Automotive Mobile Audio Video

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2008-04-04T22:11:00.000-07:00

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Understanding A Car Audio System

2008-03-17T05:01:00.001-07:00

There was a time when automobiles did not have car audio system at all. These days, it is hard to find any type of automotive vehicle that does not have some sort of sound system built in or attached. Car audio systems are very important to most auto owners and the types of systems available have a very wide range. There are also many components that can be used to complete your audio system such as amplifiers, head units, speakers and auxiliary input devices that work together to provide you with a complete system that fits your needs.

An amplifier allows you to increase signals that are processed through the amplifier to make them audible. Basically, amplifiers can take a weak audio signal and boost it to generate a signal strong enough to use speakers. The size of the amplifier needed will be based on the system you are putting together.

Speakers tend to be the main component that is in focus when building a car audio system. Keep in mind that in order for your speakers to perform that their best capacity that you must have other equipment to support so there able to reach it. Various styles will have advantages and disadvantages. Speakers themselves are what take a digital signal and convert them to actual audio. Placement of speakers can also greatly affect the sound quality that the vehicle occupants are able to enjoy.

The head unit is what controls what you actually hear. This includes volume, tuning, bass, treble, and any equalizer options. This is also commonly the device in which you will insert your tape, cd, or input any sort of digital audio.

It is important not to "skimp" on any of these devices when building an audio system if you expect to have a premium sounding system. If any of these components are not quality or do not meet the requirements of your system you will notice when it is complete and at that point it could be costly to reinstall and purchase new equipment.

Purchasing such components online can be a very good way to cut the cost of the equipment. Commonly, car audio purchased from retail locations carry a very large margin so be sure to compare the prices online to your local retailers to see the huge difference. As far as installation goes, make sure you are working with a person or company that you can trust will do a good job with your vehicle along with charging you a reasonable price.

Understanding A Car Audio System

2008-03-17T05:01:00.000-07:00

How To Improve Car Audio Quality - Dynamat - Reduce Road Noise, Vibrations, And Distortion

2008-03-15T02:36:00.000-07:00

One of the hidden treasures of the car audio industry is sound dampening material. Not very many people know that such things exist, but they do and they may greatly improve the quality of your audio system. Various companies like Dynamat, Scosche, and Hushmat have available for you various sizes for different applications. You could either do your entire car or just spots that you know make a lot of noise such as door panels or the inside of your trunk.

How does it work?
Distortion and other unwanted noise occur when you simply drive on the road or when you are listening to loud music. It is cause by whatever surface you're driving on and that vibration is transferred through the mechanical movement of your tires, wheels, and suspension/strut system. When you are listening to loud music, your speaker or subwoofer causes certain part to vibrate in ways they would not normally move, causing rattles of many parts in your vehicle. In addition, your engine also contributes more noise and vibration; and the combination of all this noise gets collected inside your car and hampers the sound quality from being delivered at an optimal level.

Think of sound dampening mats as smaller-scale Tempur-Pedic mattresses for your car. You may have seen the commercial where disturbance on one side of the mattress will not disturb the other person on the opposite side. Dynamat uses the viscoelasticity property of the padding material to diffuse sound energy so that outside noise will not enter the vehicle or when applied on door panels for example, the vibration is greatly reduced or would not be heard from the interior. Sound is also kept within your vehicle and in so doing, keeping a much accurate sound inside rather than allowing it to escape.

The Improvement
As you could probably imagine, applying the mat would improve the sonic purity that your system produces. So imagine listening to music as loud as you want, without any rattles, distortion, or other outside noise. It will allow you to hear your music easier too so you won't have to always max out the volume.

Companies like Hushmat and Dynamat have reported outside noise reduction of up to 10 dB per complete application. Some vehicles could even have up to 20 dB noise reduction if properly matted and when using proper material. And because sound is also kept from escaping so easily out of your vehicle, you will find that your bass will also increase to about 3 dB in SPL.

If you want to improve the sound quality of your system in a cost-effective way, this is definitely a great way to do so. You could probably find plenty of affordable package deals out there like padding for two speakers for around 20 bucks or 360 square feet of padding material for around 40 bucks.

Making Installing a TV Tuner in Your Car a Simple Project

2008-03-14T00:16:00.000-07:00

In-car TV tuners aren't just for mini-vans and large SUV's anymore. Technology and car audio have joined forces to make those long road trips seem enjoyable for once. With their hard work even the smallest compact car can now benefit from a drop-down screen to watch the latest DVD's or to even watch the local television stations. Thanks to this latest innovation in car audio that whole "are we there yet" is dead and hopefully gone forever.

What also makes TV tuners in your car a great thing is that they are absolutely an affordable option for any car owner. It can be as simple or as complex as you want with choices such as a portable all-in-one system that hangs from the roof or to custom component integrations which are stowed away in your dash or headrests. They pretty much can be installed virtually anywhere in your car.

The intricacies in wiring it, mounting it, and deciding which of your current stereo components can stay, which can go, and which get hooked to what can be overwhelming to someone less experienced in car audio installation. That doesn't mean you shouldn't or can't try however. Here are a few quick and simple steps to show you how.

Before you go uninstalling your car's dashboard or actually anything at all, read up on which TV tuners are compatible with your current video system. There are certain tuners that will only work with the same brand of video equipment for your unit to work correctly.
Lift up your car's hood and, with a wrench or socket, disconnect the battery cables from the battery. If you are not sure which size socket you should use, your owner's manual can tell you the correct size.
Now you need to make a decision on where you are going to mount the TV tuner. The spot should be in a location where it won't be hit, bumped, or crushed which is one reason why under the seat or in the trunk are two of the more popular choices. The tuner unit should have come with mounting brackets and screws for you to install it correctly.
The tuner will be powered by your car's power supply and battery so you'll need to route the TV tuner's power wire to that fuse block. The power wire is then connected to an accessory power output in the fuse block. If you have any questions about the location of the accessory output or the fuse block, refer back to your car's owner's manual again.
The tuner's infrared receiver or also called its "eye" is attached. The spot should be placed where the eye is accessible to the IR remote control. The tuner's manufacturer's instruction should help you with any installation questions you may have with this step.
Now, route the audio/video cable from the tuner's video output port to the monitor's video input port and securely connect the cable to receive the best signal.

Now that the tuner is correctly installed and mounted in your car, you can reattach the battery cables, start the car and give it a test. First, turn on the video system and using the remote turn on the TV tuner. You should be receiving all of the local TV stations if you installed everything correctly.

A Look At Car Audio Components

2008-03-13T03:39:00.000-07:00

The Head Unit

The Head Unit is the brains of the operation. Without this component, your car audio system can't and won't work. The head unit is the central processing device in the system. The head unit controls all the functions in your car audio system. Music too loud? Turn down the volume. Too soft? Turn it up. Want more bass? Add bass input. In addition to volume, bass, etc., the head unit may contain other systems within its casing. These include: tuner, cassette, equalizer, CD or amplifier.

You see, in a home music system, where you have much more room, many stereo setups will include a separate box for each one of these components -- CD, cassette, etc. You may have a home system like that yourself. In a car, with its space limitations, these components are often crammed into one box -- the head unit. This depends upon a number of factors, such as heat, space, cosmetic design and other concerns, and every car is different.

The Amplifier

All car audio systems have an amplifier, even if it's a small one. Occasionally the amplifier will be attached to the rear of the head unit; however, in most systems it is hidden elsewhere in the car to better dissipate heat. Signal amplification is actually a two-stage process, handled by two separate components. These are the preamplifier and the power amplifier.

The preamplifier (preamp, for short) is a very tiny signal coming directly from the head unit. Whether it's reproducing a cassette signal, a CD signal, or an FM broadcast, the preamp puts out a signal that the amplifier can use. This is where the power amplifier takes over. It's the power amp's job to take the signal from the preamp and boost it into the audible range. We'll cover this in more depth in our Amplifier column in this series. Again, because of heat, most amplifiers are located away from the head unit.

The Speakers

The speakers take the boosted signal from the power amp and create sound waves. Essentially, speakers transform electrical energy (the amplified signal) into mechanical energy (the motion of the speaker cone). For now, know that all sound is vibration, which is a chain of frequencies in the air that eventually vibrate the membranes in your eardrums. Sound energy is measured in wavelengths, known as hertz, with the audible range falling between 20 to 20,000 cycles. A cycle is the distance from the top of one wavelength to the top of the next.

There are three types of speakers that produce sounds across the audible spectrum: woofers, tweeters and midrange drivers. As the name implies, the woofer reproduces the lower frequencies. The tweeter, also aptly named, replicates the highest register. The midrange handles the frequencies in between.

Auxiliary Input Devices

Components such as CD changers and equalizers, not to mention cell phones, navigation systems, MP3 players and many of the newer technologies, interface with the head unit for amplification and signal processing.

With a little knowledge of car audio components, it's time to start searching for your own car audio system!

Fiberglass Speaker Boxes

2008-03-11T03:20:00.001-07:00

Most speaker boxes are either fiberglass mat, or MDF construction. MDF while easy to work with and achieve good results, lacks the custom touch. Fiberglass allows you more freedom to do what you want. In this guide we are are building a simple box to show the process of working with speaker rings and glass mat. Many of the same steps apply for a built in sub woofer box.

Start by cutting out a MDF base for your new enclosure. If you are building a built in box, this does not apply to you. Once you have your base, you need to figure out how you want to aim your speaker. How you aim them depends on the type of speaker and personal preference. Once you know how you want to aim the speaker you can start cutting and gluing dowels to hold the speaker rings in the correct alignment. These dowels only need to be strong enough to hold the rings until your first resin application dries. Make your enclosure the correct size to meet the volume needs provided by the speaker manufacturer.

Next using hot glue or stables wrap your form in either fleece or cotton. While fleece is the preferred fabric, I like to use cotton. Cotton will soak up less resin which makes for a stronger lighter box.

With the fabric stretched tight you can apply the first layer of resin. In this step you do not use glass mat. You are just trying to get the fabric to retain a shape you can work with. For resin, I recommend a cheap poly based resin. There is no need for more exotic epoxy resins as the resin will not see high stresses or UV. In any case, you should follow the resin manufactures instructions for mixing and working in only a well ventilated area. If you have experience with fiberglass you can add up to 50% more hardner to speed cure times. Any more than 50% compromises strength and creates too much heat.

Now that you have a rigid form you can begin building your mat layers. I suggest the heavy weight mat used by marinas for boat hulls. The heavy weight mat is both inexpensive and strong. Mix enough resin to lay down 3-4 pieces of mat that are 12"x12". You can cut down a large paint brush to apply resin and stab out air pocket. Another method is to use a fiberglass roller. No matter what method you use keep you tools in paint thinner between coats to prevent them from becoming un-usable. Keep applying mat and resin until the enclosure is complete and sturdy. A good gauge of when the box is strong enough is when it can support your full weight.

Once the sub-woofer box is strong enough to support your weight, completely sand it with 80grit sand paper to provide a good base for the auto-body filler you will apply.

The key to applying auto-body filler, is use thin coats and more coats than you think you need. You will need to sand between coats to prevent de-lamination. Whenever sanding use a quality dust mask.

Keep applying and sanding off the filler until all major holes and dimples are filled. Now is the time to install any speaker terminals or brackets you need to complete your install. I also take this time to remove any dowels that have become loose. For any I cannot remove, I simply mud them in place to prevent them from coming loose later.

If you plan to carpet your enclosure you can stop at this point. If you are going to paint it you need to apply a glaze coat to fill any pin holes and minor dimples left. After the finish is defect free sand from 120 to 600 grit sandpaper in preparation for primer and paint. From here you have a wide variety of choices from lacquer paint to Rhino-Liner.

Adding An Amplifier To Your Car Stereo System

2008-03-11T03:18:00.001-07:00

To get the loudest and best sound quality from your car's stereo system, you will need to add an amplifier to the system. As good as after market head units are, they just don't produce enough power to give you great sound at higher volumes. Here are some tips for adding an amplifier to your car stereo system.

Amplifiers can take the signals from your head unit and give you a much more powerful, cleaner signal to power your cars speakers. When adding am amplifier, it is important to know your speakers limitations. Most factory speakers won't do well with an amplified signal, so you will want to upgrade these as well in a lot of cases. Look for the ratings of continuous power or RMS ratings. These ratings will give you the best indication of how much power the speakers can hold. Match this rating to the amplifier rating to ensure you are getting everything out of the system, and that you will have a system that will be durable and last.

The signals the speakers receive should also be taken into account. Larger subwoofers need the frequencies on the lower end to produce the bass tones, but you wan to be sure to exclude frequencies that are above, and below, the recommended range. Too low and you risk damaging the speaker, and too high can cause some undesirable results sound wise. Most amps are quipped with a subsonic (too low of a frequency) filter to avoid the low frequencies. They also have a crossover that will eliminate the higher frequencies as well. These two components allow the speaker to get the frequencies it needs for optimum performance.

Smaller speakers should also be set up to get the frequencies they need. If amplified, these speakers almost always should have a crossover attached to ensure that big bass tones won't damage the speakers designed for midrange response and high frequencies. Dividing the sound into low, middle and high frequencies using the different types of speakers creates a medley of tuned sound that gives the experience we want from our systems.

Pay attention to ohms and power ratings, and be sure to match all accordingly. Combining multiple speakers on one channel always affects the ohm rating of the system, and can be detrimental if the system is not designed for it. Subwoofer amplifiers tend to be more forgiving due to their low impedance (ohms) ratings and flexibility. Remember, it is the combination of power and precision that make the system sound the best.

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Adding An Amplifier To Your Car Stereo System

2008-03-11T03:18:00.000-07:00

Online Car Music System Stores

2008-02-26T04:18:00.001-08:00

In the age of 21st century, it has really become a practiced concept to do the window-shopping and then to decide the branding of the product. The increasing use of Internet has made the process more customer friendly, more time saving and at the same time much more productive and vivid. People can choose any brand without even visiting a shop or a mall. This holds true for car music system also.

On the other side of the coin use of car is no more a luxury or has remained limited to the use for only the professionals. Young-stars are now using this particular product a lot nowadays. That is why the accessories of car have gone through a sea change and all the designs have been modulated according to the demand of the age. Car audio system has now, following this trend, become an integral part of the vehicle and it is now coming with different features, new attractions, and at different price ranges. And at the same time the popularity of e-commerce has opened a new venue for shopping that is online shopping.

Keeping these facts and developments in view some of the leading stores have already opened their online shopping profile where all the categories with their respective price range and specification are posted and added with the hyperlink of the respective company background. Even some of the manufacturing companies do post their trouble shooting facts on line to prove the customer friendliness of the product as well as the liberal policy of the said company.

Customers can get the main link with the help of the search engines and can do the window shopping while being in the remote privacy of their room. People with different budgets can easily find their option without consulting a sales person. In the good stores all kind of accessories related to car system is attached with hyperlink and provided with all details and general FAQs related to that particular product and company.

Some of the popular car audio system products with a large demand are Pioneer car stereo, JVC, Panasonic Car audio, MB Quart, Q-Logic, Sony. There are many more categories to keep the customers bewildered about choosing a particular brand. Once they have selected a brand they can click at the contact button of the said sores, being displayed in the web site and accordingly through a mail can contact the sales department of the company. In some of the stores you get the benefit of purchasing an item online and to pay off by credit card or e-transaction. That saves time and manual involvement but this process has not become much popular till now, as some people still feel skeptical to disclose the credit card or debit card number on the Internet.

Some popular categories of online audio stores are as follows:

Car stereo
Car subwoofer
Car navigator
Satellite radio
i-pod Car accessories
Car DVD players
Car amplifiers
Radar detectors
Car alarms.

Nowadays the concept of online car audio system stores has become more and more popular. This fact is corroborated by the latest survey, which found that such web sites are attracting more traffic per day as compared to the status two to three years before. The only criterion for the online store sites to be popular and useful is the accessibility factor coupled with the language that should be easy and less technical.

What to Look for in Children's Car Accessories

2008-02-26T04:11:00.000-08:00

One of the enduring nightmares of parenthood is the long distance car journey. Visits to family, inter-State vacations, traveling home for the holidays, all can bring even the most composed family to their knees with the endless noise and boredom-induced frolics from the back seat. Parents themselves could probably relate, having no doubt been the source of such high jinks in their own childhood, if it weren't for the fact that they themselves are faced with the rigors of the road ahead, as well as the incessant bedlam from the rear!

Toy manufacturers and inventors alike have pondered the problem for many years, and a number of distractions have come to market, which can usually reduce, if not completely eradicate, the root of all annoyance. Having scoured the market myself, and inadvertently tested myriad gadgets along the way, here are my recommendations for the qualities you'll need in an effective child car accessory:

A Feast for the Senses
Whatever you choose to engage your child with, it should be a focus for the senses; be it visual or aural, a child is usually mesmerized by something that busies their eyes and ears. The more senses you can stimulate, the fewer there are left to cause annoyance. Such has been the success of the in-car DVD player, that many a vehicle has waved goodbye to the wrong kind of noises.

Portability
An obvious requirement for something that need to travel, you might think, but children also need distractions when they get to their destination, and will often switch their allegiance from one toy to the next in the blink of an eye, and so you may need to pack them high! Whatever you choose, keep it small enough to sit in the lap or hang from the chair back.

No Jigsaws
Not to be taken literally, this really refers to any accessory which breaks up into many pieces. Pieces get lost under seats, between seats, and more seriously, in any orifice your child deems fit to house them!

Non-marking
Junior would love to get the opportunity to draw all manner of pictures and scrawls all over your lovely upholstery, but such an event would cause more frustration in the front seats than the noise you were intending to turn the volume down on. Replace a felt pen with an etch-a-sketch, for example.

In summary, those long journeys need not be a chore. Your children need distractions as much as we do, but our concentration on the road needs to be paramount, for the safety of all inside. By thinking through your children's car accessory choices, you'll enhance your vacation experience for everyone.

Kicker S12L7, S8L7, S10L7, S15L7 Subwoofer Review 2006-2008 Model - High Performance, Quality, Power

2008-02-25T03:30:00.001-08:00

Kicker's ingenuity is the reason why they're one of the top contenders for the best car audio components. The result of that ingenuity is the production of Kicker's L7 Series Solo-Baric subwoofers. We will review in this article particularly the S12L74; a 12" dual 4 ohm L7 subwoofer.

Pros
Power handling, that is all I have to say. But really, this mighty subwoofer could handle monstrous 1500 watts max with 750 watts RMS. Unlike other cheaper companies, when Kicker say they feature a 750 watts RMS, they really do mean 750 watts RMS. This means you can put out consistently loud (if supplied with proper power) bass on any given day and is capable of peaking at 1500 watts.

The cone is surprisingly not made of any unusual material but uses injection molded polypropylene. However, it is a one piece construction in a patented design Kicker dubbed as "SoloKon". And of course with Solo-Baric construction, it is a square design, allowing for more surface area and more bass production. To top it all off, the surround is Santoprene rubber that is stitched to the cone, providing a highly durable construction that will sure to prevent tearing during high power usage.

Cons
The subwoofer is pricey but you get what you pay for and this subwoofer will definitely impress you with its quality and SPL. With all these great punching features, the subwoofer does have one more drawback other than the price, and that is its break-in period.

The design requires the consumer to use the subwoofer at low levels for at least 20 hours or about two weeks. This will allow for the suspension structure to move around a bit before it is pushed to its optimum capability. It's a lot like how stiff baseball gloves are when you buy them brand new from the store, and they require a bit of breaking in and wear before it could be at all usable on the field. Unfortunately users will run a huge risk of blowing out the speakers if they do not properly follow Kicker's recommendation.

Newer Model Changes Notes
The 2008 and newer models will feature a modified SoloKon design with full back bracing to allow more efficient air movement, giving the new L7 subs the ability to punch much more powerful bass. Unlike the 2006 model, the new 2008 models have perimeter venting. It looks a lot like a hand holding a square bowl; where as the older models have virtually no openings for venting. As a result, there is no need for extra mounting space for venting-giving you the same powerful subwoofer with a much shallower mounting depth. The cone design has changed a bit as well, giving the 2008 models a fresh but stylish new look; and don't worry about power handling because power ratings are rated at the same as the older models. Binding posts have also been repositioned to the corners of the subs. This will allow for a more convenient installation for multiple-subwoofer setups.

Note: This review covers S8L72, S8L74, S10L72, S10L74, S12L72, S12L74, S15L72, S15L74. 2 or 4 at the end of every model refers to dual 2 ohms or dual 4 ohms. Features are generally the same except for power handling and SPL.

Cell Phones In An Auto - A Hazard Or Not?

2008-02-25T03:23:00.000-08:00

In today's world everyone uses cell phones to stay in touch with work, home and friends, some people have taken it one step further and given up their home phone. People can be seen using them in the stores and in their cars, there are cell phones that can be used hands free and ones that are not.

Cell phones can be a great aid in a car when there is a break down or when there is an accident, however it can also be a device that can take drivers concentration away from the road. While not paying full attention to the road anything can happen from a minor fender bender to a major pile up on the freeway in Santa Ana, Torrance, Long Beach or any other city in Orange County. The person talking on a cell phone may not even do anything that would cause an accident, but without full attention on the road they are not driving defensively and this leads to the question cell phones in the auto, a hazard or not?

A motorist that is not on a cell phone and having full control and concentration on the road is a much safer driver than one who has partial attention on the road and this has come to the attention of many city officials who have considered passing laws about using cell phones while driving. This has gone beyond this point and in some cities it is now illegal to use a hand held cell phone, however this did not deter the cell phone companies who have manufactured other cell devices that no longer need be hand held.

Although there are products that are even installed in some new models of vehicles that do not make it completely safe, the driver talking on the phone will not have their full concentration on the road and can still be a danger to other drivers.

In some statistics the accident rate is higher for drivers who were on a cell phone or device at the time of an accident than those who were not and when motorists is involved in an accident with another driver who was using a cell phone at the time they need to contact an Orange County attorney who is experienced in this type of case and understands cell phones in the auto, a hazard or not can be a deciding factor in an accident case.

Why You Should Review Car Stereos Before Buying

2008-02-23T04:43:00.000-08:00

Electronics and Car Stereos are among a fast-growing part of electronics sales, and one of the hottest hobbies for men and women alike on the market right now. When you're looking to buy that perfect car stereo system, the use of a car stereo review can save you time and money.

Most people want to get the most for their money. A car stereo review can give you cutting edge information on the latest car stereo components and technologies; supplying you with the information you need in order to acquire the best possible quality sound system with the features that you want at the most reasonable price.

When you're in the market to buy a car stereo there are so many avenues of purchase available to you that it's hard to figure out where to go. Car stereo reviews are supplied by different sources. You can find reviews from the direct manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers. Depending on how much you like to do research, you can find an endless supply of information to any and all questions you might have regarding the purchase or function of your car stereo.

Your options for buying are from the chain stores, specialty car-electronics stores and online. There are a wide range of retailers to choose from; retail stores like Best Buy or Radio Shack, to "specialty" stores that are exclusive to car-electronics-only and millions of stores online that you might not have even heard of.

When you shop at a car-electronics specialty store you usually have access to a larger selection of brands, some more well known than others, with a sales staff the is usually a bit more qualified to give you more specific information.

If you're looking to buy at one of the larger chain stores, you will find a fair selection of brands at low prices, presented to you by somewhat knowledgeable sales associates who may or may not be able to help you make the best choice.

