A lot of aftermarket products are produced and designed to connect via a ISO harness, certainly the majority of Bluetooth car kits are provided with ISO connections as standard. These kits are designed by their manufacturers specifically because ISO is a standard connection used in a lot of older (and some more recent) vehicles. This system is used for several reasons, but mainly for reducing costs & to keep the products standard without too many SKU’s (Stock Keeping Units) e.g. to remove the need for one kit for each type of vehicle or radio per manufacturer. You can see these will soon add up to a lot of different versions of the same products (SKU’s).
ISO is a universal system that was used by a lot of vehicle manufacturers up to several years ago. The ISO connection is made up of a group of wires, which all have a standard and specific position within the harness. Each wire within the harness represents a specific connection to a device within the vehicle. For example the front right, back right, front left and back left speakers always hold the same position within the ISO harness no matter which vehicle it is located in. This allows the manufacturers of the products to produce a kit that operates in exactly the same way no matter what the device is connected too. By using ISO harness’s you negate the need to piggy back and/or solder connections when fitting the product.
However more and more manufacturers are starting to use their own wiring systems within their vehicles, this creates a small problem when installing the kits as connections will have to be made manually if the harness is different. So connecting specific speaker wires to the correct equivalent within the harness (each case will be different for the majority of vehicles) there is an easy alternative to this problem, the ISO2CAR adapter.
ISO2CAR wiring harnesses are made specifically to avoid this problem. There are around 20 to 30 different types of harness’ available covering the vast majority of vehicles. The ISO2CAR harness is a connection device that will connect into the products ISO harness, then into the vehicle harness making the installation much more simple and pain free. The vast majority of vehicles now use their own wiring systems so ISO2CAR adapters are more important when installing aftermarket devices into your vehicle.
ISO2CAR harnesses can be used when the vehicle doesn’t have an amplified or upgraded audio system, if this is the case a Drive and Mute cable will be needed where available.
Over the past ten years Bluetooth car kits have become more and more popular and mainstream in society. This is mainly down to the fact that mobile phones are more common place and have a more prominent role within people’s lives, and the fact we are all travelling in our vehicles more as part of our daily routine. When you combine the two it easy to see why we feel the need to use our mobile phones while we are driving, especially if we are going to be driving for a period of time without stopping.
Our attitudes have changed in recent times and certainly in the past five to ten years, we now feel the need to be contactable 24/7, and often feel naked without our mobiles or some form of technology to hand. This is in-part due the internet boom in the late 90’s where information was made easily and readily available, and more recently trends such as facebook, twitter & myspace that allow us be “in contact” with all of our friends and family and have up to the minute news & info at the touch of a button. On the whole this new technology is a movement in the right direction however it has caused an “impatient” attitude with most people of the current generation, who tend to want everything instantly. This feel instant gratification can lead to misjudgements in decision making. Probably one of the major factors why more people are using their mobile phones while they drive, and certainly one of the major causes for road accidents on our roads today!
What are Bluetooth Car Kits and why are they Important?
The Bluetooth kit trend started roughly 10 years ago and takes advantage of the built in function of the majority of, if not all new mobile phones. Bluetooth Car Kits such as Parrot and Bury connect to your phone via the Bluetooth function. Once connected the kits act as the Phone and allow a user interface with the phone through the Bluetooth Kit. New Bluetooth car kits such as the Parrot MKi9200 and the Bury CC9060 allow the user to navigate through the mobile phone using its functions like; phonebook, text message, dial etc without having to touch the phone at all, just leave it in your pocket or handbag. The Wireless technology means you can just get in your car and go.
Bluetooth Car Kits are becoming ever more important in the modern world as they allow you to be contactable when you’re driving, many people who don’t use a bluetooth kit while driving may feel they are capable of answering the phone or reading a text message without it. However this is proven to cause accidents as a result of dangerous driving, which is why the police and politicians have cracked down on phone drivers. Issuing a mandatory £60 fine and a 3 Point penalty to anybody caught in the act.
