Legislation Encourages Safer Driving Through Technology Innovation

Beginning in January 2012, commercial drivers are prohibited from use of hand-held cellphones and new requirements are going into place concerning texting while driving - and new vehicle technology is actually helping all drivers to drive more safely.
A joint rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is the latest action endorsed by the U.S. Department of Transportation that aims to end distracted driving. This federal ban on cell phone took effect January 3, 2012. Legislators from many states are trying to get these laws extended to all drivers in all states.
In recent months major truck and bus companies, such as Greyhound, Wal-Mart, UPS, Conoco-Phillips and others, have changed their policies to ban their drivers from using hand-held cell phones, to make and receive phone calls, or for texting. In other words, talk or text on a cellphone while driving and you could lose your job.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research in 2009 more than 5,400 people died and a half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. The NHTSA also noted that distraction-related fatalities represented 16 percent of the overall traffic fatalities in 2009.
In the past few years, most automobile companies have been developing in-vehicle technology so they can offer Bluetooth hands-free in-vehicle communications. The whole idea is to keep the driver's eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Although an option for most vehicles, more and more drivers are demanding it from their vehicles.
Ford Motor Company goes further by having an app (911 Assist) that assists emergency personnel. Their hands-free infotainment system, called Sync, was co-developed with help from Microsoft. With Sync, if the "paired" phone is on and active and the vehicle is involved an accident that triggers the airbags, then it automatically makes the system dial the closest 911 dispatcher. It relays the latitude, longitude and altitude plus it opens the microphone so the dispatcher can speak with occupants of the car.
Depending on the cellphone, some users of Ford's Sync system can also have their text messages, interpreted and read back to them by the system. With the Sync system, a driver can receive and even send back text messages via voice (albeit a short list of canned messages). Ford and Microsoft use the MAP protocol with SMS messaging. Some Android based phones and some Blackberry phones can send and receive text messages through the Sync system. This allows drivers to stay more focused on the road. Currently Apple engineers are not complying with this protocol and so Apple iPhone users cannot use the text-to-voice functions (unless they are using the new iPhone 4s with Siri). Siri, a voice-operated assistant, can be accessed through Sync and she will find and read text messages and play tehm back through the vehicle's sound system.
As more vehicle manufacturers expand the Bluetooth capabilities of their vehicles, then more and more drivers will have the opportunity to avoid using their handheld cellphones while driving. Hopefully this ban will reduce the number of fatalities from distracted drivers.
In fact, the automotive insurance industry is already listing ten safety features they think all new car buyers should be looking for in their next vehicle. The list includes:
Intelligent Cruise Control - This helps your vehicle maintain a safe distance from cars ahead of it.
Lane Drifting Warning - This helps drivers who have inadvertently drifted out of their lane and could be going into another lane or going off the road. The constant monitoring keeps drivers on their toes.
Tire Pressure Monitoring - This is now required by the NHTSA on all vehicles built since 2008. Helps alert drivers if a tire is over- or under-inflated.
Rear View Cameras - When the car's transmission is placed in reverse it automatically displays a view on a monitor to let the driver see what's behind them.
Blind Spot Detection - Sensors at the rear of the vehicle alert the driver so they can safely make lane changes.
Adaptive Headlights - These do more than ordinary headlights to make it easier for drivers to see what's ahead or around the corner.
Intelligent Airbag Sensors - Using spontaneous sensors, the vehicle determine which airbags need to be fired and at what speed to keep drivers safe in a collision.
Emergency Response Systems - In addition to calling 911 for assistance, this system shuts of the fuel delivery system, disconnects the battery from the alternator, turns on interior lights and unlocks the doors.
Rollover Prevention - Complicated sensors detect a rollover in progress and fire off appropriate airbags and other defenses to keep occupants safe.
Night Vision Assistance - Vehicle equipped with this have infrared sensors that can look further ahead on the road to detect people or animals that might be difficult to see.
So safe driving can be enhanced with increased driver awareness, safer roads, tougher traffic laws and vehicles built with better technology.

Why Not Record Your TrackDay Footage With an Onboard Camera?

Track Day enthusiasts are always keen to demonstrate their skills out on the track. But now with the use of an onboard camera system they can take their footage home to show to their family and friends. What's more with the crystal clear images and video captured by Full 1080P HD onboard camera systems it can seem as if you were there live when watching the footage.
Just imagine showing everyone your legendary laps and awesome driving skills. You can playback overtakes and show how fast you were travelling through specific sections of the track. Or show other drivers and racers changes to track layouts and the race conditions you were driving in.
At some circuits you can pay to take home a recording of yourself. The price of this service can vary greatly and in most circumstances it is best to purchase your own onboard camera system. This means that you can record all of your track days!
At some of the larger circuits you are required to sign a disclaimer, which states that the footage is for private use only. This prohibits you from uploading the images to the web. At these tracks race officials may also ask to look at the camera and will ensure that it is mounted securely and safely. However, at most tracks they are happy for people to use onboard cameras but may still check to ensure that the mounting of the camera is secure.
There are many benefits to using an onboard camera when at a track days. You can:

• Show the footage to family and friends
• Share the video with other drivers / racers
• Improve your driving skills by analysing where you lost time
• Treasure your memories of the day forever
• Learn tracks quicker and have a visual guide if you race there again

There are a variety of onboard camera systems available online and it is important to first set yourself a budget. Although most systems are now very reasonably priced. Before buying it is also important to work out what type of system will suit your requirements.
Good things to work out are:

• How will I mount the camera?
• What recording time do I need?
• Do I want to see myself as well as the road ahead?
• Is the size of the system important?
• How will I playback the recorded footage?

