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Archive for the ‘Automotive’ Category

Apple (NASDAQ:SIRI) Lands Patent for Steering Wheel Control

Posted 17 May 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Radio Industry, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) was granted a patent Tuesday for a steering wheel remote control for a smartphone or iPod-like device.

It’s based on Apple’s old “click wheel” found on the original iPods. But this time it gets a new touch-sensitive design and a system for mounting on the steering wheel, reports Patently Apple.

The patent is for a wireless device that works with a transmitter.

The “click wheel” is mounted on “clamping feet” (pictured below) that attach to the steering wheel, and the clamping feet can rotate depending on the orientation of where the device is mounted. The face of the click wheel also rotates to suit the orientation on the steering wheel. Read More

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Tags: AAPL, Amy Gilroy, Apple, click wheel, control, design, designers, device, filed, iPod, iPods, NASDAQ, NASDAQ:AAPL, pantent, patent, remote control, steering wheel, steering wheel control, steering wheel remote control, system, transmitter, wireless, wireless device

MirrorLink Standard to Determine Best Apps for the Car

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Posted 15 May 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Music Industry, Radio Industry, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

Not every app works well on the dashboard at 50mph. So the Car Connectivity Consortium (which developed the MirrorLink standard for mirroring your smartphone onto the car radio) is creating a standard for certifying which apps are acceptable for MirrorLink, it confirmed.

The certification process should be finalized in October. Read More

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Tags: Alfred Tom, Alpine, Amy Gilroy, App, approved, approved apps, apps, apps approved, car, car connectivity, Car Connectivity Consortium, car radio, certification, certification process, consortium, dashboard, Europe, Galaxy S III, Internet, Internet Radio, MirrorLink, MirrorLink approved apps, MirrorLink car radios, MirrorLink phone, MirrorLink radios, MirrorLink standard, most popular apps, NYSE, NYSE:SNE, NYSE:TM, Phone, radio, radios, restricted, safe, safe apps, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy S III, smartphone, SNE, Sony, Standard, texting, texting app, TM, Toyota, U.S., unrestricted, voice command

New Samsung Galaxy S III Smartphone Breaks Into the Dashboard with MirrorLink: Video

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Posted 14 May 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Radio Industry, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

The new Samsung Galaxy S III won headlines last week for its many intelligent features plus a dazzling screen even larger than that of the hot selling Galaxy S II.

You can see some of the phone’s cool features below.

For the car market, the device breaks ground as the first MirrorLink ready phone in the U.S. to the best of our knowledge. It now looks like MirrorLink will get an official stateside launch this summer, when the Galaxy S III is due for U.S. release and when the first two MirrorLink car radios will launch in the aftermarket—the XAV-701HD ($700) and XAV-601BT ($550)—from Sony (NYSE:SNE). Both are both AV receivers with full control over Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android, Nokia (NYSE:NOK) and Windows Phone (Microsoft, NASDAQ:MSFT) smartphones. Apps appear as mirrored onto the car radio and users may control them from the radio. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone apps will also appear mirrored on the radio. Read More

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Tags: 4G, AAPL, aftermarket, Aha Radio, Amy Gilroy, Analyst, Android, Android 4.0, App, Apple, apps, Cadillac Cue, car, car audio, car market, car radio, car radio screen, CEoutlook, CES, competitor, defacto, defacto standard, display, Egil Juliussen, eye movement, facial recognition, features, Galaxy, Galaxy phone, Galaxy phones, Galaxy S III, Galaxy S3, GOOG, Google, HAR, Harman, Harman International, HTML5, IHS iSuppli, industry, iPhone, launch, Microsoft, mirror image, mirrored, MirrorLink, MirrorLink car radio, MirrorLink car radios, MirrorLink ready, mobile, mobile phone, mobile phone industry, MSFT, NASDAQ, NASDAQ:AAPL, NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:MSFT, new, Nokia, NYSE, NYSE:HAR, NYSE:SNE, OE, OEM, Phone, Phone maker, Pioneer, platform, processor, radio, release, S III, sales, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy S3, screen, ship, SIRI, smart phone, smartphone, smartphones, SNE, Sony, Sony 601, Sony XAV-601BT, Sony XAV-701HD, Standard, Taka Noguchi, TYO:6773, U.S., voice control, Windows, Windows Phone, XAV-601BT, XAV-701HD, Zypr

The New Clarion Next GATE: Video

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Posted 11 May 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Radio Industry, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

The short video below puts Clarion’s Next GATE—a relatively unique product for the aftermarket—through its paces.

