Auto
PCs --
The Beginning
Clarion
Clarion was the only independent manufacturer announcing delivery of the Auto PC in the
near future. Clarion will be shipping its Auto PC in limited quantities in May and in mass
quantities in July. The standard Clarion Auto PC slips into the dashboard slot normally
occupied by an AM/FM radio (1 DIN form factor). It will cost approximately $1,300.
The Clarion Auto PC will come with an four-channel AM/FM stereo with 35 watts per
channel, 4 pre-amp outputs; 10-band equalizer, balance/fade controls and bass & treble
controls. It will also have a built-in CD/CD-ROM player; IrDA infrared data port and a
Type II CompactFlash card slot. It has a digital sound processor; serial port (for an
optional GPS receiver); 8 MB RAM & 8 MB ROM; and an 8-color 256x64x3 color LCD
display. The Clarion Auto PC comes with a removable face plate.
The Clarion Auto PC has a microphone built in for voice activated control with a 200+
vocabulary and voice memo capability. The built-in software includes an address book,
highway navigation system including maps, and vehicle mileage log. The text-to-speech
capability lets the Auto PC talk to you. For example, you can look up a contact and have
the Auto PC verbally tell you the street address. If you have optional wireless messaging
capability, you can have the Auto PC read you your incoming messages.
Clarion's Auto PC PLUS Package will include, in addition to the above, an 8 MB
CompactFlash memory card, the InfoGation Auto PC File Manager, and the Clarion GPS
Receiver. Clarion will offer the following options: Clarion USB 6 CD/CD-ROM Auto Changer;
UNGO USB Vehicle Security System; Cellular Telephone/Modem USB Interface; FM Side-band
Wireless Receiver & Services; "ASSIST" services; and Vehicle diagnostic /
monitoring interface.
I had a good look at the Clarion system at the January Consumer Electronics Show.
Microsoft uses it to demonstrate Auto PC. Voice command recognition works well inside the
demo vehicles. It was easy to "squirt" contact information from a Handheld PC to
the Auto PC using the common infrared interfaces. I'll do a more complete review of Auto
PC as soon as possible.
For more information, contact your Clarion dealer or Clarion Sales Corporation; Phone:
310-327-1999; Fax: 310-327-1999; Web: www.autopc.com
or www.clarionmultimedia.com
Other Auto PC developers
A number of other manufacturers are developing Auto PCs, but don't plan on any
near-term releases. Samsung was showing a prototype of its Auto PC, the SAP-100
"In-Vehicle Entertainment & Information System." Other manufacturers
planning Auto PCs include Visteon, Alpine of Japan, Harmon Kardon; and United Technologies
Automotive (UTA).
When will we see an Auto PC offered as an option on new cars? The hardware and software
will be available this year. It depends on how long it takes automobile manufacturers to
get on board. Eventually Auto PCs will be offered as options by auto manufacturers. Nissan
showed off its I30 Executive Luxury Special Edition concept car (with Auto PC) at CES.
Word has it that PSA/Citroen is considering an Auto PC option in the near future. Visteon
was formerly a division of Ford Motor Company. Since Visteon is developing an Auto PC,
it's probably safe to assume that Ford will offer the Auto PC as an option sometime in the
future. With an introductory price tag of over $1,000, expect to see Auto PCs in luxury
cars first. As it's accepted, the price will come down and the number of installed Auto
PCs will increase. |