So there you have it! There really are many benefits to using an onboard camera system to enhance the enjoyment and experience of your track days!

Vehicle Technology Is Racing Towards the Information Superhighway!

More than five years ago, one of the U.S. domestic automakers introduced a plan to bring Bluetooth-driven technology to the forefront of their vehicles. Since then almost all auto manufacturers are racing to introduce new vehicle technologies as fast as they can. Many consumers embrace the new technologies, while a sizable number have raised the question - has it gone too far?
In early 2011, Consumer Reports, a widely read consumer magazine, actually gave a negative review of then new Ford 2011 Edge equipped with the new MyFord Touch technology. Their editorial staff claimed the vehicle's technology was not "user-friendly." They felt automakers were forcing technology down the throats of consumers.
On the other side of the technology coin, cell phone companies have been competing for the consumer to adopt smartphone technology. There's an App for this and an App for that, and it was inevitable that the demand for smartphone technologies would affect the sale of automobiles.
Today, almost everyone uses a cellphone. It's hard to find anyone who uses a cellphone just to "talk." Most are checking e-mail, sending texts, listening to music, and playing videos or games.
In the last century the ultimate goal for a teenager was to get a driver's license and a car of their own. Today's pre-teens want an unlimited talk and data plan and a smartphone!
It's to the point now, that consumers base their car-buying decision on the technology in the vehicle! In other words... "I don't want the car if I can't Bluetooth stream my music!"
Ford Motor Company was on the forefront with its SYNC hands-free communications system that it introduced in 2007. This system uses voice commands and steering wheel mounted controls to make it easy for a driver to keep their concentration on the road while making and receiving phone calls.
When it comes to technology, all manufacturers have something... GM has IntelliLink, Dodge and Chrysler have UConnect, Kia has its Uvo, Toyota has its BLU technology and the list goes on and on. The goal of automakers is to create hands-free technology to make and receive calls with Bluetooth enabled phones. However, that was just the start.
Ford's system evolved into the MyFord Touch system, first introduced on the 2011 Edge and Explorer models. These systems have an on-board computer similar to a laptop and they receive voice commands to control phone calls, text messaging, selecting audio entertainment, adjusting climate control and helping find destinations.
The challenge for Ford was to create a system that worked with a multitude of phones, cell phone companies, different cell phone software systems, not to mention customers who spoke with a lisp or could not be understood by the system computer.
Ford engineers, along with help from the system developers at Microsoft, are currently beta-testing a new operating system. This editor has used the beta-test and found it to be much improved. It's easier to read, faster to navigate through its screens and it seems the computer can understand voice commands a little better. Within a few months Ford will roll out its new operating software for existing customers to "update" their system and Ford's new vehicles will be based on this new software system.
The history of the automobile is kind of strange isn't it? It's one thing to see the evolution of mechanical technologies such as engines, transmissions, and brakes. It's a surprise to see auto manufacturers in the software and computer business. Next we'll be hearing TV commercials for a powerful, fast new vehicle, but instead of horsepower they'll be talking about computer megahertz speed! Or maybe, Dell Computers will start selling computers that seat seven and have awesome internet connections. Are vehicles being built for the highway or the information highway, or both?
Consumers don't really need to "kick the tires" on a new vehicle any more. They need to know what technology they can access in their vehicle. The internet has become a required tool for car shopping. Once they find a vehicle, then the customers have to learn how to use all of those features.
Car dealerships better start looking for car salesmen from the Geek Squad!

Top 4 Car Accessories for the Technophile

I love my technical gadgets, there is almost nothing I own, I do not think, could be improved by fitting it with Bluetooth and synchronising it with my mobile. As I spend a lot of time in my car this is one area I want kitted out with the latest car accessories to connect my world.
Bluetooth Radio
I carry all my music on my phone so I don't have very many CD's, which make playing music in the car awkward. I like that every time I get into my car my phone automatically connects to the radio and starts playing music. It is just one little thing that makes things a little bit easier. This also has the benefit of acting like a hands free kit. So I do not need to put a Bluetooth headset in everything I get in the car just in case I get a call. For me this is my favourite car accessory as it makes things simple.
Sat-nav
This must be something most people have by now and I for one would be (literally) lost without it. I have a standalone sat nav as well as the one on my phone which I find much easier than looking over maps. After a few pokes and pinches I have usually found my route whereas if I were using my none GPS fitted map I would be still struggling to find out where I was never mind were I need to be.
Parking Sensors
Most new cars now come with parking sensors but if your car does not have them you can also add these yourself. I got sick of parking up only to realise the gap I thought was tiny was almost big enough for another car, or even worse being stopped suddenly by a crunch. I found that parking sensors drastically improved my parking, and make the process a lot quicker. Of all the car accessories I have mentioned this is perhaps the most difficult to fit, but you can usually fit these yourself with a bit of know how.
USB charger
With all this in-car tech it can be difficult keeping it all going. As much as I love my sat nav over my map, my map will never run out of batteries. So I always have a universal charger on hand in my car. This way I have got a cable for whenever one of my car accessories needs some extra power. If you take a look around you will find you can get individual ports as well as plugs with multiple USB ports.
These are just my top four; there are a plethora of gadgets out there to fill almost any problem you can think of. So start thinking about how some new car accessories could make you car a better place to be.

