Now You Can Talk To Your Car Stereo

GPS FOR THE REST OF US

For the half-dozen or so consumers that do not have GPS in-car or a cellphone with a GPS chip embedded into it, Dual AV's XGPS150 external Bluetooth GPS module brings navigation capability to devices that do not have it. The product will work with any cellphone or tablet that has the capability of running navigation applications that require a GPS chip. The product is placed on the car dashboard, receives signals and coordinates, and wirelessly transmits them via Bluetooth to any nearby pre-configured device. It has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 8.5 hours, and also includes a car cigarette lighter adapter as well as a nonslip pad that can be put onto the dashboard so the product won't slip off. But the most interesting accessory that comes with the product is an adjustable strap that can be used to mount the device as an armband. Nothing says "I know where I am and I know where I'm going" like accessorizing with a GPS module. $100; visit dualav.com

TALK TO YOUR JENSEN

The little-used iPhone voice control has migrated to the car stereo, and it will be interesting to see if it gets better use on a bigger stage. Jensen's VM9314 DVD Receiver boasts a seveninch motorized touch screen, a front-panel USB and SD Card slot, the ability to read MP3, MPEG, XVID and AVI files and support for the company's addon 110BTM15 Bluetooth interface. The unit arrives with a microphone that allows users to utilize the iPhone Voice Control without being anywhere near their iPhone.

It's a good addition in that voice control is theoretically an ideal way to operate the car stereo when driving. But, rather than leveraging Apple's voice control, we'd prefer if the manufacturer had developed its own system so that people who don't already drink the iPhone Kool-Aid wouldn't get cut out of all of the talk-talk-control fun. As much as we like the iPhone, we think its voice control is humdrum. But Jensen deserves credit here because innovation should always to be rewarded. $420; visit jensen.com.

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