Dual Electronics is bringing a haul of new in-car navigation- and multimedia systems to this year's CES in Las Vegas. Leading the product lineup is the XDVDN8290, a SD card-based navigation system and multimedia player, which features a 6.5-inch motorized touch screen display similar to the one we reviewed last year on the XDVD8182. In addition to its turn-by-turn voice guidance for navigation, the XDVDN8290 plays DVDs, CDs, and MP3- and WMA-encoded discs.
Dual's IPlug interface also enables drivers to have direct touch-screen control over digital music files on their connected iPods (we'll have to wait until tomorrow when the CES show floor opens to see if Dual has improved the interface for navigating iPod tracks that we found so frustrating on the XDVD8182) The double-DIN unit also features a Bluetooth hands-free calling interface with built-in microphone, auxiliary A/V inputs for video, and a generic 3.5-inch jack for non iPod MP3 players.
The XDVDN8290 will hit the shelves with a price tag of $1199.
For drivers wanting all the media functions of the XDVDN8290 without navigation, the XDVD8285 plays all the same A/V formats and comes with the same Bluetooth capabilities (including one-touch phonebook dialing and on-screen caller ID). The XDVD8285 will retail for $799. A single-DIN version of the same system--the XDVD8185--featuring a pop-out 7-inch screen will retail for the same price.