The 7-inch “tablet” is basically a dummy unit with no standalone functions until it’s connected to an Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 4 or 4S. The Next GATE takes the apps on your phone and converts them to an easy to read user interface on the 7-inch screen. Read More

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Tags: AAPL, aftermarket, Amy Gilroy, App, Apple, Apple iPhone, apps, car radio, Clarion, Clarion Next GATE, Clarion’s Next GATE, device, functions, Infogation, Inrix traffic, interface, iPhone, iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, microphone, NASDAQ, NASDAQ:AAPL, Next GATE, NYSE, NYSE:P, P, Pandora, Phone, product, screen, SIRI, tablet, TuneIn, Vlingo

Clarion Launches Next GATE

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Posted 10 May 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Media, Radio Industry, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

Clarion (Clarion Co.,Ltd., TYO:6796) introduced Monday a windshield mounted tablet-like device that can control apps on your Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone. Read More

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Tags: AAPL, aftermarket, aftermarket navigation, Amazon, Amy Gilroy, App, Apple, apps, apps app, Bluetooth, calling, car maintenance, Clarion, CLARION CO., Clarion Corp. of America, Clarion Corporation, Clarion Corporation of America, Clarion Next GATE, cloud, Cloud connection, Cloud service, Co., connection, controller, Crutchfield, device, email, features, functions, handsfree, handsfree calling, Infogation, INRIX, Inrix traffic, Internet, Internet Radio, iPhone, iPhone controller, Ltd., NASDAQ, NASDAQ:AAPL, navigation, Next GATE, NYSE, NYSE:P, P, Pandora, Paul Lachner, personalized radio, Phone, President, price, products, Retail, retail price, retailers, screen, security, service, smartphone, social media, speech to text, speech to text app, stations, suggested retail price, tablet, telematics, telematics functions, Traffic, TuneIn, turn-by-turn navigation, TYO:6796, update, updates, Vlingo, WVGA

CEA Responds to NTSB on Safe Driving

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Posted 09 May 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Radio Industry, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) told a Federal safety board that it disagrees with the board’s recommendation that technology for the car should disable portable devices within reach of the driver to prevent driver distraction.

In a letter Tuesday, the CEA told the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), there is no real world evidence to support a blanket ban of use of portable devices by drivers. Instead, the CEA supports banning texting while driving and it supports laws restricting mobile phone use for novice drivers.

The CEA said, “the private sector has aggressively responded to market demand with innovative products and applications that increase driver safety. Current and future technologies could never see the light of day under the NTSB’s broad recommendations, which would inhibit the very innovation that promises safer roadways.” Read More

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Tags: accidents, Amy Gilroy, ban, banning, banning texting, CEA, Consumer Electronics Association, CTIA, CTIA Wireless Association, data, distraction, distraction-related accidents, driver distraction, driver safety, drivers, driving, emergency use, evidence, federal, Federal safety board, laws, letter, mobile, mobile phone, National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, organization, Phone, policies, portable devices, portable electronics devices, recommendation, recommendations, response, safe, safe driving, safe driving policies, Safety, safety board, study, technologies, technology, texting, The Consumer Electronics Association, transportation, vehicle, Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Wireless Association

First Car Audio NFC Device?

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Posted 07 May 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

A new gadget plugs into your car stereo and lets you stream music over Near Field Communications (NFC)– a wireless service similar to Bluetooth that is more secure, but has shorter range.

The matchbox-sized Blackberry (Research in Motion, NASDAQ:RIMM) device plugs into the car radio’s auxiliary jack. It works with any phone or tablet with NFC, not just Blackberry phones. And you just tap your phone against the device to pair it. Your phone becomes a remote control over the music to change tracks, volume, or pause.

