CES 2008

Pioneer's AVIC-F500-BT LINC

(Credit: Pioneer)

"If the automobile were invented today, I'm pretty sure it would debut here at CES." So said Rick Wagoner, the boss of General Motors, in his keynote address at CES 2008 before unveiling GM's hydrogen fuel-cell-powered Cadillac Provoq. Wagoner's sentiments were echoed by the show's organizers who, for the first time, dedicated an entire hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center to in-vehicle technologies.

Among the booming bass bins and the pimped-out rides a number of innovative products took our fancy. Pioneer's AVIC-F500BT LINC combines portable and in-dash navigation in one device, complete with next-generation voice-recognition and information on traffic, gas prices and movie times information service from MSN Direct. Azentek's full-fledged Windows Vista-based in-dash PC promises to bring the desktop to the blacktop, while Kenwood showed off its prototype for high-speed in-car digital TV, to go on sale later this year.

The north hall at CES 2008 was dedicated to car technology

(Credit: CNET Networks)

CNET took advantage of the car tech buzz by setting up its own testing lab, in which we installed over a dozen different products over the course of three days, including new all-in-one navigation and multimedia devices from Jensen and Eclipse, as well as a unique digital sound processing technology from JVC and Bongiovi acoustics.

Elsewhere, Ford used the show to make an announcement on its exclusive contract with Sony for car audio, and to show off its new hard drive-based navigation system featuring Sirius Travel Link, while a slew of updated car stereos from Sony, Panasonic, and Pioneer promises to keep us busy in the CNET reviews department for the year ahead.

Magellan

(Credit: Magellan)

Magellan is bringing its A-game to CES 2008. In addition to several other announcements, including the unveiling of the Magellan Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS, the GPS manufacturer debuted the Magellan Maestro 5310. The portable navigation system was designed to better meet the needs of baby boomers and features a larger 5-inch touch screen to increase map, menu, and image readability by 35 percent. "With 90 million baby boomers in North America representing $2 trillion in annual spending power, developing GPS products geared to their specific needs is critical to expanding the category," said Christian Bubenheim, vice president of marketing at Magellan. "The Maestro 5310 was designed for consumers who could benefit from a larger device that provides a safe and straightforward navigation experience." It also includes preloaded maps of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico; 6 million points of interest with AAA TourBook guide information; text-to-speech functionality; and a complimentary three-month subscription to Magellan's real-time traffic service. The Magellan Maestro 5310 is expected to be available in Q1 with a price point of $699.

Garmin Nuvi 5000

(Credit: Garmin)

If you're not keen on squinting at a little display to view maps and driving directions, then feast your eyes on the Garmin Nuvi 5000. Unlike most of today's portable navigation systems, which have 3.5-inch or 4.3-inch displays, the Nuvi boasts a 5.2-inch touch screen with a 800x480 pixel resolution and is designed for RVs and trucks. It's well-stocked in the features department as well with preloaded maps of North America, text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth, multimedia capabilities, and compatibility with MSN Direct for real-time traffic, weather, and more. There's even a composite video input to connect a rearview camera to see what's behind your vehicle before backing up. The Garmin Nuvi 5000 is expected to ship sometime in February and has a price tag of $857.13.

Garmin Nuvi 880

(Credit: Garmin)

Voice commands in portable navigation systems: We had a feeling we'd be seeing more of this trend at CES 2008, and Garmin proved us right with the launch of the Garmin Nuvi 800 series. The series includes two models--the Garmin Nuvi 880 and the Garmin Nuvi 850--and both have speech-recognition technology so you can perform certain navigation functions with the sound of your voice. For example, you can look for local businesses with phrases such as "find nearest Chinese restaurant," and unlike the Magellan Maestro 4250--which we reviewed earlier and also had voice command functionality--you can enter addresses on the new Nuvis by voice. Now, the whole voice command concept is great in theory; it's an excellent safety feature since you can operate your portable navigation system without taking your hands off the wheel or taking your eyes off the road for too long. However, as I experienced with Maestro 4250, which also had the voice command functionality, you have to create a pretty quiet environment in the car (that is, no radio, windows up) to get the best results. We'll see if this is the case with Garmin's units when we get review models.

Watch the Garmin Nuvi 880 video on CNET TV.

Of course, there's more to these two in-car GPS than voice commands. The Garmin Nuvi 880 ($1,071.41) has access to MSN Direct so you can get real-time traffic information, weather reports, current gas prices, and more. A three-month complimentary subscription to the service is included with the purchase of the device; afterwards, you'll have to pay $49.95 per year or a one-time $129.95 fee. The Nuvi 880 also has integrated Bluetooth, a 4.3-inch touch screen, and multimedia capabilities. The Garmin Nuvi 850 ($857.13) is much like the 880 except it lacks both Bluetooth and MSN Direct integration. Both systems are expected to ship in Q2 2008.

Update: The Nuvi 800 series does have text-to-speech functionality unlike what was reported earlier. We apologize for the error.

