New Parrot Asteroid Smart Home Screen
Parrot isn't forgetting about Asteroid Smart users either; it's planning a software update that includes a new, better-looking home screen. There's no ETA for it. However, Parrot is pretty good about updating the Asteroid Smart. Since the head unit debuted last year, we've already seen four software packages.
QNX Reference Car
QNX was at CES 2014 showing off a dolled up version of Mercedes' CLA45 AMG, which serves as the company's showcase of what to expect from automotive technology in the next three to five years. QNX has the CLA equipped with its CAR platform, which supports stereo vehicle-to-vehicle calling, automatic speech recognition, an HTML5-based key fob application, a customizable LCD gauge cluster, and cloud-based music support.
Because it's a reference system, QNX loads the CLA45 AMG with every navigation application you can think of as a proof of concept. Elektrobit, Kotei Navi & Data, Aisin AW, and Nokia HERE are all up and running. However, the platform supports standard Android 4.3-based apps as well, which should facilitate easy adoption of existing software.
QNX Reference Car Interior
The CLA45 AMG's interior is clearly modified extensively. A standard seven-inch LCD was swapped out for a very wide 21 x 7-inch LCD. The display looks really good (better than the stock unit, even). QNX also replaced the analog analog gauge clusters for an attractive LCD.
Typically, we get annoyed about LCD gauge clusters that try to emulate analog gauges. But we found ourselves much more accepting of QNX's digital speedometer and needleless tach.
Qualcomm Snapdragon For Automotive
Qualcomm is taking its own stab at the automotive infotainment market with its Snapdragon 602A SoC. Unlike smartphones and tablets, components designed for cars need to withstand extreme temperatures and be available for many, many years. There are vehicles out there that remain on the market for a decade, and repair parts need to be available for as long as 10 years after they stop selling.
The company's SoC features four Krait-based CPU cores, an Adreno 320 GPU, and integrated LTE, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth LE 4.0.
Qualcomm didn’t have a demo car in its booth, but there was a mocked-up center stack on display. It rendered 3D navigation maps while driving the screen on a secondary LCD playing Asphalt 8: Airborne at the same time. The Snapdragon 602A's potential is tremendous, though we're not sure if powering rear-seat entertainment is a necessity any more as more companies move toward dedicated Wi-Fi-connected tablets.
Toyota FCV Concept
Toyota unveiled its hydrogen-powered FCV concept car at CES 2014, too. The funky-looking design runs exclusively on compressed hydrogen gas, and Toyota is targeting 300 miles of range per fill-up (which it estimates will cost $30). With an extremely slow estimated 0-60 MPH time of 10 seconds, this is clearly not a performance monster. But it will haul up to four people. Toyota expects the FCV to hit California next year, where hydrogen filling stations are currently even less prevalent than electric charging stations.