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Remote Start Report in a Balmy Winter

We expected retailers to be crying in their soup about remote start sales since the weather has been so warm this winter in many areas of the country. Some retailers said sales were down between 10 and 20 percent in remote starters, and some still held out hope that a severe cold snap might save the season. At least one remote start supplier said sales were actually ahead of last year at this time as retailers bought in heavily earlier in the season. ... [Read more of this story]

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TV Displays for Car Audio MESA Retailers

These days even Subway sandwich shops have big TVs in the store to send a message to consumers, so why not car stereo shops? Under a new MESA (Mobile Electronics Specialists of America) program this year, all dealer member locations will have a 46-inch TV showing products from MESA vendors.   The programming will be controlled from the MESA offices... [Read more of this story]

Droid Razr Maxx Now Available: Still Skinny

If you thought the ultra-thin Motorola Razr was cool but a little light on the battery life, then the Razr Maxx, available as of Thursday through Verizon Wireless may be the next phone for you. It’s only slightly thicker than the Droid Razr by .07 inches, but the battery now lasts a full day and night (21 hours).  Motorola claims the phone is the... [Read more of this story]

Remote Start Report in a Balmy Winter

We expected retailers to be crying in their soup about remote start sales since the weather has been so warm this winter in many areas of the country. Some retailers said sales were down between 10 and 20 percent in remote starters, and some still held out hope that a severe cold snap might save the season. At least one remote start supplier said sales... [Read more of this story]

Kicker Adds Trent Partners, N&S Mktg Reps

Kicker (Stillwater Designs) announced new reps:  Trent Partners and Associates and Naeseth & Solaas Marketing and Sales.  Trent Partners of Rockville Centre, N.Y., began representing Kicker December 1, and oversees a region including northern New Jersey and metro New York. The firm is led by CEO Stephen Trentacoste and was established in 1990. Trent... [Read more of this story]

Rydeen to Launch Android Test Market

Rydeen said it will launch a test market in April of the Android car radio it unveiled at CES earlier this month. Rydeen Android Car Radio DV621 The test will include about 100 to 200 units of an in-dash navigation/radio that runs on Android 2.2 and that is designed to bring the same look and feel of your Android phone to the car radio. The Rydeen model... [Read more of this story]

New “Dash” Car Stereo Debuts

The Dash is a new double DIN head unit that is basically a shell for your phone.   It holds, charges and amplifies your phone. Devium's Dash faceplate Dash is offered by a start up called Devium out of Colorado Springs, CO.  The head unit should launch in July at about $300.  The company is beginning to talk to a few local retailers, including... [Read more of this story]

Apple Reports Astounding iPhone Sales

Updated. Not long ago, it was a big deal if Apple sold 15 million iPhones over the holiday quarter. On Monday night, Apple announced it sold 37 million iPhones during its recent quarter ended December 31, 2011. Its  stunning iPhone performance helped Apple sail past Wall Street expectations of $39 billion in revenue.  Instead, the company reported... [Read more of this story]

Time to Push Satellite Radio?

Now that a simpler, cheaper 2.0 SiriusXM tuner is heading to market, which will work with almost 60 car radio models at launch, some dealers say they expect an uptick in satellite radio sales. The new XM SXV200 tuner ($79.99) due this March/April is winning attention for several reasons.  Although it is much like the SXV100 of last year (except it... [Read more of this story]

Target Stores Act to Stop “Showrooming”

For the specialist, and for any brick and mortar store, a concern is that consumers are using your shop as a showroom, only to leave empty-handed and price shop online. Target is doing something about it.  According to the AP and other reports,  Target sent a letter to its suppliers, asking them to help stop “showrooming.”  The chain wants... [Read more of this story]

BMW Plans Car Radio Control Seats

The car radio controls of the future may not be located in the radio, but in the very fabric of the car seat. BMW is already planning to install “touch screen fabric” in the seats of future car models, according to New Scientist. Photo credit: New Scientist The seat can include soft polymer-based fibers that  weave into fabric.  The fibers have... [Read more of this story]

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