Alpine Launches First Aftermarket DVD-Based Navigation System
6 October 1999
Alpine Launches First Aftermarket DVD-Based Navigation System In North America
The DVD PowerNav System Offers Unprecedented Computing Speed and Continuous
Coverage on One Disc; Raises Benchmark for In-Vehicle Navigation Systems
TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 6 -- Alpine Electronics, the
industry-leading manufacturer of high-performance mobile electronics, today
announced the launch of the first aftermarket DVD-based Navigation and
Information System. Alpine is the global leader in mobile navigation systems,
with more than seven generations of product development and nine years
marketing experience in the Japanese and European markets.
Alpine is the first manufacturer to expand the North American navigation
business into a two-media product strategy. With both CD-ROM and
DVD-ROM-based navigation technologies in the marketplace, Alpine is the first
company to offer consumers a choice of systems that now defines a category of
product in North America.
Similar to Alpine's award-winning CD-ROM based navigation system, the new
NVE-N851A DVD PowerNav System is the most advanced in-vehicle, Global
Positioning Satellite (GPS) linked computer available in North America. The
DVD PowerNav system offers the same door-to-door route guidance system that
allows drivers to be safer and more efficient on the road. Because of the
data capacity on a DVD-ROM, Alpine is able to offer this coverage for the
entire continental U.S., as well as the greater Vancouver and Toronto areas,
on a single disc.
The biggest advancement of the DVD-ROM platform is the software's
operational speed. DVD-based navigation dramatically increases the speed-of-
route calculation and off-route recalculations, making the system far more
responsive in a vehicle. The DVD system operational speed is ten times faster
than other navigation systems on the market. It also incorporates an embedded
CD Audio technology that delivers enhanced voice guidance, including specific
freeway entrance/exit names; 16:9 wide screen aspect ratio graphics; and full
integration with Alpine's Mobile Mayday(TM) telematics system.
"Alpine's goal is to offer the best and most powerful mobile multimedia
products to consumers," said Stephen Witt, Alpine's vice president of Brand
Marketing. "As the leader in navigation product development and marketing, we
are committed to delivering products that are the most technically advanced
yet easy to use and safe to operate in a moving vehicle. We're shifting our
navigation platform to DVD to ensure we deliver the highest performance and
value available to consumers. Alpine is aggressively pursuing ways to advance
navigation technology and get more drivers to realize the time savings and
safety benefits a navigation system can yield."
The new navigation system builds on the positioning accuracy of the CD-ROM
based NVA-N751AS model by gathering information from three sources to
accurately display the vehicle on the map. The DVD-ROM system's GPS receiver,
speed sensor and electronic gyro work in unison to provide precise vehicle
positioning for accurate announcements of voice instructions.
The new system utilizes a new Alpine DVD mechanism that reads a
single-sided dual-layer DVD-ROM. The dual-layer DVD-ROM stores a maximum of
8.5 Gigabytes in map data and Points of Interest (POI) information. This
enables the system to cover the entire continental U.S., plus Vancouver and
Toronto on one disc, eliminating the need for multiple CD-ROM changes when
travelling cross-country.
The new features that are exclusive to the DVD PowerNav system are:
-- Mobile Multitasking: Allows you to search for alternate destinations or
view certain Points of Interest locations -- all without interrupting your
current route's voice guidance.
-- Local Point Search: Looks for points of interest surrounding the local
destination.
-- Enhanced Voice Guidance: Voice prompts are announced from CD-Audio
files for superior clarity and specific guidance instructions. A library of
entrance/exit names and numbers are stored and announced when using freeways.
-- Way Points: Allows you to electronically mark certain places on the
route to your destination, or can be used to customize the route you travel.
-- Avoid Points: Allows you to avoid certain street or areas which is
useful when navigating around specific areas or highways with known heavy
traffic.
-- Beep Points: Alerts you with a series of audible beeps to a specific
point(s) on your drive that have been selected or want to remember.
-- GPS Satellite Status Screen: All-new screen design displays not only
how many satellites are being received, but also the signal strength from each
satellite -- a visual representation of their relative position with respect
to your vehicle and your vehicle's current directional heading.
-- Trip Information Screen: All-new screen keeps track of important trip
information such as distance driven, time elapsed for the current trip, system
odometer (total number of miles driven since navigation system was first
installed) and the total time the system has been used.
Version 1.0 of the DVD Smart Map Pro software includes --
-- GUI for Drivers: Alpine's exclusive "Graphic User Interface" for
drivers, designed for a safe and simple user interface in a moving vehicle.
-- Destination Input by Phone Number: Entering the phone number gives you
the option to call the destination, route the destination or do both
simultaneously.
-- Smart Key Filtering: The easiest way to input requests through your
system's 10-key remote controller. Once you start inputting a destination, it
quickly offers destination options that match the words you've typed.
-- GPS Clock: Accurate GPS timing allows for calculation of precise
arrival times, even across time zones.
-- Today's Plan: This feature allows you to input and list the day's
destinations (up to eight), then the system calculates the most efficient
travel order for all of them. No backtracking, wasted steps, or stress.
-- Map and Call: MAP allows you to confirm the destination's location on
the map and view the area around it. CALL allows you to place a call to the
destination with a single keystroke to the places found in the Points of
Interest database or Address Book (requires optional accessories and a
wireless phone).
Mapping and information for the DVD PowerNav is available on a single
Alpine Smart Map Pro DVD for easy loading and future upgrades. The Smart Map
Pro DVD-ROM stores thousands of pre-programmed points of interest (POI) around
the U.S. and parts of Canada, and will be updated to keep up with the
ever-changing road systems and locations. Alpine's DVD software incorporates
the Navigation Technologies (NavTech(R)) map database and the Info USA(R)
points of interest/business information database for state-of-the art
precision and detail.
Alpine's DVD PowerNav System is available with a choice of three monitor
options: the TME-C005AS Control Monitor, a new 4.6" LCD monitor with built-in
control buttons; the TME-M750, a new 6.5" LCD monitor with large 16:9 wide
screen display and video inputs for entertainment sources; or the CVA-1005,
the flagship 6.5" wide screen motorized in-dash Mobile Multimedia Station for
integrated audio, video, navigation and telematics, featuring 16:9 wide screen
GUI for Drivers graphics for all sources.
The DVD PowerNav, model NVE-N851A, is scheduled to ship November 1, 1999
to authorized Alpine retailers and has a Suggested Retail Index (SRI) of
$2000. The SRI's for the three monitors are: TME-C005AS Control Monitor at
$600; TME-M750A 6.5" Wide-Screen Monitor at $800; and the CVA-1005 Mobile
Multimedia Station at $1300.
About Alpine Electronics
Alpine Electronics is one of the world's leading mobile electronics
companies. Alpine is the only manufacturer specializing in mobile multimedia,
an integrated system approach incorporating audio, video, security, telematics
and navigation products for the mobile environment. With research and
development facilities in Asia, Europe and the U.S., Alpine is the global
leader for in-vehicle navigation systems in Japan, North America and Europe
for the after-market and for OEM factory installations. Visit Alpine's Web
site at http://www.alpine1.com to discover the future of Mobile Multimedia or call
(800) ALPINE-1 for the closest dealer.