Automotive Mobile Audio Video

In-vehicle "infotainment" systems are spreading like wildfire and, as more consumers want to bring their home-style electronics into their cars, the growth won't stop any time soon. The proliferation of devices like GPS systems, video and digital music players and the like has given manufacturers cause to look for ways to integrate these systems with significant storage capacity in the form of Hard Disk Drives (HDDs).

Toshiba Storage Device Division, which currently commands more than 80% of the automotive HDD market, says that a breakthrough recording technology-known as perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR)-will have a great impact on the ability to increase storage capacity for automotive applications and meet the growing demands of consumers.

In addition to the GPS navigation systems and satellite radios already commonplace on many of today's cars, other digital technologies that are suggested to be possibilities include time-shifted radio recording/ playback; rear-seat gaming/programming via downloads from cable or satellite; and digital video player, digital camera and complete PC functionality. And all of them will be able to run simultaneously using a single HDD.

In the United States, the first wave of automobiles featuring factory-installed, HDD-based digital solutions including entertainment and navigation will hit the road in model year 2007. It's reported that nearly every major car manufacturer is working to design HDD-based systems into their 2007 offerings.

# posted by Medical Information : 3:23 AM