Car Speakers And Subwoofers

Look At The Features Of Car Speakers
The car speakers and your car audio system should match with each other. Do a thorough research and make a careful choice. To get a powerful and rich sound the speakers should be of the right type. Before you make a choice of speakers, you will have to find out the sensitivity and the power that you require.
Power Handling
The power handling capacity of speakers is measured in watts and makes a determination of the power that can be handles by your speakers. A system that is low in power does not require car speakers that are high powered, but an audio system that is high powered requires speakers that can deal with the output that is powerful.
Sensitivity Rating
An indication of the amount of sound that will be coming out of your speakers on its receiving a signal is determined by its sensitivity rating. In case you are making use of a standard head unit, you will require speakers that have greater sensitivity when compared with building a custom system made up of multiple amplifiers. After you have determined the power requirements of the speakers, make a decision on the type of speakers that you will require.
Full-Range Car Speakers
The complete range of music from the low frequency bass sound to the high frequency treble is accurately reproduced by full-range speakers.
Component Car Speakers
Excellent sound quality is reproduced within a specific range by component speakers. Subwoofers reproduce low frequency notes and tweeters reproduce high frequency notes. The sound quality of your speakers will also be affected by the materials that they are constructed with. A warm sound is reproduced by tweeters made from soft material, but the sound will pop if the material is hard.
Select Car Subwoofers
When you purchase a car subwoofer, there are four factors that you have to take into consideration: system power, subwoofer enclosure, available space and crossovers.
Subwoofer Space
To find out the space available for your car subwoofer, make out a map to the audio system of your car. You will want to ensure that the subwoofer that you desire will fit the space available in your car.
Subwoofer Enclosure
The enclosure of a car subwoofer will help in the defining of it sound output. Some subwoofers come as enclosed subwoofer systems, that is to say, the subwoofer is fitted into an enclosure and is sold as a complete package. A few enclosures are retailed separately, so it is possible for you to are free to select the kind of subwoofer you would want for the enclosure that you have in mind. For those who enjoy doing things themselves, you can miss out on the enclosure completely and construct one yourself.
Crossovers
Crossovers are used to filter out high frequency notes. Get yourself a subwoofer fitted with a low-pass filter so that it reproduces only low frequency bass notes. Nearly all amps come with low-pass filters built into them, but in case you are using a multi-amplifier system, you may require an additional one.
System Power
Ensure that the audio system in your car has sufficient power to power your subwoofer. Many car subwoofers require an amplifier, so keep in mind the power requirements when you are purchasing your amplifier and your subwoofer.
Installing Car Speakers And Car Subwoofers
The procedure for the installation of car speakers differs from vehicle to vehicle. If you are replacing your old speakers with new ones all you have to do is to take out the old car speakers and screw in the new speakers. However, the speakers' depth have to be taken into consideration to see that they fit into your car. To discover whether the speakers will fit into your car, make use of the "Check Product Fit" feature available on eBay. Go to the page "View Item" and scroll down to the "Description" region, then click the link "Check whether these speakers will fit your car". Furnish the required details in the fields provided to check whether the item that you have chosen is compatible with your vehicle or car. You may sometimes require mounting brackets for car speakers (they can be bought for nearly all speakers), or in the worst case, you may have to do some drilling and some minor cutting.
Installing In-Dash Car Speakers
For installing car speaker in the dashboard, unscrew and remove the car speaker grills that are already there. If there are no screws present, then the existing speakers are probably of the friction fitting type. Pry them out carefully from the dashboard with a broad, flat tool. In case the grills do not come out easily, then they may have been screwed in from the base.
While removing the old speakers in your car make a note of the positive and negative terminals. Connect the wires to the new speakers and if necessary tuck slightly the connectors to see that you get a secure and solid connection.
Installing Car Speakers In The Doors
For installing car speakers in the doors, remove the grill for the speaker with a broad, flat tool. Unscrew the old speakers and be careful with the existing wiring since most probably you will require them for the new speakers. Most always, you can simply place the new speakers into the existing space, rewire them and screw them down. Sometimes you may have to remove the door panel for installing the speakers. This process differs according to the model and make. As such, you will have to consult the instructions provided in the owner's manual.
Discover Car Subwoofers And Car Speakers On eBay
Once you have come to a decision on the kind of car speakers and car subwoofer that you intend to purchase visit the "Consumer Electronics" portal on eBay and then click on either the "Car Speakers & Speaker Systems" or the "Car Subwoofers & Enclosures" button underneath the "Car Electronics" link. You can them start your search on eBay for either your car speakers or your car subwoofer.

• Categories: You can narrow down your search for listings by type of item by using the Categories list on the left hand side of the page.


• Product Finder: You will find on either the "Car Speakers Finder" or the "Car Subwoofer Finder" link page a drop down menu. You can use this drop down menu to narrow down your search of item listings by brand, size and type.