Don’t have an NFC phone? The $50 device called the BlackBerry Music Gateway, also offers Bluetooth audio streaming if you pair your phone or tablet. And it works with a home stereo too. Read More

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Tags: aftermarket, Aha, Amy Gilroy, App, audio, audio streaming, Blackberry, Blackberry device, BlackBerry Gateway, BlackBerry Music Gateway, Blackberry phones, Bluetooth, car, car audio, car security, car stereo, cloud, cloud connected, concept, concept vehicle, connected, connection, device, Directed, email, Facebook, gadget, Gateway, Harman, home stereo, Kenwood, mobile, mobile technologies, music, Music Gateway, NASDAQ, NASDAQ:RIMM, Near Field Communications, Near Field Communications technology, NFC, NFC device, NFC phone, OEM, Phone, phones, pre-order, radio, radio app, range, remote control, Research In Motion, Rick Noetzli, RIMM, secure, secure connection, service, stream, streaming, tablet, technologies, technology, Twitter, vehicle, wireless, wireless service

Sirius XM (NASDAQ:SIRI) and Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH) Announce Free Trial Subscription Program for Pre-Owned Vehicle Customers

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Posted 04 May 2012 — by Demian Russian
Category Automotive, Media, Radio Industry, Sirius XM (SIRI) News

By Demian Russian

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) and Sonic Automotive (NYSE:SAH), one of largest automotive retailers in the U.S., have jointly announced that all of Sonic Automotive’s 108 dealerships will now automatically offer their customers free 3-month trial subscriptions to Sirius XM Radio to those customers purchasing pre-owned vehicles that are satellite radio-equipped – regardless of manufacturer.

Sonic Automotive is one of the largest pre-owned vehicle retailers in the country and we are thrilled to have all their locations participating in the SiriusXM pre-owned vehicle program. Including a 3-month SiriusXM subscription is a fantastic benefit to Sonic Automotive customers, allowing them to leave the lot with unparalleled entertainment delivered by SiriusXM and accessible at the touch of a button in their newly-acquired pre-owned vehicles.

– Joe Verbrugge, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Automotive Remarketing and Retail Sales, SiriusXM

Following recent announcements with Hyundai Motor America, Toyota Motor Sales, Asbury Automotive Group, Chrysler Group, as well as Nissan and Infiniti, this deal with Sonic Automotive is yet another example of Sirius XM Radio’s continuing efforts to penetrate the pre-owned vehicle market. Read More

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Tags: Asbury Automotive, Asbury Automotive Group, Chrysler, Chrysler Group, customers, deal, dealerships, Demian Russian, Free, free trial, Hyundai, Hyundai Motor America, Inc., Infiniti, Joe Verbrugge, manufacturer, market, NASDAQ, NASDAQ: SIRI, NASDAQ:SIRI, Nissan, NYSE, NYSE:SAH, pre-owned, pre-owned vehicle, pre-owned vehicle market, pre-owned vehicle program, pre-owned vehicle retailers, pre-owned vehicles, program, radio, retailers, SAH, Satellite Radio, satellite radio-equipped, SIRI, Sirius, Sirius Radio, Sirius XM, Sirius XM Radio, SiriusXM, SiriusXM Radio, Sonic Automotive, Sonic Automotive Inc., subscription, Toyota, Toyota Motor Sales, tree trial, trial, vehicle, vehicles, XM, XM Radio

Harman International (NYSE:HAR) Brands Coming to More Cars

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Posted 04 May 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics

By Amy Gilroy

Harman International (NYSE:HAR) said it continues to gain market share in OEM car audio and infotainment. And its Harman Kardon and JBL names will be more widely available in new car high end audio systems.

Harman also said it is benefiting from its deals with luxury car makers.

“The luxury car segment we serve has been highly resilient and has outpaced the overall automotive market, and we continue to gain market share,” said CEO Dinesh C. Paliwal.

For branded audio systems, the Harman Kardon name will appear in BMW X3, 5, 6 and 7 series luxury vehicles in a new deal with the automaker. Harman also extended its premium audio relationship with Daimler (PINK:DDAIF) for Harman Kardon branded systems on Mercedes M, GLK, A, B, SLK, and SL class vehicles. Read More

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Tags: Amy Gilroy, audio, audio systems, automaker, automotive, automotive market, BMW, brand, branded, branded system, brands, car audio, car makers, cars, CEO, Chinese, company, Daimler, DDAIF, deal, deals, Dinesh C. Paliwal, F12, Ferrari, Ferrari F12, Geneva Motor Show, HAR, Harman, Harman International, Harman Kardon, Income, Indian, infotainment, international, JBL, luxury, luxury car makers, luxury car segment, luxury vehicles, market, market share, Mercedes, Mercedes Benz, MINI, MINI Roadster R59, net income, net sales, NYSE, NYSE:HAR, OEM, OEM audio, OEM infotainment, Peugeot, Peugeot 208, PINK, PINK:DDAIF, premium audio, sales, system, vehicles

