The SEMA Show is a smorgasbord of everything automotive, but in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center the new products take a turn towards in-car electronics. The following gadgets caught our eye as we toured the booths. Look out for full coverage of all our favorite products, cars and parties in the SEMA issue, out on newsstands in late January.
INSTALL IT RIGHT
You can't install your new toys without the right accessories. Scosche introduced 40 new install kits that match the contour and the color of factory dashes. Made of high-strength ABS plastic, the kits come with all necessary brackets and instructions. They even have a kit for boats! Check if they have the solution for your ride at www.scosche.com
BIG EGO
Raytel debuted a new line of Bluetooth products: EGO. Their top-of-the-line device, the EGO Drive ($799) does it all with MP3 playback, Bluetooth, noise cancellation, GPS navigation, traffic reports, two USB ports, an SD slot and text-to-speech technology that reads SMS messages. Lower down the line, are a full range of Bluetooth solutions, starting with the EGO CUP ($120), which plugs right into the cigarette lighter and fits in the cup holder. Check out the other offerings at www.egohandsfree.com 858.566.2159
HOP ON THE NAVI BANDWAGON
In addition to their lineup of thin Maestro portable navs, Magellan introduced an entry level, pocket-sized portable, the RoadMate 1200, priced at only $230. Although it doesn't have all the bells and whistles as Magellan's sleek top-of-the-line PNDs (e.g., Bluetooth handsfree capability), it gets you where you want ago without taking a big bite out of your paycheck. Features include a bright 3.5-inch anti-glare touchscreen, easy-to-use GUI, and technology such as QuickSpell so you can spend less time inputting addresses and more time driving. www.magellangpscom.
GEARED UP
Nokia's Scion-filled booth boldly announced their partnership with Scion and the Scion Optimize program, an accessory program that lets Scion owners buy Scion-ready products (in this case, from Nokia) at Scion dealerships. Surrounding the demo cars was Nokia's fleet of automotive optimized products, including their latest PND, the Nokia 500 Auto Navigation ($499). Not only does this navi get you where you want to go, it also incorporates a Bluetooth system. This lets you take calls and play music through your car's speakers with a built-in FM transmitter. Since it's integrated, you can search for a POI and call it through the single device. You can even navigate to an address stored on your phone's contact list! www.nokia.com
BRANCHING OUT
HTK has supplied the OEMs for years. Now they've introduced product for the aftermarket, such as this Pro-e Headrest Video Entertainment System ($799). Made with color-matched headrest leather, it provides a factory fit and finish. The system includes two headrests with embedded 7-inch widescreens, iPod-connectivity through HTK's PodLINK iPod interface and multi-source viewing. Other features include wireless 2-channel headphones, mini Aux-ins on the face of each monitor and full on-screen DVD controls. www.htkusa.com