 2007 Galant RALLIART, and the Endeavor SE, as well as the Raider LS and DuroCross double-cab pickups.

Other automakers exclusively partnered with SIRIUS include Aston Martin, Audi, BMW and Chrysler, among others.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Mitsubishi cuts deal with SIRIUS Satellite Radio originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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