• Keyword Search: You can search eBay for any specific item that you require by the use of specific keywords. For instance, in case you want to find a 60-watt speakers on eBay, key in the words "60 watt speakers" (no quotes) into the box provided for searching. Click on the "Search title and description" button to expand your results. A visit to the "Search Tips" page on eBay will give you more guidance on the art of searching eBay using keywords.

In case you are not able to locate precisely the product that you desire, you can try shopping on "eBay Stores". You can also create a posting on eBay's "Want It Now" page or the "Save a search" on My eBay page and you will be informed by email when a matching item becomes available.

Problems Streaming Bluetooth From Your iPhone, Here's a Handy Workshop

There can be a number of connectivity problems with an iPod touch or iPhone and a vehicle's hands-free Bluetooth system. This is a workshop to see how to solve problems playing Bluetooth music through a connection with a Ford Microsoft Sync system.

From a review of online forums you can see that both Microsoft and Apple are pointing fingers at each other regarding why the connection to SYNC occasionally causes problems. Bluetooth "is what it is" - it's a low power short range way to connect computer devices wirelessly. Often the system can get out of phase and cause connection problems. Here's what you can do to set things back to normal...
While in your car with the radio on, go to the Phone Menu and select "System Settings" on a vehicle with the LED screen on the top of the center console. Later in this workshop, we'll go over how to do this process with a touch screen system. Turn the turning knob to select "Delete Device." Find your device by name and then press OK to delete the device. Now go to your iPhone. Go to the Settings icon, go to the General icon, then select the Bluetooth connectivity area. Delete "Sync" from your list of connected devices (tap on the blue arrow at the right, it takes you to another screen and then select "Forget Device." Then, power your phone completely off, or pull the battery for at least a minute, then replace the battery. Restart your phone.

Now turn off your vehicle. Open the hood. Loosen the bolt holding the black battery cable clamp assembly and remove it from the battery for about two minutes or more. Then replace it and retighten the clamp. Close the hood.

Return to your vehicle and start it up. Let the vehicle run for at least four or five minutes. This reboots the electrical systems from factory specs. Your radio may default back to the AM band and you may need to reset your clock time. Turn your vehicle off again and open the door (this completely powers down the vehicle). Start the vehicle back up.

Now go to the Phone Menu on the center console, go to Bluetooth Devices, and select "Add Device." It will prompt you to press OK to begin Pairing a device. Go to your phone, to the Settings icon, select General, then Bluetooth Settings. Look for the "Handsfree" Button and let it become a "Sync" button. Touch this button and another screen appears asking for the 6-digit Pin that is being displayed on your center console. Enter that number and push "Pair" on your phone. Within a few seconds the Sync system will respond that it has connected. Be sure to activate the 911 Assist when prompted, push OK to set the phone as the Primary Phone and then OK to allow the phone book to download. It may take up to three minutes for the phone book to download.

Now when you push the "Voice" button on the steering wheel, you can say "Bluetooth Audio" to access your iPhone music (or go to the Pandora App, or other App, and turn it on). The music should start within a few seconds, if not, push the Voice button again and say "Play." If you push the Voice button again you can also say "Shuffle" (to have the system automatically pick the next song) or a variety of other commands (check you Sync manual for details.)

For some, it may be easier to transfer your music files to a USB flash drive. Then you can push the Voice button and say "USB." The Sync System will go to the USB to start playing music. You should be able to push the Voice button to call out "Play Artist The Beatles (or which ever artist you prefer)" and the system will find and play those songs. The command "Play All" resumes playing from the whole library on the USB stick. If you press the hard button on the console to access AM/FM or CD, you can return to the USB by pushing the AUX button. The iPhone streams better sounding music via Bluetooth. When you use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the Sync System it defaults to the Mp3 format and has a lesser sound quality, but sometimes this connection will allow you to find music via voice commands (especially with the iPhone 4 or 4S).

Reinforce Your Vehicle Security With the Latest Safety Measures in Mobile Electronics

Owning and operating a motor vehicle comes with a slew of inherent risks every time you get behind the wheel or leave your car parked outside. Lessen your exposure to personal harm and property damage with safety-conscious mobile electronic devices that can be easily added on beyond the dealer's showroom.

Safety is a top priority when you're buying a new car. That's why many vehicles today come equipped with standard features such as anti-lock brakes, passenger side airbags, and daytime running lights. But what about opting for other mobile electronic devices that can make your car even safer? If you couldn't afford to purchase these add-ons at the point of sale, then now is the time to upgrade your vehicle for complete peace of mind.

First and foremost among your auto's safety additions should be a backup camera system. With nearly 300 people killed every year in vehicle-pedestrian accidents involving reverse gear, it's no wonder federal regulations may require all new passenger cars and trucks to have these devices included as standard by 2014. Why wait? Whether you own a compact car or an imposing SUV, an aftermarket rear view camera can help eliminate blind spots and display a clear picture of the path behind you. Count on your local mobile electronics professional to install a rear view mirror camera or wireless backup camera customized to your exact vehicle specifications and preferences. It's a simple way to increase the safety capabilities of your car and help to prevent the occurrence of a rear motion tragedy.

