Mobile Video
When it comes to a preference for in-car entertainment, car video has enjoyed “pick of the litter” status for some time.
According to CEA, 12 percent of new cars feature screens for viewing DVDs or data, a figure the association predicts will increase to more than 50 percent by 2010.
The appeal of DVD is well documented, and the in-car video consumer now seems to have more entertainment options than ever. Car DVD players come in a wide assortment of flavors: consumers can purchase an in-dash DVD player with flip-up monitor (referred to in the business as a DVD/monitor); or an in-dash DVD player connected to a monitor mounted on the back of the front seat headrests; or an overhead console monitor with integrated DVD player.
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|
Mobile Video Unit Sales to Dealers in Thousands |
|
|
|
Stand Alone Monitors |
Overhead Consoles* |
System in a Bag |
DVD Players** |
|
2003 |
99 |
191 |
210 |
163 |
|
2004 |
77 |
172 |
408 |
214 |
|
2005 |
89 |
210 |
485 |
317 |
|
2006 |
96 |
253 |
560 |
422 |
|
2007 |
99 |
297 |
618 |
554 |
|
2008 |
103 |
333 |
663 |
600 |
*may include integrated VCP or DVD player
**includes all in-dash or fixed mobile DVD players
Source: CEA Market Research, 1/05
Of the various DVD form factors, in-dash DVD/monitors are fast becoming the darlings of the mobile video segment. What’s the secret? For one thing, prices are falling, bringing these video solutions within the reach of many more consumer budgets. While DVD/monitors sold for $1,500-$2,000 a couple of years ago, this year Jensen’s new VM9510, an in-dash DVD unit with a seven-inch screen, TV tuner pack and MP3/CD-R/CD-RW capability, carries a $799 price tag.
As for stand-alone video monitors, in January 2005 alone factory sales grew 224 percent on a unit basis compared to the same month in 2004. And while total volume is not Earth-shattering— 33,000 overhead consoles shipped representing roughly $11.8 million volume—this result represents almost a three-fold increase over last year’s volume in the same month.
Car video screens are getting bigger and better. Blaupunkt recently introduced a monitor featuring WXGA resolution and a very low profile chassis depth of just 2-3/8 inches (5.97 cm). The 15.4-inch TFT active matrix display boasts a video resolution of 1280 x 800 in a 16x9 aspect ratio configuration. It was selected for an Innovations 2005 Design and Engineering Showcase award at the 2005 International CES.
Audiovox also won an Innovations 2005 Design and Engineering Award for its mobile Shuttle System, which offers a variety of docking stations that act as secure mounts for a family of flat video screens with built-in DVD players and speakers. Simply snap the unit into the in-car docking station, and you have a drop-down overhead monitor with TV tuner and FM modulator. You also can choose to snap the screen/player into a desktop or into an under-cabinet docking station in the kitchen.
At first glance Sony’s XVM-F65WL seems like a nice, but not extraordinary headrest video monitor. It has a 6.5-inch QVGA LCD screen and an optional battery pack that allows it to be removed from its mounting and watched while you are holding it in your lap. What about the A/V cables, you ask? Look closer and you’ll discover that the monitor has a built-in 2.4 GHz wireless A/V receiver. Used with Sony’s MEX-R5 in-dash DVD receiver, audio video signals can be sent wirelessly to the monitor, which makes possible a large variety of in-car video system configurations.