By shopping online you can usually find the best deals that are available to you. The only problem is your buying sight unseen and you are limited to the review that is supplied when you purchase the product.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you read as many car stereo reviews as possible pertaining to your specific stereo.

Cell Phones In An Auto - A Hazard Or Not?

2008-02-23T04:39:00.000-08:00

Car Radio Installation Part 1 - Removing Your Existing Radio

2008-02-21T01:23:00.000-08:00

Removing your in-dash car radio is generally quick and easy. Removal and installation are best carried out from the front passenger seat if you are right-handed. Some, but only a small number of cars, will require the dash surrounding the radio to be removed as the radio may be held in with screws.

Your first step is to remove your original radio. Pay close attention to the steps involved, as refitting is simply a reverse of the removal.

There are various radio-mounting methods used among the different car manufacturers. However, the majority of factory-fitted radios are secured either in a metal sleeve (also known as cage) by two or four securing clips that you push inwards toward the radio to release it, or using the same method without the sleeve.

For radios that have either one or two small round holes on either side of the radio, you can use standard (DIN) radio removal Keys found in all car accessory shops or websites.

DIN radio tools release the majority of radios found in pre-2004 Fiat, Ford, Land Rover, MG, Peugeot, Rover models and many makes of radio. Simply insert the keys into the holes until they lock into place (for radios with only two holes, you can simply bend the keys). Some radios will require you to remove four small Allen screws (with a 2mm or 5/64 Allen Key) before you can insert the removal keys. I believe these are simply a security measure.

Now, push the keys outwards slightly, away from the radio, this will push the securing spring clips inwards. Now, pull on the removal keys to remove the radio. Some radios are a little bit stubborn, but a little persistence should pay off.

Some factory-fitted radios are held in place by securing the screws located at the sides of the radio. This type of mounting concept is found primarily on Japanese cars and these radios are mounted behind the dash that surrounds the radio. Most radios have some type of rear support but this is more often than not, just a push fit.

Once you have removed the radio from its sleeve, disconnect the aerial and factory wiring harness connectors.

If you encounter problems when removing radios that are mounted behind the dash try ringing your local dealer. Ask for the service department and ask to speak to a technician as they are generally happy to advise. On the other hand, you could always consult a Haynes manual.

Car Radio Installation - Ford KA Fascia

2008-02-21T01:21:00.000-08:00

The Ford KA fascia's are somewhat awkward to fit, this is what you do. To ensure a solid fit you have to use the included black plastic clip that comes with the fascia, this runs along the runner inside of the radio aperture. This is the equivalent of the original Ford clip that is built onto the rear of the Ford radio. The radio will not fit right if you don't use this.

First of all, mount the radio cage inside of the fascia, but do not install it in the radio aperture yet. Now on the back of the radio, attach the black clip mentioned above using a self tapper screw (actually screwed into the back of the radio where the hole is provided) Leave the black clip somewhat loose. If it is too long, use washers to pack it out.

Now, slide the radio half way into the cage and then straighten the black clip ready for it to mount on the runner in the radio aperture. Compare this clip to the clip on the Ford radio to get an idea of it's position. Tighten the screw/clip but not too much. This is important so that when installing the radio it can manoeuver on the runner to fit correctly. This screw will not come loose.

Next, attach the wiring to the rear of the radio and locate the clip onto the runner inside the radio aperture. You can use some installation tape to hold the aerial in position on the rear of the radio. Run this from the top to bottom of the radio, covering the aerial connector.

To finish off, push the fascia into position flush with the dash, then slide the radio into position and lock it into the cage.

Now test the radio for correct operation.

What to Look for in Children's Car Accessories

2008-02-20T20:54:00.001-08:00

Why You Need A Good Car Stereo System To Complete The Customization Of Your Ride

2008-02-20T20:52:00.000-08:00

Okay, you've pimped your ride and you've got a nice pearl paint job. You've got your 22" chrome wheels with spinners and an interior that looks like a dream. But all of that would be totally meaningless if you don't have a good car stereo system in your ride.

A good car stereo system is an awesome experience to behold with your ears, just like a poorly installed car stereo system is hideous to look at. The price of a system is a big factor to consider, but not all expensive hardware performs well if it isn't installed properly, or if matched up with incompatible hardware. It is also subjective to personal opinion of course, just as some of us find black cars more appealing than other color cars.

The type of vehicle that you are building a system for also plays a major part in what kind car stereo system you should build. Some people who have sensitive hearing, after only being in a few different vehicles can recognize the inherent characteristics of the unique environment in automobiles. What we hear for the most part in a vehicle is a recording of the original performer in a set environment, which can be playing in a totally different environment depending on the placement of speakers. You can only create a truly great car stereo system by properly understanding acoustics, basic electronics, and the other components used in putting the system together.

If you are really serious about the sound system in your vehicle and you want it to be the best it can possibly be then you may want to get references from other people by exposing it to other people at auto expos and conventions where you can get references and constructive criticism. Going to different exhibits you will find a great variety of sound at each booth. You will also find certain systems you like more than others and may even find one that is exactly like you want.

If you are going to build a high quality custom system you will have to go with after market speakers to be sure they can handle the power that the system generates. These speakers will have a much larger frequency response which will give you much clearer highs and reduce the fuzzy sound that can happen with loud base in factory speakers.

A great amplifier is the key to a good sounding stereo system. If you choose amplifiers that are not strong enough they can cause damage to your speakers. A high quality amp will give you the power that you need as well as get rid of distortion and increase the quality and clarity of the sound. Choose the appropriate sized amplifier by turning the system at just above half volume and still getting clear amplification through the speakers.

How To Choose The Components For Your Own Custom Car Audio System

2008-02-19T02:05:00.001-08:00

You probably like listening to music in your car and you wish that you could always have music in your car. You can now if you go buy the proper stereo equipment. All you need is a head unit which is just another word for CD player. You just need to look at all your options and see what you have to choose from. You can find CD players online, you can find them in stores in the mall, and you can find them at electronic stores. Anywhere that sells electronics like stereo equipment and stuff like that will have your car stereo that you want. All you have to do is go out and look for what you want and you will find what is good for you.

When you are buying car audio equipment you can choose from all kinds of brands and models. You can go out and get a JVC head unit, and go buy Kenwood subwoofers. There are all kinds of options for your car. Along with your new CD player and subwoofers you will need new door speakers and amps. You will want to get good door speakers so you can actually hear the music not the blown speakers that you bought with the car. The other thing that you will need is amps. You will need a highs and mid amp for the CD player and the door speakers. Thus you will need a second amp for your subwoofers around 500 to 1000watts are ideal. So after you have your whole system you are ready to pay for it and then have it installed if you do not know how to install it yourself. After you have installed one system it is like putting icing on the cake for all the rest.

Making your car system sound good can take a while, you might want all the best parts such as JL audio or JBL. So if you cannot afford all your parts at once just by the piece you need one at a time until you have your whole system complete and the way you wanted it. A perfect custom car audio system will take time and you might not have all the money at once that is why it is good that you save money to be able to finish the system. You will want quality subs and amps. You will not want to buy some stuff from Wal-Mart to put in your car and expect it to be custom. You will want quality and quality doesn't come from Wally world. You can get a JVC head unit with JL audio subs and amps along with door speakers and that would be the best system you will ever hear because JL audio is perhaps one of the best audio equipment suppliers around the United States. Everyone has their equipment because it is quality. So go out and get your system before they up the prices, you can still go online to buy your products.

Origin, Development And History Of The Car Stereo System

2008-02-19T02:00:00.000-08:00

Ever since car was used, various enthusiasts had adapted domestic equipments to use in their cars. The commercial introduction of the fitted car stereo system came in the form of radio the year 1930s from the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation.

The Galvin Manufacturing was owned and operated by Paul V. Galvin and his brother Joseph E. Galvin. The Galvin brothers purchased a battery eliminator business in 1928 and the first corporation product was a battery eliminator that allowed battery-powered radios to run on standard household electric current.

It was then in the 1930, the Galvin Corporation introduced the first commercial car radio, the Motorola model 5T71, which was sold for dollar 110 to dollar 130 and could be installed in almost all popular automobiles.

The name Motorola was coined when the founders Paul Galvin and Joe Galvin and his company started manufacturing car radios. The Motorola prefix motor was chosen because the initial focus was in automotive electronics.

Evolution of the car stereo system was subsequently taking place in various parts of the world . In the year 1932, Germany Blaupunkt fitted their first radio to a Studebaker and in the United Kingdom Crossley offered a factory fitted wireless in their 10 hp models from 1933. Thus began the evolution for the car stereo system.

The early car stereo systems were radio receivers that used the battery voltage 6.3 volts at the time to run the filaments, and generated the required high voltage using a vibrator to drive a step up transformer. The receivers required more stages than the typical home receiver in order to ensure that enough gain was available to allow the AGC to mask signal fading when the car was driven around. Soon after that when the cars switched to 12 volt batteries, the same arrangement was used where instead of tubes 12 volt heaters were used.

However, it was German Blaupunkt in the year 1952 which became the first in the market to introduce the FM receivers, it was a step of advancement in the car stereo system market. With the introduction of FM receiver, the seek function stepped in.

The seek function would allow the user to tune from one station to the next at the push of a button. After this followed the introduction of semiconductors. Semiconductors allowed the output stage to change to a transistor, which soon lead to the elimination of the vibrator, and the use of space charge tubes that only required 12 volts on their plates.Thus, there was another advancement in technology.

With the advancements of electronics with time, it allowed new additions to the basic radio and Motorola. It followed tape players using reel to reel equipments. With Phillips joining in with the introduction of compact cassette, tape players also began to be used in cars.

By 1978 amplifiers were introduced in the markets and then it was no looking back. Today, car stereo systems have revolutionized with the introduction of CDs and DVDs. Now the modern cars have radio, cassette players, CDs and DVDs players, and also MP3 or MP4 players. Even the video system has been attached with it.

Subwoofer Box Types - Sealed, Ported, Vented And Bandpass

2008-02-18T01:41:00.001-08:00

So you just bought your dream subwoofer. Congratulations! Now you're wondering on exactly where to put that monster woofer you bought. You may be wondering about the different options, whether you want a sealed, ported, or a bandpass subwoofer enclosure. You may have done a little bit of your own research but have come to a confusing conclusion with so many different technical terms. Don't worry; I'll summarize the effects and the effectiveness of each one for you without all the technical big words.

Sealed Enclosure

These are generally the smallest of the three. If you have a small or a sports car, I recommend this enclosure for your car. There are pros and cons of course. As mentioned, it is advantageously smaller, allowing you to preserve your precious trunk space. They also allow the subwoofers to produce a highly accurate bass, but with the least amount of "boom" out of the three types of enclosures. This is primarily because the box is airtight, leaving no room for air to escape with the sound waves from the interior of the box. Unfortunately, this restriction does require a much more powerful amplifier and subwoofer combination. Unless you have a high-end set that could handle higher wattage, I do not recommend on getting a sealed enclosure setup.

Ported/Vented Enclosure

Because the ported enclosure requires additional room for the vent, it is typically larger than the sealed boxes. If you're not too concerned about space, this type is a popular solution for most people. The design is based on the vent with which air is allowed to move much more freely, channeling the sound from the interior and the rear of the enclosure to the outside. This gives it a much more boomy effect with less accurate bass response. With vented enclosures, you do not need as much power coming out of your system since the lack of an airtight box allows your subwoofer to move much more freely and the vents allowing you to hear every bit of sound produced by your subwoofer.

Bandpass Enclosure

Bandpass subwoofer boxes are the largest of the three. This is because the design is based on a number of ports and two main chambers-one for your subwoofer and another for air space within the enclosure to resonate. You could probably imagine the sound produced by this behemoth. It produces the least accurate bass but with the greatest level of "boom". With this enclosure, you can out-boom anyone on the streets of Los Angeles. But remember that bandpass enclosures require a lot of space, so be prepared to sacrifice a lot of trunk space for your setup. Also be mindful that some subwoofers do not work well in bandpass enclosures, so check your product manual before installing them. Ultimately, bandpass boxes are extremely efficient enclosures and demand much less power than the sealed enclosure. Be sure to have a tight install on a bandpass enclosure since any loose parts will easily rattle and could easily be heard on a bandpass setup.

Other Details on Subwoofer Boxes

There are also a few other things to keep in mind when you are deciding between different subwoofer boxes. Most subwoofer enclosures now are constructed using MDF, or Medium Density Fiberboard, these are excellent for enclosures so be sure you're buying MDF construction boxes and not cheap plastic or plywood. Fiberboard (even if it says medium density) is much denser than any other material so it does not rattle and could withstand very high temperatures. Particle boards are much lighter material and do not bond as tightly as fiberboard and would therefore not be suitable for harsh environments.

Cosmetically, there are usually two options for you to get-a carpet exterior or a vinyl/paint finish. Carpet will protect the exterior from getting scratched and usually matches the trunk color pretty well (gray, black, and tan). Paint or vinyl finish tend to show exterior blemishes much easier than carpeting, but cleaning them is also much easier-especially valuable if you are installing a non-trunk subwoofer enclosure install.

How many subwoofers in a box? This depends on obviously how much money and space you have. Don't buy two when you can buy one that could produce the power of two. This will potentially save you money and space. If you can help it, do not settle for a set of two cheap ones when you can buy one good one. Yes, two will help add more power and sound, but it sacrifices sound quality for volume and boom.

I hope this short summary have helped you in your decision making process. At the end of the day, it is truly up to you to research your subwoofer and find the best solution for your system. Happy hunting!

The Advantages of a BMW Bluetooth Upgrade

2008-02-18T01:36:00.001-08:00

Even if you drive a late model BMW ('02 or newer), it may be time to consider a BMW Bluetooth upgrade. After all, Bluetooth is like any other digital technology - it is constantly being updated and refined. This technology will ensure that your vehicle's ability to integrate with your cell phone is up-to-date and ready for whatever may come next.

The Advantage of Bluetooth

If you're like many people on the go, your cell phone is on and at the ready almost every waking minute - including drive time. However, studies (and a few bitter experiences) have clearly demonstrated that attempting to use a cell phone while driving highly distracting and dangerous, posing a hazard to both driver and others on the road (in fact, in 2005, a woman in Portland, Oregon drove off a bridge and into the Willamette River while talking on a cell phone). Many states and municipalities are now passing laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving.

A BMW Bluetooth upgrade makes it possible - and legal - to use your cell phone while driving.

About Bluetooth

Named for the Viking king who briefly united the Scandinavian countries over a thousand years ago by the Swedish engineers who first developed it in the 1990s, Bluetooth technology actually has its roots in the work of early Gugleimo Marconi and Nicola Tesla and their pioneering work on wireless communications during the late 1800s. It is an industry standard protocol that allows wireless communication between computers, cell phones, digital cameras and more.

Unlike radio, Bluetooth is a very specific protocol for linking a variety of digital devices over a very short range; in addition, such communications can be encrypted so as to protect privacy. Today's BMW Bluetooth upgrade enables much stronger encryption to be maintained over connections that last a longer period of time (up to 23 hours and 20 minutes).

Features

With the new Bluetooth 2.1 and a headset, you'll enjoy total "hands-off" operation of your cell phone, because you can hear your incoming calls over your OEM radio, using the control buttons on your steering wheel.

This upgrade also means that you won't miss any more important calls, since it will automatically turn off any programming you may be listening to on your radio. The BMW Bluetooth upgrade is also very easy to install and very affordable. With "plug-and-play" capability, you'll be up and running in no time!

The Advantages of a BMW Bluetooth Upgrade

2008-02-18T01:36:00.000-08:00

Car Audio - Dispelling Gloom From Long Journeys

2008-02-14T01:50:00.001-08:00

One of the most important elements of a car is audio. The importance of this most important gadget can simply not be ruled out. Its value can be understood from the fact that if it is not inserted in the car then there would be very few takers of it. Absence of car audio robs the car of, if not all than, quite a substantial part of its sheen. No wonder every car that comes out of showroom comes with car audio inserted in. The utility of car audio is immense. It ensures that one remains in touch with the world even when one is on move. So even if you are travelling between two towns you can still listen to news or special coverage on budget or any other programme of one's liking. One can also catch up with the commentary of Uefa Champions League where Manchester United might be locking horns with Chelsea.

Then it is not that car audio can be utilized for listening to news or radio programmes alone. It can also be used to listen one's favourite record as well. Longest of journeys are rarely felt as time just flies by with one listening to his favourite music. No wonder a car looses all its attraction if it does not have car audio fitted in.

A slight caution, however, must be exercised and one must ensure that the car speaker is not having any trouble. Many a times the whole journey is spoiled because people cannot enjoy their favourite music which makes the whole journey very tedious.

Car audio and car speaker in top condition is a must if one wants to race to the farthest destination. The fatigue that so sets in such journeys do not set in here because one is relatively fresh listening to beetles. The longest of journeys, therefore, are rarely felt as time just flies by. It is this utility factor of car audio that has led to new innovations and new models being introduced in the market.

All About Car Stereos And Equipment

2008-02-14T01:48:00.000-08:00

Music is enjoyable to almost everyone, so why not bring it in the car? It can definitely make your trip more melodious. So besides the factory car stereo that came with your vehicle, it may be time to upgrade your car stereo system. This can mean new amplifiers, speakers, CD or cassette players, and equalizers. If the power requirement is higher, then you will need batteries, alternators, power cables, and capacitors as well, to power the system adequately. Also, there are many portable devices that can be connected to your car stereo to provide variety of media sources, like MP3, WAV, USB, memory sticks and so on.

Many of these portable devices can playback MP3 file format that has the characteristic of using less space than hard drives and memory sticks. Unfortunately the sound quality of this file format is quite inferior if we compare it with that of CD or WAV files. But this problem could easily be avoided if MP3s were converted at 320 kbps. Then the sound quality would be much improved on your audio deck.

An 8GB memory stick is another kind of popular portable audio device that can be loaded up with MP3s to bring in the car. On one memory stick, you can listen to more than five hundred songs! These can then be plugged into portable MP3 players anywhere.

Many audio devices have a USB port that allows you to connect and/or interact with computer hardware. This means you can bring your laptop or portable PC and play music through the USB port. You can also use this to save music on your hard drive.

Portable audio decks often come equipped with security features to reduce the risk of theft. If you have a CD player and keep your CDs in the car, then your entire CD collection might be stolen. However, if you have a memory stick, then it is small enough that you can simply bring the entire thing with you. Then there is no way for your collection of music to get stolen from the car.

Other types of alarm systems you might consider are shock sensors, ignition kill switches, intrusion sensors, window break sensors, and door entry sensors. You can also install a tracking system hidden in the car so that wherever the car is, police can track its location if it gets stolen.

Other accessories you can add to your car stereo are equalizers, CD changers, mixers, and 3D sound equipment.

Car stereos are designed to fit the car they are installed in. So take special consideration for the type of car you are driving to determine the placement of speakers, amplifiers, etc. The bigger the car, the bigger the speakers. You also need to handle the power requirements or else you will hear distortion from your speakers, the volume will not go very loud, and soon you will end up with a dead car battery and the car will not start. Many times a powerful car stereo requires more than one battery, perhaps 2 or even 3. Since lead acid batteries become damaged with heavy use, car stereos often use deep cycle batteries for improved performace. This also have a faster response time, in addition to lasting longer under heavy usage, than lead acid batteries.

Tracking Members Who Break Down Has Now Gone Hi-Tech

2008-02-13T02:24:00.001-08:00

While we have seen major advances in all areas of technology over the last few years, we have also seen major improvements in the breakdown industry with a whole host of tracking systems now in place to ensure that recovery vehicles are able to locate and reach those in need as soon as possible. So what exactly is there around which will track breakdown insurance members?

Roadside Signs

While the most basic of tracking systems it is possible for recovery agents to locate a breakdown simply via a sign post on the side of the road. The motorways especially have a number system which allows the location of the member to be traced within seconds, and pinpoint co-ordinates passed to a breakdown vehicle.

Mobile Phone Tracking

While GPS has been available for some time it is only of late that we have seen a mass take up in the mobile phone industry. The satellite tracking system works by pin pointing the location of a signal using satellites and signal boosters to plot the relevant co-ordinates. The system is so accurate that it can actually trace the base of a signal within just a few metres.

In Vehicle Satellite Navigation

The new range of satellite navigation systems all tend to come with some sort of distress / recovery signal option for use in emergency. A pre-recorded process will be carried out whereby the service provider is alerted that assistance is required and the customer is informed that they will be dealt with as soon as possible.

Vehicle Trackers

While perhaps not as popular as the simpler GPS systems mentioned above, more and more vehicles are being fitted with tracking devices which show where they have been and their exact location at any given time. If assistance is required the exact co-ordinates can be easily passed to the recovery agent and the vehicle located in no time at all.

Even though there are a number of different variations, the tracking of vehicles today revolves around GPs initially and then the complicated and exact mapping systems which the recovery services operate. A simple clue as to where a vehicle is located is all that is required, allowing detailed plans and directions to be produced immediately and passed to the relevant parties. Much of the delay in getting to vehicles today is the actual time spent driving.

Buying A Car DVD Player - 7 Questions To Ask When Purchasing

2008-02-13T02:22:00.000-08:00

Car in dash DVD players and other automotive DVD players are appearing more often in vehicles these days as a larger number of cheap car DVD players appear on the market. But sometimes it is hard for a person to know where to start looking for a car DVD player ad what to look for.

The first point you will have to consider after you have decided to buy an automotive DVD player or component is whether to purchase it online or from a 'bricks and mortar' car audio store. While you are able to deal with salespeople face to face at the 'bricks and mortar' store you may find you get a much better price online from an electronics wholesaler. You will still need to ask several key questions, regardless of your decision.

Will I get all the components I need?

There is nothing worse than paying good money for a car dvd player, going to install it and finding you still need to buy the speakers, TV tuners, TV antennas, wires, brackets or other components before it can be installed. After all, what is the point of buying an in dash car TV DVD player if you don't get the tuner or aerial to make it work.

This depends on where the car DVD player is being purchased. If purchased from a bricks and mortar store then it should be offered by the vendor as electronic goods cost more at stores than they do online.

Can I connect my USB devices or flash memory cards to the player?

More music and data you want shown in vehicles is stored on computers and USB and an increasing number of car DVDs have a plug-in function. These USB ports can also be a useful point to install Bluetooth cellular car phone kits.

What formats does it support?

Will it support MP3s or MPEGs? What about AVI files? If you are choosing a system that will accept USBs and flash memory cards it is always good to check that the system will accept the format of programs you store most often on flash.

What region DVD's does this player accept?

DVD's are becoming increasingly multi-regional but that doesn't necessarily mean that every car DVD player will play every DVD. It is always a good idea to check which region of DVDs you are actually to make sure your dvd player car audio in dash unit is compatible with your collection.

How big is the screen?

The cost of LCD screens have come down a lot in last 12 months, as seen by Panasonic's 150-inch LCD screen showcased at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, which cost the same as the 109 inch screen the company put on display at the show the previous year. As a result, in dash car TV DVD players with 6.5 and 7 inch screens are considered to be the norm, and should be extremely affordable.

It's got a screen, but is it a touch screen?

We all know what a touch screen is, it is one of the things that has made the iPod such a big hit globally. Touch screens are becoming increasingly common and automotive dvds with touch screens should not be astronomically priced. After all, there is nothing worse than hunting for a tiny knob when trying to change music whilst on the road.

