CES 2019: Pioneer's Smart Sync In-Dash Smartphone Receiver Turns Your iPhone Into a Car Radio Display

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Pioneer today announced the U.S. launch of the SPH-10BT, a new in-dash digital media receiver designed to work with a smartphone as a display.

The SPH-10BT is Pioneer's first receiver of this type equipped with a built-in smartphone cradle that integrates your own iPhone or Android device into your car's entertainment system.


While in the cradle, the smartphone becomes "visually combined" with the receiver, turning it into a full high-resolution LCD display for accessing Pioneer Smart Sync Driving functions via touch controls when paired with Pioneer's receiver.

"The single-DIN chassis size is almost universal, with the ability to be installed in both older and newer vehicles. However, given its compact size, a single-DIN receiver often lacks a large touchscreen or the ability to integrate well with the smartphone," said Ted Cardenas, vice president of marketing for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "The SPH-10BT offers a very unique solution by integrating the smartphone both electronically and physically."

The SPH-10BT smartphone setup is compatible with Pioneer's ND-PS1 rear parking sensors and will provide both audible object warnings and visual indicators when connected to sensors installed in the rear vehicle bumper.


While the smartphone integration offers up simple touch controls, the SPH-10BT is also equipped with physical buttons for switching between music sources, activating voice control, accessing navigation apps, reading incoming messages, making phone calls over Bluetooth, and launching into the Pioneer Smart Sync app.

A smartphone is able to connect to the SPH-10BT over Bluetooth, allowing for access to hands-free calling and music streaming. The SPH-10BT also features an anti-theft detachable panel, a customizable user interface, and MIXTRAX integration for "non-stop mix of your music library complete with DJ-inspired effects and club-style illumination."


Pioneer plans to launch the SPH-10BT in the U.S. in February, and it will cost $150, with installation costs not included in that price tag. The SPH-10BT is already available for purchase in Europe.

Tags: Pioneer, CES 2019

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CES 2019: ASUS Chromebook Flip C434, CT100 Tablet First Look [VIDEO]

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Qualcomm Calls Tim Cook's Statement on Settlement Talks 'Misleading'

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Apple CEO Tim Cook in an interview yesterday said that Apple had not been in any kind of settlement talks with Qualcomm since the third calendar quarter of 2018, which ended in September.

Cook was referencing November comments from Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf, who said during a November 7 earnings call that Qualcomm has "continued to have discussions with Apple to try and reach a resolution" and in an interview later in the month that the two companies were "really on the doorstep of finding a resolution."


After Cook made it clear yesterday that no settlement talks had taken place when those comments were made, Qualcomm in a statement told Reuters that what Cook had to say was "misleading" and that the company stands by Mollenkopf's statement.

"We have been consistent for the last 18 months in making clear that we have, at various times, been in discussions with Apple about a possible resolution to our licensing dispute," a Qualcomm spokesperson said in a statement. "We have also stated clearly on several occasions that we believe it will be resolved, one way or the other, in the near future, either through a settlement or court decisions."

In response, Apple said that Cook's comments were accurate. "Qualcomm is desperate to obfuscate the tales it has been telling its investors. Their accusations are a red herring," said Apple.

Cook yesterday had no kind words for Qualcomm, calling its policies "illegal."

The issues that we have with Qualcomm is that they have a policy of no license, no chips. This is, in our view, illegal. And so many regulators in many different countries agree with this. And then secondly, the obligation to offer their patent portfolio on a fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory basis. And they don't do that. They charge exorbitant prices. And they have a lot of different tactics they use to do that. And that's not just us saying that. I mean, you can see what's coming out of the FTC trial here in the United States.

Cook also spoke about Qualcomm's alleged tactic of spreading fake news, which came to light after a November report from The New York Times and subsequent followup reports suggested Qualcomm may have hired a research firm (Definers Public Affairs) to share negative stories about Apple.

"This is stuff that should be beneath companies," said Cook. "This is not how things should operate."

Apple and Qualcomm have been involved in an increasingly bitter legal battle since the beginning of 2017, with Apple refusing to pay unfair royalties to Qualcomm and Qualcomm countering with patent lawsuits and other litigation.

Qualcomm has achieved a preliminary import ban against the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8 in China and Germany. Apple was able to sidestep the China ban with a software update, but has stopped selling its devices in Germany.

In addition to its ongoing dispute with Apple, Qualcomm is this week facing an antitrust trial levied by the FTC. The FTC, like Apple, claims that Qualcomm uses its position and portfolio of patents to impose anticompetitive supply and licensing terms on manufacturers.

Tag: Qualcomm

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Take A 360-Degree Tour Of Google’s Quirky Assistant Ride At CES 2019

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The Asus Chromebook C434 is a very worthy successor to the Flip C302

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Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 73 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements

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Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

Safari Technology Preview release 73 includes bug fixes and performance improvements for Web API, JavaScript, CSS, Media, WebRTC, Web Animations, Web Authentication, WebGPU, and Web Inspector.

The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS High Sierra and macOS Mojave, the newest version of the Mac operating system that was released to the public in September 2018.

The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.

Tag: Safari Technology Preview

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CES 2019: Alpine Previews New CarPlay Receivers, One Features Oversized 9-Inch Hovering Screen

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Alpine Electronics at CES 2019 this week debuted two new in-car multimedia receivers with wired CarPlay and Android Auto support.

The new iLX-W650 receiver features a seven-inch anti-glare capacitive touchscreen with a shallow chassis that measures 2.4-inches deep, allowing for the system to fit into vehicles that do not have a lot of depth behind the dashboard. The receiver has a so-called mech-less design with no CD/DVD slot.

iLX-W650
The iLX-W650 also features an amp-stacking capability that enables Alpine's new KTA-450 amplifier to fit in the open space behind the receiver using an included bracket. The combined depth of the iLX-W650, KTA-450, and mounting bracket equals less than the depth of a standard double-DIN chassis.

The iLX-W650 in tandem with the KTA-450 amplifier won a CES 2019 Innovation Award in the In-Vehicle Audio/Video category.

Other features include standard Bluetooth music playback, SiriusXM readiness, and three 4V pre-outs that allow aftermarket speakers, subwoofers, additional amplifiers, and sound processors to be added. Two camera inputs sold separately allow for the addition of multiple cameras, including a rear-view camera.

Alpine also added a second model to its Halo9 product lineup. Like last year's iLX-F309, the new iLX-F259 receiver features a nine-inch touchscreen that "hovers" over the dashboard, allowing the oversize screen to be added to a variety of vehicles without the need for custom installation.


The screen is attached to an adjustable mount that is connected to a traditional single-DIN chassis. It can be tilted at four pre-set angle points to better match the tilt and height of the dashboard and can be positioned up to 20mm deeper and up to 30mm lower than the default position during installation.

Other features of the iLX-F259 include a mech-less design with no CD/DVD slot, standard Bluetooth music playback, SiriusXM readiness, and one rear-view camera input with the option to add additional camera inputs sold separately.


Both receivers have a USB port for connecting an iPhone with a Lightning to USB cable, but Alpine does have a wireless CarPlay receiver available. Kenwood and JVC also unveiled several wireless CarPlay receivers this week.

The iLX-W650 and iLX-F259 will be available in March for suggested prices of $500 and $800 USD respectively at authorized Alpine retailers.

Related Roundup: CarPlay

Tags: Alpine, CES 2019

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