Hot Products To Wire The Car And Boat
MEDIA ON THE GO
MARINE LIFE
Designed for durability and the roughest conditions on the water is the MXDM70 Marine FM/AM/MP3/WMA Receiver from Dual Electronics (www.dualav.com). Not only will the device provide protection from water damage with its detachable, UV-resistant face, but it will provide plenty of crisp sound with its powerful built-in amps. The set of pre-amp outputs makes it an easy play for integrators, who can simply install an external amp or even a powered sub into any system's infrastructure. The device also includes an auxiliary input with a mountable plug connector for any type of portable MP3 player and offers 20 FM/10 AM presets and a weather band radio. The unit costs $299.95 and comes with a one-year warranty.
POWER UP THE CAR
MP3car.com (www.mp3car.com) has released an in-car computer called StreetDeck that lets users control multimedia and navigation functions through a touch screen. The StreetDeck includes a 1.5-GHz PC with 512 Mbytes of RAM that runs Windows XP Home. The system comes with a built-in GPS receiver and a connector for an FM or XM satellite radio tuner. The unit ($1,699) includes a motorized LCD touch-screen monitor. Available at the end of this month as a hardware and software package, integrators and system builders can customize StreetDeck to play DVDs from media or the hard drive, integrate with cell phones, connect to a home network for MP3 downloads and connect to a vehicle's computer to view diagnostics. The hardware includes a one-year warranty against manufacturer defects, while the StreetDeck software comes with one year of free upgrades.
THE SMART CAR GETS SMARTER
Digital integrators looking to provide a mobile computer for the professional who's always on the go should look to Castle Tek Systems and its recently updated Car PC (starting price $1,200). The system goes beyond the typical GPS navigational unit. It comes equipped with 80 Gbytes of hard-drive storage, 512 Mbytes of RAM and a wireless touch pad to make folks on the road feel like they are in the comfort of their own living rooms. Integrators can set up the unit as an MP3 player, provide customers with wireless Internet access, connect it to a home's Web cams--the list of possible integration opportunities goes on. Castle Tek (www.castletek.com) customizes its in-car computer systems based on particular requests.
Are We There Yet?
No more complaints from the backseat--the RM-1700W 17-inch wide-screen TFT LCD monitor mounts to the ceiling of a car's interior and offers a high- resolution video screen. The mobile video unit from Valor Auto Companion (www.valordvd.com) features a flip-down screen packed with specs such as 16:9 aspect ratio, 786,438 pixels and a 1,024 x 768 resolution. The display includes a built-in IR transmitter for wireless headphones and a remote control. The RM-1700W is an integrator's dream since the entire package has to be installed all the way down to the audio/video input settings. Plus, the device can be bundled with a VHS or DVD player as an additional sale. The unit has an MSRP of $1,099 and comes with a one-year warranty.
Big Brother Is Watching
Integrators looking for a market niche in the vehicle network space might want to track down Gilsson Technologies (www.gilsson.com) and its AlwaysFind Vehicle GPS Tracking System. The security solution is a true integrator play and offers many opportunities for installation and revenue. For instance, integrators can partner with third-party control centers for real-time tracking and self-monitoring. They then can set up specific service contracts that offer two-way text/voice communication, vehicle monitoring, vehicle dispatching and drive route recording. The unit provides a plethora of ports and connectors. It comes with a one-year warranty and retails for $495.
ADDING COMPONENTS
Kenwood USA (www.kenwoodusa.com) aims to help integrators install new aftermarket components into cars with its KOS-A200, an external media controller/FM modulator/RDS encoder. Via the KOS-A200, integrators can add extra components that are not part of the vehicle's original entertainment system, such as a disc changer, a USB storage device, an MP3 player and satellite radio tuner. The product includes a USB input, two stereo auxiliary analog inputs, a five-disc changer input and an IR eye input for the remote control, all of which can easily be concealed. For those worried about specific power requirements, the unit only requires a 12-volt input. The External Media Controller with RDS Encoder runs about $200.
VOOMIN' COMPUTIN'
Motherboard manufacturer Via has partnered with vendor VoomPC to create a rugged mobile PC. Specifically designed for cars and boats, every feature of the VoomPC is completely customizable. By visiting www.logicsupply.com and completing a simple questionnaire, integrators can create a solution from the ground up. The complete Logic Supply VoomPC Mini-ITX Car System will run integrators $404, which includes everything needed (case, motherboard, hard drive, etc.) to successfully incorporate a computer into an automotive solution. Integrators also can include, at the customer's request, a Xenarc LCD display. All VoomPC units include a one-year warranty.