Purchasing a car TV DVD player is a big undertaking. Time spent working out what the DVD will be used for and finding out information about the intended purchase would not be wasted.

7 Ways To Protect Your Car Audio Equipment

2008-02-12T01:50:00.001-08:00

A lot of People lose their car audio equipment to thieving rats. This can be easily prevented or reduced if you'll do the following...

1) Get a good car security system. And when you do, make sure you activate it always. A lot of people are funny. They'll buy a good car security system but will often forget to use it.

2) Buy car audio units that have theft-deterrence systems. These come in different designs. There is certainly one out there that will suit your taste.

3) Pack your car in well-lit areas.

4) Avoid flashy stickers. They attract attention. You don't want to give thieves such "steal me" signals.

5) Remember to lock your car always.

6) While installing your car audio equipment, try to use screws that have uncommon heads. If you use standard screws, you make it easy for thieves. If you use, say, a hex-head, you make it much more difficult for thieves for the simple reason that they're less likely to have such bits.

7) In spite of all these you may still lose your stuff. That's why you need to get a car insurance policy that also takes care of your car audio equipment completely. It's not just about getting a comprehensive plan. How comprehensive is your comprehensive policy? Read the fine lines and make sure you are truly covered. It's painful to discover later that your comprehensive policy does not cover your custom stereo.

Before I drop my pen I think you should know that getting a policy that covers your car stereo completely doesn't necessarily mean you have to spend much more than otherwise. There is a process that guarantees massive savings in car insurance. If you employ it you can save up to $1000. All you'll then do is use part of it for a rider to cover your car audio equipment if your policy doesn't cater for it.

Car Audio - A Grievous Mistake Most People Make

2008-02-12T01:48:00.000-08:00

If you have spent any considerable amount on your car audio equipment, then you need to make sure you are not making this common and costly mistake...

Not taking precautions that will either reduce the likelihood of a loss or protect yourself if such a loss happens. This loss can result from a crash, vandalism, theft or fire.

Some people can invest a lot on high end car audio equipment. Such people will look for the best way to install such audio units. They will look at all the options open to them. They will make sure they get the best bargains. But they'll not take out time to consider how they'll protect those units.

The reality only dawns on them when something happens: An accident that ruins such equipment or an outright theft. They rush to their insurance companies only to be told that they are not covered. It's then they realize they should have done a number of things in the first place. Before it happens to you, here are things you should do...

1) Get a good security system especially those that have visual deterrents. Such deterrents are good because they discourage thieves from even attempting to steal.

2) Pack your car in a well-lit area.

3) And, get a car insurance policy that will cover your car audio equipment.

I will dwell on the third. While getting your car insurance, ask and check with your insurance company before you settle for a policy. Ensure it covers all that's very important to you. Also ensure that what you get is worth the premium you pay.

What is the liability limit of the policy? If your car audio system amounts to $7600 but your limit is $4000 then you are not properly covered. Make sure of this.

When you've done this well, then the question of who to insure with arises. This is very important as it can make so much difference in your bottom line. You can lose much. You can also save a lot -- Up to $1000 or more.

Top Of the Line Amplifier - Pioneer Premier Series - PRS-A900 Review

2008-02-11T03:13:00.000-08:00

Pioneer produced one of the best product lines in car audio industry with their Premier Series amplifiers. As early as 2005, Pioneer has made great advancements with the Premier Series in amplifier technology, characterized by their great power handling and efficiency. By the end of 2007, the Premier PRS Series could easily be considered a world-class amplifier, featuring sleek and compact design along with Pioneer's unique new pure-sound-generating technology.

Overview of 2007 PRS Series

The latest (2007 and newer) PRS Series Amplifiers feature a variety of solutions for your car audio needs. They have available for you monoblock amps, 2-channel amps, and 4-channel amps, giving you no less than 1200 watts max on each one. In addition, their exterior design is far more attractive than the average amplifier on the market. For me, this is another great plus to the PRS series amplifiers because you can't help but think that it would look good in my car, rather than trying to find a way to hide it.

The PRS digital amplifiers showcase Pioneer's new ICE Power technology. With it, it would be virtually impossible for you to hear any sort of distortion, allowing it to produce a much more pure sound than any other amplifiers out there. That's not all! You'll find that the amplifier will also produce an accurate bass with incredibly clear mid-range and high-range sounds. You won't even have to worry about the amplifier sucking up power from your car because these amplifiers are amazingly efficient, which would reduce heat produced from the amp as well and allowing it to channel more power into your sound system.

The New 2008 PRS-A900

If you think all of that sounds good, wait until you hear about the new January-released PRS-A900! Audiophiles world wide have anticipated the release of this new PRS Series 4-channel amp and they have great reasons to.

It's the first of its kind and you can be sure than many more will come. It features everything from the previous year: digital amplification, great exterior design, extremely low distortion, and incredible efficiency. But Pioneer didn't just replicate their 2007 models but also added some new features.

Unlike any other amps, the PRS-A900 showcases a completely separate left and right channel power supply, a filter-less design, and construction design that protects against external disturbance. The result of these features is a far improved sonic purity production from the amplifier!

Perhaps one of the coolest unique features of the Pioneer PRS-A900 is the H-Shaped internal structure design. It absorbs vibrations created from driving your vehicle. How? Well imagine for a minute a wooden seesaw with two people, one on each side. Now if one person jumps on his side, the other side will rise up or at least that other person will feel the impact. Now imagine that the same seesaw is constructed out of flexible plexiglass (assuming it doesn't shatter on impact); if the one side jumps , the flexibility of the plexiglass will absorb the majority of the force, and the other side would be less likely to be catapulted as high as the wooden seesaw. The H-Shaped internal construction works on this concept! The result is a greatly reduced interference within the sound quality that the amplifier produces

The independently powered left and right channels further improves sound isolation, preventing any sort of additional interference and allowing for more efficiency from the two-channel or four-channel outputs. Think of it as two garden hoses for two different plants you are watering-one hose for two plants would cause you to lose water and time.

If you're not on the Pioneer bandwagon, I suggest you do so now because advancements in technology like the few that I mentioned above sets Pioneer's PRS Series amplifiers far above other competitions gunning for the mobile audio industry!

Car DVD Players - Products You Can Make Money With

2008-02-11T03:11:00.000-08:00

Car DVD Player sytems: you may or may not have one in your car...and you may or may not find the automotive DVD player market very interesting...but you should not overlook the profit opportunity!

More Chinese-made car DVD players were sold in the US then car DVDs players made in any other country last year. While this may not be surprising in itself what is surprising that the brand names which sold the biggest volumes weren't JVC, Kenwood, or Alpine... they were cheap car DVD players from little-known Chinese car DVD player brands.

So what is going on?

Cheap made-in-China car DVD players are flooding the consumer markets of the western world for one reason: price. Smart importers have been able to sell very low-priced consumer electronics and appliances because of their connections with Chinese traders or car DVD factories in China.

Cheap labor, improved logistics, lower priced generic electronic components, and aggressive home-grown R&D have all combined to mean China is now the cheapest and most massive producer of in-dash car TV and DVD players.

Why would consumers pay $849.99 for a brand name car DVD / CD receiver with 7 inch LCD monitor... when a discount car dvd player from China with virtually equivalent functions costs only $500 or even less? The brand names for car DVD players mean a lot to customers... but not when these kind of savings can be had.

So why should you care?

The simple fact of the matter is that selling unbranded dvd player / car audio in dash units is a great business opportunity for you.

For entrepreneurs with an eye on importing consumer products, it's a well-known fact that they need to set up a "Chinese connection", whatever the size of the business. A growing number of businesses are plunging into China's waters every day and reaping large rewards.

Consumer electronics like MP4 players, iPod accessories, or gadgets are high-demand, high profit items for resellers, whether you're trading from a small shop or selling online. Everyone loves new electronic gadgets, and because of the higher price range, your actual profits as a re-seller are healthy.

The higher perceived value of car DVD players means one automotive DVD sale can result in a $100 profit. This is considerably easier than the high-volume sales required to make a profit of smaller electronic goods and other common mass-produced consumer products.

There's a lot more that needs to be said about choosing products, analysing a market, and honing your sales methods. You owe it to yourself to take a look further into this market area while it's still a wide open opportunity. You don't need experience, specialized knowledge, or big business risks - especially if you pursue the ecommerce / dropshipping avenue.

Whether or not you choose China-made car DVD players as your big ticket item is up to you, however one thing you must do is investigate the limitless business opportunities Chinese manufacturers offer. Hundereds of people are starting successful import businesses every month. If you are interested in joining them Chinavasion will help you get started.

Car Audio Installation

2008-02-08T02:00:00.001-08:00

Car audio installation is a fairly specialized job, requiring at least some knowledge about the basics of car designs and electronics. The final audio output depends to a large extent on good installation. You may buy the best equipment, but if it is not properly installed, then the result will be poor. The entire set up consisting of wires, amplifiers, alternators, and speakers would have to be perfectly set up for that great audio effect.

Speaker location is perhaps the most important part of setting up your car audio. Determining where you are going to place your speakers is the first step you have to take. The designs of cars are such that the listener isn't placed perfectly in middle of the two speakers. What we mean to say is that the distance between the left speaker and the left ear is not the same as the right ear and the right speaker, which is a traditional audio setup. You can easily avoid this problem by making the distance between the left and right as little as possible. Some people try to place an extra speaker on the dashboard. The problem with this is that this speaker on the dashboard rips the sound into two, making for unpleasant hearing. You can try placing the audio in different locations around the car and arrive at the proper configuration for your speakers. Another mistake which commonly occurs is that people tend to go for looks rather than the sound, when it comes to car audio. Try to listen, rather than look. Some unlikely places inside your car may be the best for placing speakers.

Choosing the location of subwoofers and amplifiers is relatively easy. You can place them where you feel they will look good. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that different equipment may interfere with each other, if improperly placed. The next step is the wiring part, which is equally important. The thing with laying cables is to buy the correct cable keeping in view the capacity of the amplifier and speakers. Next in line is the installation of the head unit and amplifiers. Once you install them, you have to select the correct type of speaker enclosure. Although the choice is yours, you can try different types of enclosures and choose one which gives the best audio output. A final fine tuning, preferably with professional help and your car audio installation is done.

2008-02-08T01:58:00.000-08:00

In the realm of car audio, the possibilities are endless. There are hundreds of brands and thousands of products out there. Majestic Modifications would like to help restore some order to the chaos of building your system. Lets look at some of the components that make up a car audio system.

The Head Unit

The Head Unit is the brains of the operation. Without this component, your car audio system can't and won't work. The head unit is the central processing device in the system. The head unit controls all the functions in your car audio system. Music too loud? Turn down the volume. Too soft? Turn it up. Want more bass? Add bass input. In addition to volume, bass, etc., the head unit may contain other systems within its casing. These include: tuner, cassette, equalizer, CD or amplifier.

You see, in a home music system, where you have much more room, many stereo setups will include a separate box for each one of these components -- CD, cassette, etc. You may have a home system like that yourself. In a car, with its space limitations, these components are often crammed into one box -- the head unit. This depends upon a number of factors, such as heat, space, cosmetic design and other concerns, and every car is different.

The Amplifier

All car audio systems have an amplifier, even if it's a small one. Occasionally the amplifier will be attached to the rear of the head unit; however, in most systems it is hidden elsewhere in the car to better dissipate heat. Signal amplification is actually a two-stage process, handled by two separate components. These are the preamplifier and the power amplifier.

The preamplifier (preamp, for short) is a very tiny signal coming directly from the head unit. Whether it's reproducing a cassette signal, a CD signal, or an FM broadcast, the preamp puts out a signal that the amplifier can use. This is where the power amplifier takes over. It's the power amp's job to take the signal from the preamp and boost it into the audible range. We'll cover this in more depth in our Amplifier column in this series. Again, because of heat, most amplifiers are located away from the head unit.

The Speakers

The speakers take the boosted signal from the power amp and create sound waves. Essentially, speakers transform electrical energy (the amplified signal) into mechanical energy (the motion of the speaker cone). For now, know that all sound is vibration, which is a chain of frequencies in the air that eventually vibrate the membranes in your eardrums. Sound energy is measured in wavelengths, known as hertz, with the audible range falling between 20 to 20,000 cycles. A cycle is the distance from the top of one wavelength to the top of the next.

There are three types of speakers that produce sounds across the audible spectrum: woofers, tweeters and midrange drivers. As the name implies, the woofer reproduces the lower frequencies. The tweeter, also aptly named, replicates the highest register. The midrange handles the frequencies in between.

Auxiliary Input Devices

Components such as CD changers and equalizers, not to mention cell phones, navigation systems, MP3 players and many of the newer technologies, interface with the head unit for amplification and signal processing.

A Look At Car Audio Components

2008-02-08T01:57:00.001-08:00

The Advantages of a BMW Bluetooth Upgrade

2008-02-07T01:19:00.000-08:00

Car Stereo Speakers - A Must Buy For Your Car

2008-02-06T01:09:00.001-08:00

It's amazing - car audio packages have become a technology battleground in the car market. They are now fulfilled with CD/MP3, DVD players, and mini-discs. There's a jumbo range of car audio kits that range in price from $99 up to $8000 USD, depending on quality.

Depending on the frequency which is to be reproduced, different boxes and implementations of car stereo speakers are to be used. if you intend your system to be playing continuously, then you should base your choice on the maximum RMS power. If you are looking for higher fidelity from your speakers, you should opt for car stereo speakers with a higher and wider frequency response.

Car stereo speakers which can cover all frequency ranges are needed to get the full range of sound. The deck should be able to power your component speakers if the speakers are not high performing. Connecting an amplifier to the speakers would make it compulsory to have a crossover to distribute the right frequency to the respective speaker. It should be kept in mind that the tweeter can pick up and reproduce only high pitched treble frequencies while a subwoofer accepts only the lowest frequencies.

The location of your speakers is directly related to the quality of your car's sound. If they're spread about in a haphazard manner, you will get very poor quality due to the unplanned, inconsistent interference between the speakers. When positioned correctly, it should make you think that the sound is coming from two different voices, not just from two different speakers.

Please be realistic when choosing loudspeakers. Shop for those speakers that will fit in the current space available, unless you want to go to the trouble of modifying your existing speaker holes. There are many depth considerations and complications to be aware of, particularly in doors, where speakers may interfere with windows rolling down, dashes where speakers may be limited by ducts for heat or air, and rear decks where depth is limited by torsion bars running underneath.

While subwoofers are an important part of any car audio system, don't go overboard on buying just subwoofers. There is only so much room in a car, and you need a fair amount of it to drive comfortably.

Online Car Music System Stores

2008-02-06T01:06:00.000-08:00

Car Audio - A Grievous Mistake Most People Make

2008-02-05T02:51:00.000-08:00

Car DVD Players - Products You Can Make Money With

2008-02-05T02:49:00.000-08:00

Car DVD Player sytems: you may or may not have one in your car...and you may or may not find the automotive DVD player market very interesting...but you should not overlook the profit opportunity!

More Chinese-made car DVD players were sold in the US then car DVDs players made in any other country last year. While this may not be surprising in itself what is surprising that the brand names which sold the biggest volumes weren't JVC, Kenwood, or Alpine... they were cheap car DVD players from little-known Chinese car DVD player brands.

So what is going on?

Cheap made-in-China car DVD players are flooding the consumer markets of the western world for one reason: price. Smart importers have been able to sell very low-priced consumer electronics and appliances because of their connections with Chinese traders or car DVD factories in China.

Cheap labor, improved logistics, lower priced generic electronic components, and aggressive home-grown R&D have all combined to mean China is now the cheapest and most massive producer of in-dash car TV and DVD players.

Why would consumers pay $849.99 for a brand name car DVD / CD receiver with 7 inch LCD monitor... when a discount car dvd player from China with virtually equivalent functions costs only $500 or even less? The brand names for car DVD players mean a lot to customers... but not when these kind of savings can be had.

So why should you care?

The simple fact of the matter is that selling unbranded dvd player / car audio in dash units is a great business opportunity for you.

For entrepreneurs with an eye on importing consumer products, it's a well-known fact that they need to set up a "Chinese connection", whatever the size of the business. A growing number of businesses are plunging into China's waters every day and reaping large rewards.

Consumer electronics like MP4 players, iPod accessories, or gadgets are high-demand, high profit items for resellers, whether you're trading from a small shop or selling online. Everyone loves new electronic gadgets, and because of the higher price range, your actual profits as a re-seller are healthy.

The higher perceived value of car DVD players means one automotive DVD sale can result in a $100 profit. This is considerably easier than the high-volume sales required to make a profit of smaller electronic goods and other common mass-produced consumer products.

There's a lot more that needs to be said about choosing products, analysing a market, and honing your sales methods. You owe it to yourself to take a look further into this market area while it's still a wide open opportunity. You don't need experience, specialized knowledge, or big business risks - especially if you pursue the ecommerce / dropshipping avenue.

Whether or not you choose China-made car DVD players as your big ticket item is up to you, however one thing you must do is investigate the limitless business opportunities Chinese manufacturers offer. Hundereds of people are starting successful import businesses every month. If you are interested in joining them Chinavasion will help you get started.

Buying A Car DVD Player - 7 Questions To Ask When Purchasing

2008-02-04T00:28:00.000-08:00

Car DVD Players - Products You Can Make Money With

2008-02-04T00:26:00.000-08:00

Cell Phone Integration with the BMW Bluetooth Upgrade Module

2008-02-02T01:19:00.000-08:00

If you drive a BMW 3 Series, 5 Series or X-5 vehicle built between 2002 and 2006 and you find yourself needing to use a cell phone while driving, you must have a BMW Bluetooth upgrade module today. Recent tragic and near-tragic events have demonstrated that attempting to use a cell phone while driving is unsafe, posing a potentially deadly hazard to yourself and others. Meanwhile, growing numbers of states and cities are passing legislation making it illegal to use a cell phone while driving. By installing a BMW Bluetooth upgrade module, you'll be able to comply with these new laws while using your cell phone with greater safety.

How Bluetooth Works

It is unlikely that there is anyone today who has not encountered, used, or at least heard of Bluetooth technology. What most people do know is that Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows people to use a mouse and keyboard with the personal computers without the spaghetti-like tangle of cords.

Bluetooth is indeed this, but it is much more. It is actually a protocol, using low-bandwidth radio waves, that allows all kinds of digital devices to "talk" to each other. Musicians may remember MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), an industry standard that allows a wide variety of musical instruments to communicate and be played by a single person. What MIDI did for music, Bluetooth has done for computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and even game consoles!

Integrating Bluetooth With Your BMW

Getting back to the subject at hand, the BMW Bluetooth upgrade module will allow you to update your vehicle by fully integrating your cell phone into your BMW's sound system. Using the car's OEM radio and speakers, you will be able to receive incoming calls without ever having to physically reach for your cell phone. The BMW Bluetooth upgrade module even mutes your radio programming automatically when an incoming phone call is detected.

You'll also be able to make outgoing calls using the buttons on your steering wheel and voice command. Not all cell phones are supported, but you'll still be able to take advantage and enjoy the safety of being able to use your cell phone without looking away from the road or removing your hands from the steering wheel.

It's Easy and Inexpensive

The BMW Bluetooth upgrade module is an affordable way to bring your car's capabilities up-to-date, and the specific instructions that are included takes the mystery out of installation. Each BMW Bluetooth upgrade module is model-specific and based on original equipment manufacturer parts. It's virtually "plug and play."

How To Choose The Components For Your Own Custom Car Audio System

2008-02-02T01:15:00.000-08:00

All About Car Audio Amplifiers

2008-02-01T02:12:00.001-08:00

When you are on the look out for car audio amplifiers, first you got to know how it functions and what is it used for. The purpose of a car audio amplifier is to convert a low level signal from the source unit to a high level signal for driving the loudspeakers. Amplifiers can range in power from 20 watts to over a thousand watts per channel. And their prices too differ from one amplifier to another depending on their features, quality and power. The most popular type of amplifier is the one with 2 to 4 channels model.

If needed, you can even add extra built-in features to car audio amplifiers whenever required. Some of these extra built-in features may include, crossovers, speaker level units, equalizers, and signal processing. While purchasing an amplifier for your car stereo system, there is one thing you need to take into consideration when it comes to dealing with amplifier power ratings. You should see that all power ratings are not created equal. The true measurement for an amplifier power is the RMS rating or the continuous power ratings.

Quality of the car audio amplifier is very important to take into account when buying the amplifier. But the question is how do you know if it is a high quality amplifier? The good indicator of a quality amplifier will be determined by the weight and the size of the amplifier. The heavier the amplifier the better the quality it will produce. But size is not all that matters

Another indication that you can consider is the quality of the car audio amplifier by the size of the fuse used. There are different classes of amplifier, and a quick and easy way to check the true power output is to take the fuse value of the amplifier or the sum of the multiple fuses and multiply it by 6, if it is an A or B class amps, or 10 for class D amps where the efficiency is higher. Though this will not give you an accurate result, but it will be able to indicate if your car audio amplifier is close to the specifications.

If you have a tight budget or lack of space, the most economical thing to do is to opt for a multi-channel amplifier with the required built-in processor and features that you need. This will save you a lot of money and space, which will in turn allow you to add any extra feature to your car audio amplifier. Though there will be difference in quality compared to the outboard processors but this will not be noticeable. Sometime adding too many components can lessen the chance of noise entering into the system.

To sum out in brief, the key features you need to look into before purchasing a car audio amplifier includes, bridgeable, channels, connectors, class, crossovers, distortion, filters, power output, efficiency, speaker level input, stability, separate gain controls, tube amplifier, tri-mode out put, power supply, pre-amp inputs and outputs. But make sure that you always opt for genuine brands through genuine dealers.

Choosing A Car Audio System

2008-02-01T02:08:00.000-08:00

Car audio system, in modern world, has become more of a symbol of status than of entertainment and utility. Selection of them for your car can be as tough as buying clothes from a sales counter. In this case, at least a working knowledge on basic components of car system shall stand in good stead for the customer.

Deck, amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers are the essential ingredients of a car stereo system. A deck can range from simple cassette deck and CD player to hi-fi MP3 and mini disc gizmo. An amplifier, usually the symbol of power in the audio system, precisely, the power to blast, can have 1 to 7 channels. Fancy speakers will give the user enough mileage to hear and be heard. Subwoofers complement the low frequencies and bring forth the vibrations in a car that sets the rhythm in motion for the user.

Usually, most systems come with the facility of access to FM and AM radio. Different models of stereo can have multi channel mobile sound processors, digital media, navigation, steering wheel audio control adapter, etc. Acoustics must be adopted in the vehicle for maximum output from minimum input of the system. Also, it must be installed in the best possible manner for maximum audibility of the passengers and yet must not impinge on the guidelines set by motor vehicles authority.

Before zeroing in on one option, a user can easily shop via Internet from various service providers and settle for the best price. Here, quality and pricing will be complementary as it is a luxury item.

Also, the music system must be easy to handle and operate. As the user will mostly concentrate on driving while operating the system, cumbersome operations can create confusion and even disaster. Features of the audio system must also be compatible with the vehicle itself. A sleek car can do without a very big gadget, while larger vehicles can have added features in the stereo system.

Fitting the audio system into the car is an important consideration before you buy. Some service providers offer free services. Also, a user has to learn whether his motor insurance covers them as well.

