Alongside XM NavWeather, XM is also unveiling its latest "Infotainment Vehicle" at next week's North American International Auto Show in the form of a brand spankin' new 2008 Infiniti QX56.
In the new infotainment vehicle, XM will also show off a next-generation, full-feature color touch-screen display, a built-in electronic programming guide (yes, you read the right), streaming stock and sports tickers, dynamic information technology and more.
Here's the breakdown of what XM's pimped out 2008 Infiniti QX56 will show off at the NAIAS in Detroit:
Touchscreen User Interface
XM will show off a brand-new touch-screen interface, with a full-color display - including album art - as well as channel and sports team logos and a multi-function display for viewing multiple XM channels at once.
Electronic Programming Guide
A real-time, interactive programming guide that shows upcoming special programs. The driver can request a reminder for a program of interest and later be alerted if they are in the vehicle the next time the shows they selected are broadcast.
Pause/Replay
The ability to pause and replay multiple channels of XM programming - simultaneously.
XM NavTraffic
See current traffic conditions, such as travel speeds on major roads, accident locations, and road closures, updated in real-time on the navigation screen.
XM Sports and XM Stocks
Streams your team's game times and scores and/or your updates to your stock portfolio directly to your vehicle as updates happen, and without interrupting your XM Radio listening.
VoiceCommand
Sophisticated voice control, developed by VoiceBox Technologies, for operating the radio, along with weather, traffic, stock quotes, and sports scores. (Watch a video of this technology here.)
XM NavInfo
Dynamic data service that utilizes the XM satellite pipeline to deliver point-of-interest data to the vehicle, such as nearby open parking space locations, local fuel prices, and flight information. XM NavInfo then relies on the vehicle's GPS to lead you there.
The infotainment vehicle is designed to illustrate how XM's next-generation technology can be implemented by its OEM partners. It doesn't necessarily mean these items will go to market, but it shows XM's capabilities.
Notably absent from this year's infotainment vehicle (at least from what we know) is XM's Satellite Video. It also looks like the dedicated XM ParkingLink service has been rolled into the wider XM NavInfo service offering.
Check out in-person photos of last year's infotainment vehicle at CES 2007. There's still no word whether this new vehicle will be at CES 2008 this year. But we'll find out soon enough.
Please, Ryan, stop making me drool with all this tech. Please.
cool
Infiniti is laying it on thick -- they are extremely committed to moving quickly with new tech features. The new EX (which I would love to own but is just too small) is loaded -- even down to paint that fixes minor scratches by itself. Navtraffic, built in hard drive, lane departure warning system, and "all around view" -- maybe the coolest of the features (check out the video):
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/29/infinitis-around-view-monitor-is-watching/
I think XM did really, really well in getting Nissan & Infinti on their side.
Very cool! But, will their be units like this on store shelves anytime soon, or at all?
After talking to someone at CES yesterday, XM's booth in the North hall isn't much of a booth for show. It was described to me as a "black box", containing a vehicle and a couple of meeting rooms. Whether the vehicle is the same as what will be at the NAIAS or not, hopefully Ryan and/or I will be able to find out. :)
WHY isn't SIRIUS more SERIOUS about GPS???!!!
I love sirius, but I wonder why they aren't being more aggressive with being a leader not only in Sat radio, but also GPS devices.
GPS items have been hot for the past year. Just look at Garmin.
So why doesn't Sirius get more serious about GPS?
I look at GPS like cell phones and ipods and cameras. There was a time when you had to carry around all three. But people PREFER them all in one...and the market listened. Now you have the iphone as well as cell phones that do EVERYTHING.
Doesn't it make sense then that people would WANT their GPS unit and Sat radio COMBINED?? Duh.
Sirius has the satelittes. They have the infrastructure and deals with car manufacturers. It seems like a no brainer.
Why haven't they developed a KICK ass GPS service? Or tried to acquire a company that makes kick ass GPS devices.
Basically Sat radio can't compete with ipod out of the car...unless you count Gyms and places of business that like sat radio.
No the car is where Sirius rules. Its their edge. The backseat tv was cool. But why not be ALOT more agressive with developing a GPS service. Not just weather and traffic, but a full featured top of the line kick ass GPS unit built in.
They've got the customer base thats already on the road. They could add a whole new revenue stream to their bottom line. What does Garmin charge per month? $13? Bingo. They can practically DOUBLE their earnings per month. Or lower their GPS service bundled with their radio service and REALLY kick the other GPS companies asses.
