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Eclipse offers new in-dash nav at CES 2009

Eclipse showed off the latest version of its high-end double DIN in-dash nav unit, featuring Bluetooth and just about every kind of audio and video source you can imagine. Also on the roster was a clever integration of a TomTom unit and an Eclipse head unit.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
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1 of 12 Eclipse

Eclipse AVN4430

Eclipse AVN4430

The new AVN4430 bridges the gap between a portable navigation device and an in-dash unit by docking a portable TomTom GPS device.

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2 of 12 Eclipse

Eclipse AVN4430

Eclipse AVN4430

The TomTom unit for the AVN4430 was custom made for Eclipse, but uses TomTom's excellent maps and navigation software. You can view maps in 2D or 3D modes.

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3 of 12 Eclipse

Eclipse AVN4430

Eclipse AVN4430

Docking the TomTom is very easy; the unit snaps into place. The hardware feels solid. With the TomTom removed, you can still use the audio functions of the head unit.

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4 of 12 CBS Interactive

Eclipse AVN4430

Eclipse AVN4430

With the TomTom docked, audio information and touch-screen control is available on the LCD.

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5 of 12 Eclipse

Eclipse AVN726E

Eclipse AVN726E

The AVN726E is Eclipse's new all-in-one unit, featuring navigation, Bluetooth for phone calls and streaming audio, and audio and video playback.

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6 of 12 Eclipse

Eclipse AVN726E

Eclipse AVN726E

The maps look very good on the AVN726E, and the response time for address entry is excellent. The maps are stored in the unit on flash memory, making load times as fast as possible.

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7 of 12 CBS Interactive

Eclipse AVN726E

Eclipse AVN726E

This head unit has just about every audio source imaginable, including USB, a DVD drive behind the screen, iPod, satellite radio, aux input, and even Bluetooth streaming audio.

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8 of 12 CBS Interactive

Eclipse AVN726E

Eclipse AVN726E

Video playback is particularly nice with this unit, because it goes directly from digital format to digital playback without converting to analog during any step of the process, making it as near to high definition as possible. The system also plays DivX video.

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9 of 12 CBS Interactive

Eclipse AVN726E

Eclipse AVN726E

The unit has other useful features, such as a rear-view camera input.

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10 of 12 CBS Interactive

Eclipse DREC2000

Eclipse DREC2000

Just to show what the company can do, Eclipse displayed this car video recorder, currently only available in Japan. It records 20 second video blocks as you drive, and if you get in an accident, it will save the video block just before the crash, which is useful in determining accident responsibility.

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11 of 12 CBS Interactive

Eclipse Ford Flex

Eclipse Ford Flex

One of Eclipse's custom cars at the show was this Ford Flex, given cool wheels and a nice pearlescent paint job. It also has 10 Eclipse speakers around the cabin and two 12-inch subs in the back.

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12 of 12 CBS Interactive

Eclipse Ford Flex

Eclipse Ford Flex

Although this custom job is generally subdued, its most outlandish element is the placement of the amps, set in the backs of the front seats.

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