«Listening to the radio is fine when driving near your home, but if your trip is longer than half an hour, you're going to lose reception. You need digital audio in your car. (...) You'll need a way to connect your digital audio to your car stereo:»
Eis algumas hipoteses aqui
Mais uma ameaça?
«Auto manufacturers are notoriously slow when it comes to implementing new OEM equipment, so this information comes to me as a surprise (and requires a grain of salt). According to WKJeeps.com, the 2008 model year of Jeep vehicles will include Sirius Satellite Streaming Video as a feature/option.
Models to include Sirius Satellite Streaming Video are the Jeep Grand Cherokee (including Laredo, Limited, Overland and SRT8 trim packages), the Jeep Commander (Sport, Limited, and Overland trim packages) and the Jeep Liberty (spy photo pictured).
Remember that Mel Karmazin stated that Sirius Video is "well under way" and will be available later this year. More info on this as it comes in»
fonte: 2008 Jeeps to feature Sirius Satellite Video? Orbicast, 22/8/06
«(...) the car has become a battle zone. An astonishing number of cars roll off the lines today with built-in DVD systems to keep the kids occupied in the back seat. The GPS systems are rapidly moving from novelty to standard equipment, and all of them plan to replace the 'old-fashioned' radio traffic report. And car companies are jumping over themselves to make integration with the iPod easier, through Bluetooth or other solutions. Can radio successfully compete in this environment? Of course. It will still be the leader for a long time to come...but today's radio companies must start to see themselves as being in the 'in-car' entertainment and information' biz, not just the AM/FM biz.»
fonte: «Car Trouble», The Infinite Dial, Larry Rosin, 12/10/06
Finalmente um receptor HD para o carro:
«Visteon launched its new transportable HD Radio receiver at the Specialty Equipment Markets Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. This unit, HD Jump, delivers premium new HD2 multicast channels both in the car, as well as in the home. The receiver docks into a cradle in the vehicle. An optional home kit allows the receiver to also be used with a home stereo. The unit offers the full spectrum of HD Radio features, including program associated data, such as real-time song title, artist and album information, as well as multicasting»
Mais pormenores do HD Jump: «This transportable unit, HD Jump™, delivers premium new HD2 multicast channels and crystal-clear sound, both in the car, as well as in the home»
Putting PCs on wheels are:
• Ford Motor. F-Series pickups can now be equipped with FordLink, which went on sale last month, as a $2,999 option. The PC is aimed at contractors who want to order building materials or send e-mail from the cab. A rugged PC fits into a cradle in front of the dash. The PC, which runs Microsoft's XP software, can play Internet radio and MP3 music files.
• KVH Industries. The TracNet 100 system, introduced in September, displays Web pages on a vehicle's navigation and video screens and creates a wireless connection in the car. The cost is about $2,000 for the hardware and $79 monthly for the connection. Web access in vehicles "is going to be as common as cellphones," predicts Ian Palmer, executive vice president of KVH.
• Microsoft and Azentek. The software giant, working with hardware maker Azentek, will offer consumers a choice of two small PCs next year. One is a small portable, a little bigger than a Cracker Jack box, that can be carried around and temporarily popped into the dash where the stereo is located. The other, a more powerful model, is installed in the dash. Prices for both will be upward of $2,000.
Drivers will need to exercise safety. They won't be allowed to view their e-mail and other distracting functions unless the car is stopped. But that problem is being solved as voice-command systems become more widespread. For instance, Canadian firm Intelligent Mechatronic Systems next year will offer its iLane cradle for personal digital assistants. The cradle uses a synthesized voice to read arriving e-mail, calendar reminders and text messages.»
fonte: USA Today, «Web Acess for autos goes on the road», 31/10/06, Chris Woodyard
A resposta é dada neste estudo de 2003 http://www.arbitron.com/downloads/UK_Incar_Study.pdf
GB: Rádio FM/AM 69%; (Leitor de CD 16%; telemóvel 8% e outros 7%)
EUA: Rádio FM/AM 67%; (Leitor de CD 18%, Leitor de cassetes 8%, Outros 7% e telemóvel 1%)
A propósito do estudo http://www.arbitron.com/downloads/UK_Incar_Study.pdf algumas notas:
-Enquanto nos Estados Unidos os respondentes dizem que as crianças que viajam no carro decidem o que se ouve na rádio 21%, na GB esse valor chega aos 34% (o que significa que os adultos vale nesse processo de decisão menos de 50%)
(ou seja, as crianças não querem ouvir o que os adultos ouvem)
E o mesmo estudo mostra que a rádio este menos dominadora entre os jovens:
(tempo dispendido a ouvir rádio no carro, GB e EUA)
12-17 (61% e 67%)
18-24 (59% e 55%)
25-34 (58% e 70%)
35-44 (71% e 83%)
45-54 (80% e 84%)
55-64 (71% e 84%)
+65 (61% e 71%)
Poderia pensar-se em valores mais altos, mas ainda assim o carro é em Portugal o local onde se ouve mais rádio, de acordo com os valores divulgados pela Marktest e relativos ao Bareme Rádio 2005.