Navigation systems are another affordable and easy way to up the safety rating of your current car or truck. Among the most popular mobile electronics on the market today, GPS navigation systems can help keep even the most directionally challenged drivers from making wrong turns and ending up lost miles from the nearest service station. So stop relying on vague directions and outdated maps. Update your vehicle with a portable navigation system that can be transferred quickly from car to car or opt for an in-dash GPS system to deter potential thieves. Either way, you'll enjoy a host of useful features to help you stay on course, from automatic re-routing in the event of a missed turn to a searchable database for locating nearby amenities.
 Contact your hometown mobile electronics specialist to learn more about the latest car navigation systems and which one is best for you.

Of course, no automobile safety checklist would be complete without an essential car alarm. In the Denver area alone, about 250 cases of motor vehicle theft are reported each month, and many of these break-ins result in serious damage to the car or permanent property loss for the car's owner. With a professionally installed alarm system in your car, you'll be treated to a variety of features to increase your vehicle's safety as well as your personal convenience, including ignition interruption, glass shatter sensors, remote starters, keyless entry, and more. Your local mobile electronics shop can take care of all the intricate electrical work for you and have you back on the road in no time.

Touch Screen Technology in Today's Car Stereos

Touch screen technology is becoming very popular among consumers in the United States. There are many electronic services and products that are using this technology. Touch screen technology is making everything much safer, easier and more fun to use. It takes little effort to find and change a song on a modern touch screen car stereo and that is really important because now driving is in focus. Besides car stereos, touch screen technology is now making it easy to buy tickets online, do online banking, play games and a lot more. As we all know, the prices of electronic products are decreasing and touch screen car stereos are being affected too! And that's good news because, for many people, touch screen car stereos were very expensive car accessories for a number of years, but not anymore. The prices in the gadget industry are rapidly changing and becoming more affordable.

A car stereo has been developed from a simple device where you could have listed to your favorite radio station or maybe played a CD. Quite a big number of new functions have been added to make the most modern and exciting stereos ever! You can now play your music files from a CD or a DVD (MP3, WMA, AAC audio formats are supported). A portable music player like iPod or any other MP3 player is also compatible and it can be connected to the stereo. You can even load your music from a MMC or SD card - these types of cards are mainly found in digital cameras. So as you can see, there are a lot of options and you can use the one you like the most. As far as video files go, all I can say is that almost every major video format is supported. Here is just a short list: MP4, WMV, XVID, DIVX, MPEG etc. Video files can be loaded from the same sources as the audio files.

There are many manufacturers that offer touch screen car stereo, and here are some of the more popular ones: Sony, Jensen, Alpine, Kenwood, Clarion, Planet Audio, BOSS, Absolute, Pyle, Power Acoustic, Sound Stream, TKO Audio, Quantum FX, JVC, Legacy and DTI. Most of them offer a 7-inch adjustable screen, but there are also 5-inch versions. The "adjustable" means that you can angle the monitor and that makes is very comfortable to watch. The crisp touch-screen makes navigation easier and smoother. The sound quality is awesome. Some of the models even include a GPS system, others have an option for it. Bluetooth technology is available to connect your headset.

The Strategic Role of the Operations Function in the Car Audio Industry

From a manufacturer's point of view, to identify the strategic role of the operations function is vital in the business success. This is also true in the car audio industry. Before judging or evaluating the contribution of operation of a car stereo manufacturer, it is important to know the role of the operation function in the first place. In other words, to understand the exact parts that it plays in the company. In the car audio company, the operational managers will fail to identify whether the operations in progress are really building a long-term success of the business, if the role of operations functions is not fully understood and appreciated in the company.

Before going for the role of the subject, a car audio supplier must figure out the core value, the mission and vision of the company at the first stage, as the role is based on this core information of the company of car stereo. Then the next step is to understand the underlying rationale of the operations function in the company, which is more than just the tasks or responsibilities. The operational managers can treat it as simple as the reasons that the operations function exists.
With the very reason why the operations function continuously exists in the car audio company, an operational manger can understand the major three roles, which are the implementing, supporting and driving of the business strategy.
1. Implementing the business strategy.
Implementing the business strategy is the first role. For most manufactures like the Car Audio Group, it is common to have some kind of strategies to win its business success. These strategies are put into practice by operations within the company. A business strategy is invisible; people can only experience how it works in the real practice. For example, if a car stereo supplier launches a sales campaign targeted in the new car owner market in the hope of increasing market share in this special sector, suitable marketing operations is supposed to be planned to attract new car owners. Discount prices and promotional activities may be arranged throughout the campaign. In terms of customer service operation, the company may build a new customer service team to improve the satisfaction of the customers. Most importantly in the product development operation, the new function may need to be built on the car radio products. The value of the role of implement of business strategy is very significant for the company, because business will not be successful without a capable operations function even though the business strategy is carefully planned.
2. Supporting the business strategy.
A second role is to support the company's strategy. In this role, it must integrate and develop resources to facilitate all activities to let the organization achieve strategic goals and objectives. Take a car audio manufacturer for example, if the manufacturer is trying to be the leader in the market for an available new product innovation, its operations function must be capable of dealing with changes and unexpected difficulties that the new innovation will bring. It must have new process or production line to support the production of new designs. It must also have comprehensive training courses for the staff to keep updated with the new functions and put the changes of operations in practice. A strong relationship with its suppliers is supposed to be built, for the quick response on novel materials sourcing. The operations function is also supposed to adopt a different practice and objectives if the car audio manufacture decided to change its strategy.
3. Driving the business strategy.
Driving the business strategy is a third role, to develop long-term competitive advantages for the company. Any bad practice such as low-quality product, broken promises, unsatisfactory services and limited choice of model numbers will ruin the business strategy, let alone the long-term business success. On the contrary, if the auto radio manufacturer can provide continuous good products, fast delivery, satisfactory customer services, it will drive successful business strategy, and finally contributes to successful business success and positive company image. All these short-term and long-term success will not to be built with good operations function. An operations function of a car audio manufacturer that is offering both short-term and long-term advantages is driving the business strategy to meet business goals and objectives. Moreover, if the operations function of a manufacturer is able to cope with uncertain challenges of the car audio market in the future, it will certainly bring future success for the company

