Pioneer’s AVIC-Z1 Utilizes Hard Drive Technology to Inform, Entertain and Learn
Las Vegas – Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., today unveiled its most advanced in-car navigation system, the AVIC-Z1, a robust all-in-one navigation system that utilizes a 30-gigabyte hard drive to deliver information, entertainment and convenience to driving commuters. The highly intelligent system features smart routing, enhanced text-to-speech voice guidance, sophisticated voice recognition, traffic information and Bluetooth capability making it the most dynamic route guidance system in the market.
“The AVIC-Z1 builds on Pioneer’s success and more than 10 years of experience in navigation from Japan,” said Michael Townsen, director of marketing for mobile entertainment at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “It is clearly the most advanced navigation system we’ve ever developed for the U.S. market to make the driving experience easier, safer and less stressful.”
The AVIC-Z1 fulfills the needs of millions of drivers searching for entertainment and information. It simultaneously functions as a route guidance system and entertains via DVD/CD/AM/FM/satellite radio. It also can synchronize with portable devices like cellular phones and iPod players.
Navigation Information:
The AVIC-Z1 employs the most advanced navigation functions to date offering drivers dynamic route guidance, detailed mapping and valuable road information that cross the entire United States and Canada. With its large hard drive storage capacity, the system stores the entire TeleAtlas database, including nearly 11 million points of interest (POI) organized in more than 248 categories.
- Learning capability — The AVIC-Z1 is the first system that “learns” frequently traveled roads by the driver and uses it for future route guidance. In other words, driving patterns are used to calculate suggested routes.
- Smart routing algorithm – The system employs “smart routing algorithm” to analyze and assess route guidance by taking into account actual road data information such as posted speed limits, number of turns to the destination, etc., to provide the driver the most logical path to take.
- Lane Information — Available in 50 markets, the system forewarns drivers on its display of the proper driving lane they should be in for passage through interchanges and exits.
- Traffic Information — Utilizing XM NavTraffic service (GEX-P10XMT and subscription required), detailed traffic events and traffic flow data information is available in 22 major metropolitan markets. The system graphically communicates traffic incidents by means of traffic icons and traffic flow utilizing green, yellow and red lines to indicate speed (green at 40+ mph, yellow from 20-40 mph and red at less than 20 mph).
- Detailed city maps — The system assists the driver by providing a detailed city view of its mapping in 23 cities. In this view mode, mapping identifies the road and surrounding areas in its exact form presenting road islands, parks, baseball fields, city blocks, etc., helping to visually identify the area to the driver.
- Brand Icons – As users are guided along their route, points of interest are overlaid onto the map, which is particularly helpful when driving in unfamiliar areas. Easy-to-recognize brand icons are used to identify hotels, restaurants, banks, gas stations and even specific chain store locations such as Chili’s, Olive Garden, 76 and Albertsons.
Convenience and Safety Features:
Pioneer dramatically improved convenience and safety features of the AVIC-Z1 to help drivers focus on the road. Key hands-free features like voice commands and voice recognition were greatly enhanced, making it easier and safer to utilize navigation, audio and attachment functions.
- Advanced Voice Recognition — Engineered for utmost convenience and safety, its voice recognition features “conversational” commands to perform navigation, audio video and attachment functions. Full address searches can be done by verbally providing the city name, street name and address. It can also accept multiple commands such as “Go to LAX” and “Display San Francisco.” Voice commands for audio sources and other attachments like Bluetooth phones are just as easy.
- Enhanced Voice Guidance — The AVIC-Z1 utilizes a Text-to-Speech (TTS) engine and TeleAtlas phoneme data, which enables the system to verbalize street names as they would be pronounced to the driver. The system warns the driver ahead by announcing the command and street name, i.e. “turn right on La Jolla Street,” greatly improving its assistance ability.
- Bluetooth Capability — Integration with Bluetooth enabled cellular phones (optional ND-BT1 adapter required) allows hands-free operation, automatically muting the audio on incoming or outgoing calls utilizing the vehicle’s speaker system. A phone book can be stored in the AVIC-Z1, which can be accessed by voice or through its touch screen display. For added convenience, the user can access the phone numbers associated to the POI database allowing them to call as they’re guided to the location.
- Touch Screen — The system features a high-resolution 7-inch touch screen display for quick access to navigation functions and audio video sources.
Audio and Video Entertainment
In conjunction with navigation information, the AVIC-Z1 provides high quality audio and video entertainment for drivers and passengers. The beauty of the system is its ability to add attachments including XM and Sirius Satellite Radio, iPod adapter, CD changer and TV tuners for rear seat entertainment.
- Music Library — 10-gigabyte of hard drive space is allocated for creating a music library, permitting the user to listen to music while simultaneously ripping and storing it as part of the music collection at 4 times speed. As an added convenience, the unit includes the Gracenote CDDBa Music Recognition Service, which automatically associates information to downloaded music content including the artist name, song title, genre and album title. The AVIC-Z1’s voice recognition feature allows you to directly access the music library content, by saying the artist name, song title, genre, or album title.
- DVD video playback — With an additional rear seat monitor, the AVIC-Z1 becomes the ultimate entertainment haven with its ability to play DVD video and DVD-R/RW discs for rear seat passengers while the driver and front passenger listen to AM/FM/XM/Sirius or other external sources.
- CD/MP3 — The versatile CD/DVD drive provides playback of CDs with MP3 audio files. File information attached to the music is all displayed on the touch screen with multi-line display.
- Enhanced iPod Capability — Complete control of the iPod device can be done using Pioneer’s optional CD-IB100 adapter. Through the AVIC-Z1’s touch panel display, operation and display are similar to the iPod making it fast and easy to access music content.
The AVIC-Z1 replaces any existing factory system with a double DIN in-dash opening. The all-in-one unit includes a motorized front panel display, two-way crossover, three sets of RCA outputs, Supertuner IIID, Easy EQ and MOSFET50 X 4 amplifier.
The AVIC-Z1 will be available in early spring 2006. Pricing will be announced at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV.
*The optional traffic tuner, GEX-P10XMT data and audio receiver, offers both the XM NavTraffic service and XM Satellite Radio’s more than 130 digital radio channels of commercial-free music and premier sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming. The subscription price will be $16.94 a month for a bundled offering of XM NavTraffic and XM Radio.
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.
Pioneer’s Mobile Entertainment Division is the leading manufacturer of audio, video and information products for in-car use. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including audio video, navigation and satellite radio, while maintaining its strong heritage in products for car audio enthusiasts and competitors. The company markets its products under the Pioneer and Premier brand names. When purchased from an authorized dealer, consumers receive a limited warranty for one year with Pioneer products and two years for Premier products.
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and its U.S. Web address is www.pioneerelectronics.com. Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation, is a leader in optical disc technology and a preeminent manufacturer of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment for the home, car and business markets. The company focuses on four core business domains including DVD, display technologies, Digital Network Entertainment and components. Founded in 1938 in Tokyo, Pioneer Corporation (NYSE:PIO) employs more than 39,000 people worldwide. Its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
