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Electronista: Google today provided added details of the turn-by-turn mapping service found on the Motorola Droid.

Google Maps Navigation adds many of the features that would normally exist in a dedicated GPS unit, such as a bird’s-eye view and spoken directions, but takes advantage of Google’s existing Maps features.

Traffic is free in those areas where Google provides service, and Street View can show directions overlaid on top of in-location photos.

Search is naturally rolled into Navigation and lets drivers use voice or typed commands to navigate to a location by search criteria rather than a specific address.

Long-distance travelers can launch a search in mid-drive and find just the points of interest close to the already planned route.

Google Maps Navigation ships first on the Droid as a beta but will be available for all Android 2.0 devices.

The company also says it’s cooperating with Apple to bring the feature to the iPhone through its built-in Maps tool but hasn’t given a timetable for when it expects the feature to be ready.

The unveiling is a potential coup for Google. Although RIM’s BlackBerry line and most GPS-aware Nokia phones include company-made turn-by-turn apps, these either have limited functionality or require a paid subscription to work properly.

Google Maps requires an active Internet connection to download map data but is otherwise free to use where most stand-alone apps, including for the iPhone, often carry a significant initial fee and often charge extra for future map updates.

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NewLaunches: The Alpine iXA-W407 features fully supported iPod/iPhone playback (there’s no CD drive), large 7-inch QVGA touch screen display, built-in Bluetooth and more.

The iXA-W407 is available as an all-in-one audio/video/navigation system package that includes the NVE-M300 GPS Navigation Drive.

This is a compact external drive that is installed somewhere hidden and the location services include regular GPS data, solid-state gyro sensor technology, and accelerometer technology to gauge the vehicle’s speed for even more accurate navigation.

It obviously does voice guided directions which are played through the audio system. The Alpine iXA-W407 features a 7-inch QVGA display, an AM/FM tuner and a high-speed USB input for optimal iPod/iPhone connection.

You can also connect USB memory devices and MTP-based MP3 players via the USB input. The two devices (iXA-W407 and NVE-M300) can be purchased separately in which case it would cost $800 (€546) and $450 (€307) respectively.

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Engadget: Intel just announced that both BMW and Mercedes-Benz will be shipping Atom-based infotainment systems designed by Harman-Becker in 2012.

BMW will make the system available in the 7-series, while MB will put it in S- and C-class vehicles.

According to Paul Otellini, these are just the first Atom-based in-vehicle entertainment systems to be announced, and automakers are coming around to “consistent and persistent platforms,” so we’d expect this is the start of a very welcome trend. Sadly there was no demo, but we’ll be on the lookout here at IDF.

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iPodNN: Sony on Tuesday announced the upcoming release of four new Xplod in-dash CD Receivers.

All four new head units are compatible with the Radio Data System (RDS) technology, allowing compatible FM radio stations to send artist and song information, which is then displayed on the head unit’s display.

The two higher-end models are the CDX-GT640UI and the CDX-GT540UI receivers, both of which have a USB input and auxiliary input on their front face which allows users to fully integrate and charge connected compatible iPods and iPhones as well as portable audio players.

The two also have the same compressed sound quality improvement technology built-in, as well as MP3 and WMA file support, with navigation options that make large libraries easy to navigate.

The main difference between the two is the CDX-GT640UI’s option of both green and blue key illumination as well as three preamp subwoofer outputs, while the CDX-GT540UI only has blue LEDs and two preamp outputs.

The USB connection can be used to charge compatible iPods and iPhones.

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NaviGadget: Check out Alpine’s newest GPS navigation product: the NVE-M300 GPS navigation drive.

This is a compact, hideaway module that adds premium navigation features such as the OnPoint Advanced GPS Positioning (which combines three vehicle positioning technologies), turn-by-turn, voice guided directions – to two of Alpine’s audio/video head units, the iXA-W404 and IVA-W505.

NVE-M300 GPS Navigation Drive is available for $450 (€319), the iXA-W404 for $550 (€390) SRI, and the IVA-W505 for $1,100 (€781).

ALPINE ELECTRONICS DELIVERS NEW IN-DASH NAVIGATION SOLUTIONS

 TORRANCE, Calif., July 14, 2009 – Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industry-leading manufacturer of audio and navigation solutions, today introduced the new NVE-M300 GPS Navigation Drive.

This high-performance black box navigation module makes it easy to add turn-by-turn navigation functionality to Alpine’s iXA-W404 and IVA-W505 Audio/Video (AV) head units. Adding the NVE-M300 to these products results in two unique Audio/Video/Navigation (AVN) solutions.

