Sony has recently announced that its first MirrorLink-compatible in-car AV Centre head-unit will go on sale in the UK and Europe this month.
Users need to connect their MirrorLink certified smartphone to the XAV-601BT and they will be ready to hit the road.
Compatible smartphones will connect to the 6.1-inch screen and be able to share phone calls, music, and apps. The system can even display the built-in navigation on the smartphone, ruling out the need for a separate satnav unit. The handset will be charged while connected to the car system, so users won’t have to worry about quick battery drain.
It has two USB inputs so it can connect and charge a phone and play media from another device such as a flash memory thumb drive or a separate MP3 player.
There is also a provision of ‘Passenger App Control’ that allows passengers to view videos and interact with apps from their connected iPhone and iPod Touch on the head unit’s touchscreen. There is a built-in FM radio with “Digital Clarity Tuner” that aims to improve sound quality in poor reception areas.
The system’s media player also produces 4.1 surround for car’s speakers and creates a virtual centre speaker through digital sound processing.
For additional peace of mind, the XAV-601BT features a removable front panel that detaches in an instant for improved ‘anti-theft security’ while the user is away from his vehicle.
From launch, the XAV-601BT offers guaranteed MirrorLink compatibility with these Symbian smartphones: Nokia 701, 700, 603, N8, E7, C7, X7, C6-01. The head unit is future-proofed with simple firmware updates to add compatibility with more apps and a growing range of smartphones from other manufacturers.
Note: The new XAV-601BT in-car AV Centre with MirrorLink compatibility by Sony is available in Europe from June 2012.
Source: Sony UK.
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