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Sony Giga Panel, 1gb Car Audio Player
comment: 22 | Thursday, December 01 (2005) 09:32AM | Posted by Austin Vaughan
Sony has a new concept in the works, the Giga Panel. Basically, it's a car stereo with a detachable faceplate that holds 1gb worth of memory for digital audio. Codec support includes MP3... and... well, that's about it. Apparently, ATRAC is only supported through its CD player, so you'll have to burn ATRAC files to disk in order to play. This seems kind of weird coming from Sony, since they've always favored the ATRAC format.

In another unsual move, the Giga Panel will not require SonicStage or Sony Connect in order to load MP3s. After connecting the GP with a PC, you can simply drag and drop audio tracks into it's memory with Windows Explorer. Too good to be true? Yeah, kinda, with a price tag Ł 329 ($ 569 USD). You can get a nicer MP3 player - with more than 1gb - and an otherwise equivalent car stereo for the same pile of money.

Other features include an AUX IN port for connecting additional MP3 players, and BBE Sounds Enhancement effects. Cowon iAudio players have something similiar, also called BBE... Sony may have licensed it or it could be something totally different.

The Giga Panel will be available in February 2006.
via Pocket-Lint
Comments

4phun

Comments: 40
 		Dec 01 (2005) 10:06AM  

Guess what, I already have an in dash AM/FM/MP3 CD player that uses flash memory sticks. It only cost $120 from one of those big electronics stores. So if the low end already has it, Sony is still too little too late to market.

Also this unit doesn't have any of that DRM iditocy that ruins other daps.

BTW I think a 4 GB NANO makes an awsome MP3 player when attached to any car stereo instead of adding a built in dash mp3 player that can only be used in one vehicle.



wmurch3

Comments: 25
 		Dec 01 (2005) 10:36AM  

I bought an aiwa cd player with an aux-in input on the front for 99.99. then, i bought a 40 gig 3g ipod. I win!



nkh

Comments: 7
 		Dec 01 (2005) 10:45AM  

A nice thought, but, drop the build in memory, add a USB(2) plug to the back and let people connect a (cheap) harddrive that they can keep in the glovebox.



watergrave

Comments: 287
 		Dec 01 (2005) 11:24AM  

hmmm... at least 4 GB and it could be a descent deal...



Hyper_Noodle

Comments: 226
 		Dec 01 (2005) 11:59AM  

Everyone keeps bringing up systems with an external mp3 player. That's all well and good, but you're not comparing equivalent systems then. The whole point of this thing is to have one unit which integrates the storage, playback, and interface with your car stereo. It's one thing you need to have instead of 3 (mp3 player, cable, and stereo interface/faceplate). I actually think it's a pretty good product in that regard, then. (At least conceptually- I'm sure there are tons of usability issues, but that's just poor execution.)



kineticarl

Comments: 31
 		Dec 01 (2005) 12:22PM  

I think it would be nice if you could dock an ipod nano (it seems like the only thing small enough) directly to the front of an HU. It would just click right in and become the face of the receiver. Of course the screen would have to reorient itself 90 degrees, but it would be cool nonetheless. Not that I want a nano, but its size makes it the obvious candidate.

That or the receiver could just forego a cd slot and your dap could slide right in and dock behind the screen. It should automatically recognize ipods, MSC, and PlaysForSure devices. Now how hard could that be?



Clashman

Comments: 43
 		Dec 01 (2005) 12:40PM  

Given the different sizes and port locations for a lot of daps, it could be quite difficult to make it work well, imo.



SyntheticDream

Comments: 35
 		Dec 01 (2005) 01:20PM  

well if you think about it they could make one connector style behind the faceplate that would probably be proprietary to the brand of headunit and have different adapters that allow different mp3 players to slide in and connect. but that would be way too much work for it to ever happen.



Hartmeister

Comments: 33
 		Dec 01 (2005) 01:21PM  

This is why the CEA proposal of a common dock standard is so important. We shouldn't need Sony to propose an overpriced 1GB player as real news. We need Sony to have an external flash player, like we need Sony to propose proprietary media standard for car stereos.

However, kudos should be given for Sony proposing its first non-CD MP3 player without its cludgy DRM software. If only they just allowed their other flash, minidisc and hard disk players to be accessible as a mass storage device (or at least give third-party developers like Red Chair Software and dbPoweramp api specs for their devices) I'd be dancing in the streets. They do make good sounding and durable players.



