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Friday June 20, 2008
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If you've got a car with a double-DIN radio opening, you can get a new audio unit with premium GPS, Bluetooth, and iPod capability for less than $1,000. A case in point is Pioneer's new AVIC-F head units (radios) that also have access to Google services. The cheapest, the AVIC-F700BT, runs $850 street. It includes:
-- A single-disc CD player that reads MP3 and WMA files.
-- A Pioneer-based (of course) navigation system with 12 million points of interest.
-- A 5.8-inch wide VGA touchscreen.
-- Knobs to the left of the screen that are actually big enough to be useful, something of a rarity in replacement car audio units.
-- Bluetooth.
-- An SD slot in front and a USB jack in back.
-- Google services. With a Bluetooth phone connected, you tap the dedicated Google icon to acces GOOG-411 and get a free business phone number, then call it. With Google Maps, you can look up a bunch of addresses in advance, then transfer them (via SD card) to the head unit as custom POIs.
-- The ability to connect an iPod by buying a $50 cable.
-- Connectors for (you can have all three) HD Radio, Sirius satellite radio, and XM satellite radio.
That's the entry level. For $1,100, the Pioneer AVIC-F900BT adds a DVD drive (audio and video) and access to the MSN Direct service which provides, for a fee, things such as real-time traffic and weather reports, movie times, and restaurant listings (in big cities). On this model and the Premier line AVIC-F90BT some landmarks show up on the navigation screen as 3D icons.
What's double-DIN? It's a cutout about 7 inches wide by 4 inches high and some cars still have it, especially minivans. It lets you order the cheapest factory radio and then add a good radio and navigation system that's essentially as good as what the automakers offer for $1,000 less.
Posted By:
Bill Howard
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