If you are a new user, it is best to go for simple system, instead of the advanced and highly customized ones. Also, it is better to use cheaper systems in the car used especially for children, as they are prone to damage it by their persistent experimentation.

Most importantly, it is always advisable for the user to stick to his budget while choosing an audio system. One must remember that with the frenetic pace of technology and digitalization even the most advanced system can fall by the wayside within a span of as little as six months.

Hence a user must look for a quality, cheap and effective audio system for his recreation while he takes a ride out in this fast changing world.

A Guide To Easy Car Amplifier Installation

2008-01-31T03:15:00.000-08:00

Installing car amplifiers is challenging. You have to make sure the amplifier gets enough air circulation to keep from overheating while enclosing it in a way that prevents theft. Satisfying these needs doesn't always yield the best looking results. But, you can still show off your personal style when installing your amplifier with these simple suggestions.

Picture how you want the amp to look. Are you thinking "high tech" with a concealed panel? Or, are you going for a more industrial look with visible cables? Paint it; Wrap it in leather, carpet, or vinyl. Use your imagination and your rack design will show your style.

Airflow is a major consideration when installing an amplifier. The electronics in the amplifier produce a lot of heat when you crank up volume, and heat can damage the components. Ample airflow is essential for good performance and reliability and two ways to accomplish this are convection and forced-air systems.

The simplest cooling method is convection. It's simple because most car amplifiers come with convection cooling already built in. Convection occurs when the warm air inside the amplifier rises and dissipates through the fins of the aluminum heat sink. Warm air is replaced by cooler air drawn from below creating a continuous circulation of cool air that prevents the amp from overheating. Convection cooling works fine as long as the air circulates. The ideal would be to install the rack on a vertical surface in an open space with the fins vertically aligned.

A forced air system has triple the cooling capacity of a simple convection system. Simply adding an electric fan to increase airflow over the amplifier's heat sinks makes a big difference. That's one reason why high power amplifiers have thermostats; thermostats control the fans. If your rack holds multiple convection cooled amplifiers, it's worth it to install multiple fans. The cooler the amps, the longer they'll last. Running power for a fan is just a matter of connecting with the source unit's remote turn on lead since most accessory fans run on 12v DC. When the system turns on, the fans start up along with the other components on that circuit.

Now that you've got this great amplifier you want to show it off, but, how do you keep it from being stolen? If you can see the rack from the outside, you could be tempting fate. Consider one of the following options to prevent someone from stealing your equipment.

1.Make it detachable by fastening the amp rack with wing nuts. If the amplifier takes up cargo space, being able to take it out of the vehicle is an asset. However, removing the rack every time you park your car can be a hassle.

2.Create a removable secret panel to conceal the rack. The cover can be made of anything from fabric to fiberboard.

3.Install a good security system.

Use all three deterrents for the ultimate protection. Detachability provides extra security and additional cargo space when necessary. A removable panel is convenient. And, finally, a security system provides the last defense. You put a lot of effort into this project. Protect your work in style.

How To Build An Amplifier Rack For Your Car To Get The Best Sound

2008-01-31T03:14:00.000-08:00

You've heard the booming bass as a car travels down the road. To capture this sound quality yourself, you need to construct a quality amp rack that brings the best of sound quality to your car. Usually an amp rack system begins in the trunk. This depends on the vehicle you drive, however. One man's trunk can be another man's truck bed. In some vehicles, the trunk is too minimal to even bother. You must choose a location that protects the components from outside elements while also allowing space for the system you desire.

A panel that can old all of the speaker components is placed in the a large enough space to allows the amplifiers, woofers, and other speaker systems to attach to this unit. Most people use an amp rack because it looks good. Sometimes, appearance does count. Custom upholstery and a variety of other features can turn an average amp rack into an awe inspiring artistic creation. In fact, there are car competitions for those with the prettiest amp rack.

If you have built a solid amp rack, you will find that the instillation is simple. It is all a matter of sliding the speaker components into place, wiring them up, and then hooking it all up to your stereo system. Leave a small opening in the back in case you have to rewire speakers or replace blown fuses. Make sure the openings are small, as appearance can make or break the value of your sound system. If you ever opt to resell, you can make plenty of money by having a solid and artistic amp rack.

Size does matter. You would be foolish to build an amp rack that is larger than your card can fit. Imagine purchasing all the components only to discover they will not fit. Measure repeatedly to ensure that your dream amp rack will work in the available space. Choose components that can fit into the space you have available. Also keep in mind the fact that you will most likely want to upgrade components over time.

Placement is everything. In a van, your sound system has plenty of room for growth. Average drivers do not have vans, though. For this reason, many drivers need to find a suitable location. Sedans are probably best equipped with the amp rack in the trunk. Corvettes, Trans Ams, GTOs, and Firebirds often have designated locations for an amp rack. In a truck, the amp rack should be placed in the narrow space behind the truck bench. In other trucks, you may need to place it beneath the seats. Given weather conditions, you should never place the amp rack in your truck bed. Hatchbacks can be trickier, but most can still house a wonderful system.

How To Buy The Best Car Audio System For You And Your Ride

2008-01-30T00:54:00.001-08:00

Every car that drives and people are in it needs a car stereo or some kind of CD player. If you were driving from one end of the state and you expect to go to the other end of the state without any music and you are by yourself then you must be one lonely person. You can listen to your music all you want inside your own car and you don't have to listen to anyone telling you to turn it down or off. Many people love their time in their own car because it lets them enjoy the music that they like to listen to. Without music we wouldn't have the audio equipment that we have today.

If you bought a car without a CD player sometimes they give you a free CD player to put in the car, other times your new car might come with a whole new audio system with subwoofers and amps. You can find a CD player anywhere like best buy, circuit city any place that sells electronics is going to have your CD player for your car. You will want to go look for a car audio stereo at a place that sells that kind of audio equipment. Such as best buy or circuit city or just a local place that sells that kind of electronics. You can usually find a really good deal on a car stereo online at their sites where they have deals that they don't offer in the stores. You can get these deals only online and they are worth it. You can probably get a CD player online for as little as $50. That is if you go to the right place online. If you still cannot find a stereo unit then you just need to go to best buy.

If you are just wanting to get information about the different car CD players then you just need to go online and start looking at prices and seeing the different brands and models. There are so many different kinds to choose from and they are all good stereos. Usually if you are looking online at best buy or circuit city they will not always have the CD player in stock at the store so it would be wise to order one from their site because that's probably the only place you will find a good cheap stereo for your car. You can probably pick one up anywhere from $50 to $200. You just need to look and see what you like. You might find something that you like on an overstock site and it is really cheap but on the other hand you might find something that you like even more at the store but it is kind of expensive, to get what you want you might have to spend a little more. So go the extra dollar and get what you want and what you will enjoy your music while you are driving in your car.

Types of Car Stereo Speakers

2008-01-30T00:50:00.000-08:00

For a proficient and good quality car audio systems, car stereo speakers play a vital role. They are exceptional in the sense that they are designed only for reproducing sound frequencies. The audio system of the car is judged by a number of specifications matching the core.

The first criterion that a buyer should consider is the frequency response. It should be higher and wider so that the function of capturing and reproducing the sound is performed in a much better way. In addition, a buyer should also consider the efficiency or sensitivity of the car stereo speakers, which decide how far the sound will travel.

Focusing on the maximum power RMS, that is, the maximum power, which the speaker can produce continuously, is important if the system is to be played continuously.

Going for a component speaker will make the listening more thrilling since it gives a complete range and quality of sound inside the car. The power of them should be efficient enough not to diminish the riding power of the car. Not only this, while shopping for various types of speaker systems it is always a good idea to listen to each type all of them should sound a bit different from the other.

With the advancement in technology and the demand of music lovers, today, one can find many types of car stereo speakers. The automakers have designed various kinds of stereo systems, which could reproduce certain frequencies. The wider the frequency response of a speaker the larger sound signal the speaker can capture and reproduce. This can be explained with an example. To capture and reproduce treble high pitched frequencies a tweeter is the best. A sub woofer can only capture the low frequency, i.e. the bass.

Today, in market one can find a wide range of car stereo speakers. These are Multi Element speakers a.k.a coaxial speakers, Midbass or Midrange speakers, Component speakers and Sub Woofers.

Multi Element or coaxial speakers consist of two types speakers i.e., woofers and tweeters that are constructed into one. The woofer, which is shaped as a large cone, generates low range frequencies, on the other hand, there are three tweeters in the form of three small cones that handle the higher pitched frequencies.

Midrange speakers are those systems that are designed to capture and reproduce the middle and sometimes some low bass frequencies. A midrange speaker is generally smaller than a woofer and can reproduce frequency range of approximately 300 to 5000 hertz. These types are fitted in the side or the door panels of the cars.

Component speakers can reproduce high pitched frequencies. These kinds of speakers contain tweeters and horn loaded compression drivers. If a tweeter comes above 25 kilo hertz then it is called a super tweeter.

Another of the car stereo speakers is the sub woofer, which is capable of reproducing the lowest frequencies. The sub woofers have the capability of reproducing sound of the highest quality without reducing too much audio signal off it.

Car GPS Navigation Systems - A Buyers Guide

2008-01-29T01:53:00.000-08:00

In 1973 the U.S. Department of Defence launched the Navstar GPS network. This consisted of 24 satellites orbiting the earth every 12 hours and five ground stations. This positioning system was made available for public use. With this capability, consumer location devices were produced to accurately determine location and other data such as current and average speed, directional heading, and elevation. These GPS devices need an unobstructed view of at least four satellites to provide a reliable 3D fix.

The GPS receiver overlays this location data onto map files stored on the unit, to give a current position on the map as well previous track. The receiver constantly recalculates position, giving real time position.

A typical GPS device contains:

* 12-channel receiver - the quality of the receiver determines how long it takes the device to acquire a 3D fix.
* Antenna to capture satellite signals - positioned to get a clear view of the sky.
* CPU to process the data and overlay on maps
* DVD Hard-drive - where maps on DVD's or available online are uploaded and stored. Some cheaper units do not upload the maps, but reference them off the DVD or CD.
* Display Screen - mostly color with handheld units using black and white
* Voice Interface - more advanced units

How The GPS Device Gets A Fix

The first time you start your GPS device, its data store is blank so needs a to collect satellite information to determine your position. This is known as a cold start. Some units only take 30 to 45 seconds to acquire a 3D fix during a cold start, while others can take several minutes. Subsequent position updates only take 3 to 4 seconds. If you go out of range from losing line of sight, such as passing behind a large building or through a tunnel, a good receiver will instantly recover, whereas weaker units will require more time to reacquire a 3D fix.

How Different GPS Navigation Units Differ

Location of Antenna - A factory installed in-dash unit antenna is integrated into the dashboard where it has an unobstructed view of the sky. Many portable models have a suction-cup-mounting device to position the device on the windshield. Add-on antennas are also available. Regardless of the type of unit and antenna, the important thing is to keep the antenna visible to the greatest area of sky possible. Choose a unit where this can be done AT THE SAME TIME as being able to maintain a clear view of the screen.

Screens and Display - important to check how bright these are, and if they are clearly visible from the mounted position in bright day light. Onboard navigation systems are generally color screens, and portable units are black and white to save power. Larger screens and integrate better with other vehicle electronics.

Input Buttons - most enroute buttons are on the display screen. Ensure these are easy to use when driving; that is they are big enough and colored sufficently to see without causing a driving hazard.

Map Media - Earlier models were CD-based, requiring multiple discs to cover the entire United States. Newer in-dash systems are DVD-based; only 1-2 DVD's required for an entire country of maps.

Cost - In-dash systems are usually more expensive than portable counterparts. Aftermarket in-dash models usually require professional installation and can be just as expensive as the factory models.

Upgrading - always check how easy it is to upgrade the firmware and maps on your GPS unit. Some units detach a portion to be connected to the computer via USB, whereas others are done using a DVD. Those units which can be upgraded online, are much more convenient.

Added Features of GPS Units

Apart from giving you a current position, a number of GPS navigation devices can give you:

* A track of where you have been - the number of tracks and waypoints stored varies from unit to unit. You may also want to save on part of a track for future use.
* A path from your current position to your destination
* Maintain commonly used navigation paths for reuse.
* Points of Interest - user sets the types of points of interest, such as tourist, bank ATM, petrol stations, historical, accommodation, restaurants etc.
* Real time traffic reporting to avoid traffic delays. This can also include road works.
* Voice recognition to receive destination instructions, and voice guidance to give driving instructions
* Weather updates
* Street name navigation - instead of just turn left 200m it was say 'Turn left into Stanley St'
* Integrated Multimedia players - MP3 players, image viewers, and audio books.
* Onboard or Portable GPS Navigation

The downside of onboard GPS Navigation units are susceptible to theft; and you cannot take them with you to use in other vehicles or when travelling abroad. Portable units, such as the Garmin StreetPilot 2720, can be used in multiple cars; being easily moved from car to car. Depending upon the power supply and portability, portable and handheld units can be taken when travelling or used on cycles, boats, private aircraft etc.

Car Audio Stores

2008-01-29T01:52:00.000-08:00

I desire that the following article will help you to better understand this topic. For the car fan there is nothing as satisfying as a car that has all of the cutting-edge accessories installed. With these various accessories you can get the premium service that you have always dreamed about. One item that many car owners want is a great look sound system. To find this you will sometimes need to go and see multiple car audio stores. As this can sometimes be a hassle you can utilize the internet as a research mechanism.

When you type in the words car audio stores your favorite search engine will showing many different pages that are filled with links that you can access. Going into these links will erupt the assorted car audios these stores have in stock. You can use their Warehouse or shop section to see the unlike car audio that you like. Now even though you are initially going to do some explore the cyberspace may tempt you to buy some of their trade goods from these car audio stores. To void this you should know a few facts about different car audio systems. With this info you can get good items that will help your car audio to sound actually clear and nice.

Once you have looked at the assorted car audios that you can bargain you should check out a few car sound reviews to see what other customers have to say about the another car audios. Their comments can help you to nullify car audios that will give you many problems. These facts can actually come in handy at the assorted car audio stores that you will need to visit. So what should you do once you reach these assorted car audio stores? Well the first thing that you should do is to browse the diverse systems that are available.

You should find a sales Assistant who can help you out and answer various questions that you may have regarding the different car audios that you see. Among the many questions that you can ask should be the specifications of these car audios and the be range of each. You should wait until you have reached a few more car audio stores before you decide what types of car sound system you wan to have installed in your car.

Once you have brought your car sound system all that remains is to follow the operating instructions and set up the system. As soon as the system is wholly fitted in you should give this new car audio a test run and delight the great sound poring into your car. Thank you for Taking you time to read through this information if you’re concerned in gathering more knowledge please continue to search this site.

Newport Media Announces World's First Single IC Diversity DVB-T/DVB-H Solution

2007-09-26T03:31:00.000-07:00

The NMI400 MRC demodulator provides gain of 3 to 8 db in Carrier to Noise ratio when compared with non-diversity solutions. In full diversity DVB-T operation, the NMI400 consumes only 400mW with an extremely low 3.0 dB noise figure, +2dB IP3 and 55dB of adjacent channel rejection. The single chip offering includes a two quad-band, direct-conversion radios, a MRC DVB-H/DVB-T demodulator, plus all necessary memory in a very small 10mm x 10mm footprint. No other external memory, baluns or loop filters are required to create a complete solution, and the device is manufactured using low-cost, .13-micron complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process technology.

Engineering samples of the NMI400 will be available in the second quarter, 2007.

In addition to DVB-H, mobile DVB-T and Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial (ISDB-T), Newport Media's Sundance Series family will support other popular air interface standards including, but not limited to, Terrestrial-Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (T-DMB) and MediaFLO.

About Newport Media, Inc.

Newport Media is a fabless semiconductor company that develops and sells highly integrated solutions for emerging digital audio and mobile TV broadcast standards. Newport Media has assembled a management and development team with comprehensive system semiconductor experience in wireless handset and digital set-top box industries. Newport Media's development team leverages its collective experience in these converging industries to develop broadcast multimedia architectures and IC implementations with unprecedented performance, power consumption, size and cost.

Analog Devices' Latest Blackfin Family Provides New Levels of System Performance and Embedded Security for Automotive Applications

2007-04-25T04:27:00.003-07:00

Blackfin Processor Family Meets the Challenges of Designing Electronics for Multimedia, Networked Automotive and Industrial Applications

NORWOOD, Mass. -- Targeting the increasingly demanding requirements of embedded automotive and industrial applications, Analog Devices, Inc. (NYSE: ADI) is introducing its newest series of Blackfin[R] processors: the ADSP-BF54x family (ADSP-BF542/BF544/BF548/BF549). The Blackfin ADSP-BF54x family features a balance of increased I/O and memory bandwidth, on-chip memory, and integration of CAN and MOST system peripherals to deliver high performance and cost-effectiveness to industrial and multimedia/networked in-vehicle automotive applications. The BF54x family also embeds new Lockbox[TM] Secure Technology that protects developers' software code, which represents the valuable intellectual property that differentiates their products.

"Analog Devices' newest Blackfin processor family brings developers more of what they need to design performance-hungry and connectivity-ready electronics, making it ideal for manufacturers of automotive electronics as well as industrial manufacturers, particularly those designing applications requiring field upgradeability," said John Croteau, general manager, Convergent Platforms and Services Group, Analog Devices, Inc. "The Blackfin processor is unmatched for enabling these products because of its blend of signal- and control-processing multimedia support. The software flexibility is critical for automotive applications in particular because media formats and communications standards inevitably change in the time it takes applications to go from concept to the highway."
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Increased System Performance Drives Convergent Applications

"System performance has become a crucial enabler for in-vehicle electronics because audio, video, and hands-free communication continue to intensify processing demands," said Peter Kohlschmidt, director, Development Infotainment, Audi AG, Ingolstadt. "The Blackfin processor has proven a good fit for our audio head units."

Operating at speeds up to 600MHz, the new ADSP-BF54x family doubles the internal bus bandwidth of Blackfin to 532 Mbytes per second to meet the demands of system peripheral integration. This internal bandwidth is matched by up to 260Kbytes of on-chip memory. Additionally, the high-performance processing is complemented by a rich set of integrated peripherals that reduces system cost and development risk by minimizing the need for external components. High Speed USB on-the-go (OTG) with integrated PHY, ATAPI controller, and NAND flash controller are just a few of the peripheral options on the ADSP-BF54x family. Up to 152 general-purpose I/O ports are also supported. Furthermore, these new Blackfin processors offer a MXVR (Media Transfer) interface that easily integrates automotive telematics and infotainment systems with vehicles through a MOST network.

The ADI CROSSCORE([R]) software and hardware development tools that support other Blackfin Processors support the ADSP-BF54x family. These tools include the award-winning VisualDSP++([R]) integrated development and debug environment (IDDE), emulators, and EZ-KIT Lite([R]) evaluation hardware.

Automotive Leadership in Telematics and Infotainment Systems

A different processing profile characterizes today's automotive telematics and infotainment systems because multimedia content standards are changing constantly, threatening to out-date automotive electronics before the vehicle even hits the road. With its outstanding system performance and rich set of integrated peripherals, the new code- and pin-compatible Blackfin ADSP-BF549, which includes CAN (Controller Area Network) and MOST (Media-Oriented System Transport), is a platform capable of addressing a wide scope of applications such as audio/video rear seat entertainment systems (RSEs), digital radios, driver assistance systems, navigation head units, and hands-free phones.

Industrial Focus

The new Blackfin family is ideal for a wide-variety of industrial applications where field upgradeability, local storage and display capabilities are critical. Target markets include factory automation, wireless instrumentation, wireless telecommunications radios and switching, and security systems where the signal processing performance and rich peripheral set of the Blackfin BF54x family works to differentiate the end application.

UIEvolution and austriamicrosystems Partner to Develop a Rich User Experience for Mobile Entertainment Devices

2007-04-25T04:27:00.001-07:00

BELLEVUE, Wash. & UNTERPREMSTAETTEN, Austria -- UIEvolution, a leading provider of software solutions for rich media, information and entertainment, has been selected by austriamicrosystems, a leading global designer and manufacturer of analog integrated circuits for communications, industrial, medical and automotive applications, to develop the graphical user interface for its new Mobile Entertainment Platform. austriamicrosystems and UIEvolution are working together to help engineers simplify development of portable audio devices through graphical system design. This innovation combines open software and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) programmable hardware in a single, unifying platform to rapidly design, prototype and deploy devices for mobile entertainment. The collaboration of austriamicrosystems high performance chipset and UIEvolution's leading software solutions illustrates the two companies' ongoing strategic relationship dedicated to improving the development of devices for consumers all over the world.

austriamicrosystems is leveraging UIEvolution's technology and expertise to deliver a compelling portable entertainment user experience on audio devices, beyond just listening to music. UIEvolution has a flexible, yet stable platform that will enable austriamicrosystems to scale services and integrate dynamic content into their AS3525 and AS3527 high-performance chipset, providing device manufacturers with a robust platform that shortens the development cycle from concept to delivery.
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"UIEvolution understands the importance of user experience for differentiation," said Roberto Simmarano, Senior Director of Marketing for the Communications Business Unit at austriamicrosystems. "Their technology meets the challenge of creating an application experience that is both technically sound and appealing to user. The integration of the UIEngine[TM] with austriamicrosystems Media Platform will enable device manufacturers to easily develop high performance mobile entertainment products."

"We are excited about collaborating with austriamicrosystems to build innovative multimedia products that allows for broader availability of rich, digital media content," said Stephen Fishburn, Product Unit Manager for Embedded Systems at UIEvolution.

austriamicrosystems versatile and highly integrated ARM9 SoC in the AS3525 and AS3527 delivers over 200MIPS of processing power and allows the implementation of an MP3 player with only 50mW total power consumption. It delivers video playback to LCD and OLED screens at up to 30 frames per second (fps) and up to QCIF+ resolution, while streaming crystal-clear audio via its independent Bluetooth headphone and line outputs. Its system firmware is Microsoft PlaysForSure V2.0 compliant and supports MP3, WMA, AAC and OGG audio, JPEG, GIF and BMP photos as well as MPEG4 and Microsoft WMV Mobile Video contents. The platform has been tested by the National Software Testing Lab (NSTL) to be interoperable with Windows Media Player 11 and with the new Windows Vista Operating System. It also includes innovative technologies of lighting management for the generation of colourful effects synchronized with playback of music in order to increase the listener experience.

UIEvolution's world class UIEngine[TM] technology and development environment supports rapid development and deployment of ground up, custom graphical user interfaces for portable audio devices based on the austriamicrosystems AS3525 and AS3527 chips. Applications developed with UIEvolution's tools, UIE[TM] Designer and UIE[TM] Developer, enable hardware engineers, software engineers and product managers to rapidly design, develop and deploy lightweight, stand alone and networked experiences for consumers. UIEvolution provides a framework for rapid customization out-of-the box that can be quickly optimized for even the most challenging portable audio scenarios.

Demonstrations of the austriamicrosystems' Mobile Entertainment platform will be shown during the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas at the company suite in the Venetian Hotel-Resort-Casino.

About UIEvolution

UIEvolution is a global leader in developing and delivering cross-platform software, solutions and services that enable leading companies to deliver a rich consumer experience on any network and any device. UIEvolution is a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix, Inc. an industry leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software that includes the world's most popular franchises, FINAL FANTASY[R] and Dragon Quest. Square Enix, Inc. is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Securities Code: 9684).