Managing Inventory Flow in the Car Audio Industry

Due to the fierce competition of the car audio industry in the global market, every manufacturer is going to great lengths to maintain the competitive edge of its own. One of the effective ways to develop the competitive edge is by managing the inventory movement effectively and efficiently. Understanding the basic concepts of inventory flow for car stereo products will contribute to the effective management, and finally build competitive advantages.

The inventory flow for car stereo products is finally the ownership transfer from raw materials to finished products to customers, which includes materials procurement and value added processes. In the product manufacturing procedure, internal integrative management is a key to success. However, companies also need to integrate across the whole supply chain. In today's highly competitive environment, companies must fully apply their corporate integration to link the customers and suppliers in every available aspect.

In terms of the inventory flow in the car audio industry, it is concerned with storage and movement of materials and finished products. From the very initial step of the materials procurement, car radio products are added values during the inventory movement. The materials and component inventory gain values at each manufacturing process and finally become finished inventory. In terms of the inventory flow, it is concerned with storage and movement of materials and finished products. From the very initial step of the materials procurement, car radio products are added values during the manufacturing process. The materials and component inventory gain values at each manufacturing process and finally become finished inventory.
1. Market distribution.
Market distribution of car radio products is classified as the movement or flow of finished products to customers. In the market distribution, product availability is an essential element of positive marketing effort. Even the end retailers or distributors of the supply chain must be supported by the product availability to earn a successful business, even though in some cases they don't need to keep auto radio inventory themselves. Only when an acceptable inventory level is available to the next level customers, customer satisfaction and marketing responsibilities can be achieved. If the desired car stereo products are delivered to customers efficiently as desired, prosperous marketing effort will be gained. Therefore, through the whole marketing distribution process for auto radio products, correct timing and placement of inventory become the vital and integral part of marketing success. In order to monitor and control the market distribution efficiently and effectively, certain marketing distribution systems should be introduced into the supply chain. No matter what type of marketing distribution systems, the applied system should have a common feature that it can maintain product availability by integrating manufacturers, agents, distributors and retailers together.
2. Manufacturing support.
The primary goal and responsibility for manufacturing support is focused on the management of work-in-process inventory through each step in the whole manufacturing process. The manufacturing support for car stereo products is required to make and implement a master production schedule to provide product availability as desired. Therefore, the manufacturing support is more than how production is implemented, but focusing more on what, when, where and how many car radio products are made.
Significantly different from the market distribution, manufacturing support involves inventory movement and management that are under the full monitor and control of a manufacturer. The manufacturing support must be able to reflect and satisfy the uncertainties from the market distribution section, such as random ordering and erratic demand from customers. A successful strategy is important in manufacturing support for a company, as it links the outbound demand from the marketing distribution and the inbound activities on components and materials procurement. A suitable strategy must be adopted by the company to improve the efficiency and effectiveness.
3. Procurement.
The aspect of procurement concentrates on materials or components purchasing and arranging inbound movement of the inventory flow for auto radio products, from suppliers to manufacturers etc. In the procurement process, materials and components are put in value added processes through manufacturing and thus become products that are ready for sales. The area of procurement serves in facilitating the materials acquisition in manufacturing support, and product replenishment in marketing distribution.
In the car stereo industry, the above three aspects are sometimes overlapped in a supplier. To win a successful business, suppliers must focus on all the three aspects of the inventory flow. Understanding the unique attributes of these aspects will help the related company facilitate overall efficiency and effectiveness

How Soon Will Today's Automobile Technologies Become Yesterday's Old-School Gadgets?