The Aid of a Bluetooth car kit allows you communicate with anybody safely and legally without having to break contact with the steering wheel or eye contact with the road leaving you to concentrate on driving. Even though Bluetooth car kits provide a safer means to communicate and drive ultimately you are responsible for driving in a safe manner. The police can still prosecute for dangerous driving if you are using the phone while driving through the Bluetooth kit if you are driving erratically or dangerously.
Leading manufacturers in Bluetooth
Bluetooth Car Kits have become a very popular accessory within the vehicle world, and many leading brands predict a 3 billion pound market for bluetooth products across Europe in 2010. Parrot and Bury are the leaders in the aftermarket car kits, specifically to factory fitted car stereos and are already developing further kits on the back of the latest successful Parrot MKI Range and Bury CC9060 units. The latest kits take advantage of the latest technology boom and utilise new and improved features such as advanced voice recognition software where virtually all menus are accessible via voice commands, and no training is required before hand. Just simply narrate the menu title and the function you would like to perform, e.g. dial… In Car Network, the phone dials the number associated with that contact. Other advanced functions include iPod integration, where tracks, videos & artwork are displayed across the screen, SD card & USB input allow additional sources of media and little features like text to voice so text messages can be read aloud, negating the need fumble around looking for and reading incoming texts.
The Bottom line is that these Kits are much safer to use than your mobile phone, if fact any Bluetooth car kit is. Even the basic ones which only provide simple functions allow you to concentrate on driving, reducing road accidents & deaths. Either Use a Bluetooth Car Kit or don’t use your phone at all.
Maxxsonics’ new Hifonics Brutus amplifier line up offers the most versatile and comprehensive Super D-Class series than ever before.
For years, Brutus BXI amplifiers have been recognized the world over as some of the best subwoofer amplifiers in their class. The new Brutus amps are 1-Ohm stable, but also run at 4- or 2-Ohms for a much tighter bass response.
Simply put, watt for watt, a Brutus amplifier produces more output with less impact on a car’s battery and charging system, than many other amps available today. Translated into cost, that’s more wattage output with less battery current used, equaling more watts per dollar.
For SPL, nothing compares to the Super D-Class grade microprocessors developed exclusively by Hifonics. In relying on this super-speed enhanced chip-set, Brutus BXI amplifiers offer higher current capacities and more precise digital to analog conversion. The result is very low distortion, even at high listening levels. For high performance sound, Hifonics doesn’t miss a beat by also including a Brutus A/BClass amplifier in the line.
According to John Studley, Vice President Product Development, “Our Brutus amps not only sound great, but look great with an extruded aluminum chassis and an illuminated Hifonics logo. We spend just as much time and detail on the technology of our products as we do on the exterior.” Studley concluded by saying, “Even the Hifonics logo was designed so that it has a soft haloed illumination that is tasteful and not distracting.”
See the Brutus series and complete line up from Hifonics at the Maxxsonics booth, North Hall 1809 at CES.
MODEL
RMS POWER
MSRP
A/B-Class
BXI610
1 x 150 W @ 4 Ω, 1 x 300 W @ 2 Ω, 1 x 600 W @ 1 Ω
$ 449.95
D-Class
BXI1210D
1 x 450 W @ 4 Ω, 1 x 900 W @ 2 Ω, 1 x 1200 W @ 1 Ω
$ 649.95
BXI1610D
1 x 550 W @ 4 Ω, 1 x 1100 W @ 2 Ω, 1 x 1600 W @ 1 Ω
$ 799.95
BXI2010D
1 x 650 W @ 4 Ω, 1 x 1300 W @ 2 Ω, 1 x 2000 W @ 1 Ω
$ 999.95
BXI2610D
1 x 850 W @ 4 Ω, 1 x 1700 W @ 2 Ω, 1 x 2600 W @ 1 Ω
Maxxsonics’ new Hifonics Brutus amplifier line up offers the most versatile and comprehensive Super D-Class series than ever before.
