TomTom has equipped its latest systems with genuinely useful technology to help the driver to a more stress-free journey. It has taken into account real world driving experiences and developed new features to save time and give the user more information.

The innovative IQ Routes technology is based on real average speeds, measured on roads to give more accurate arrival time predictions. The road speed information for the IQ Routes has come from millions of TomTom users over billions of miles of roads over many years. It takes into account prevailing road conditions including rush hours, real world speed reducers such as traffic lights, roundabouts and even inclines and traffic calming measures. We all know the weekend route is considerably different to Monday morning or Friday afternoon, for example. This means the new TomTom GO determines a recommendation by considering all possible routes, and the time of day, then selects the one that takes the least time. According to TomTom, IQ Routes can shorten travel times for almost half of all journeys.

Available in vehicle specific or universal designs, this could be the easiest way of creating rear seat entertainment with a factory-style finish. The Automonitor pack consists of a pair of 7in LCD screens mounted in headrests along with an integrated DVD player and 15 game module built in. The pack also includes a pair of wireless game controllers as well as dual-channel headphones. The system comes with an AV selector for one AV input and a pair of outputs. For a full list of vehicle applications and finishes of factory replacement and universal products, please contact the Automonitor team:
Contact: Automonitor - 0116 275 2020 or automonitor.co.uk

The Binatone T430 adds extra justification for having a PND in the car by combining two technologies in one. By adding a colour rear view camera function, Binatone has met two consumer demands in one package providing huge savings over their discreet alternatives. The full featured turn by turn PND automatically switches over to rear view mode when reverse gear is selected. A full installation kit is supplied for the camera, which has been designed for mounting under or over the rear number plate using the existing screw holes. The camera is linked wirelessly to the system on the dashboard but is connected by cable to a reversing light on the car to provide a power source and trigger to the camera.

After eighteen months development, Bury has released details of its latest voice-activated hands-free system. As well as making voice activated calls, it reads text messages out loud too. Launched recently at CeBIT, the voice controlled Bluetooth hands-free car kit is a plug and play device, which does not require specialist fitting. Bury has used the development time to advance its voice recognition software to the highest level of precision and voice speed understanding.

Snooper’s sat nav technology is now available for mobile phones and PDA devices. The software can turn a standard PDA phone into a fully functional sat nav and speed camera location system. And for those who love spending their time on the course, Snooper’s Golf Pro Shot Saver is also available as part of the package, giving you access to maps of more than 2000 golf courses across mainland Europe and using the latest GPS technology, provides the user with distances to any hole on the course.

The JKM Infill G4 will be appearing on ITV’s ‘Pulling Power’ airing in June and July. The successful car PC has already been featured in Mobile Electronics News on numerous occasions and the company exhibited at our Expo show this year to increase dealer awareness. The company is looking for 25 UK dealers and installers to create a nationwide dealer network. JKM aims to allocate each dealer a unique area of the UK that they will represent, with no more than one dealer in a designated region. JKM would like to achieve full UK coverage to meet the expected demand generated from the TV appearances.

Featuring USB input as well as aux-in on the front face, this latest Sony head unit is for customers who like the convenience of compressed digital music on the move. The unit also plays streamed music (A2DP) from a Bluetooth-enabled device such as mobile phone as well as providing hands-free functions. Finding MP3 tracks is simple thanks to Sony’s new ‘Quick-BrowZer’ interface. This offers effortless browsing through your MP3 music library using the front panel rotary controller.

This years IFA Show saw the latest development of Harman’s MS-8 interface system to enhance a factory source and speakers as well as give external amp capability. We last heard this system a year ago and back then it showed huge promise. The system is an eight-way processor that equalises for itself so you don’t have to. At the show, the system was installed in an E46 3-Series Touring and used all factory speakers with an additional JBL sub and amp and an uprated centre channel speaker in the dash.

The MS-8 system uses Lexicon’s Logic 7 soundstage enhancement to give a superb sound stage. Last year the system won the highest SQ score at the Spring Break Nationals driven by the factory BMW head unit. The package includes a pre amp/amp, display, a wireless mic, binaural microphone (that are worn like headphones during the set-up process) and a set-up CD. The system analyses the car acoustics and takes into account the speaker positions. The installer is given eight speaker level inputs and eight level inputs to use the MS-8 as a system basis.

There is a fully configurable electronic crossover and a 31-band Eq inside the main unit. A UK release date hasn’t been set yet but after hearing the system for ourselves we’re sure dealers will lap this up on launch. It could become an essential tool for installers who either don’t have time to spend days setting up an install or to get the best from a factory set-up if the customer doesn’t want a custom install.

Contact: Harman UK – 01707 278100 or harman.com

Mobile Electronics News is the UK’s monthly trade-only magazine and on-line resource. It’s the central point of contact for specialist dealers, distributors and manufacturers. We deliver the latest technology, from car audio, multimedia and digital music sources to hands-free and communication devices. M.E.N. has the latest ground breaking developments, the hottest new product reviews and news from the world’s mobile electronics industry.

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