The integration of technology in today's vehicles is moving at an alarming pace for some drivers, and yet it may take years before it's all taken for granted...
It's strange to think of it in this way, but the latest, greatest car technology is, of course, new in a new vehicle. How many years will it take before it's considered "old technology?"
Consider the average U.S. vehicle on the road is about 15 years old. This means a majority of the drivers on the road will have a vehicle that's more than seven to ten years old. So some drivers have the newest stuff while others are "getting by" on technology from the last century.
Remember that time of innocence, about ten years ago, when we drove V-8 powered vehicles with combined fuel economy of about 16 miles per gallon? We had a cassette deck or maybe even a 6-disk CD player. We had two airbags, interval windshield wipers, a moon roof and maybe even heated leather seats. About the coolest gadget you could get, and even in only a few models, was the OnStar telephone service!
That's all changed. It's to the point where Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) systems are standard, where highly efficient smaller engines get better than 30 miles per gallon and even the CD player may be on the way out. Smartphone technology is leading the market. Customers are becoming increasing dependent on these phones and are used to their capabilities. Now they want the same kind of functionality in their vehicles.
Bluetooth connectivity that allows a driver to make and receive phone calls wirelessly is the goal of almost every manufacturer. Additional functionality, such as streaming music or internet access is expanding very quickly into the automobile market. Now it seems to get more performance from your vehicle, just look for a new App on your phone!
In a historic perspective, the first windshield wipers appeared in a few autos in 1903. The first automobile radio from the Motorola was introduced in 1930 (it was a tube-based radio). The first car FM radio receivers were introduced in 1952. The car air conditioner finally told hold as new technology in 1953. Only about half of the autos on the road by 1969 had air conditioning. So you can see there is a period in which new technologies are accepted, slowly integrated and then regarded as "standard equipment."
The early 1970's brought us the 8-track tape player, yielding to the CB radio or the cassette tape player. The first in-car CD players appeared in the mid- to late- 1980s. OnStar only was available on a few GM models in 1996. We had video tape players that progressed into DVD players and now there are streaming movies and TV shows from "the cloud" available for your kids to watch.
Vehicles in the 20th Century were mechanical marvels. It looks like vehicles in the 21st Century have become more computer-oriented. Wrench-turning mechanics are fast turning into techno-geeks. Instead of looking to replace your old car, you may start thinking about "upgrading your mobile car computer."
Look how far we've come in just a few years. Today's new technologies include lane monitoring, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear view cameras, cars that speak to one another and soon, self-driving autos. GM and Ford Motor Company have set their goal to have robotically driven vehicles available to the public by 2020.
Today's vehicles are being built with the best reinforced steels, the best recycled materials and the most efficient engines (and/or electric motors). Today's vehicles are safe, efficient and more fun to drive. And it looks like the goal is to keep improving in all of these areas. So fast-forward 15 or 20 years in the future... the "clunkers" of tomorrow (AKA, today's breakthrough technology vehicles) will be considered "charming old school gadgets."

DAB Car Radio

If you enjoy listening to the car radio, then there are some things you need to know about the digital changes that will affect radio in the same way that they have the TV. Since 2009 the TV analogue signal has begun switching off in favour of digital and radio will be no different.
It is expected that by 2015, radio stations will have gone digital too and so there are some adjustments you will need to make in order to enjoy radio in your car but the rewards will be great.
You can look forward to more features on your radio. For example, due to the information that can be sent digitally, you will see a display of facts about what you're hearing, like the artist or song title.
The sound quality received through a digital radio is a lot better than FM broadcasting. There will be no more drops in signal or "white noise" interference. You will just get pure clarity.
You will be offered a greater choice of radio stations as more broadcasters are transmitting in digital. This will make any journey seem refreshed as there is plenty of choice to keep you entertained.
If you are wondering how to make the changes to receive this much improved radio service, then you have a couple of options really. Whichever way you go though, you will need a good quality aerial on your car, so you can receive a continuous signal from different places in the country. A bad aerial will mean a bad service, even if your radio itself is state of the art.
As far as the DAB radios themselves are concerned, you could just fit a brand new digital radio in place of your old analogue one and you're off. Don't forget you still need a new aerial!
Alternatively you could have an extra DAB box fitted alongside your old radio. This will require extra wiring in and this could prove costly. The easiest method is to get an external box, about the size of a sat nav system. This is then mounted on the dashboard and plugs into your cigarette lighter socket. Your existing radio then picks up then frequency emitted by the DAB Radio box. Again you will still need a new aerial fitted.

Sync Workshop: Pushing the Right Buttons

Let's face it, most car manufacturers are quickly bringing smartphone technology to our vehicle dashboards. Some of us are not sure how to use these systems. This is a workshop focusing on some common problems with the Ford Microsoft Sync system.

For some Ford owners, they may think their Sync system is "acting up." Sometimes you try to make a phone call and it seems that the Sync system just "isn't listening." This is a summary of some common problems and how to overcome them. Most times the problem isn't the Sync system, it's our understanding (or lack of understanding) of how the system works.

First of all, let's push the right buttons!

Ford developed their hands-free system with steering wheel controls. There are push buttons on the right side of the steering wheel. Some of these buttons are "two-sided" so you are either pushing the button down on its left side or its right side. One of the buttons is the "voice" button -- it's got an icon (picture) of a mouth with sound waves coming out of it (or it's simply marked "Voice."). This is the button to push to begin a vocal command to make a call, to ask for Bluetooth audio or make other vocal requests.

ush the Voice button and the system's female voice will come on the vehicle's speaker system with a statement, such as "Sync, state your command." Reply by saying, "Phone." The system will respond with "Phone, state your command." Then say "Call Name (your contact's name save in your phone book.) " For example, say "Call John Smith on cell." Or say, "Call Bill Henderson at home."

If you are trying to dial a number, push the voice button, say "Phone" and then say "Dial." The system will ask for the number. In a moderate volume, just say the number at a normal speed. Speak the phone number as individual numbers such as "Eight-One-Eight, Five-Three-Five, Five-Three-One-Nine." Don't try to condense numbers, such as saying "Eighty-One, Eight-Five, Fifty-Three, Fifty-Five, Three-Nineteen."

Some other buttons on the right side of the steering wheel are for raising or lowering the speaker volume and the "scroll arrows." These arrows will move you from pre-set station to pre-set station when in the radio mode, or from the start of the track or to the next track when listening in CD or Line In mode.

