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Steelmate Ships High Tech Backup Cam

Steelmate USA is now shipping its top-of-the-line parking assist system.  It uses both ultrasonic sensors and video cameras and also combines voice warnings for an advanced back up camera system. The 4-sensor system is compatible with any in-dash video unit or monitor. It also permits a video overlay. Steelmate says installation is simple for the device as it works over existing wiring using a separate module called the  IPWRXTX1 at $399 suggested... [Read more of this story]

Latest Car Electronics News

Emerging Connected Car Technology Tested by Consumer Reports

A new car safety technology that could be an important future aftermarket car AV product has been tested by Consumer Reports, which gave it a thumbs up. The technology, in both aftermarket and OEM forms, is vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications—cars “talking” to each other. General Motors is already working on an app that links with a car radio’s... [Read more of this story]

Steelmate Ships High Tech Backup Cam

Steelmate USA is now shipping its top-of-the-line parking assist system.  It uses both ultrasonic sensors and video cameras and also combines voice warnings for an advanced back up camera system. The 4-sensor system is compatible with any in-dash video unit or monitor. It also permits a video overlay. Steelmate says installation is simple for the device... [Read more of this story]

Cobra Awarded CB-to-Phone Patent

Cobra Electronics said it has been awarded a patent regarding CB Radios and connectivity to cellphones. The patent No. 8,078,120 is notable because it can allow a CB to serve as a loudspeaker for smartphones, which typically have insufficient speakers for use in a truck. The patent includes 101 claims for different scenarios involving CB radios and... [Read more of this story]

Backup Camera Sales to Near Double

Backup cameras are expected to continue their ascent, growing by 40 to 50 percent in unit sales this year, according to three suppliers. Sales should accelerate even more rapidly in a few years, as a law is expected to go into effect around 2014 mandating that back up cameras be included in new all new cars. iSuppli adjusted its estimates favorably... [Read more of this story]

M Rothman Named Sony Distributor

M. Rothman said it was named the Sony Mobile distributor in the Northeast effective last month. The company, which also distributes Pioneer as well as JVC, JBL, Infinity, Audiovox, Viper and other brands, will handle Sony car audio for the areas of Trenton, NJ, Rochester, NY, Westchester/ Rockland, NY, and all of New England and upstate NY. Source:... [Read more of this story]

Directed Sells Off Orion Car Audio Brand

Directed said it has sold the Orion car audio brand to MD Audio Engineering, the U.S. arm of a Latin America supplier that officially makes its market debut in the U.S. with Orion. The Orion brand and product rights were sold for an undisclosed sum. As of February 10, MD Audio, based in Miami, handles all Orion orders and warranties.  MD Audio is an... [Read more of this story]

Fed Proposes Limits on Car Navigation

The Fed proposed Thursday that auto makers produce connected car radios that require the car is in park before drivers may look up an address on a navigation system, browse the Internet or dial a phone number. An exception is voice activated use of any of the above functions, which would not require the car be in park. A second set of guidelines on... [Read more of this story]

Massive Audio Updates Car Speaker Line

Massive Audio is now shipping its new CK X line car audio speakers, updating its CK Series with new tweeters and crossovers. Massive Audio CK69X The CK 6X and CK 69X tweeters now have power handling to match that of the woofer.    They sport 28mm pure German silk dome tweeters.  The new crossover is a flexible 18 dB “Phase Coherent Linkwitz-Riley... [Read more of this story]

Remote Start-from-a-Phone Sales Update

Sales of smartphone-controlled remote start are beginning to make a dent in overall remote start sales. The In-Car Experts (ICE) marketing/buying group reports that despite a warm winter, sales of remote starters were up for 35 percent of its members.  The overwhelming reason, they said is because of increased sales of smartphone-based remote start. (Still,... [Read more of this story]

Best Buy’s Other Car Audio Trial

Best Buy is expanding its BFF relationship with Car Toys beyond the expeditor sales announced Tuesday. It is also conducting trials with Seattle-based Car Toys to improve  car audio retail sales through better management and sales training, and it will extend that trial to 100 Best Buy locations, according to a trusted industry source. The trial, underway... [Read more of this story]

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