Pioneer launches new nav systems, 5X Blu-Ray drive
updated 11:10 am EST, Tue January 9, 2007
Pioneer AVIC at CES 2007
Pioneer at CES announced a pair of new in-dash navigation systems in its AVIC series. At the top is the company's new AVIC-Z2 system, which adds dramatically improved address finding to the DVD and information hybrid device. By using the extra storage afforded by the nav system's built-in hard drive, the Z2's Tele Atlas database contains exact positioning for 45 million US street numbers; this brings driving directions closer to the exact building rather than its general location. The extra storage also lets Pioneer provide a much larger than average 12 million points of interest and exact voice feedback that alerts the driver to turns by name. XM NavTraffic support for live road condition updates by satellite, Bluetooth, and optional direct iPod control round out major features. The Z2 will be ready in April with a 7-inch motorized touchscreen for $2,200.
Occuyping the mid-range is the simultaneously announced AVIC-D3 (pictured), which the company previewed at SEMA last year. The company promises to bring high-end features into a more mainstream shape and has incorporated both optional iPod control and XM NavTraffic into the double-DIN sized navigator, which relies on a 6.1-inch fixed touchscreen for input. Bluetooth is also carried over from its more advanced counterpart. The D3 will be ready in March for $1,000.
Pioneer's new Blu-Ray drive follows after the jump.
Surprising many, Pioneer also revealed what it says is the world's fastest Blu-Ray drive for computers. The BDC-202 is a BD/DVD combo drive that can read the new storage format at 5X, eclipsing the 4X limit set by earlier drives. While unable to write to the new disc format, Pioneer's unit is the fastest DVD writer of any Blu-Ray drive, according to the company: it can write single-layer discs at an unprecedented 12X speed, also managing relatively quick recording times of 6X for rewritable DVDs and 4X for dual-layer discs. The BDC-202 will ship in Spring but has not received a price.