Consumers can have a $1,000 digital media solution combining the NVE-M300 and the iXA-W404 with its 4.3-inch touch screen that is optimized for iPod/iPhone playback. Alternatively, they can create a $1,550 premium system based on the IVA-W505 with its 7-inch touch screen and DVD capability.

The NVE-M300 is a compact, external navigation drive. Measuring only 4 3/8 in. x 4 1/8 in. x 1 in., it is designed to be professionally installed and mounted in a hide-away location, such as behind the dash. Once connected, the NVE-M300 adds a fully integrated navigation experience to Alpine’s two top selling AV head units.

The NVE-M300 features Alpine’s innovative OnPoint™ Advanced GPS Positioning to deliver a better navigation experience. OnPoint ensures that vehicle’s icon stays accurately positioned on the map, even in areas where it’s difficult to receive GPS reception, such as in a tunnel, around tall buildings or under heavy foliage. OnPoint simultaneously uses three technologies – satellite-linked GPS data, solid-state gyro sensor technology (to determine the vehicle’s direction) and accelerometer technology (to gauge the vehicle’s speed) – to deliver improved performance.

A simple and intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) combined with voice guided driving directions make the NVE-M300 easy to use. Big, bright icons and large buttons provide easy identification of commands or maneuvers.

Assistive mapping visuals display essential driving information such as One-Way Street icons for clear notification of one-way streets, and Highway Junction View for maneuvering complex interchanges.

Text-to-speech technology is used to announce the turn-by-turn driving instructions, including street names, freeway numbers and freeway exit names. All the voice guided driving instructions are delivered through the vehicle’s sound system.

The NVE-M300’s map data is provided from preloaded NAVTEQ® maps of the United States and Canada, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. As well, the module comes with 6 million unique Points of Interest (POIs), which include restaurants, hotels, gas stations, movie theaters and grocery stores.

The NVE-M300 can be customized to match the user’s preference. Color schemes can be chosen from a palette of four map colors and eight menu colors. English, Spanish or French can be chosen as the preferred language.

The Dashboard feature can be set up to display trip information such as driving time and average speed. “With the NVE-M300, we are delivering an improved GPS navigation experience at a lower cost,” said Stephen Witt, vice president, marketing, Alpine Electronics. “The NVE-M300 drive gives customers the opportunity to easily add GPS navigation to their iXA-W404 of IVA-W505 AV head units.”

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Engadget: While our greasy, monkey-knuckled sisters over at Autoblog are getting themselves into a twist over Jaguar’s recent resurgence, our eyes remain firmly focused on the cockpit of Coventry’s new 2010 XJ.

At the center of the console is an 8-inch dual-view touchscreen that allows you, the driver, to monitor the on-board navigation maps while your passenger simultaneously watches a TV or a DVD — in silence, if they choose, with the aid of headphones.

There’s also a large driver-side virtual instrument cluster that, for better or worse, replaces the physical speedometer, rev counter, and fuel and temperature gauges.

As a 12.3-inch “high-definition” display it dynamically morphs into warning messages, menus, and colors (red for fast!) that provide the driver with the most relevant information required at the time.

The XJ also packs a Bowers & Wilkins 1200W audio system with 20 B&W speakers pumped through 15 channels of audio processing. The XJ is also the first automotive application of Dolby Pro Logic IIx tech with choice of DTS Neo:6 to enjoy 7.1 surround sound with your films. When you’re in park of course.

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Engadget: What the world needs now is another distraction to keep a driver’s eyes off the road, and Pioneer is ensuring wheelmen of the future will have something other than the asphalt to focus on with what it’s calling the Network AV playback system.

It relies on WiMAX to send your entire backlog of Knight Rider episodes straight to your Trans Am, and could stream every track from the Ronin Original Motion Picture Soundtrack too.

Pioneer also envisions its technology beaming data to your backyard and anywhere else you can get a WiMAX connection — which, right now, isn’t too many places. But, hey, at least with this tech you can drive somewhere that does.

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The Wall Street Journal: Pioneer Corp. said it will receive 2.5 billion yen ($25.8 / €19.7 million ) of fresh capital from business partner Honda Motor Co. in the first of a series of fundraising steps planned by the electronics maker to finance its overhaul.

Pioneer, a maker of car navigation systems and electronics products, said it plans to issue new shares to Honda by the end of June and use the money from the Tokyo-based auto maker to develop new car electronics products.

With losses mounting, Pioneer has decided to exit the flat-panel television business and concentrate on electronics for the auto industry.