Allen
Location: Dub Vee Ooo
Comments: 1511
 		Dec 01 (2005) 01:26PM  

The drag and drop is so out of the character I have come to expect from sony... granted it comes at an outrageous price.... but its a step in the right direction



Flid

Comments: 262
 		Dec 01 (2005) 01:33PM  

Such things exist for iPods already, and car manufacturers are now building these in as an option (BMW, VW, Ford etc). You connect the iPod's dock to a location in the glove box (i think) and the rest of the controls are through the headunit and stalk control. I think Alpine & Dension also do versions you can buy for your own car, but they're pretty expensive.

The problem I have with this Sony device in particular, is the size of the main removable face plate. Why not make the removable part *just* the display (with recessed buttons on the side), and then you would be able to take your faceplate with you as a dedicated mp3 player. Security and functionality.



Bento

Comments: 103
 		Dec 01 (2005) 01:54PM  

This is a great idea and a step in the right direction. It's perfect for people who are in their car and don't want to wrestle with buying a dap then a new stereo or fm transmitter or tape converter or whatever it takes to connect one.

Remember everyone rides on non-ipods for not being as simple as the ipod, well here's an alternative that appears to be simple to use and very easy to integrate. The real sumbling block is that price. I'd expect to see more and with lower prices.



egloskerry

Comments: 410
 		Dec 01 (2005) 02:15PM  

I just bought a Pioneer DEH-P7700MP and stuck an aux jack on thr aux inputs.



apnk

Comments: 19
 		Dec 01 (2005) 02:20PM  

car cd players have played mp3 cd's for years...



Intelli

Comments: 125
 		Dec 01 (2005) 02:25PM  

Why can't they make an entire car stereo, not just a faceplate? Like.. and intergrated 250gig drive and some wifi, so you could load over your MP3's while you car is parked outside the house .

I really like the concept. But.. 1gig is not enough, in that case i rather hook up an external HD player.



nkh

Comments: 7
 		Dec 01 (2005) 05:27PM  

It's definitely not a bad idea, it sure is much better than connecting a normal dap through cabels. The controles on the unit is made to be usable while you're driving and that alone is a huge advantage. Secondly, Sony and others usualy have great remotes that can be placed on or around the steering wheel, again making it a lot safer and easier to use.

The only thing I don't like about this is that you're limited to 1GB, memory (ram or hdd) always get cheaper, but you won't be able to take advantage of that....



SowndOfDeth

Comments: 417
 		Dec 01 (2005) 05:38PM  

Well if Apple or whoever would stick with a consistent design, someone could have manufactured a car audio with a slot where you push in a nano or ipod (like a cassette or cd) -

which is nothing but a glamorised dock



kineticarl

Comments: 31
 		Dec 01 (2005) 07:15PM  

Flid, I agree, I think the faceplate should be its own detachable DAP. It may as well just have a SD slot in it rather than a dedicated 1GB so it's at least upgradable as the price of higher capcity cards continue to drop.



Clashman

Comments: 43
 		Dec 02 (2005) 02:10AM  

wrote ...
It may as well just have a SD slot in it rather than a dedicated 1GB so it's at least upgradable as the price of higher capcity cards continue to drop.


They just had a CD player on engadget that did just that:
[Linky]

This one is only $175, is available at Wal Mart of all places, and also plays videos on a tiny 2 inch screen.



Donnie

Comments: 247
 		Dec 02 (2005) 07:33AM  

Clashman, I've seen that on display at Wal-Mart. Although it's nice, the machine is really poor quality - since the demo had some problems with its firmware (and they've got quite a bit of returns too). That model had good implementation, but not backed with solid quality.

I remember a couple of years ago (2002-'03), Pioneer sold a head unit with an HDD and MemoryStick support, as well as playback with the usual MP3-encoded CD and XM Satellite Radio tuner control. The catch, it was quite expensive then.



En_Croute

Comments: 16
 		Dec 02 (2005) 08:13AM  

As many have said - It's a good start - watch this space.
I recently had to change my Car Head unit, so did research on the best way to connect my iAudio X5 60gb.

USB would have charged the X5, so it was a possible option - no additional power required. But the USB ports could only manage 60-100 folders, ideal for a 1gb SD card, but not for a 60gb DAP.

In the end I went for a JVC LHX601 DAB radio, with a line in.
I am now having a cradle made for me, which will accomodate a Sub-pack for Power/Line Out.
Details to follow anon.



Arms683

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