Pioneer Study Finds High In-Car App Use

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Posted 03 May 2012 — by Amy Gilroy
Category Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Internet Radio, Radio Industry, Technology

By Amy Gilroy

Almost 80 percent of smartphone owners use apps in the car, according to a recent study by Harris Interactive on behalf of Pioneer (TYO:6773).

The top 3 most used apps are maps and navigation (56 percent), music (31 percent) and social networking (24 percent).

Pioneer also announced Wednesday that its Android kit for the AppRadio2 is now available. The $119 cable kit lets the AppRadio2 work with 15 models of Android phones, in addition to working with the Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone. Read More

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Tags: AAPL, album art, Amy Gilroy, Android, Android kit, Android Phones, App, AppRadio, AppRadio 2, AppRadio2, apps, cable kit, car, control, dock, Harris Interactive, in-car, in-car app, in-dash, Internet Radio, iPhone, NASDAQ, NASDAQ:AAPL, navigation, phones, Pioneer, smartphone, social networking, song information, study

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) Reports Record Breaking First Quarter Results

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Posted 01 May 2012 — by Demian Russian
Category Analyst Coverage, Automotive, Internet Radio, Investing, Media, Programming News, Radio Industry, Sirius XM (SIRI) News, Trading

By Demian Russian

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) - CEO - Mel Karmazin

SiriusXM CEO Mel Karmazin

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) released its Q1 2012 financial and operating results this morning and discussed those results during a conference call held at 8:00AM ET. The satellite radio service provider reported some record breaking numbers, including 405,000 net new subscribers for the quarter — the highest reported subscriber growth for the company in any Q1 since the 2008 merger of Sirius and XM.

The company also posted $805 Million in Quarterly Revenue, up 11% year-over-year and also a new record. Other highlights included Net Income of $108 Million ($0.02 per diluted share), which is up 38% year-over-year, Adjusted EBITDA of $208 Million, up 15% year-over-year, and Free Cash Flow of $15 Million, up from (-$17) million in the first quarter of 2011, the first time the company has ever reported a positive Free Cash Flow number in a first quarter.

All of this was possible while also reporting a decrease in self-pay monthly churn year-over-year, from 2.0% to 1.9%, which is also notable because this is the first quarter that subscribers were impacted by the price increase Sirius XM instituted on January 1st, 2012. The new vehicle consumer conversion rate remained stable at 45%. In light of a strengthening auto sales channel, Sirius XM management also raised their 2012 subscriber growth guidance from 1.3 Million to 1.5 million. Read More

Tags: 2.0, 2012, Analyst, auto sales, CEO, Churn, company, Conference Call, Demian Russian, EBITDA, financial, First Quarter, first quarter results, Free Cash Flow, guidance, Income, Karmazin, management, Mel, Mel Karmazin, NASDAQ: SIRI, NASDAQ:SIRI, price increase, Q1, Q1 results, quarter, radio, results, revenue, Satellite Radio, Satellite Radio 2.0, SIRI, Sirius, Sirius Radio, Sirius XM, Sirius XM Radio, SiriusXM, SiriusXM Radio, Subscribers, XM

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI): Volkswagen to Now Offer Customers Free 4-Year Subscription to SiriusXM Traffic

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Posted 30 Apr 2012 — by Demian Russian
Category Automotive, Media, Radio Industry, Sirius XM (SIRI) News

By Demian Russian

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) and Volkswagen of America, Inc. jointly announced this morning that Volkswagen customers who purchase 2013 model year vehicles equipped with RNS 510 and RNS 850 navigation systems will now receive a free 4-year subscription to SiriusXM Traffic, providing access to traffic flow and speed information, along with accident information that assists drivers in routing around congested areas.

In addition, Volkswagen customers who purchase 2013 Volkswagen models that include RNS 510 navigation system will also receive a free 3-month trial subscription to SiriusXM Travel Link, providing drivers with premium data services and information, including fuel prices, weather forecasts, sports updates and movie listings. Read More