For years, Brutus BXI amplifiers have been recognized the world over as some of the best subwoofer amplifiers in their class. The new Brutus amps are 1-Ohm stable, but also run at 4- or 2-Ohms for a much tighter bass response.
Simply put, watt for watt, a Brutus amplifier produces more output with less impact on a car’s battery and charging system, than many other amps available today. Translated into cost, that’s more wattage output with less battery current used, equaling more watts per dollar.
For SPL, nothing compares to the Super D-Class grade microprocessors developed exclusively by Hifonics. In relying on this super-speed enhanced chip-set, Brutus BXI amplifiers offer higher current capacities and more precise digital to analog conversion. The result is very low distortion, even at high listening levels. For high performance sound, Hifonics doesn’t miss a beat by also including a Brutus A/BClass amplifier in the line.
According to John Studley, Vice President Product Development, “Our Brutus amps not only sound great, but look great with an extruded aluminum chassis and an illuminated Hifonics logo. We spend just as much time and detail on the technology of our products as we do on the exterior.” Studley concluded by saying, “Even the Hifonics logo was designed so that it has a soft haloed illumination that is tasteful and not distracting.”
See the Brutus series and complete line up from Hifonics at the Maxxsonics booth, North Hall 1809 at CES.
MODEL
RMS POWER
MSRP
A/B-Class
BXI610
1 x 150 W @ 4 Ω, 1 x 300 W @ 2 Ω, 1 x 600 W @ 1 Ω
$ 449.95
D-Class
BXI1210D
1 x 450 W @ 4 Ω, 1 x 900 W @ 2 Ω, 1 x 1200 W @ 1 Ω
$ 649.95
BXI1610D
1 x 550 W @ 4 Ω, 1 x 1100 W @ 2 Ω, 1 x 1600 W @ 1 Ω
$ 799.95
BXI2010D
1 x 650 W @ 4 Ω, 1 x 1300 W @ 2 Ω, 1 x 2000 W @ 1 Ω
$ 999.95
BXI2610D
1 x 850 W @ 4 Ω, 1 x 1700 W @ 2 Ω, 1 x 2600 W @ 1 Ω
You would not imagine that places like a machine shop and a metal foundry would be affected by fashion trends but that is exactly what is happening too many of the alloy manufacturers today. The fairly recent boom in alloy wheel sales, no longer the domain of prestige car owners or the motor sport racers has meant a change in the way the wheel manufacturers have to go about their business. In some respects this is good news for the manufacturers as the increase in turnover and profits will show in the company accounts, but on the other hand the manufacturers now have to be more and more innovative with their designs and also trying to keep production costs down so that the company profits.
While the desire to have alloy wheels for the average car on the street has led to a big boom in sales and profits for the alloy wheel manufacturers, their marketing departments have to be constantly thinking one step ahead of the competition if they want to be a market leader, rather than a follower of fashion. They have to constantly keep abreast of the consumer’s tastes and try to come up with awe inspiring new designs, which the customers will want to buy for their cars. Once the designs have been approved as a part of the companies range, the manufacturing plants need to be highly flexible, and able to implement the new designs quickly and efficiently, or they risk lagging behind the competition in a highly competitive and constantly changing market.
A prime example of the competition between the manufactures is the Kei Racing and the www.alloywheels.co.uk/wheel_ranges/kato_Racing”>Kato racing ranges released this year, both have produced an attractive range of alloy wheels at competitive prices.
Different alloy wheels suit different vehicles in both image and compatibility, Alloy wheel Manufacturers often produce a range of mixed designs in there collection. Choose the best Alloys for your vehicle.
For the last few months here at iPod Car Kit Direct, we have been racking our brains to find even more added value for our loyal customers. What could we offer to make your visit better?