Pioneer is also preparing to apply for a government cash injection under newly approved measures in Japan’s economic stimulus program.

Under a medium-term business plan also announced Tuesday, Pioneer said it will need to raise around 40 billion yen, but details for other financing deals aren’t set yet.

In the latest deal with Honda, the auto maker will pay 170 yen for each of the 14.7 million new Pioneer shares to be issued. Honda will have a 6.54% stake in Pioneer, becoming the second largest shareholder after Sharp Corp.

Sharp’s stake in the electronics maker will decline to 13.35% from 14.28% after the new share issue. Pioneer’s reform plans over the next three fiscal years through March 2012 include closing nine of 30 group companies undertaking production in Japan and overseas and shrinking capacity at six others.

It is also laying off 5,800 full-time employees and 4,000 contract-based workers from this year. At the end of December 2008, Pioneer had 36,925 full-time employees. It will also reduce the total number of directors and executive officers this year to 19 from 25.

Pioneer expects a restructuring charge of 47 billion yen in this fiscal year ending March 2010, but it expects its reform measures to reduce fixed costs by 50 billion yen in this fiscal year and a further 85 billion yen in the following year.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, Pioneer forecast a net loss of 129 billion yen, slightly narrower than a 130 billion yen loss estimated in mid-February. It will report full-year results May 13. The company also projected a net loss of 83 billion yen for this fiscal year. It expects to return to the black in the fiscal year ending March 2011 with a net profit of eight billion yen.

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NewLaunches: Fujitsu Micro today introduced the world’s first 1394 Automotive controller that transmits high-definition video over the 1394 in-vehicle multimedia network.

The new Fujitsu MB88395 controller can simultaneously transmit multiple streams around the vehicle, such as HD video (1,280 dots x 720 lines) from Blu-Ray DVDs, digital TV, and car navigation images.

The Fujitsu MB88395 uses a high-speed 800Mbps physical layer and link layer, along with the Fujitsu proprietary SmartCODEC, which provides high compression and can transmit HD video without perceptible latency.

This combination brings the rich-HD experience to rear-seat entertainment, reduces vehicle weight and improves fuel efficiency.

The combination reduces the system cost of in-vehicle multimedia networks by up to 30 percent, while reducing the number of wire harnesses by a maximum of 70 percent, and can reduce the environmental impact by approximately 10kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year for a car traveling 10,000km. That roughly translates to the amount of CO2 a beech tree absorbs in one year.

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EngadgetHD: Finicky kids may have their opinions about which brand of peanut butter or sugar-crusted breakfast cereal they prefer, but surely every single one of them wants HD over SD for their in-car viewing experience.

Panasonic’s giving them just that, a pair of dash-mountable devices that will finally let you toss those DVDs Disney’s been sneaking in with its Blu-ray releases.

First is the CN-HX3000D Windows-powered device, with a 7-inch, 1280 x 720 display offering GPS, Bluetooth, a 40GB hard drive, and iPod/iPhone compatibility. Pair that with the CY-BB1000D in-car Blu-ray player (which, sadly, is not BD-Live compatible) and bam you’ve got all the high-def Chicken Little you can handle.

Mind you all this will surely come with quite a price tag when it releases this fall, and while Panny isn’t willing to say just much, isn’t keeping your little videophiles happy worth any cost?

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Engadget: Sure, the cold metal exterior looks like a regular old car, but the 2010 S-Class from Mercedes-Benz has a fuzzy technological heart, including an abundance of readout displays and a Splitview screen.

Quite like it sounds, the Splitview display offers up one view to the driver (like a map), while the passenger sees a completely different image (like a movie, or a picture of somebody looking at a map), and after hearing all about it for the past while, Mercedes is actually giving us a glimpse of it in an overly-dramatic promo video for the latest S-Class to clutter up the roads.

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CNet: Still think a car is just for transporting you from A to B? You’re wrong, grandpa — modern cars are teeming with technology. And we’re not just talking windscreen wipers.

There’s enough vehicular gadgetry inside your average motor to make your typical geek froth until they collapse from dehydration. In case you haven’t spotted our funky Car Tech blog and our Car Tech video reviews, we’ve become very familiar with most types of in-car gizmography.

Being the kind souls we are, we’ve decided to pass this knowledge on to you loyal Cravers. Over the next few pages, we’re going to tell you which gadgets you absolutely can’t afford to do without in your next car. Some entertain, some help you stay alive, some save you money on petrol, and some help you lose your licence faster. So what are you waiting for, ol’ timer? Put down the typewriter, stop reminiscing about the war and start checking out the cars of the flippin’ future!

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