of course we then have to live with fact rather than fantasy:
CES 2001: High-Tech Car Toys
Last updated: 2002-03-19
"I just flew in from the Coast, and boy, are my arms tired."
Welcome to Las Vegas, home to lounge lizards, table stakes, and really bad one-liners.
In what is becoming an annual rite, we once again made the trek to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to check out the latest electronic widgets for the car. While this year's show lacked some of the excitement of last year's affair, with fewer cutting-edge announcements and perhaps a hangover from the plunging fortunes of the NASDAQ, the overall mood was cautiously optimistic. And there were still plenty of new toys to dazzle would-be electronics wizards.
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We've identified 10 categories from this year's show that are of particular interest to anyone who drives a car.
1. Digital Satellite Radio: This technology was all the rage at last year's show, but was a bit more subdued at this year's get-together. Don't get us wrong: there was plenty of frenetic activity at both booths (XM Radio and Sirius Radio), but it lacked the punch of last year's CES. The reason? Neither company's system is operational. In fact, one of the biggest busts of the show was an XM Radio gambit that turned into a major PR snafu. You see, XM Radio hasn't yet launched its first satellite, while their rival Sirius Radio already has three in orbit (not operational, but airborne nonetheless and in test mode). To correct this competitive disadvantage, XM Radio had scheduled its first satellite to launch during the show, on Monday, January 8, amid much hype. Unfortunately, through no fault of their own, the launch was scrapped at the last second due to technical difficulties, leaving XM officials with egg on their faces.
When operational, digital satellite radio will offer up to 100 stations of programming for the low monthly fee of $9.95. Coverage will be nationwide, so you can listen to the same program in New York or California or anywhere in between. For more on this coming technology, see our article Digital Satellite Radio: 100 Channels and Everything On.
From our perspective, Sirius Radio has it all over XM Radio. Sirius has announced exclusive signings of artists such as Sting and BeBe Winans, and has also pushed forward with marketing alliances with the House of Blues, the Discovery Channel, A&E and others. Nonetheless, aftermarket radio manufacturers have been reluctant to commit to full-scale production of satellite-compatible radios for either service. The automotive industry's response has also been more sluggish than anticipated, although vehicles from Ford, BMW and DaimlerChrysler have begun to roll off the line with compatible systems.
As with any new technology, it will take time to work the bugs out, but this is a format whose time will eventually come. XM and Sirius Radio officials promise an operational system by the second quarter of 2001. We'll take a wait-and-see attitude, and keep you posted.
2. Mobile Computing/Telematics: Microsoft showcased their new Car.Net framework at the show. Based on the company's Windows for Automotive v.3 operating system (similar to the OS used in the Palm Pilot and other related products), the company appears to be positioning itself long-term for the car environment. Car.NET serves as the umbrella under which will eventually fall all sorts of telematics applications, such as in-car e-mail, navigation, Internet access, multimedia and the like. Although the technology isn't quite there yet (mainly because of voice-recognition limitations; see below), this was the first shot fired across the bow by the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant. We'll be writing a full-length Innovations article on Car.NET in the coming weeks, so check that column around the first week in March.
Another major player in this arena, Clarion, has backed off considerably from its position at last year's show. The reason? Concerns about safety. In the past 12 months in-car devices have come under increasing scrutiny both inside and outside the automotive industry. With people still dying from distracted motorists on cell phones, do we really need one more device in the cabin?
The aftermarket industry, with Clarion leading the way, seems to have rethought its position. Whereas last year's show found Clarion officials extolling the virtues of in-car e-mail and Internet access, this year's CES heard nary a peep on these topics. Of course, industry officials always want to put a positive spin on their change in direction. According to Richard Frank, PR rep for Clarion, "In the last year, Clarion has discovered that the marketplace is more interested in fun." Translation: We don't want lawsuits connected with our equipment.
In fact, Clarion, which developed the original Auto PC (designed in conjunction with Microsoft), has given its entire in-car computing line a facelift, renaming it Joyride. This represents a significant change for the company and almost certainly reflects mounting concerns within the aftermarket about the safety ramifications (and possible legal liabilities) associated with such in-car devices. This year's show found the tone much more cautious regarding telematics.
3. Voice Recognition: Much of the holdup in the telematics area can be attributed to unreliable voice-recognition software. Although Microsoft, Visteon, Eclipse and others displayed voice-recognition systems at the show, most of these manufacturers admitted that the technology is not yet up to par. Even the Eclipse Commander II, a leader in this category prominently displayed at the show, is still not ready for prime time. Until voice recognition becomes much more reliable and consistent, we're unlikely to see advances in the improvement of telematics. A fully functional system looks to be three to five years away.