There were plenty of ideas flying around the iPod Car Kit Direct offices but one of the ones that seemed the most useful was to start reviewing products such as the Apple iPods, iPod Cases, iPod Car Kits, iPod Applications, iPod Games, iPod tips and tricks and more! This is hopefully a feature that we will be bringing more of over the next year or so.
So here is the first review and what a place to start our review crusade on the new Apple iPod Touch 2nd Generation (We have tested the 8GB version but all 3 models are the same other than the obvious storage size). The Apple iPod Touch 2G looks set to parade itself along high street shops in the knowledge that it is simply the best portable media device available. This is made possible by some very simple alterations at Apple HQ…
We received our sample unit and unpacked. The first thing that was noted was the pure quality of the packaging, now we know that packaging doesn’t really effect the product BUT it does help to create a sense of excitement and tension as you just cant wait to get the thing open! It was neatly packed by Apple in its own little postage packaging box made specifically for the Apple iPod Touch 2G, a nice added bonus! There it was, inside, all shiny and full of confidence, I couldn’t wait to turn it on and get it going!
Once open we noticed the subtle design change to the back of the iPod. It has a new wrap around chrome back which isnt flat like the last iPod Touch, it warps itself around the front of the iPod so its visable when your navigating. Turning it on was a dream come true, this is what its all about…
The iPod functions in the same way as the older iPod Touch with a few very subtle design changes in the graphic layout, very pleasing on the eye. It sounds just as good, looks better and has the added bonus of the following features:
Accelerometer Graphics and Gaming: With its groundbreaking technologies, iPod touch puts an amazing gaming experience in the palm of your hand. These groundbreaking technologies built into iPod touch 2G — such as the Multi-Touch display, accelerometer and 3D graphics — immerse you in the action.
Musical Genius: The new Genius feature turns iPod touch into a highly intelligent, personal DJ. With a few taps, it creates a playlist by finding songs in your library that go great together. This is done using song tempo, song genres, song beats and more! Such an intelligent feature!
Applications: Taking advantage of its hugely powerful gaming pedigree, you can now play games and use applications easier than ever!
In conclusion, BOY are we impressed with this kit! We just really dont want to send it back to Apple! Gutted!
10/10 – The best Portable Media solution just got better! We didnt even think it was possible!
We have been very excited recently while working very hard on the latest addition to our group of websites at In Car Network.
We were approched 6 months by some of the leaders in Car Alloys, asking us to get involved and use our expertise to get their names out and to make purchasing their items much easier. The result of this is AlloyAssault.
Alloy Assault has been designed with the customer in mind, everything has been made very simple to select the correct package for your needs and the vehicles needs. We now stock AEZ, Dotz, Dezent and BSA Ally Wheels.
As you would imagine from an In Car Network e-commerce site, the prices are on par and better than anywhere else you can purchase from, meaning that we are again, the cheapest online in another area!
Pop over and have a nosy around, if you have any ideas or want any help or info, pop us a call or email.
As Christmas is drawing near, in car network have decided to make it that little bit easier on your wallet when purchasing your iPod equipment. We have decided to create one special offer per month until Christmas.
October’s special offer is free delivery to all UK Mainland customers when ordering Dice RDS FM Modulators.
The Dice are one of the leading brands of iPod car kits. Based in the USA they produce integrated kits for a range on cars and a very competent RDS FM Modulator that is universal providing you have a European ISO Aerial, so basically you can connect it to 99.9% of European stereos both factory and aftermarket…
The iPod Car Kit connects directly into the Aerial on the back of the headunit that provides an excellent signal interface that also reduces the chance of interference from other FM broadcasting stations and devices that FM Transmitters can’t block out. The Dice RDS FM also charges your iPod when it’s playing and provides RDS Track information if the headunit is compatible.
The Dice kit is provided with a dock cable for easy access and can be mounted anywhere in the car with the use of brodit mounting brackets and passive cradles depending on your iPod.
To claim your free delivery on the Dice RDS FM
type OCT_DICE into the coupon section when ordering