FINAL FANTASY is a registered trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd. SQUARE ENIX is a trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd.

About austriamicrosystems

austriamicrosystems is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance analog ICs, combining more than 25 years of analog design capabilities and system know-how with its own state-of-the-art manufacturing and test facilities. austriamicrosystems leverages its expertise in low power and high accuracy to provide industry-leading customized and standard analog products. Operating worldwide with more than 1,000 employees, austriamicrosystems focuses on the areas of power management, sensors & sensor interfaces, portable audio and car access in its markets Communications, Industry & Medical and Automotive, complemented by its Full Service Foundry activities. austriamicrosystems is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ticker symbol: AMS

Matsushita Electric to Reorganize Overseas Mobile Phone Operations; Phasing out 2.5G GSM operations to focus on next-generation mobile terminal techno

2007-04-25T04:26:00.003-07:00

OSAKA, Japan -- Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (MEI (NYSE: MC)), today announced that one of its subsidiaries, Panasonic Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Mobile), will phase out overseas 2.5G GSM mobile terminal operations due to severe global competition. By concentrating resources into next-generation mobile terminal technologies, as well as unifying platforms and core technologies for the Japanese and overseas markets, Panasonic Mobile aims to improve development efficiency and product competitiveness. Sales and service activities for the current GSM products will continue.

In line with this decision, the following initiatives will commence from January 2006:

(1) In order to concentrate resources into the development of common core technologies and next-generation mobile terminals, Panasonic Mobile's global R&D structure will be reorganized.

Panasonic Mobile will accelerate the development of a global platform based on the Linux * Operating System (OS) that is now being used in mobile terminals for the Japanese market. Furthermore, the Linux OS-based platform will be integrated into Matsushita's newly developed system LSI, resulting in the establishment of global platforms through integrating core technologies for wireless modem and AV processing. In this way, Panasonic Mobile will further strengthen technological foundations for next-generation mobile terminal development on a global basis, as well as reinforce its mobile terminal business in Japan.

By focusing on the development of a Linux OS-based global platform, Panasonic Mobile will close R&D operations at Panasonic Mobile Communications Development Corporation of U.S.A. (PMCDU) in the United States, which has been developing other OS platforms. In addition, R&D operations at Panasonic Mobile Communications Development of Europe Ltd. (PMCDE) in the United Kingdom will concentrate on the development of 3G and next-generation technologies such as wireless modems and platforms.

(2) With the phasing out of GSM mobile terminal operations, Panasonic Mobile will reorganize its overseas manufacturing facilities.

Panasonic Mobile Communications Corporation of the Philippines (PMCP), where mainly GSM terminals have been produced will be closed. The GSM manufacturing in the production lines at Panasonic Mobile & Automotive Systems Czech, s. r. o. (PMACZ) in the Czech Republic will be discontinued. GSM manufacturing at Panasonic Putian Mobile Communications Beijing Co., Ltd. (PMCB) in China will shift to 3G mobile terminal production.

Pioneer Dome Travels the Country, Providing 'Best Seat in the House' at Numerous Automotive and Youth Oriented Events

2007-04-25T04:26:00.001-07:00

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Pioneer today launched the Pioneer Dome, a component of its 2007 'Best Seat in the House' marketing campaign, designed to attract "millenials" at events such as the DUB, Hot Import Nights, Night Shift and NOPI car shows. At more than 25 events across the country, young people will experience Pioneer's mobile audio products through 360 degrees of product imagery, video, music, demo vehicles and DJ performances in a 50-foot dome-shaped structure. The Pioneer Dome will make its debut at the DUB car show on April 29 in Phoenix, Arizona.

"Instead of a run-of-the-mill display at these highly attended events, we chose to create a 'club-like' atmosphere where kids can go and hang out, kick-back with their friends, listen to music, actually sit in demo cars and even scratch on video DJ turntables. It will be 'the place' to be when they get to these events," said Larry Rougas, vice president of marketing and product planning for the mobile entertainment division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

The Pioneer Dome will house a suspended DJ booth, two Smart[TM] Car demo vehicles and as many as 200 visitors at one time. Guests will be immersed in a club like music atmosphere and Pioneer mobile product imagery projected on the 360-degree dome ceiling. A dedicated DJ station equipped with Pioneer's industry-leading ProDJ gear will supply the music. Plasma televisions and interactive DVJ equipment add the final touches. Five venues (TBD) will have the opportunity to check out world-renowned video disc jockey, DJ Roonie G. who will be on hand for special performances.

Two Smart Cars filled with Pioneer's top-of-the-line mobile products will be on display for guests to demo Pioneer's sound quality speakers, amplifiers and subwoofers. One of the vehicles is outfitted with a full 6.1 Dolby Digital surround sound system. The second vehicle is prepped with Pioneer's navigation, audio and video system.

VIP Dome

At ten venues (TBD) a second 30-foot VIP Dome will accommodate special guests. The VIP Dome, connected directly to the Pioneer Dome, will have a sitting area, refreshment bar and multiple plasma televisions.

Infinity® Expands Car Audio Product Lineup with All-New Reference Amplifiers

2007-04-25T04:25:00.001-07:00

New Amps Debut at 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS -- Infinity today announced the addition of a new lineup of Reference Series amplifiers. The new Reference Series amplifiers continue to feature the unique blend of technology, performance and design associated with Infinity car audio products - but in a smaller package.

Available in March, the new lineup of Infinity Reference amplifiers includes one four-channel full-range model and two mono subwoofer amplifiers, and a five-channel amplifier that's designed to power an entire system. All full-range amplifier channels feature Class AB circuitry for pristine, low-distortion performance. The amplifier channels designed to drive subwoofers pack plenty of high-efficiency Class D power in a small chassis for easy installation.

"At Infinity, we recognize that new cars don't include a lot of extra space for mounting giant amplifiers," said Christopher M. Dragon, director of brand marketing, Infinity Mobile Systems. "These new Reference amplifiers are quite a bit smaller than the models they replace, making installation a far easier process. Of course, they include all the amazing audio performance consumers expect from Infinity."
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All the new Reference Series amplifiers include built-in variable electronic crossovers with 12dB/octave slopes for precise control of the audio signal. The subwoofer amplifiers and the five-channel system amplifier include a remote subwoofer-level control, which allows listeners to adjust bass levels from the listening position to suit their taste. All Reference Series amplifiers include pass-through signal output connectors to make installing multiamplifier systems easy, and an expansion port for connection to future accessories.

The Reference amplifier category features the following all-new models:

* Reference 475: 75W x 4 full-range amplifier (MSRP: $229.95)

* Reference 550: 50W x 4 + 350W x 1 Class AB/Class D hybrid system amplifier (MSRP: $249.95)

* Reference 1300: 300W x 1 Class D mono sub amplifier (MSRP: $229.95)

* Reference 1600: 600W x 1 Class D mono sub amplifier (MSRP: $374.95)

Reference Series amplifiers are designed and rated in accordance with CEA-2006A, the industry-accepted standard for rating amplifier performance.

The Harman Consumer Group (HCG) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a wide range of high-fidelity loudspeakers, audio and video components, and multimedia systems for use in homes and automobiles, and with computers. The group's brands include JBL, Infinity, Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, Revel, Audioaccess and Lexicon.

HCG is a division of Harman International Industries, Incorporated. Harman International is a leading manufacturer of high-quality, high-fidelity audio products and electronic systems for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. The company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HAR."

JBL® Sets the Standard for Car Audio With GTi MkII Component Systems

2007-04-25T04:23:00.000-07:00

The JBL GTi component systems deliver what recording engineers call cut or bite - it's a quality heard at live music events," said Andy Wehmeyer, product marketing manager, JBL Mobile Systems. "In order to reproduce it, speakers must be capable of handling tons of power and of responding instantaneously to high-amplitude transients - without distortion, without hangover and without high-amplitude adjacent-band deviations. A pioneer in the live music arena, JBL has more experience reproducing live music than anyone else, and the result of our extensive engineering efforts is some of the best car audio component systems money can buy."

Advanced motor technology is at the core of the GTi MkII component systems. Both the C508GTi and the C608GTi employ JBL's Symmetrical Field Geometry([TM]) (SFG), which includes a flux-stabilization ring designed to create symmetrical coil inductance while the coil is moving within the motor. This dramatically reduces distortion - even when the speaker is driven to its excursion limit. A two-inch aluminum edge-wound voice coil is used on both the five- and six-inch models. The ribbon-shaped aluminum wire enables JBL to precisely specify the number of coil windings in the magnetic gap, optimizing motor force for high efficiency and reducing distortion. It also provides maximum power handling and minimum coil inductance for extended high-frequency response.

To further reduce distortion, the systems' woofer cones are made of anodized aluminum and feature the company's patent pending Plus One([R]) technology, creating 30 percent more cone area than is found in competing speakers, and delivering higher efficiency and more bass output. Anodized aluminum moves first-modal cone-body breakup to a higher frequency outside the operating band, significantly reducing audible distortion and maximizing midrange clarity.

Both systems include JBL's 08GTi tweeter, and an outboard crossover network with a 24dB/octave Linquitz-Riley acoustic alignment. Air-core inductors are used to reduce magnetic saturation, and high-power and polypropylene capacitors ensure near-ideal characteristics with low series resistance (ESR).

The C508GTiMkII component system (MSRP: $479.00) and the C608GTiMkII component system (MSRP: $499.00) are now available at authorized JBL car audio dealers.

[TABLE OMITTED]

The Harman Consumer Systems Group (HCSG) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a wide range of high-fidelity loudspeakers, audio and video components, and multi-media systems for use in homes and automobiles, and with computers. The group's brands include JBL, Infinity, Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, Revel, Audioaccess and Lexicon.

HCSG is a division of Harman International Industries, Incorporated. Harman International (www.harman.com) is a leading manufacturer of high-quality, high-fidelity audio products and electronic systems for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. The company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HAR

Multi-Camera Server offers wireless vehicle tracking

2007-04-13T04:54:00.000-07:00

If as '90s media guru Faith Popcorn once observed, we were once happy to "cocoon" in our homes and watch videos, now we are apparently in constant motion and must take our content libraries with us. With cheap multi-gigabit memory available in matchbox-sized devices, this is now entirely possible.

The happy talk among company representatives at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas was that digital rights problems that might impede the acceptance of such devices have all been put to bed. Apple's iTunes proved that one can make money selling downloads, so now the studios will soon call off the law dogs, and everyone will be ecstatic, consumers and media giants alike. Never mind that hundreds of times more unauthorized content passes through peer-to-peer networks.

The portentous name for such handheld players is portable media servers, a.k.a. personal media servers, of which the Apple iPod family is only a subset of a subset. Some of these merely store music, or, less commonly video files, but others may receive FM and/or satellite radio broadcasts and GPS coordinates.
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The Tronic PMG (portable media gadget) is one of the more versatile, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPRS, MPEG, and a full Windows operating system. In addition, at CES Motorola and Viseon both displayed high-resolution video conferencing mobile phones, and various other phones on display could handle short video clips as well as MP3 files. Products incorporating ultra-wideband personal connectivity and digital wallets are reputedly waiting in the wings. Numerous UWB manufacturers, including Staccato, General Atomics, and Motorola, exhibited at the show.

ROBUST HANDHELDS

As recently as a year ago, the received opinion in the industry was that multi-competent handheld devices were done for, and that the future lay with limited smart phones sporting at most one or two accessories such as digital cameras or MP3 players. Now the assumption once again is that more is better.

During the show, Vodafone revealed plans for upcoming mobile content services that could exploit the capabilities of such devices. These will include full track audio downloads and "Mobisodes," short dramatic episodes specifically designed around the limitations of mobile devices. Meanwhile, Motorola Vice President Ron Garriques gave a keynote in which he spoke of "liquid media" feeds where content will automatically adapt itself to the particular device reproducing it, portable or stationary.

The proliferation of portable video players was such that, evidently, much of the industry must be convinced that mobile downloads will become the norm, to the presumed benefit of mobile carriers. But one representative of a leading chip manufacturer said on background that his company's leadership was skeptical due to the obvious difficulties of watching television while driving or even walking.

However, the growing popularity of rear-seat entertainment systems for cars suggests that a viable market could emerge for carrier-provided mobile content. Such automotive video displays were ubiquitous, with many occupying the trunks of show cars. One wonders precisely what function they actually serve.

HOME NETWORKING

The product category showcased at the previous CES, the home media server, was much less evident this year. So was the media computer, also heavily promoted last year. Sales of the latter category are increasing, if not exponentially. But media servers intended to direct multimedia streams about the residence are not finding many buyers. Perhaps the reason is that the whole concept is based upon a single centralized stack of signal sources serving an entire home, a rather dated notion when DVD players may be had for under $50.

In the meantime, manufacturers displayed numerous devices for facilitating home networks, whatever the traffic they might carry. Several prototypes of 802.11n radios capable of transporting HDTF were displayed, as were the aforementioned UWB radios and the new Powerline 2.0 equipment rated at 85mbps throughput.

In spite of the merely incremental growth in HDTV, large high-resolution video displays were still very actively promoted. Large format LCDs have improved to a startling degree. They now challenge plasma display technology, but the real news may have to do with SEDs (surface conduction electronic emitter displays), which were formerly known as FEDs (or field emissive devices).

These displays have been in development for almost two decades and utilize a type of cathode ray tube with as many cathodes as pixels and a high internal vacuum. Long considered to be potentially the most accurate video transducer (as well as being the most efficient flat panel display), SEDs or FEDs have always been prohibitively expensive to manufacture. For that reason they've been largely confined to vertical markets such as aerospace. Now Toshiba and Canon claim to have wrung the cost out.

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2007-04-13T04:53:00.000-07:00

Multimedia Processors meet Windows CE 5.0 requirements

2007-04-13T04:52:00.001-07:00

Nomadik mobile multimedia processors and associated board support package are suited for smart phones and other mobile devices that play music, take pictures, record video, and host 2-way video communications. Model STn8811 builds on Model STn8800 with video and audio performance, power management, and security framework to protect sensitive data. Models STn8811 and STn8812 offer 256 and 512 Mbits of SDRAM, respectively, as well as 512 Mbits of NAND flash memory.

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ST's Nomadik mobile multiprocessors more accessible to a wide range of multimedia applications

Geneva, May 5, 2005 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) today announced that its Nomadik family of mobile multimedia application processors and associated board support package (BSP) have been certified by Microsoft Corp. to work with Windows CE 5.0. ST's Nomadik family of processors are optimized to take full advantage of the powerful and flexible Windows CE 5.0 operating system by featuring ultra-low power consumption, high performance, low cost, easy application development, and scalability. The related BSP includes a boot loader, configuration files, and device drivers for using a Nomadik processor on a standard development board.

Certification of the Nomadik processor family and its BSP by Microsoft carries the benefit of assuring that the processors and the BSP meet the Windows CE 5.0 operating system requirements and therefore will be more readily accepted by customers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Inclusion in this elite group of processors makes Nomadik a marketable quality assurance point and provides positive industry exposure.
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The combined benefits of a Nomadik platform running Windows CE 5.0 make the pair an appealing platform on which to build a wide range of mobile multimedia consumer products. Among those are smart phones and other mobile devices that play music, take pictures, record video, and host two-way video communications, as well as automotive devices that inform, navigate, and entertain.

"Microsoft is pleased to certify STMicroelectronics' Nomadik mobile multimedia processors and board support package running Windows CE 5.0," said Jonas Hasselberg, group product manager, Microsoft Corp.'s Mobile and Embedded Devices Division. "Among the many benefits of the combined offerings is the help this brings OEMs to drive innovative products to market quickly."

"We fully expect our Nomadik processors running Windows CE 5.0 to open a world of mobile multimedia applications beyond the obvious," said Patrice Meilland, Director of Marketing for Application Processor and Portable Platforms Division, STMicroelectronics. "With this combination, portable multimedia products like smart phones, cameras, media players, video recorders, and videoconferencing equipment will be easier than ever to design and bring to market. In addition, automotive designers now have an unbeatable solution with which to add multimedia features that enhance the driving experience."

The Nomadik family of application processors comprises the original award winning STn88001 and three recent additions, the STn8810, STn8811, and STn8812. The STn8811 builds on the STn8800 with improved video and audio performance, advanced power management features, and a comprehensive security framework to protect sensitive data. The STn8811 and STn8812 add 256 and 512 Mbits of SDRAM, respectively, as well as 512 Mbits of NAND flash memory without increasing the chip footprint, thanks to advanced chip-stacking package technology.

Green Hills Software Optimizes Device Software Development With New Industry-Specific Platforms; Initial Green Hills Platforms Target Medical, Softwar

2007-04-05T23:46:00.000-07:00

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Green Hills Software, Inc., the technology leader in Device Software Optimization (DSO) and real-time operating systems (RTOS), today introduced a family of industry-optimized software development platforms for medical, Software Defined Radio (SDR), wireless, industrial control, automotive and avionics devices. The new highly integrated and royalty-free Green Hills Platforms include all of the core software and documentation required to develop and deploy a targeted device, accelerating time-to-market, reducing development risk, and enabling developers to focus on application-level innovation and differentiation.

"Green Hills Platforms are the next step in the evolution of Green Hills Software's solution," commented Dan O'Dowd, founder and chief executive officer of Green Hills Software. "By integrating our development tools, operating system and middleware into pre-configured, industry-optimized platforms running on industry-specific reference hardware, we are making it easier than ever for developers to take advantage of our leading reliability, security, performance, time-to-market and cost benefits."

Dana Gardner, principal analyst at Interarbor Solutions, recently wrote in his "Between the Lines" blog on ZDNet.com: "Now that embedded infrastructure and IDE makers like Green Hills have elevated their offerings to a solution level, the next logical step is to tailor those solutions to specific vertical industries. A vertically integrated baseline of standards- and certifications-specific platforms should reduce device development cycles and cut total costs, as well as encourage manufacturers to use software to differentiate themselves in their competitive niche markets

Green Hills Platforms are unique in the device software industry because they address a broad range of applications with one operating system technology: Green Hills Software's INTEGRITY real-time operating system (RTOS). By standardizing on one RTOS, diversified manufacturers can best leverage engineers' experience across projects and product lines while reducing software and training costs. While other DSO suppliers rely on different, incompatible operating systems to address different types of applications, the INTEGRITY RTOS is highly scalable, allowing it to be used in devices ranging from high-volume, cost-sensitive consumer devices to middleware-rich telecommunications equipment.

Green Hills Platforms are also unique because they come certified to the most stringent reliability, safety and security standards for each industry, including those specified by the NSA, FAA, FDA, IEEE and IEC. "Other competitive products have never been certified to the relevant industry-specific safety and reliability standards, making them little more than a marketing ploy," noted O'Dowd.

About the Green Hills Platforms

Each Green Hills Platform includes:

--Green Hills Software's reliable, secure and royalty-free INTEGRITY RTOS -- Many Platforms deliver an industry-specific configuration of INTEGRITY. In addition, some optionally include Green Hills Software's small and fast velOSity microkernel, the foundation of INTEGRITY, which is ideal for high volume and cost-sensitive devices.

--Industry-specific middleware, such as networking, file systems, graphics, audio/video and navigation, as appropriate

--Integration with industry-specific reference hardware -- The reference hardware, pre-loaded with INTEGRITY and the appropriate middleware, is available from Green Hills Software for some Platforms.

--Green Hills Software's MULTI development environment, the most powerful and complete set of tools for optimizing the reliability, performance, cost and time-to-market of device software

--Documentation, including the documentation and life cycle evidence required for industry-specific safety and security certifications and approvals

--Industry-specific consulting, engineering and certification and approval services

The initial Green Hills Platforms consist of:

Green Hills Platform for Medical Devices

The new Green Hills Platform for Medical Devices is designed to meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) requirements for up to Class III medical devices, the most stringent type of FDA certification. Class III devices usually support or sustain human life, such as pacemakers and defibrillators. The Platform for Medical Devices includes the INTEGRITY RTOS and the safety and RTOS life cycle documentation required for Class III approval. (See related announcement.)

Green Hills Platform for Software Defined Radios

The new Green Hills Platform for Software Defined Radios complies with the Software Defined Radio (SDR) standard Software Communications Architecture (SCA) Operating Environment. Based on the certified POSIX conformant INTEGRITY RTOS, it enables the development and deployment of next generation software-configurable radios for use in military, avionics and commercial applications, including the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). (See related announcement.)

Renesas Technology Licenses SMSC's MediaLB Technology Enabling New Automotive Multimedia Applications and IP for Digital Transmission Content Protecti

2007-04-05T23:45:00.000-07:00

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. & TOKYO -- SMSC (Nasdaq: SMSC) and Renesas Technology Corp. (Renesas) today announced that they have reached a licensing agreement enabling Renesas to incorporate SMSC technology providing Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) for DVD audio and video, including copy-protected DVDs. Renesas is also licensing SMSC's MediaLB technology, supported by SMSC's network interface controllers for its Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST(R)). MOST is a de facto industry standard for automotive multimedia networking deployed by virtually every major European automaker.

Mandated by the rules of the DVD Copy Control Association, an organization including content owners, DTCP protects digital DVD audio and video transported over a network. MediaLB is the chip interconnect standard needed for connecting to SMSC's new network interface controllers for MOST. By licensing SMSC's HDL IP blocks for DTCP and MediaLB, Renesas will be able to integrate the technology into automotive Application Specific Standard Products (ASSPs) and Application Specific Custom Products (ASCPs) with seamless connectivity to all existing and upcoming MOST speed grades and physical layers, while enabling the transmission of digital content over MOST networks.

MOST multimedia networking technology enables new classes of multimedia applications in automobiles. It facilitates the efficient transport of real-time streaming multimedia, control and packet information over a single optical fiber or twisted pair wire, eliminating the need to run multiple wires throughout a vehicle, and enables automakers to decentralize infotainment functions into various components distributed around the vehicle.

"Renesas' selection of the MediaLB interface demonstrates the commitment of Renesas to supporting SMSC's multimedia networking technology," said Herbert Hetzel, Managing Director of SMSC's Automotive Infotainment Systems group. "Integrating DTCP functionality also enables Renesas to deliver new applications supporting the DVD Copy Control Association's requirements for securely transporting content over a digital network."

"This license enables us to quickly market new ASSPs/ASCPs integrating SMSC's market-proven networking technology, which automotive manufacturers have widely accepted to efficiently connect multimedia applications and distribute content," said Shiro Baba, General Manager of the Automotive Semiconductor Business Unit, System Solution Business Group, Renesas Technology. "We have established a leadership position in providing a wide variety of automotive solutions and powerful IP especially for Car Information System (CIS)/ Telematics with high performance car navigation CPUs. Now, with SMSC's IP for DTCP and MediaLB, we will provide a more attractive solution for MOST-enabled ASSP/ASCPs."

About Renesas Technology Corp:

Renesas Technology Corp. designs and manufactures highly integrated semiconductor system solutions for mobile, automotive and PC/AV markets. Established on April 1, 2003 as a joint venture between Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501, NYSE:HIT) and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TSE:6503) and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Renesas Technology is one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world and the world's leading microcontroller supplier globally. Besides microcontrollers, Renesas Technology offers flash memories, system-in-package and system-on-chip devices, Smart Card ICs, mixed-signal products, SRAMs and more.

