Sony TomTom In-Dash A/V Navigation System

Sony is launching the XNV-770BT and XNV-660BT A/V navigation systems, featuring technology powered by TomTom.

Both models sport a WVGA (800×4800) display, the XNV-770BT is a 7-inch, fully capacitive touch motorized panel display and the XNV-660BT is a 6.1-inch capacitive touch with several hard keys such as volume and key menu buttons (in the pictures). For both A/V systems, features include: rear USB-1 wire connectivity for simple hookup to iPod, iPhone and other music players, Bluetooth connectivity, voice dial using a microphone located at the top of the windshield (see photo), DVD player, TomTom Navigation System with MapShare which allows users to correct maps and download the updates via USB from their computer.

On the audio side, Sony offers virtual 5.1 channel surround sound playback with Center Speaker Organizer (CSO), and a digitally enhanced sound experience with advanced sound engine (ASE) that allows users to customize the in-car sound field, see the user interface in the pictures below. The dual view displays the music info within the navigation screen and the navigation process does not stop while users are changing songs, this is a unique feature of the Sony / TomTom collaboration, other competitive systems have to recalculate the route.

I went for an hour test drive with Mike Kahn, director of Sony’s mobile music business, and his team, you can see some of the features in the photos below:

Menu Selection

Audio

The XNV-770BT can be connected to an iPhone, an iPod or other music players via BlueTooth, the system display the album cover and info as well:

The Sony TomTom system features a gesture interface: the user can change song by flicking the finger horizontally and flicking vertically allows to change album.

A microphone placed on top of the windshield enables voice dial.

The advanced sound engine (ASE) allow users to customize the in-car sound field, amplifying the sound of the desired loud speakers. We tried different sounds settings and it was very cool: you can direct the sound to only one passenger or some of them as you wish. See photos bellow:

Video

We stopped the car to watch a movie, the DVD will not play if the car is in motion, see what is happening if you try to play a video while driving in the second photo. According to Sony, featuring a WVGA display at this price point is unique in the Navigation A/V category: the XNV-770BT and the XNV-660BT A/V navigation systems will be available this November for about $1,300 and $1,000, respectively, at www.sonystyle.com, Sony Style retail stores and throughout the Sony authorized dealer network nationwide. Competitive systems cost equipped with a 7” Touchscreen display cost a lot more.

Navigation powered by TomTom

Features include:

IQ Route evaluates all route options based on actual traffic speeds rather than posted speed limits, and will recommend the fastest route for the time of day. (see photo)
Advanced Lane Guidance provides enhanced lane graphics that show which lane to take in complex multi-lane situations.
Quick GPSfix automatically updates satellite locations
MapShare from TomTom and its large navigation community (TomTom 10 million users in the US, 45 million worldwide, 10% opt in for MapShare) enables drivers to correct their maps and benefit from changes made by other drivers via the computer and the free software TomTom HOME.
More than 6 million points of interest including gas stations, restaurants, hotels, hospitals…

Navigation

Dual View: music info integrated with navigation

The dual view displays the music info within the navigation screen and
the navigation process does not stop while users are changing songs, this is a unique feature of the Sony / TomTom collaboration, other competitive systems have to recalculate the route.

IQ Route: timing evaluation according to traffic

MapShare with 2-way communication device

MapShare from TomTom and its large navigation community (TomTom 10 million users in the US, 45 million worldwide, 10% opt in for MapShare) enables drivers to correct their maps and download changes made by other drivers via the device in the photo below connected with USB to a computer and the free software TomTom HOME.