There is another button with an icon of a Phone receiver, this is the "Phone" button. This button is for answering a phone (by giving it a quick definite push) or for hanging up or cancelling a call (by pushing the button and holding it down for about five seconds). There is another button with the word "OK" on it. This button is used for answering questions the system might place on the LED screen or the touch screen on the dash. For example, when listening to the Sirius satellite radio, if you push the "Menu" button on the center console, the LED display will show the words "Satellite Menu," then press the OK button on the steering wheel. The LED screen will then display "Category Menu" and then press OK again, then use the scroll arrows on the steering wheel (or the tuning knob) to rotate through all of the music categories available with Sirius. If you select "Comedy" and push the OK, then it will take you right to the first station in that category.

Just pushing the "Phone" icon will not access the "voice" for making a command. It will only access the "Phone Menu." This menu's title will turn into "Phone Redial" on the LED screen after a few seconds and then you can use the Seek arrow buttons on the steering wheel, or the Tuning knob to scroll through the phone options, such as System Settings, Phone book or Call History. Push OK to access any of these categories and, once again, use the scroll arrows or the tuning knob to drill deeper into the menu. When you see the word "Return," then push OK and it will return to the previous menu.

If you do not press the "Phone" button long enough at the end of call, then the "Phone Redial" text may linger forever on the LED display. You won't be able to access your radio or other audio functions until you press and hold the "Phone" icon for about five seconds.

What's Wrong With Radical Departures of Your Business Model - Example And Case Study

Generally it is considered unwise to try any radical departure from your core business, or launch a new business model or profit center unless it totally fits into your current customer base and line of work. Sure, I get that, but as an entrepreneur, well, I've been quite successful at doing both. Okay so let's talk about this for a moment and let me give you a potential eventuality, example, and perhaps, a wise future case study to illustrate my point here today.

What if RadioShack were to start a mobile service working on automobile electronics?
Interestingly enough, the other day there was an article in the Wall Street Journal entitled; "A Car That Tweets," and the article went on to suggest that our cars are becoming more electronic each and every day. Yes, I think we all know this, and Detroit is going to have to figure out some way to get all these social networking teenagers interested in buying cars again, because they don't seem to be interested in getting a car right away as has been the reality with previous generations.

Nevertheless, we can expect the integration of social networks, and personal tech into today's automobile. This will be the new norm. However, that makes it difficult because there will be folks who will design new hardware, and software for all of this, and someone will have to install the new stuff, keep it upgraded, and keep it from being hacked. The Geek Squad is an interesting business where they send a geek to your house to work on your computer or help you with some software issues that you might have.

RadioShack has a good business model currently, however, it is also a tough business model in this day and age with everyone able to buy stuff online, and have it delivered right away. It's very hard for them to compete on price, and they have the overhead of a retail location. We all know that Circuit City had gone out of business, and they weren't the first electronics store, or software store, or even computer store in the last decade to file bankruptcy.

Thus, there are times when it does require that companies make a move to the future, and sometimes that calls for a radical departure their business model. Barnes & Noble, for instance is trying to go through that right now as they make the transition to electronic books. In any case, I hope you will please consider all this, and this specific potential future case study.

Getting the Best Bluetooth Headset for Your Phone

Cell phones have now truly become an indispensable part of our life! If you look around, you would know that this is a very big fact; there would be very few people, who go about without a cell phone in their hand or one tucked safely away in their pockets. But is it just to make and receive calls that these phones are being used today? Definitely not! With the advance in technology, cell phones have now become a source of information, music and a whole lot of things, apart from their normal use for making calls.
Bluetooth is one such advanced feature that is present in almost every cell phone today. This helps in transferring data from one phone to another, provided that these phones are within a particular range of distance, from each other. If you are to use the Bluetooth facility of your phone to fit well with your requirements, you need to make sure that you have the proper accessories that are required for this purpose. This is where, the choice of a good Bluetooth headset becomes a necessity.
Getting the best Bluetooth headset can be a tricky process and if you are not much aware of what exactly are your requirements, there are more chances that you may get cheated by some dealer! The first point to be kept in mind, when you are out shopping for a Bluetooth headset, is whether the headset you plan to purchase is compatible with your phone. You need to make sure of this because however costly it is, a headset that is not compatible with your cell phone will be of no good to you!
The next thing you should consider is your budget. If you scan the market, you can see that there are many varieties of Bluetooth headsets, some priced as low as $10 and some others, as high as $300! This price variation occurs based on the special additional features that are available in each headset. It is up to you, to choose one that completes your requirements and yet, fits within your budget.
Another thing to notice when looking for the best Bluetooth headset is the type of headset you prefer to use. One of the common types available in the markets is the one with buds that can be pushed into your ears. These types of headsets can keep the sound from the surroundings, completely out of your ears. But they may create some pain in the ears if used for long hours. Another type is the one that covers your ears, without having to plug it in fully into your ears. These are more comfortable to wear, if you are planning to use them for a long time. The call quality should also be taken into consideration, before you decide on any particular headset. The battery life of the headset is yet another thing you should make a note of, before purchasing it. If all these factors are taken into consideration, you are not likely to go wrong when shopping for a good Bluetooth headset