About SMSC:

Many of the world's most successful global technology companies rely upon SMSC as a go-to resource for semiconductor system solutions that span analog, digital and mixed-signal technologies. Leveraging substantial intellectual property, integration expertise and a comprehensive global infrastructure, SMSC solves design challenges and delivers performance, space, cost and time-to-market advantages to its customers. SMSC's application focus targets key vertical markets including mobile and desktop PCs, servers, consumer electronics, automotive infotainment and industrial applications. The Company has developed leadership positions in its select markets by providing application specific solutions such as mixed-signal PC system controllers, non-PCI Ethernet, ARCNET, MOST and Hi-Speed USB.

SMSC is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York with operations in North America, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, China and Europe. Engineering design centers are located in Arizona, New York, Texas and Karlsruhe, Germany. Additional information is available at http://www.smsc.com.

SMSC is a registered trademark of Standard Microsystems Corporation. Product names, company names and brand names are property of their respective owners.
*1: DTCP (Digital Transmission Content Protection) is a method to protect digital DVD audio and video transported over a network. DVD players are subject to the rules of the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA), an organization that includes the content owners. These rules require that DVD content be protected before it can be sent over a digital network and mandate the use of DTCP. MOST was the first network to be fully approved by the DVD CCA to carry DVD content. SMSC's DTCP IP features a powerful M6 cipher engine and AKE (Authentication and Key Exchange), both required to use DTCP on MOST.

Arthur D. Little Launches Mobile Video Spin-off Alphamosaic; New Company to Commercialize Low-cost, Low-power Wireless Video Technology

2007-04-05T23:44:00.000-07:00

Arthur D. Little, one of the world's premier management and technology consulting firms, has launched Alphamosaic, a new mobile video company that promises to make low-cost, low-power video available for wireless devices in the near term.

The launch of Alphamosaic coincides with a $9 million venture capital investment in the company by Prelude Trust plc. Alphamosaic will use the funds to commercialize its proprietary wireless video technology called VideoCore, which allows a wide range of new video functions for mobile devices, including cell phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).

The technology was developed at Arthur D. Little's European technology arm Cambridge Consultants Limited (CCL(R)), which is headquartered in Cambridge, England. Alphamosaic will also be headquartered in Cambridge.We have developed the technology that everyone has been asking for - a low-cost, low-power method of transmitting video through cell phones, PDAs and any other wireless devices," said Robert Swann, co-founder of Alphamosaic. "As wireless devices become more prevalent, the public is demanding even greater flexibility and functionality while they're on the road. The market is already sold on options like text messaging and wireless Internet, and it's only a matter of time before it embraces wireless video as well."

Recent research forecasts that by 2005, 92 percent of U.S. households will use "personal rich media" (audio & video clips) regularly. On a larger scale, key industry players predict that by 2004, camera-enabled handsets will account for 20-50 percent of the global phone market.

Alphamosaic's new VideoCore technology will allow users to conduct a wide range of functions through their wireless devices, including monitoring their homes while travelling, sending video postcards to friends, and holding high-quality video conference calls while on the move.

"Alphamosaic has the potential to revolutionize the way mobile video is perceived in today's market," said Alan Duncan, Director at Prelude. "This company has all the characteristics that Prelude looks for in its investments: a world-class technical team coupled with proprietary technology that meets a global market opportunity."

"This wireless video technology, created by Arthur D. Little, is a perfect example of how the innovations developed and launched here create continual value," said Claire Ruskin, Director, Arthur D. Little. "Alphamosaic is the latest in a family of successful spin-offs from Arthur D. Little, continuing our long tradition of building leading edge capabilities that meet market demand."

Notes to editors:

Arthur D. Little is one of the world's premier technology and consulting firms working at the interface of business and the technologies that drive innovation and growth. Drawing on its unique blend of knowledge and hands-on experience across global industries, the firm collaborates with its clients to develop significant breakthroughs in practices, products, and processes that lead to dramatic growth and the creation of new value. Cambridge Consultants Limited (CCL(R)) is the European technology centre for Arthur D. Little. With a team of over 300 engineers and scientists, CCL offers solutions across a diverse range of industries including healthcare, telecommunications, industrial and consumer products, automotive and aerospace.

As the Demand for in-Car Audiovisual Entertainment and Navigation Products Increases the Automotive Display Market Looks Prosperous

2007-04-05T23:41:00.000-07:00

The last few years have seen strong growth in demand for in-car audiovisual entertainment and navigation products. With the impact of the new developments in telematics and the increased demand for car instrument panels and car stereo display panels, the prospects for the global automotive display industry have been looking bright. This report will begin by examining the current state of the global car industry, before going on to examine the different types of automotive display technology and the size of the various application markets, design specifications, the strategies adopted by individual automotive display manufacturers, and the impact of telematics technology on the automotive display market.

Global Car industry production scale forecast by region, display panel technologies and automotive applications such as audio and video devices, head-up displays, and instrument panels; car display design requirements, major in-car display device maker profiles; impact of regulatory environment

Action Electronics, AisinAW, Alpine, AU Optronics, Bcom, Becker, BMW, Bosch, Chunghwa Picture Tube, Clarion, DaimlerChrysler, DELPHI, Denso, E-Bridge, E-Lead, Ford, Fujitsu-TEN, Futaba, Garmin, GM, Hamg Shing, Hannstar, Holux, Honda, Hsing Yi Technologies, Hyundai, Innolux, Kayang, Kenwood, Mitsubishi, Mobiletron, NEC, Optrex, Panasonic, Panasonic Taiwan, Prime View, Promate, Royaltek, Samisen, Sanyo, Sharp, Siemens VDO, Stars Nav Tech, TMD, VISTEON, Xanavi

Analog Signal Switches feature 130 MHz bandwidth

2007-04-04T00:07:00.000-07:00

Designed for high-speed switching of audio, video, and data signals in portable devices, SPST Models AS1741, AS1742, and AS1743 feature 1.6-3.6 V supply voltage, switching current up to 250 mA, and on-resistance of 0.8 Ohms. All digital logic inputs are 1.8 V CMOS compatible. Housed in 8-pin MSOP package, switches are suited for mobile phones, digital cameras, and PDAs, as well as MP3, CD/DVD, and video players.

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The AS1741, AS1742 and AS1743 analog switches are ideal for high-speed switching of audio, video and data signals in portable devices like mobile phones, MP3, CD/DVD and video players, digital cameras, PDAs and handhelds

RALEIGH, N.C. (September 13, 2005) - austriamicrosystems announced today the availability of its first family of high performance analog switches. These high-speed, low-voltage, dual, single-pole/single-throw (SPST) analog switches offer significant performance improvements over existing products. Switching time has been improved by over 40% while maintaining superior low on-resistance (Ron) flatness and channel matching. Through the improved bandwidth of 130MHz the devices are ideal for video and high-speed data signals. The wide supply voltage range from 1.6V to 3.6V supports a broad range of designs. All digital logic inputs are 1.8V CMOS compatible.

The combination of very low power consumption, Ron and fast switching speed makes these devices ideal for portable battery powered applications and allows for switching of currents up to 250mA. The excellent power routing performance enabled by the low Ron of only 0.8 Ohms makes these high performance switches a perfect match for low-Ohm speakers and headsets.

The first series of high performance analog switches is available as two normally open (AS1741), two normally closed (AS1742) and a combination of one open and one closed switch (AS1743).

The AS1741, AS1742 and AS1743 are available in an 8-pin MSOP package and are drop-in replacements for MAX4741, MAX4742 and MAX4732. For product specific information and to request samples please go to http://www.austriamicrosystems.com/03products/01_analog_switches.htm

About austriamicrosystems

austriamicrosystems is a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance analog ICs, combining more than 20 years of analog design capabilities and system know-how with its own state-of-the-art manufacturing and test facilities. austriamicrosystems leverages its expertise in low power and high accuracy to provide industry-leading customized and standard analog products. Operating worldwide with more than 800 employees, austriamicrosystems focuses on the areas of power management, sensors & sensor interfaces, portable audio and car access through its business units Communications, Industry & Medical, Automotive and Full Service Foundry. austriamicrosystems is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ticker symbol: AMS).

MEMS Accelerometers address different system needs

2007-04-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

Featuring SPI/I2C digital interface, 3-axis, low-g Model LIS3LV02DQ includes adjustable bandwidth to eliminate interference from irrelevant frequency areas, and direction detection, which signals threshold crossing along any of 3 axes. Housed in 5 x 5 x 1.5 mm[sup.3] LGA package, analog-output Models LIS3L02AL/LIS3L06AL meet space constraints of small-form-factor applications. Model LIS3L02AL offers acceleration range of [+ or -]2g, while Model LIS3L06AL offers choice of [+ or -]2 g and [+ or -]6 g.

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Geneva, October 12, 2005 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a leading supplier of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) devices, today announced that it has expanded its portfolio of three-axis accelerometers with three new models, embedding world-class performance in ever smaller packages. From ultra-compact analog devices to 'smart sensors' with two digital output formats (SPI/I2C), ST's low-power, high-resolution MEMS accelerometers address different system needs and hardware characteristics in a wide range of low-g applications, from hard-disk drive protection to motion user interfaces.

ST's LIS3LV02DQ is the market's most advanced 3-axis low-g accelerometer with a standard SPI/I2C digital interface. Its novel features, including adjustable bandwidth and direction detection, mark the transition towards the concept of "smart sensors."

Adjustable bandwidth provides optimized performance for different frequencies, raising the resolution by eliminating interference from irrelevant frequency areas. In ST's LIS3LV02DQ, the bandwidth can be flexibly changed with a software command, allowing designers to effectively combine measurements of slow and fast motions, such as tilts and vibrations, in one application.

The embedded feature of direction detection immediately signals threshold crossing along any of the three axes. This information helps quickly understand in which direction the sensor is moving before any data calculations are made. Areas of application include intuitive user interfaces in various computer and consumer applications, such as 3D mice or gaming consoles.

ST's new analog-output LIS3L02AL/LIS3L06AL sensors are the market's first devices in slim-and-small plastic LGA (Land Grid Array) packages. Their 5x5x1.5 mm3 dimensions meet the space constraints of the booming small-form-factor applications, including mini disc drives, mobile phones, and other portable electronic devices.

ST's leadership in MEMS miniaturization goes hand in hand with superior performance parameters. The new accelerometers can measure both tilt and acceleration along all three (x, y, z) axes at a very low noise level and minimized power consumption, which is especially critical in battery-operated portable systems.

The LIS3L0xAL devices also offer high temperature stability and tight offset tolerances, and their robust design provides very high immunity to vibration and a shock resistance up to 10,000g.

ST's new three-axis analog sensor is available in two acceleration ranges, the standard +/- 2g LIS3L02AL for tilt applications, and a dynamically selectable choice of +/-2g and +/-6g in the LIS3L06AL, suited for measuring both static and dynamic accelerations, such as vibrations or rollover motions.

"Shrinking dimensions, coupled with increasing performance, and embedded flexibility, open up a fascinating range of computer and consumer applications for our MEMS-based sensors," said Hubert Geitner, Marketing and Business Development Manager at the MEMS Business Unit of ST. "ST's silicon expertise and leadership in micro-machining technologies translate into the highest levels of sensitivity and robustness at very competitive prices. Furthermore, full ownership of the device manufacturing flow enables us to guarantee our customers long-term availability and roadmap continuity."

Microtune Tuner Strategy for Mobile TV Leverages Core Technology, Market Leadership and Standards Expertise; Company Product Direction Encompasses Sin

2007-03-23T06:01:00.000-07:00

INGOLSTADT, Germany -- In Europe last week for the kick-off of commercial mobile TV services and for the introduction of handsets using its tuner, Microtune(R), Inc. President and CEO James A. Fontaine revealed the company's product strategy to meet the needs of worldwide mobile/portable TV manufacturers for future radio frequency (RF) electronics.

"Leveraging our patented MicroTuner(TM) architecture, coupled with our market leadership in silicon TV tuner-chips and digital TV expertise, our product plan is to develop new multi-standard, poly-band, universal TV tuners that can help drive the development of the global market for mobile and portable TV," said Mr. Fontaine.

"We expect the commercial rollouts for the 2006 FIFA World Cup to serve as an excellent proving ground for mobile TV services. They will rigorously test the entire broadcasting system, while spurring interest, demand and deployments. We are proud that our DVB-H tuner technology is deployed in the LG Electronics' LG-U900 handsets that will be used in the Italian Hutchison (3) launch. As additional mobile TV networks are introduced worldwide, we believe that multiple mobile TV standards, as with other digital TV standards, will co-exist across regions or countries. We intend to support these multiple standards with our advanced tuner technology.

"Our goal is to provide high-performance tuners to as wide a market as possible, while permitting our customers to cost effectively develop multi-market end products. In the process, we expect to solidify a leadership position as the preferred RF supplier to major consumer electronics manufacturers."

According to Mr. Fontaine, Microtune plans to expand upon its existing ATSC, DVB-T and DVB-H-based products to develop universal tuners. They will be engineered as miniature single chips that support multiple mobile TV standards, while also easily enabling compact dual-tuner configurations for personal video recording and diversity applications. Anticipating the convergence of digital TV broadcast, multimedia and connectivity as part of the evolution of handsets and portable devices, the company also plans to investigate strategies to bridge its current tuner portfolio with expanded RF functions.

As the first initiative in its strategy, Microtune plans to expand its Mobile MicroTuner product family for the DVB-T, DVB-H, T-DMB, ISDB-T and DMB-TH specifications. When implemented into consumer multimedia devices, the new tuners will enable users to access a variety of content -- digital TV broadcasts, mobile TV broadcasts, digital radio and teletext -- while roaming across countries that offer differing standards.

Combining standards with expanded RF functions, Microtune expects that its future tuners will permit manufacturers to develop products for global markets without the added expense and duplication of effort to design standard- or feature-specific devices. They will help to accelerate a customer's time-to-market and reduce costly development investments, while maintaining the very high level of RF performance and silicon integration associated with current Microtune products.

"With the continuation of worldwide field trials, the emergence of competitive specifications such as T-DMB, and most significantly, the first launch of commercial DVB-H services in Italy, the emerging TV-on-mobile devices market is dynamically moving forward," said Paul O'Donovan, Principal Research Analyst, Semiconductor Group, Gartner Dataquest.

"Italy will prove a tipping point. The experience of Hutchison (3) in delivering mobile TV services in Rome, Milan, Turin and other cities will serve as both a test case and learning experience, identifying the interest of consumers, the appeal of content, the ruggedness of the broadcast system, the new capabilities in the mobile phones and, most importantly, the validity of the business model," O'Donovan added. "A key criteria of initial success will be quality of the TV reception. Consumers know what TV looks like, and the new DVB-H mobile phones will need to deliver high-quality, consistent TV pictures on the small LCD screens."

As examples of Microtune's successful multi-standard approach, Mr. Fontaine cited the recently announced Mobile MicroTuner MT2266, a dual-standard (DVB-T and DVB-H), dual-band (UHF and VHF-Band III) chip that receives and tunes both digital terrestrial TV and mobile broadcast TV signals. Microtune's first Mobile MicroTuner product, the MT2260, was the industry's first multi-band (UHF/L-Band) DVB-H tuner to be introduced, sampled and put into production. This chip is currently deployed in LG's LG-U900 mobile phone.

Fonix VoiceCentral Available for Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PCs

2007-03-23T05:39:00.002-07:00

Ana Martinez, a fundraising and customer service professional, is visually impaired and relies on assistive technologies in her business and personal life. "I've been tremendously impressed with VoiceCentral and what it can do for those of us with visual disabilities," she says. "Fonix has the right idea and this solution 'speaks' to me and my needs."

With speech-enabled access to PDA functions, VoiceCentral gives end users with busy lifestyles a convenient, easy-to-use communication solution. "To be able to get through my email while driving is a big benefit to me," says Guy Sucharczuk, CEO, Aurora Networks. "VoiceCentral makes my travel time more productive."

"Fonix VoiceCentral gives users easy access and management of information on handheld devices," says Walt Nawrocki, VP and GM, Fonix Speech. "As device capabilities increase, and users are able to add more music, photos and video to devices, speech recognition becomes a 'must have' interface to avoid tedious menus and button pushing."

Fonix VoiceCentral 3.1 capabilities:

* Access all VoiceCentral functions on the device without pushing buttons via a Bluetooth headset.

* Access emails and reply via an audio recording.

* Create custom commands such as "Play Music" or "Browse website."

* Dial a number, press "save," and save it to the Outlook contact list.

* Maximize important info on the device screen by minimizing the VoiceCentral toolbar.

* Call contacts stored on the Sim card as well as the PDA.

* Access the "Contacts" and "Launch Apps" pages with easy-to-use menus.

For information or purchase, customers may also call Fonix at (801) 553-6600 and say "VoiceCentral."

About Fonix Speech, Inc.

Fonix Speech, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fonix Corporation that currently offers voice technology solutions for mobile/wireless devices; interactive videogames, toys and appliances; computer telephony systems; the assistive market and automotive telematics.

About Fonix

Fonix Corporation (OTC BB: FNIX), based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is an innovative communications and technology company that provides integrated telecommunications services and value-added speech technologies through Fonix Telecom, Inc., LecStar Telecom, Inc. and Fonix Speech, Inc. The combination of interactive speech technology and integrated telecommunications services allows Fonix to provide customers with comprehensive cost-effective solutions to enhance and expand their communications needs. Visit www.fonix.com for more information, or call (801) 553-6600 and say "Sales."

Statements released by Fonix that are not purely historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company's expectations, hopes, intentions and strategies for the future. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business prospects and performance. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risk factors include general economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors as discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. The Company does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release.

Celoxica Unveils Next-Generation Video and Imaging Platform; RC340 Programmable Platform Fully Integrated Into ESL-design Flows for Real-Time Video, I

2007-03-23T05:39:00.001-07:00

OXFORDSHIRE, England -- Celoxica (LSE:CXA) today announced availability of the RC340, the company's latest programmable platform for designers of advanced digital video and imaging applications. The RC340 is for prototyping and development of high-performance, high-throughput FPGA and soft-core microprocessor-based applications such as HDTV, broadcast, robotics and industrial vision systems, video compression, video distribution, high-speed encrypted VPN, packet filtering and network intrusion detection.

The RC340 includes a 16M Gate Xilinx Virtex 4 FPGA, direct access to 32Mbytes of pipelined SRAM, a DIMM socket for DRAM and is supported with a wide range of video I/O and peripherals. The RC340 is also available with the PixelStreams video IP library and a complete suite of electronic system level (ESL) design software for new levels of hardware/software integration.

High-performance video, including stereoscopic video applications, is enabled by the dual video inputs and outputs, including both digital video to the DVI standard and analog video. As an option, the board can be supplied with a high-resolution 1024x768 12.1-inch TFT/Touchscreen offering a quality and size of display unique in the industry, and a mobile and compact demonstration vehicle for imaging applications such as in-car infotainment and mobile devices.

Communications are provided by dual gigabit Ethernet MAC/PHYs and 10/100/1000baseT sockets offering capability for data streaming, data distribution and high performance network applications. The board also offers a USB 2.0 connection for high-speed bit file download and for host to FPGA application communications. To assist with debug, application status reporting and user interaction, the board has 8 user-programmable LEDs and a four-line, 16 character LCD display as well as audio in/out, including SPDIF digital out, PS2 keyboard and mouse connectors and dual RS232 ports. The board also provides an SDCard socket for the storage of bit files for the FPGA and user application data.

"The RC340 is the latest and very capable addition to our industry proven and widely adopted RC300 Series of programmable platforms," said Graham McKenzie, product marketing manager for Celoxica. "Board level features and architecture have been optimized for high performance real-time video and imaging applications and the board is available stand alone or fully integrated into our ESL design software and video IP libraries."

Quad-Band Handset suits industry-specific applications

2007-03-15T22:31:00.000-07:00

Operating on EDGE wireless data network, BlackBerry[R] 8800 has built-in GPS and supports location-based service applications. Operational functionality is promoted via full QWERTY keyboard, trackball navigation system, and Hi-Res (320 x 240) landscape display with context-sensitive menus. Along with various call management and phone features, handset comes with Push To Talk and Bluetooth[R] support, 64 Mb flash memory, and micro-SD expandable memory slot.

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ATLANTA and WATERLOO, Ontario, Feb. 12 - Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) and AT&T (NYSE:T) today introduced the thinnest BlackBerry handset yet. The BlackBerry(R) 8800 incorporates a full QWERTY keyboard and offers customers a unique blend of performance and elegance. AT&T will be the first wireless carrier in North America to launch the BlackBerry 8800 when it begins offering it across its wireless retail and business channels on February 21.

The BlackBerry 8800 from AT&T has an exclusive, premium, dark blue finish and AT&T uniquely supports Push To Talk (PTT) on the handset. It features built-in GPS (Global Positioning System), a first for an AT&T-enabled BlackBerry handset. The BlackBerry 8800 also incorporates RIM's new trackball navigation system for fast and intuitive navigation, as well as a media player and a microSD expandable memory slot for storage of music and videos.

Bring Back Truly Portable Audio and Video, Urges ABI Research

2007-03-15T22:30:00.002-07:00

OYSTER BAY, N.Y. -- Portable entertainment changed forever in 1979 when the Sony Walkman hit the market. It spawned an industry, and made personal mobile listening possible.

Today's equivalent is the MP3 player. But where's the music, and how do you get it? It's on the Internet, and you need a computer to buy it and transfer it to your player. That's a step backwards, away from the joy of truly portable procurement and listening.

"Today's so-called portables," says Vamsi Sistla, director of residential entertainment at ABI Research, "are still tied by an umbilical cord to the computer and a broadband connection. The industry should address these shortcomings."

A suggested rethink is included in ABI Research's new study, "The Emergence of Portable Audio, Video & Game Markets."

Consider this scenario. You head into a drive-in food stand. While waiting for your order, you connect your network-ready MP3 player to a wired or wireless vending station, right from the car. After your multimedia provider's normal authentication process, you download the latest multimedia in the time it takes to cook your burger.

You could restock your player at a sidewalk kiosk, or in a record store or an electronics retailer. You could do it in the supermarket checkout line, or at the gym, or even on a plane.

For market leaders such as Sony, Apple, Philips and Microsoft, for big retailers and name brands, and for Wi-Fi, RFID and NFC vendors this could mean many more customers, higher sales, and huge profits.

All that's needed is to make portable audio and video devices network-ready, and for content providers to build an access infrastructure to provide additional avenues for obtaining content. "I'm not excited by the prospect of an 80 GB MP3 player," says Sistla. "What gets me excited is a 20 GB player that can download media on the go."

Delphi New Mobile MultiMedia Business Is Soaring

2007-03-15T22:30:00.001-07:00

Delphi Automotive Systems said it has received more than $2.5 billion in business orders from seven different customers around the world for its Communiport[R] brand Mobile MultiMedia (MMM) technologies. Delphi's Communiport products will provide a number of navigation, mobile computing, communications, entertainment and information functions for personal and commercial drivers. "The extraordinary growth of Mobile MultiMedia has exceeded expectations," said Dave Wohleen, president of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems.

"The interest in these technologies by vehicle producers has been very strong. These manufacturers are acutely aware of how these features and functions differentiate their vehicles from other cars and trucks. And even more important, they understand the evolving demographic transformation of lifestyles that is creating consumers who not only desire these options in their vehicles, they expect them."