Anyway. Just my 2 cents. :-)
What do y'all think?
Not everyone prefers them all in one. My cellphone makes for a lousy music player and an useless camera. You're lucky to get a 2.5 megapixel camera in a phone, technology that is over 5 years old. And why does the iPod kill SDARS outside of cars? An iPod is nothing but a flash drive with headphones. It offers the same inside a car as it does outside. Nothing but a collection of music you already own.
If this new satrad stuff is company specific then it's all moot unless they've already got it all figured out as to transporting it to the other company should the merger go thru. If it's not transportable then it's money down the drain. You would think the the two satrad companies would have some interoperable stuff out on the floor to give the public an idea as what the the two combined could 'really' do if allowed to merge.
I respectively disagree. i think most people given the choice would prefer an all in one unit.
And as far as my comment that outside the car Sirius can't compete with the ipod...I meant that INSIDE the car is why most people get sirius...and why I think the GPS idea makes alot of sense.
Face it...the car is where its at. Unless something huge happens, like sirius strikes a deal with an mp3 player like the ipod or zune...i think most people will get sirius FIRST for their car...and then listen to it by default outside of the car.
regan,
Have you heard about the Sirius Travel Link?
Both Sirius & XM have portable mp3 players on the market. I could give a shit about SDARS in my car, I live in a city and rarely drive. I'd hate to be stuck with my radio hardwired into my car with no other option at home than to listen online or buy another unit & additional sub. Also, I like to record my shows and listen when I want to, something else I can't do with a hard wired unit. Don't get me wrong, OEM's need to be in every car but once people hear the service, they want it in their home too.
Thats cool that YOU don't want one. It's not like Sirius would ONLY offer units with the GPS built in. Like now, there would be different models.
I don't know about you, but aside from being a Sirius customer, I am an investor....and as an investor, I think Sirius getting into GPS would be HUGE.
For customers who do want GPS (and there are MANY, just look at the success of companies like Garmin)....and for investors it'd only add to their bottom line. :-)
Good all around if you ask me.
>> I think Sirius getting into GPS would be HUGE.
What, exactly, are you talking about? Are you referring to data services, such as Navtraffic, Weather, etc.?
GPS is a different thing and doesn't involve a "service" -- it merely requires a suitable receiver.
Sirius has developed a traffic service and a weather service, but it doesn't seem to have caught on. XM is far ahead of Sirius technologically, so within a couple years you'll probably start to see more Sirius-equipped vehicles supporting these add-on services.
This is a huge step in the right direction. Something like this would make my dashboard a lot nicer looking. Right now, I have the Pioneer AVIC-D1 with the XM NavTraffic service, and I thought that was too cool. With the reports of traffic, album art, etc... This is incredible!
~~~ WOW ~~~ WHAT A DISAPOINTMENT !!!! I JUST GOT BACK FROM CES SHOW HERE IN LV.... I EXPECTED SOOOOO MUCH MORE FROM XM WHAT A DISAPOINTMENT. THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE SELLING CAR STEREOS!!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE EXC DOING OVER THERE... I TRIED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE BIG BOYS BUT SEEMED TO MISS THEM EVERYTIME. IM AN INVESTOR IN XM AND SIRIUS AND WANT SOME ANSWERS... AND BOY DID THEY GIVE IT TO ME NOTHING BUT CAR RADIO ~~~ WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ALL THIS SO CALL TECH!!!! LAME. IF ANYONE WANTS ME TO ASK QUESTIONS TOMORROW. LET ME KNOW. IM GOING TO SIRIUS BOOTH TOMORROW. IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL US YOU CAN UNITEDSHAREHOLDERS@LIVE.COM WE ARE HERE FOR THE SHAREHOLDERS OF BOTH XM AND SIRIUS!!! ;)
Aside from the Infotainment vehicle, which is shown by appointment only (and also isn't really new either, it just evolves from year to year), XM really doesn't have anything new to show this year. Of course, neither did Sirius, really, but Sirius definitely had the presentation down a lot better than XM this year.
AND... after getting a look at the Infotainment vehicle... I must say that if any OEMs take what these developers have done and include even HALF of the features... it will be one heck of a system. I don't want to steal any of Ryan's thunder for when he posts about it, but there is a lot of cool stuff - especially the presentation of the data within - that this vehicle does right.
We'll see if it lands anywhere as they showed it to us... :)