Photos: Car Tech sneak peeks from CES 2008

(Credit: Morty Okin/CNET Networks)

On CES 2008 Press Day, CNET Photo Producer Morty Okin took a swing around the Las Vegas Convention Center's North Hall to show what's cooking in car technology. Check out his car tech slide show for droolworthy wheels and impressive audio.

Car Tech editors Wayne Cunningham and Kevin Massy fiddle with a Scion xD.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

At this year's CES, the Car Tech editorial staff members not only cover the show, we are part of it. Along with looking at new and innovative automotive gadgets around the show floor, we are running the Car Tech Testing Lab. We've invited major car stereo manufacturers, such as Eclipse, Alpine, Pioneer, and Blaupunkt, to stop by our Lab and install their latest car stereos in our test car, a 2008 Scion xD, so we can check out the products in a standard environment.

We first got a sense of our new responsibilities as we waited in line to drive our test car into the convention center. There we were, 8 a.m. on Sunday, sitting in our Scion xD, in front of a Morgan, a Ford GT, and a Ferrari F430. We felt a little outclassed, but were happy with our car when we had to maneuver it around crates, forklifts, and cranes through the hall to our Lab. We spent the rest of our setup time prepping the car--taking out the original stereo and disconnecting the starter--and setting up camera angles. Then Monday through Thursday we will be getting our first looks at the latest car stereos.

Magellan Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS

(Credit: Magellan)

Well, well, looks who's stepping up its game? Today, GPS manufacturer Magellan announced its most ambitious in-car portable navigation system yet: the Magellan Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS. Scheduled to ship in March, the Maestro Elite 5340 allows you to use a GPRS connection to connect to the Web from the device itself and conduct real-time searches for local businesses, services, and events via Google Local Search. You will also be able to send addresses and notes wirelessly from your PC to the Maestro Elite 5340. Sound a bit familiar? Perhaps it's because it's somewhat similar to the Dash Express, though the Dash adds Wi-Fi to the mix and uses Yahoo Local Search.

Other features of the Magellan Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS include voice command functionality, 3D building and landmark renderings, 6 million points of interest, and a 5-inch touch screen. You will pay for all these features as the unit's priced to go at $1,299. I'm pretty to anxious to see the Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS live in action, so check back for my hands-on report as I pay a visit to the Magellan booth at CES 2008.

Sony NV-U83T

(Credit: Sony)

On the eve of CES 2008, Sony Electronics added two new portable navigation systems to its lineup: the Sony NV-U73T and the Sony NV-U83T. Both models focus on safety and have text-to-speech technology, nearly 5 million points of interest with branded icons, and preloaded maps of the United States and Canada. They're equipped with SiRF StarIII GPS chips, but the units also have a feature called Position Plus that includes pressure, gyro, and acceleration sensors, which should provide for more accurate positioning even when driving through tunnels and in between tall buildings. In addition, you can perform certain functions with just the swipe of your finger. For example, you can use your fingertip to draw an inverted V on the touch screen, and this will trigger the system to take you home. Finally, there's a dual-view mode that will show a 3D rendition of complicated intersections (similar to the the Navigon 7100).

As the flagship model, the Sony NV-U83T also has integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling and a 4.8-inch, 16:9 ratio touch screen, while the NV-U73T has a 4.3-inch screen. Both the NV-U83T and NV-U73T are available for preorder today from Sony Style's Web site with an expected ship date of February. The units will cost $500 and $350, respectively.

The 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show is the first one to dedicate an entire hall to automotive-related tech. The convergence of in-car entertainment, communications, and information promises to continue in 2008 with the release of whole range of in-dash and portable device capable of providing GPS navigation and playing multiple media formats.

Best of CES 2007: Dash Navigation Dash Express

(Credit: CNET Networks)

What exactly do we see in our crystal ball? Well, we think voice commands will be a hot thing. This technology lets you operate your portable GPS and enter addresses with the sound of your voice, and we're already starting to see it pop up in models like the TomTom GO 920 and the Magellan Maestro 4250. Also, 3D building renderings and photorealistic images of complex intersections should make its way to more portable nav systems, providing helpful visual aids to drivers. GPS and location-based services in cell phones and smartphones is another craze, and we'll see more of this to be sure, but it has a little way to go yet in terms of mass adoption. For now, people are getting onboard with the standalone in-car GPS, and as that continues we hope to see the inclusion of traffic services and text-to-speech functionality in even the most entry-level models.

Aside from navigation, the market for mobile in-car entertainment devices is also heating up. Bluetooth is finally breaking out of its cellphone role as more and more devices offer the A2DP Bluetooth audio-streaming profile, and automakers appear to be rediscovering FM, which is being used to transmit sound from portable devices to the car speakers via the in-dash stereo. On the subject of radio waves, HD Radio has just started to make a splash, and we are expecting a number of new HD-compatible devices at this year's CES.

Also on the horizon are fully fledged in-dash PCs, with Jensen and Azentek showing off their Windows-based car computers complete with Intel processors, hard drives, and Wi-Fi connectivity. One other major trend to look for in automotive tech at CES 2008 is gesture recognition, which promises to challenge the shaky dominance of voice-command application by making use of devices with advanced touch screens and proximity sensors.