Amd And M-Systems To Collaborate On High-Density Embedded Storage Solutions For Mobile Markets - Company Business and Marketing

2007-03-15T22:29:00.002-07:00

AMD (NYSE:AMD) and M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd. (Nasdaq:FLSH) have entered into a strategic agreement to jointly develop sophisticated high-density flash data storage solutions for the rapidly growing mobile data storage market.

Building on AMD's strength in manufacturing, packaging and flash technology; and M-Systems' award-winning DiskOnChip technology, this collaboration is intended to create embedded data storage products optimized for high-performance mobile and other applications.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop and market flash data storage solutions. The combination of AMD's advanced low power flash with M-Systems' widely supported and easy-to-use TrueFFS (True Flash File System) technology is expected to create solutions which offer high-performance, small form-factors and an extremely cost-effective interface.

This suite of products will be designed to offer the functionality and ease-of-use of a hard drive, with the superior speed, performance, low power consumption and reliability of AMD's Flash memory.

Cellular telephones, wireless devices, hand-held PCs, automotive PCs and other mobile products that need to quickly store and retrieve large amounts of data, can greatly benefit from the small form factor and cost-effective interface of the solutions the two companies plan to develop. Offering integrated security features with extensive data storage capabilities, these products will be designed for mobile-commerce applications such as the secure digital music initiative.

"AMD believes that there is a burgeoning market for high-capacity embedded data storage devices in advanced portable products," said Walid Maghribi, AMD's senior vice president and president of the company's Memory Group.

"The growing need for small, low-power, rugged and secure storage solutions that are capable of holding large quantities of data, audio and video files, represents a tremendous opportunity for flash memory. AMD has partnered with M-Systems to develop this new flash-based data storage solution to address the mobile market's unique needs."

"We chose to adopt M-Systems' DiskOnChip technology because of its combination of the TrueFFS software, a unique controller with highly integrated security features, and their ability to provide a comprehensive solution," added Maghribi.

"We are elated to enter into a partnership with AMD, a company that has earned the reputation for delivering extremely reliable flash memory products to the market," said Dov Moran, president and CEO of M-Systems. "AMD's expertise in flash memory and knowledge of the mobile market space, coupled with M-Systems' ability to offer an extremely reliable high-capacity storage solution to applications demanding very high performance, makes this partnership ideal for this venture."

M-Systems' TrueFFS is a patented Flash file system and set of technologies that performs full read/write hard disk emulation with an unmatched level of reliability and performance. TrueFFS works in all major operating system environments, including Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows CE, Windows NT, Windows NT Embedded, Windows95/8, DOS, BE, Linux and other leading operating systems.

With combined TrueFFS and DiskOnChip flash disk technologies, M-Systems' DiskOnChip family of Flash disk products have a burst read/write speed of up to 20 Megabytes per second, an endurance of one million write/erase cycles, advanced error correction/error detection, and are the most reliable Flash disk solutions in the market.

M-Systems' DiskOnChip is currently available in 32-pin DIP, 144-pin DIMM or 48-pin TSOP form factors with capacities ranging from 8 MB to 288 MB. This unique product adds flexibility, minimizes integration efforts, reduces engineering costs and shortens time-to-market. M-Systems' DiskOnChip features high reliability, low power consumption and small size.

Welcome to TechnoRide!

2007-03-15T22:29:00.001-07:00

The modern car is a wonder to behold, and its effects on us are compounding daily. On the roads, we're kept safe by cutting-edge advances in electronic braking and collision avoidance systems. In the cockpit, we drive in the right direction thanks to GPS navigational systems. Lounging in the backseat, we're entertained by built-in DVD players, iPod link-ups, and satellite television. The digital automobile is here, and that means the roads are safer, and a heck of a lot more fun.

Techies are changing the face of the automotive industry, and we're here to stay. For instance, in response to the wave of iPod-toting drivers, the industry exploded with a multitude of iPod interfaces for car radios. We explore a few of them in our most recent How To article by Bill Howard, entitled 6 Ways to Link iPods and Car Radios. We'll continue to explore advances in audio that are more than just mere hookups and interfaces, but this article is an example of how we like to keep the discussion down to earth, and supply you with useful and actionable How To information. If you're not an iPod junky or simply like greater variety in your audio playlist, be sure to peruse our Satellite Radio Roundup. For long rides, nothing beats XM or Sirius.

As techies, we also crave information on the latest scientific breakthroughs and experiments. If that's what floats your amphibious auto, er… boat, then be sure to read our Auto News article on the solar-powered car race in Australia and view our slideshow of competitors in DARPA's robot-driven auto challenge.

Speaking of DARPA, will the digital automobile make drivers obsolete? Not any time soon, but it is possible. Cars in the future may be guided by radar. Collision avoidance systems that use electromagnetic waves to help identify obstacles and avoid accidents are already in the pipeline. Some will be passive, merely alerting the driver to potential trouble, and others will be active by assuming control of the car and steering it to safety. We'll cover these topics as well, but I don't think we'll see HAL 9000 driving your lexus next year. But it does make me think… Driver: "Hal, pull over, I have to use the rest stop." HAL 9000: "I'm sorry, Dave, I can't do that."

But I digress, so allow me to refocus and welcome you to TechnoRide, the car site for tech fans! At TechnoRide, we're a bunch of techies who love cars. We view them as mobile hubs of electronics. Our primary goal is to bring you the latest news, reviews, and analyses on everything electronic in the modern car, including sound systems, entertainment, video, navigation, security, safety, and much, much more.

Video Broadcasting Industry Gains Valuable Insights as ``GSPx TV to Mobile'' Concludes

2007-03-15T22:28:00.000-07:00

NEWTON, Mass. -- Conference Provides Comprehensive Overview of Today's and Tomorrow's TV to Mobile Business

Global Technology Conferences, Inc. (GTC) today announced the successful conclusion of the first GSPx TV to Mobile event. The two-day event in Eindhoven, The Netherlands attracted design engineers and executives from leading technology companies in Europe and around the world. This vertical event in the GSPx series of conferences focused on the implementation of video broadcasting and video compression technology and the elements involved.

"In its first year, GSPx TV to Mobile attracted key design engineers and business leaders from the industry-leading video and mobile companies," said Dr. Amnon Aliphas, conference chair. "Attendees had the opportunity to learn from each other, explore this dynamic field and gain insight into where the industry is heading."

Video compression and broadcasting technologies will also be explored at GSPx 2005, the pervasive signal processing event, as one of several vertical tracks. GSPx will take place October 24-27 in the Santa Clara Convention Center in California. In addition to video, the conference will examine the latest advances in audio/speech, multi-core processors, next generation technologies, SAR imagery, telecommunications and wireless. Decision-making engineers, managers and C-level executives will come together at GSPx to spark ideas, develop new partnerships, to learn about the latest technologies and to drive the industry forward.

What People Are Saying About GSPx TV to Mobile

"The quality of the GSPx TV to Mobile conference was at a very high level regarding both the profound knowledge of the speakers as well as the depth of the presented topics. I really appreciated the openness of all participants."

Gregorio Roper, ServiceForce GmbH

"The event was right on time and had a good technological focus. A very good job was done to arrange a conference with such leading speakers."

Peder Drege, Adactus

"This event gives an excellent overview of today's and tomorrow's TV to Mobile business."

The conference included speakers from Freescale Semiconductor, Microsoft, Nokia, Philips, Texas Instruments and Toshiba, with the keynote address being delivered by Kees Joosse, business development manager for Philips Semiconductors. Attendees also learned about the latest standards in the industry and exhibiting companies displayed their video compression and broadcasting technologies.

Audio Processor enables 50 hr of continuous music playback

2007-03-06T01:29:00.000-08:00

Designed as companion chip to application processor on mobile phones, single-chip uPD99910 integrates CPU and DSP that appropriate and optimize music playback function of application processor to conserve power and extended listening period. In addition to SD Memory Card interface, product provides interface dedicated to copyright protection media and supports Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) copyright protection technology.

********************

Enables 50 Hours of Continuous Music Playback on Mobile Phones

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 20 / -- NEC Electronics America, Inc. today announced the launch of the first product in the company's new AP series of audio processors that enables 50 hours of continuous music playback on mobile phones. The single-chip uPD99910 audio processor integrates a central processing unit (CPU) and digital signal processor (DSP) dedicated to music playback and an interface dedicated to copyright protection media.

Designed to be a companion chip to an application processor, NEC Electronics' uPD99910 device appropriates and optimizes the music playback function of the application processor, incorporates an SD Memory Card interface and supports Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) copyright protection technology whose SD-Audio function enables music data to be downloaded and played without copyright infringement. The power saved by having the playback-dedicated CPU and DSP operate in place of the application processor allows 50 hours of continuous music to be played back using existing resources such as user interface software. By having these features integrated on a single chip, the new processor allows manufacturers to enhance mobile phone performance while reducing time to market and costs. The functional sophistication of mobile phones continues to increase, and music playback is one of the most popular functions to emerge recently. Current mobile phones tend to realize the music playback function through the application processor, which consumes a lot of power and makes it difficult to play music for any length of time," said Kugao Ouchi, general manager, digital consumer and connectivity strategic business unit, NEC Electronics America. "With the new uPD99910 audio processor, NEC Electronics America is able to offer mobile phone manufacturers a cost-effective solution that enables them to design in a wide range of music playback functions without compromising performance."

In previous mobile phone models, the CPU and DSP in the application processor were used to play back music and also for other types of processing, including video processing. As a result, the application processor's high performance came at the expense of power efficiency. With a CPU and DSP dedicated to music playback, NEC Electronics' uPD99910 audio processor does not need to engage the application processor and is able to provide 50 hours of continuous music playback using a battery with the same capacity as current battery models-a 10-fold improvement.

The rapid spread of service providers selling high-quality music content has given rise to a number of issues, such as how to protect the copyright of the purchased content while allowing customers to play the content effectively. NEC Electronics' uPD99910 audio processor's on-chip interface for an SD Memory Card, a small-scale memory card that includes a copyright protection function, enables manufacturers to develop mobile phones that support various SD Memory Card functions, including SD-Binding, whereby purchased content can be transferred from an old machine to a new one using the same SD Memory Card.

Renesas Technology to Incorporate Microsoft's Windows Media Audio and Video 9 Series, and RealNetworks' RealAudio 10 /RealVideo 10 in SH-Mobile

2007-03-06T01:27:00.000-08:00

Renesas Technology Corp. today announced its decision to incorporate Microsoft Corp.'s digital audio and video codec technology, Windows Media Audio and Video 9 Series, and RealNetworks' Inc.'s digital audio and video codec technologies, RealAudio(R) 10 /RealVideo(R) 10, into the SH-Mobile Series of application processors for next-generation mobile phone systems.

These two technologies are widely used in such devices as PCs, PDAs and portable players, and their inclusion in the SH-Mobile, one of the world-leading application processors, will enable them to be installed in mobile phones, greatly increasing their market penetration. Meanwhile, for Renesas Technology, having the SH-Mobile implementation of these two technologies in a mobile phone system will make it possible to support multimedia content player functions and distribution services, and offer optimal solutions for simple construction of systems linked to information devices such as personal computers, to meet the constantly growing demand for multimedia services in the mobile phone market.

In the initial production phase, the SH-Mobile software product based on Windows Media Audio 9 Series technology is to go on sale in March 2004. The features of this product are as follows.

(1) Software decoder supporting Windows Media Audio 9

(2) Processing optimized for the SH-Mobile (40 MHz CPU load in 128

kbps/44.1 kHz/stereo data case)

(3) System and application building simplified by provision of

C-language interface

Following on from inclusion Windows Media Audio 9, Renesas Technology plans to include support for Windows Media Video 9, RealAudio 10 and RealVideo 10 technology based products in the near future.

Renesas Technology will continue to release SH-Mobile Series models in line with mobile phone developments, and to respond to customer needs by expanding our range of support to offer enhanced solutions to a variety of multimedia demands.

About Renesas Technology's SH-Mobile

Renesas Technology's SH-Mobile is a flexible application accelerator that provides multimedia support for next-generation cellular phone communications. Unlike a traditional baseband CPU method that uses a single CPU to manage both signal and application processing, the SH-Mobile design approach uses a dual CPU architecture that dedicates one CPU to application execution in order to maximize communication performance. Built on Renesas' popular SuperH 32-bit RISC superscalar architecture, SH-Mobile devices offers compelling functionality such as the JPEG, MP3, acoustic echo canceller, AMR codec, MPEG4 encode/decode and Java Virtual Machine capabilities that are essential for supporting the high-end multimedia applications of next generation mobile phones.

Winegard to form a new mobile Internet antennae systems company

2007-03-06T01:26:00.000-08:00

Winegard Company has recently established DATA TECH, LLC, a new company dedicated to mobile Internet antennae products. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, DATA TECH will develop technologies and associated products that deliver Internet and data communications within the domestic and international mobile markets.

"Just as the Internet has transformed modern day living over the last 15 years, mobility of the Internet and all of its applications will revolutionize the 21st century for business and consumer alike," states Randy Winegard, President/CEO of Winegard Company. "We are excited to be at the forefront of this market."

DATA TECH will launch its first product, a nomadic/mobile Internet antennae system designed for virtually any satellite send and receive platform, in the fall of 2004. This flagship product, available in a .74, .75, and 1.2 mobile antennae solution, will provide a user-friendly environment with rapid signal acquisition, and will be in full compliance with all FCC regulations for sending and transmitting in a mobile environment.

"Mobile Internet technology is all about the freedom and affordability of high speed communication, anytime, anywhere," says DATA TECH President Reed Brown. "People are constantly on the go and are in continual need of access to information. We will be offering these products to Winegard's recreational vehicle and automotive customers, and to newer market segments as well."
The mobile aspect of these new antennas provides unlimited opportunities such as remote news gatherings, mobile command centers, mobile medical centers, mobile broadband and video conferencing for all industries, with new applications being created every day," adds DATA TECH Vice President Chuck Uhl, a veteran of the satellite industry for more than 30 years.

While Winegard is already widely recognized as the leading producer of off air and satellite antennae systems, the formation of DATA TECH will help secure its place as a worldwide mobile VSAT antennae system provider, by offering two-way, real-time IP, video, voice, audio, and data communication for specialty applications.

Cell Phones as International Travel Companions

2006-12-30T01:41:00.001-08:00

As citizens of the US travel internationally for business and pleasure, the question of using their cell phone during their trip often comes up. A cell phone can be extremely useful when landline phones aren't readily available or when the traveler wants to be easily accessible to family, friends, or their employer while away. Experienced travelers know that simply packing up their US based cell phone to take along is often not enough.

Unfortunately, cell phones/cell phone services in the various countries can use different types of radio frequencies and encoding. While in the majority of European, Asian, and African nations GSM is the standard, this is not so in the US, Canada, Australia and a few other countries where other networks might also be used. Obviously, the cell phone that a traveler uses must be able to communicate through the network in the country they are visiting. In addition, the cell phone must be able to operate at the proper frequencies. Most US networks use different frequencies than those used abroad.

There are a few options for travelers in assuring that they have a compatible cell phone but probably one of the more affordable is to purchase an unlocked GSM cell phone or an international/world phone. T-Mobile and Cingular are the largest providers of GSM phones in the US but an online search will also reveal other specialty suppliers. Travelers need to be sure that the phone they purchase will operate at the frequency needed. Quad-band phones are available that operate at the four most common frequencies used in the US and abroad.

Travelers can check http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml to determine what frequencies are used in various countries around the world.

It is possible for travelers to use International Roaming if they simply have a GSM cell phone that will operate on the appropriate frequency and their US plan has international roaming available. This tends to be a rather expensive option and it is necessary to assure that service can be provided from the destination as the US provider would need to have a cross-billing agreement in place to assure roaming is possible. Again T-Mobile and Cingular would be the best bet for these types of services.

If a traveler wants to avoid some of the more highly priced International Roaming charges they can obtain an unlocked GSM phone or world phone and install a SIM card which is compatible with the service in the country they will be visiting. Service in the country of destination would then need to be purchased, but luckily it is often possible to purchase a set number of pre-paid minutes to use rather than committing to a lengthy agreement or monthly plan. As with any purchase it is wise to compare pricing of the various options and to become knowledgeable about fees and what will and will not be covered in the pre-paid minutes. On the upside for US travelers, most other countries do not charge cell phone users for incoming calls.

Once a traveler has a compatible GSM phone, SIM card, and service is arranged then they are set to be able to make and receive calls while away. Before boarding the plane however, it is also important to remember to take along an appropriate adapter to assure that the new phone can be charged when needed.

Sony Ericsson k608i

2006-12-30T01:40:00.002-08:00

Sony mobile phones are quite popular because of their glossy and gorgeous models. Sony Ericsson has various sorts of models and all are hugely popular in the UK. Sony mobile phones have made their impact because of their distinctive designs and latest features. Among various Sony mobile phone models, Sony Ericsson k608i is a slender and trendy 3G Smartphone. Well, Sony k608i comes in scintillating silver colour casing and with a tactile finish. Among the popular K-series mobile phones, Sony Ericsson k608i is an attractive and superb mobile phone with latest features.

Features:

Camera phone: Sony k608i is specifically equipped with a 1.3 megapixel camera to take clear and vivid pictures. Its digital zoom very well supports the superb camera. Besides that, there is a built-in photo light, which ensures brightest and clearest picture. With the help of photo editor, you can also edit and modify the photo as per your wish. Now, you can capture, all the stunning and close moments with the help of your Sony k608i and share it with your loved ones.

Video calling: this stunning feature allows the caller to view anyone to whom he or she is talking with the help of Sony k608i. Well, this feature gives you a real life situation. So, experience the thrill of video calling facility with your Sony k608i.

FM Radio: Well, Sony Ericsson k608i is furnished with a FM radio feature. Now, you can tune the radio station of your choice and enjoy the kind of music you like to listen. Well, there is an integrated media player, which allows you to listen to your favourite music and to watch video on your very own mobile phone. Sony Ericsson k608i comes with soothing polyphonic ringtones; as per your music interest, you can also make your own ringtones with the help of MusicDJ.

Java technology: Sony Ericsson k608i is very well supported by the new Java technology. This technology allows the user to play games anytime-anywhere. So, download all the latest and popular mobile games and have a best time playing these games.

MMS: Sony Ericsson k608i has MMS features, which are comprised of text messaging, instant messaging, MMS video messaging, and email. Well, the MMS messaging comprised of photo images, video, sound and text, etc. A user can also transfer MMS to PC, Laptop, PDA, etc.

Cordless Digital Phones

2006-12-30T01:40:00.001-08:00

If you think having a cordless phone is convenient and practical, wait till you get a cordless digital phone unit. With a range of up to 300 meters from its base, you can take calls while you spruce up your garden shrubs; have it at an arm’s reach when you are outside soaking up the sun in your backyard pool; or take it with you anywhere in your house. Cordless digital phones have longer range capacities compared to their analog counterparts. They outrange normal cordless phones by five times the latter’s capacity.

Extended range coverage is not the only better feature of a cordless digital phone over other house phones. Digital technology also lessens interference, giving you high-quality speech and sound that you otherwise get from a corded model. When you go outside and expose the unit to interference coming from different kinds of transmitters and transceivers that use radio waves and frequencies, you will get the same quality of transmission as if you are inside the house.

Cordless digital phones are also easier to secure. Some of the more advanced models feature alphanumeric scrambling schemes that serve as security protocols. This solves the security problem posed by analog models. You can be sure that no free-riding neighbor can hack into your phone line with his own cordless unit and make overseas calls.

With a built-in memory device, you can store names and contact numbers in a cordless phone. The next time you want to call a friend, just key the first few letters of his name and the phone automatically presents his number from memory.

Cordless digital phones are, however, more expensive that their analog counterparts. But what you pay more in dollars, you get back in terms of security, high and better mobility and clear, interference-free conversation.

Phone Systems

2006-12-29T01:25:00.002-08:00

In the modern world, the phone system may be one of the most important purchases you make for your business. The telephone is used for easy contact with customers, clients and partners. It should also be easy for them to reach you, without being routed incorrectly, disconnected or faced with an array of automated options.

When buying a phone system, it is better to read the many phone system reviews available to find the best phone system for your business or establishment. There are three types of commercial phone systems available nowadays: key systems, Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems and KSU-less phones. You choose the appropriate system depending on the number of extensions you need and the features you require. Most of the phone systems come equipped with various designs of office telephones. An inexpensive phone may cost less than $100, but these phones usually make accessing features difficult or provide less than optimal sound quality. Most of the average handsets sell for $200 to $300 per unit. You may have to buy phone system accessories like voicemail, music on hold and CTI applications if your phone does not already have them.

When buying a phone system, make sure to test it first. You have to decide how the phone feels in your hands, how easy it is to access extensions and voicemail, and how good the speakerphone quality is. Always check on voicemail compatibility, as your phone system has to be capable of working with a wide range of third-party voicemail systems. Once the right phone system is chosen, you must install the wires for the phone system. It is cheaper installing wires in an unfinished building, since installing wires through finished walls can add to your total cost. If your building has existing wiring, have the dealer inspect it to see if you can re-use it for your phone system. Once all these costs are covered, be ready for additional costs for training, programming, phone system repairs and, perhaps, future modifications to the phone system.

Mobile Phones: Style And Features Is The Buzzword

2006-12-29T01:25:00.001-08:00

There are millions of mobile phones in the market with each adding superlatives to its name. In addition, daily one or more mobile phone handset is added to the cluster of communication gizmos. Motorola V3x, sony ericsson P990i and LG U880 are some of the latest mobile phone handsets being added to the mobile phone galleries world wide. From a communication device, mobile phones have transformed themselves into offices and play stations.

There is a mobile phone to suit every personality with features to quench the thirst of almost anybody. You have a phone, which is so slim that you can carry it in the back pocket of your jeans and there is a phone for which you need to burn the mid night oil to understand its features. The 3G versions have added speed and uninterruptedly versatile communication facility.

You now have phones with cameras, which will never allow you to miss a moment of delight. Share the presence of each other with video-conferencing facilities. Video tunes and ring tones have added personality to this electronic device. In addition, for all those globetrotters and high-flying executives you have Bluetooth, WAP, and Internet to be in touch with their office and carry it virtually sometimes.

Mobile network providers are also offering best of the cheap mobile phones deal to lure and entice the user. Virgin, Vodafone, Orange, 3 mobile, O2 you name nay and they have cheap mobile phones with their contract mobile phone deals. For those who want to use mobile in a limited fashion we have pay as you go option to control your budget.

If you feel you have seen the best of the mobile phones, wait and hold your breath…..who knows the best is being launched somewhere this time.

Shopping Online For Mobile Phone Plans

2006-12-29T01:24:00.000-08:00

Buying a mobile phone from an online mobile shop may be confusing but not difficult at all. First of all, don’t buy a mobile phone plan just because it has free offers or loaded with options you probably won’t use. It’s your job to be an educated consumer and you should know what you want before you are set to buy. Undoubtedly, the best place to research and buy mobile phones is online mobile phone shop. You can easily find excellent mobile phone deals, attractive mobile phone offers, flexible plans like pay as you go mobile phones and contract mobile phones, free mobile phones, cheap mobile phones and latest mobile phones from all the manufacturers.

Everyone wants to buy the latest mobile phone at the cheapest rate. So before you begin your search, you should have the answers to the following:

1. How many minutes per month will you be using your mobile phone?

2. How much time will you spend talking long distance or traveling?

3. Will you be talking in urban areas, rural areas, or both?

Your friends and family neighbors are the best ones to advice you if they are already using mobile phones. They can tell you about the coverage, hidden fees and customer service. If you are a first time buyer and you won’t use your mobile phone often, consider prepaid plans or pay as you go mobile phones as they let you control your usage. So if you think you’ll not be using your phone that much and don’t want to sign up for expensive monthly plans, buy pay as you go mobile phones. On the other side, if your usage is high, look for the contract plans carefully before signing up any plan. If you do a lot of traveling, opt for a mobile phone plan that offers free long distance and roaming but charges a higher monthly fee may save you money in the long run.

Online Mobile Phone Deals

2006-12-28T01:24:00.000-08:00

The factors in the mobile telecommunications market are quite conducive for a phone user, at present. A person is now able to own a latest mobile phone, with sleek looks and a wide array of highly innovative features, quite easily. He can browse through the various offers featured in several online mobile phone shops and get to select a contract mobile phone deal that best suits his calling habit as well as budget.

The point is that as of now, phone users have diverse options before them in the use of their mobile phones. Mobile phone users in the UK, for instance, are free to select a contract mobile phone deal from leading network operators such as Virgin, Orange and Three mobile. They can also go for pay as you go options in mobile phone usage.

The availability of these two types of mobile phone deals has made the use of mobile phones quite economical and cost effective. A person can assess his needs and choose any one of the two depending on his specific requirements. Pay-as-you-go mobile phones are better for people who use their mobiles quite infrequently. A contract mobile phone deal, on the other hand, is best suited to cater to the needs of an avid user of mobile phone. With a contract mobile phone deal, a person can use one of the latest mobile phones at industry leading costs and simultaneously accrue a lot of savings in his phone bills.

Many of the contract deals are formulated on the latest and “in-demand” mobiles from Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, LG and Sony Ericsson. An interested person could acquire a contract mobile phone deal that is devised on, say, the latest third generation (3g) handset from Nokia. He can then use the same for making video calls or for accessing information from the Internet. He can enjoy all the advanced features that the handset has to offer, without in any way paying exorbitant amounts for the same. Many of these contract mobile phone deals come with affordable line rentals and cost effective tariff options, which make them all the more popular among phone users.

These mobile phone deals are featured in several online mobile phone retailing sites. A person can easily access these online shops and retailing sites and select a mobile phone deal that maximizes his utility subject to his budgetary as well as other behavioral constraints.

Local and Long Distance Phone Services

2006-12-28T01:23:00.000-08:00

Local phone service refers to the services provided by phone companies that allow a customer to make calls within the same city or region, which is defined as the local calling area. What constitutes an individual local calling area is decided by the phone service provider.

Until a few years ago it was not possible to choose your local service telephone provider. However, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 opened up the telephone industry to wider competition and now it is possible for most people to choose a service provider that offers the best rates and service. Thanks to this act, consumers benefit from increased competition and now have better deals to choose from when it comes to phone services.

Long distance services were first offered in 1892 when AT&T built a long distance telephone network that was interconnected between New York and Chicago. Due to the limitations of the technology available at that time, this network could not be extended further. After the invention of loading coils, the network was expanded to Denver, in 1911. Following the development of audio technology in 1914, it was possible to make telephone signals reach each other from one coast to another. However, the first real-time long distance call was not possible until 1951, with the introduction of the direct distance-dialling feature of AT&T. This is also the first time an area code was used, which led to today's 10-digit phone numbers.

For a long time, long-distance carriers specialized only in providing long-distance services. However, with technological advancement most of the service providers could provide both local and long distance phone services to their customers. Joining the two services led to streamlined billing and better customer support. However, the current long distance market is fiercely competitive and using a separate service provider for long distance services can ultimately be cheaper because the providers are competing for business and tend to offer low-cost plans.

The main long distance service providers in the U.S. are Sprint, AT&T and MCI Worldcom. With the development and proliferation of mobile phone technology, mobile telephone service providers have been able to compete with the long distance service providers, providing customers low rates for local and long distance calls. This is one of the main reasons for the increasing popularity of the cell phones in the telecom market.

Cell Phones for All: Accessibility for Those with Hearing Impairment

2006-12-27T02:17:00.004-08:00

Cell phones are an integrated part of the lives of most Americans. They are used for both personal and business purposes. Even more importantly however, cell phones play a role in safety based on their portability. In many situations, cell phones are the only immediate access to emergency services such as 911. For this reason, the accessibility of cell phones is critical for all citizens, including those with hearing impairment. There are over 6 million individuals in the United States who wear hearing aids and thousands of individuals with cochlear implants. Newer digital phones can create interference in the form of unwanted noise such as a high pitch whistling, buzzing, or static for those with hearing aids and cochlear implants.

In 2003, the FCC set forth regulations for the telecommunications industry in an attempt to assure access to the products and services offered for individuals with hearing impairment. The aim of the regulations is to assure that those with hearing impairment are able to learn about and operate products and services effectively. The regulations are being phased in over a period of a few years and will reach an important milestone on September 26, 2006. The regulations require manufacturers to provide cell phones to service providers that reduce radio frequency interference by meeting certain ANSI standards (American National Standards Institute).

By the September deadline, Tier 1 cellular service providers such as Cingular, Sprint-Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless must provide at least 5 cell phones, or 25% of their models, which meet ANSI U3T or M3T ratings. This would assure the availability of cell phones that emit lower radio frequency and could provide telecoil coupling capability; both of which would reduce or eliminate unwanted noise. In addition, these cell phone models will need to be present in retail stores so that they can be tested by consumers. By February 18, 2008 fifty percent of all phones are expected to meet the required ANSI standards for hearing aid compatibility.

Phone System Repairs

2006-12-27T02:17:00.003-08:00

Once a phone system is bought, there is always the possibility of some problems arising with the phone system, thus calling for phone system repairs. It is always better to have all phone system repairs done by someone who is well versed with the mechanics of the phone system.

There are many phone system repair shops around, which you can find either by surfing through the Internet or by going through the yellow pages. Most of these firms also offer repairs to be done onsite, with a six-month warranty on all repairs. Once you call these firms they send over service technicians as early as possible. Once the service professional arrives, he will need to know the location of the phone system and be able to access it for repairs. He will also need additional information, like the ID of the bad circuits or if anyone has recently moved, or been added or changed, in your telephone equipment. He will also ask for a timetable of the symptoms that led to the failure of the phone system. Usually, the person assigned to administer the PBX will be able to determine what the cause of the failure is by examining the logs and other indicators. Through this, both the cause and scope of the failure will be determined.

The next thing the service technician will need to know for the phone system repairs is whether the problem exists in the outside wiring, or the inside wiring. If the problem is with the outside wiring, then the phone company owning the circuit has to be called and informed of the faulty circuit ID of the phone system. It is for this reason that the circuit ID has to be written down and easily accessible for phone system repairs, as without this, the phone company finds it difficult to identify the circuit. And if the problem lies in the inside wiring of the phone system, then it is up to the service technician to rectify it.

Cell Phone Headsets

2006-12-27T02:17:00.001-08:00

Over the past few years, several state have passed new laws that require anyone using a cell phone while driving must use a phone headset. There are three types of cell phone headset kits for cars - permanent car kits, portable car kits and headsets. Many feel the headset is the most practical solution for driving, because headphones work well in the office and at home as well.

Whether driving or not, cellular phone headsets are an absolute necessity. There are different types of cell phone headsets available including retractable headsets that are flexible and can be adjusted during conversations. The ear buds headset has a microphone that sits on the earpiece or wire, and a headset with a boom microphone.

A popular brand on the market is Motorola. If offers two Bluetooth headsets - the HS810 and HS820. They are Bluetooth enabled and can communicate with Bluetooth 1.1 compliant devices including computers. They weight about 20 grams and the talk range is somewhere around 6 hours. The HS810 talk range is 5 hours. They have standby time for 100 hours, and the HS820 can communicate with your phone 33 feet away. The HS820 also has conference call and voice dialing features. It sells for $79 and the HS810 sells for $99.

Jabra is another top seller providing hands-free communication. Its new headset "JabraFreeSpeak FS258" weighs only 23 grams and is the lightest behind-the-ear device produced by the company. T-Mobile has the Samsung T609 that has Bluetooth that allows both wireless headset connection and contact synchronization. It sells for around $150 after rebate.

Phone Headsets

2006-12-26T01:49:00.002-08:00

Phone headsets are electronic devices that plug into a phone on one end and hook around the ear on the other end, for a hands-free telephone talking experience. Phone headsets are a necessity for people who talk a lot on the phone. This is especially true for top CEOs of companies who use the phone as a marketing tool to expand their business.

Most people before the over-the-head design that snaps into position and can be easily adjusted. The earpiece should fit in or over the ear comfortably. Some are equipped with a disconnect feature so that you can step away from your desk to get a file and then plug back in without losing the call.

Phone headsets are very convenient and are easy to use. Ergonomically, they are great for your neck and back because they keep your neck free and your back aligned in a way to lend support you need. Your hands aren't tied up with a phone, so you are free to do other things. The sound is usually crisp and clear, and some come equipped with a noise-canceling microphone that filters out all other sounds around you.

Phone headsets can be wireless or corded and can have monaural or binaural earpieces. Other factors include the type of phone connection used, as well as computer compatibility, noise canceling ability, and speaker power and plug adapters. There are several phone headset manufacturers including Sony, Plantronics and Jabra. For more information about the many different phone headsets available and prices the Internet is a valuable resource.

Prepaid Wireless Services

2006-12-26T01:49:00.001-08:00

Prepaid wireless service has gained popularity because of the advantages it offers consumers. It has become an attractive alternative to wireless plans that often come with long-term contracts.

Aside from being bereft of contracts, prepaid services have also helped people budget the costs of their phone bills. Through these, parents can limit and control phone usage of their children. Likewise, prepaid services have found their niche among people who plan to use mobile phones solely for emergency situations.

However, there are still some disadvantages that go with prepaid wireless services. First, they are still more expensive compared to postpaid services. Second, phones may prove to be more expensive as carriers do not offer as many services as they do with postpaid plans.

There are three available types of prepaid wireless services on the market today. First is the traditional prepaid service wherein the user will buy a phone and air cards. These cards can be refilled as needed with the use of credit cards. There are also hybrid prepaid services. Unlike traditional prepaid services, recurring charges are added in hybrid prepaid services. There may be additional services offered with hybrid prepaid services, but the advantage is that they still do not come with a long-term contract. Lastly, there are unlimited talk time prepaid cards. These allow the users to make unlimited calls within a small local area. This may prove to be a good alternative for landline users. Note, however, that roaming is not possible with such prepaid cards.

Before buying prepaid services, a user should first consider a number of things. If a person sees that he or she will frequently used his or her phone to call people, it would be better to opt for a postpaid plan that offers lower call charges. Likewise, if the owner is a traveling person, it would also be better to go with a postpaid plan. Prepaid plans are usually not capable of roaming service, and even if they are, they might be way too expensive.

Cheap Mobile Phone - Cell Phone

2006-12-26T01:48:00.000-08:00

Price: $49.99 the Samsung t809 Phone (T-Mobile) has to be looked at as one of the best choices for a Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ).

Product Description

This flagship quad-band phone from Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ) combines a super-slim slider design with the latest technologies, making it a must-have tool for those who demand the best. Goodies include Bluetooth, support for EDGE high-speed data, a swiveling megapixel camera, a music player, and a microSD memory card slot. The Samsung cheap mobile or (cell phone ) SGH-t809 is the perfect way to take advantage of all that T-Mobile service has to offer.

Design

The Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ) t809's sliding design hides the phone's number pad under the display until you need to make a call. The massive, 240 x 320 display supports up to 262,000 colors -- plenty of resolution and color depth for your videos and photos. A five-way center control button is positioned below the display, as are shortcut and selection keys. The phone's 1.3 megapixel camera is housed on the top of the phone and it swivels to face in or out. USB data and charging ports are located on the phone's bottom edge. There's also a connector for a stereo 2.5 mm headset on the left side, while the microSD slot resides on the right.

Calling Features

With 70 MB of internal memory, the Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ) t809 is designed to hold all the contacts, phone numbers and addresses you can throw at it. A call list remembers your most recent missed, received and dialed calls, and in addition to a vibrating alert, the Samsung cheap mobile or (cell phone ) t809 supports polyphonic ringtones and MP3-based music ringtones. You can also download additional MP3 music ringtones from T-Mobile's t-zones service. A speakerphone lets you talk hands-free while you're doing other things, and picture caller ID lets you assign a photo to specific callers. Similarly, a ringer ID lets you assign ringtones to callers. Like all T-Mobile phones, the Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ) t809 also supports voicemail, caller ID, conference calling, call forwarding, call waiting, call hold, built-in paging, and access to T-Mobile's 411 service. Lastly, the phone's Bluetooth connectivity means that your favorite Bluetooth headset is fully compatible.

Messaging, Internet, and Tools

The Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ) t809 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging. Support is built in for sending and receiving text, video, graphics and sound via messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. Messaging clients for AOL, Yahoo!, and ICQ are included.

Getting on the Internet is easy with Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ) t809, too. It supports the GPRS protocol, as well as the new, high speed EDGE data protocol. When used with a T-Mobile data plan and the phone's USB or Bluetooth data capability, the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs. There's also a built-in browser for t-zones downloads and mobile Web browsing. T-Mobile's t-zones service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile text messaging users.

A number of handy productivity tools are bundled with the Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ) t809 including a voice memo recorder, an alarm clock, a calculator with currency converter, a calendar, and a to-do list.

Imaging and Entertainment

The Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ) built-in 1.3 megapixel camera captures stills and video to the phone's internal memory, or to an optional microSD memory card. The camera captures video at 352 x 288 resolution, and it features white balance and brightness controls. Meanwhile, the phone's powerful still camera sports a self-timer, a multi-shot mode, a night mode, brightness and white balance controls, ISO controls, and spot metering.

Into music? You're in luck with the Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ) t809. Store your favorite MP3-based music on the t809 and listen whenever the feeling strikes you on the built-in stereo speakers. Simply upload the songs from your PC via the phone's USB interface (the phone supports USB mass storage mode), then organize and play your songs with the Samsung cheap mobile or (cell phone )t809's music management software. And when you want to jam out in private you can hook up a stereo headset. Lastly, if you want to dress up the t809, picture effects, custom screensavers, backgrounds, and themes can be set to fit your personality.

Vital Statistics

The Samsung cheap mobile phone or (cell phone ) SGH-t809 weighs 3.35 ounces and measures 3.9 x 2.0 x 0.58 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.3 hours of digital talk time, and up to 130 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

Satellite Phones

2006-12-25T01:48:00.000-08:00

Satellite phones are also known as satphones. This is a type of mobile phone that uses orbiting communication satellites to communicate with other people. Depending on the type of the phone and its purpose, a satellite phone may give access to any phone worldwide or be limited to one particular region. These phones are great alternatives where phone lines do not run or where a telecommunications company is unable to set up cellular towers.

Geostationary Services

Satellite phones gain access from geostationary orbit satellites that is situated directly above the equator. This service follows the inverse square law which states that the larger the antenna the better the reception. In keeping with this rule, the phones tend to be physically large.

Low Earth Orbit Phones

Low earth telephones or LEO for short uses satellite technology. LEO technology has worldwide coverage without any problems. Satellites that provide the signal for these phones tend to fly low at high speed. The satellites orbit the globe in a short time guaranteeing worldwide coverage.

Using these satellites can be expensive to maintain so researches are being funded to try and use blimps as an alternative solution.

Uses

Because of its wide coverage, the primary use of satellite phones is for offshore military missions. When in missions, depending on the terrain such as the jungle or desserts, usually the soldiers are deprived from the use of traditional phones, and even if they did, there is always a threat to security breach or giving away their location. Through satellite phones, the soldiers are given assurance that they have access to their fellow soldiers and the headquarters.

Rescue missions or medical missions which usually take place in remote areas like up in the mountain or rural undeveloped areas where infrastructures and telecommunication services are limited is where satellite phones come in handy. Especially during emergency events a satellite phones provide assurance of connection to the necessary backup personnel and service providers.

Calling Cards For Use In India

2006-12-24T01:47:00.000-08:00

Selecting the best calling cards for use in India can be intimidating when you consider all the choices available. Many calling card companies claim that they offer the best rate, but they may have hidden charges that are extremely so high. So before you buy a calling card, you should consider several factors such as connection, maintenance, and service fees. You should first ask yourself some questions before you select the calling cards that best suit your needs.

Are you going to use the calling cards frequently? If you will use them regularly, like everyday or every other day until they are used up, then you can choose a card with a low rate and a weekly maintenance fee. Even before you pay any fees, you have already used up the calling card.

Are you going to stay long on the phone for each call? If you will make long calls, let's say over 30 minutes per call, but will be making them infrequently like once a month, then you can go for a calling card that has a connection fee in conjunction with a low rate per minute. But you cannot buy a calling card with a maintenance fee with this frequency of usage because you will be charged a fee for not using the card very often. The maintenance fee will eat away your calling card balance, and without you noticing it, you don't have any time left on your calling card.

Are you going to use the calling card for a long duration or for a short while? If you plan on having the calling card for just a while and you will not make long phone calls on it, you better not buy a calling card with a maintenance fee or connection fee. But if you will use it for a longer period, you have to be aware of its expiry date. Make sure that you use the entire card before the expiry date because any money left on it after it expires will be lost.

These questions will guide you when selecting the best calling cards for use in India. See to it that the calling card that you choose will give you the cheapest total calling time for all calls that you make and not just a low cost per minute.

Take Advantage Of Mobile Phone Offers And Deals

2006-12-23T01:18:00.001-08:00

An ideal mobile phone should have the combination of style, features and performance. These days’ people are not only looking for looks in a mobile phone but also the features and performance. But there are people who want to buy the latest mobile phone with high tech features but they cannot afford them. The online mobile phone shops come up with amazing offers especially for these people. They bring free offers like free handsets, free accessories, free line rentals, special discounts, cash back offers, etc. There are also cheap mobile phone deals widely available offering a lot of options for everyone. You can find a variety of deals available on these mobile shops. So you are bound to find the combination of mobile phone and plan you are looking for.

One of the most popular mobile phone deals is getting a free mobile handset. This free handset can also be a latest mobile phone model. To receive this offer, you must also sign up for a new mobile phone plan. And they require you to send in a rebate form if you need the rebate money.

One of the most competitive marketplaces is now mobile phones. You can find networks, latest models, manufacturers, different mobile phone deals at different costs and varying packages. Before buying a mobile phone deal, you should know that what kind of a mobile phone and mobile plan you actually want. Various networks have various offers but you need to compare the best mobile phone deals and find the one that suits you. Get an idea of the best deals offered across the market and you can also switch your network if you find a better deal.

You would find more and more stylish, slim, sleek and compact mobile phones available in the market. Even if you cannot afford these latest mobile phones, they can be affordable for you in form of a mobile phone deal.

Free Prepaid Cell Phones

2006-12-23T01:17:00.002-08:00

Telecommunications companies, specifically cellular phone service providers, often offer cellular phones for free. Most of the free cell phones, however, come with a two-year contract which tie the user to the carrier. Users are also asked to pay exorbitant penalties if they decide to terminate their ties with the service providers before the end of the contract; this would cover for the heavily subsidized cell phone costs. The higher priced handsets actually come with higher priced penalties if the contract that accompanies it requires a two-year contract that is terminated too early.

Prepaid cell phones are quite harder to get for free since using one does not require applications or contracts. In fact, prepaid plans are not really advised for those who would like fancy cellular phones. The selection of prepaid handsets are actually very limited ranging from the most basic units to only the moderately featured ones. Prepaid cell phones may be bought for as little as $40.00 to as much as $150.00. Nevertheless, users who prefer prepaid cell phone plans over postpaid plans but favor fancier phones may always get their cellular phones from other sources. But they have to check their supposed carriers if these companies can configure their cell phones to match their services.

There are some carriers who offer free prepaid cell phones but these phones usually are the most basic types, even if would-be users intend to buy the most expensive prepaid credits offered by the carrier. Further, the free prepaid cell phones are actually units which are no longer as demanded by consumers. These phones were often acquired earlier on by the carriers, and they can no longer return to the manufacturers. Thusly, they are older models that are generally undesirable to customers.

Cellular phone companies are able to give free phones either online or in retail stores because they do receive commissions whenever consumers activate cell phone services. Carriers are the ones who pay these companies the commissions which they can get when they get a cellular phone plan. This is why carriers offer better deals in offering free cellular phones to monthly subscribers since they are assured of better returns by doing so.

Long Distance Phone Services

2006-12-23T01:17:00.001-08:00

Telephone calls made outside the local calling area of a specified location are offered by a long distance phone service company. In general, it is safe to say any call made outside of your own area code - be it another city, state, or even country - will qualify as a long distance call and carry the associated charges.

Local calls generally cost less than long distance calls. The fees for long distance calls are not the same everywhere in the country and can vary depending on the service provider you are using, as well as the plan you have signed up for. In general, the most expensive calls are international calls (placed to foreign countries), but the fees vary greatly, depending on the call destination and service provider.

There are two different designations for non-local calls in the US. Regular long distance calls are designated interstate long distance calls, or inter-LATA interstate long distance calls. However, there is another type of long distance phone call, known as inter-LATA intrastate long distance calls. These are calls to numbers outside of the consumer's local LATA, but within the caller's state. Despite being a long distance call, these calling areas are not necessarily serviced by the same operator, depending on the service providers in the area and various service plans..

For larger LATAs, there is another classification which is known as local long distance or regional calling. This refers to calls that are made within a customer's LATA but are outside the area covered by their local calling plan.

Often you'll find that a local long-distance or regional call can be more expensive and actually have a higher per-minute rate than an interstate long-distance call. This is due to differences between service providers and the plans offered.

International calls are also classified as long distance calls and these are usually the most expensive call that can be placed. Nonetheless, there are many long distance providers in the US, and they are all competing with each other for business, which often leads to affordable rates and special deals for new customers.

Cordless Phones

2006-12-22T01:16:00.001-08:00

When the phone rings, you do not have to run to the next room just to answer it. With a cordless phone, you can walk around your house, office, or garden while talking to your friend or client. You can carry the phone anywhere, as long as you stay within signal range.

The cordless phone combines two technologies: telephone and radio. The unit transmits and receives signals.

There are two major parts to a cordless phone. It has a base connected to the telephone wire connection. It is responsible for receiving signals that are transformed into electrical signals. The electrical signals are converted by the base into an FM radio signal. The second part, on the other hand, is the handset which the user carries around. This is the part of the device that receives the FM radio signal broadcasted by the base. The radio signal is then transformed into an electronic signal, which in turn, is converted into sound as it passes though the phone speaker.

The same process happens when the user talks into the mouthpiece. A second FM radio signal is sent out to the base. The base does the reverse of the process to send it to the caller's phone unit. This capability is made possible by what is called the duplex frequency. Two sets of FM radios and electronic signals are transmitted to the same devices at the same time.

But because you are dealing with radio signals here, there is always the risk of other people picking up your signals through radio scanning devices. People can also steal your phone line and rack up expensive telephone calls. All a person needs to do is bring his cordless phone near your house. If you have compatible phones and have not activated your password protection protocol, the person can go right ahead and make calls on your behalf, without you knowing it.