«2 441 mil residentes com 15 e mais anos que costumam ouvir rádio no carro (referência: ouviram na véspera), um número que representa 29.4% do universo em análise». A um ponto percentual vem a casa como segundo local onde se ouve mais rádio e a grande distancia (cerca de 10 por cento) o local de trabalho.
O perfil das estações remete para diferentes universos: umas são mais ouvidas no carro, outras – em que predominam não activos ou os estudantes – em casa: «É o caso da RFM, Rádio Comercial, TSF/Press, Antena 3, RCP - Rádio Clube Português, Mega FM e Best Rock FM. Todas estas estações registam audiência acumulada de véspera superior quando analisado o carro como local de audição. Já a Rádio Renascença, Antena 1, Cidade FM, Antena 2 e o conjunto de Outras estações apresentam mais audiência acumulada de véspera quando analisada a casa como local de audição»
Fonte: «2,4 milhões ouvem rádio no carro», Marktest, 12/10/06
De acordo com este estudo de 2003 http://www.arbitron.com/downloads/UK_Incar_Study.pdf
os números portugueses comparam-se com os 24% franceses, 15% alemães, 13% holandeses, 18% da GB e os 33% dos EUA (percentagem da audiência total feita no carro)
entre estes dois estudos:
- Shifting Gears: The In-Car Study», sobre o Reino Unido (julho/Agosto 2003) e
- The National In-Car Study, sobre os EUA (Julho 2003)
Tempo de escuta de rádio no carro 33% nos EUA (passam mais tempo no carro), 18% GB
- dispositivo tecnológico usado no carro: rádio com 86% (EUA) e 96% (GB).
- distribuição etária: quanto mais jovens menos tempo passam/ouvem no carro (no estudo, população com mais de 12 anos)
- a mudança de pré-selecção não é muito frequente (comportamento constante dos consumidores)
- A audição no carro aumentou de 30% na primavera de 1999 para 34% no mesmo período de 2003
«Listening is roughly split between in-home (54%) and out-of-home (46%).» (fonte: Follow the Media, , Michael Hedges March 8, 2005) a partir do Observatoire de la radio 2004-2005 (http://www.ipfrance.fr/doc/112276.pdf#search=%22observatoire%20de%20la%20radio%20%22):
casa: 54%
carro: 26%
trabalho: 16 %
outros 4 %
... feita por Mark Ramsey
«(...) First, the 2006 Volvo. Nice, solid car. But what's up the the audio technology? No satellite radio options, no iPod hookup, no navigation screen. Frankly, I could have bought this car in 2002 and had the same audio options as they offer now.
Meanwhile, the saleswoman kept jibber-jabbering to me about safety. One feature after another that essentially added up to "if the car rolls over, you won't die."
Then I drove the Prius. Top-of-the-line version. Fancy navigation screen. Plug for the iPod. Whichever satellite radio provider you want, all operated from the nav screen. Bluetooth for hands-free mobile phone. Impressive. Especially in comparison. No chat about safety - but frankly I've never seen a Prius with a massive dent in the side (...)»
fonte: http://www.hear2.com/2006/09/a_tale_of_two_c.html
A Clear Channel assinou um acordo com a BMW: vários modelos de topo a sair no próximo ano já trarão - sem custos acrescidos - informação na hora de transito (em 44 cidades):
«Clear Channel Radio said Thursday it will provide data from its Total Traffic Network to the navigation systems for most 2007 BMW vehicles--including the X5, M5, M6 models and the 3, 5, and 6 Series lines. The service, which is set to kick in for new BMW buyers later this month, offers real-time traffic information for 44 cities in the United States. The service will be included in the cost of the navigation system, so there will be no monthly fees. This is Clear Channel's first partnership with an auto manufacturer, but the radio giant's Total Traffic Network has been paired with other services, among them WeatherBug and Microsoft's MapPoint.»
fonte: «Clear Channel to offer traffic updates to BMWs» CNet News.com, 8/9/06
Já não é a primeira que escrevo sobre a importância dos novos receptores de rádio (HD ou satélite) aparecerem como equipamento-base nos novos modelos de carros. Uma coisa é serem opção, outra é instalados de origem. Por isso esta é uma boa notícia:
«XM Satellite Radio, the nation's leading provider of satellite radio with more than 7 million subscribers, today announced that Acura will expand the availability of factory-installed XM radios throughout its entire 2007 model year line, making XM standard equipment on all Acura models. In addition, Acura will now offer XM NavTraffic, the nation's first satellite-based real- time traffic information service, as part of the AcuraLink(TM) system available for an expanded line of four of its top-selling models including the 2007 Acura RL and TL luxury performance sedans as well as the all-new MDX and RDX luxury SUVs.
Acura was the first automotive brand to offer XM NavTraffic when it was introduced in the 2005 Acura RL. Now available in 44 major markets, award- winning XM NavTraffic delivers real-time traffic information by satellite to in-car navigation systems, giving consumers access to relevant traffic information to help avoid congestion while saving both time and the fuel often wasted by sitting in traffic.
"We're proud to be Acura's exclusive satellite radio and traffic service partner," said Steve Cook, executive vice president, Automotive, XM Satellite Radio. "Acura buyers embrace and expect class-leading, in-car technology and entertainment, and XM has the best combination of services to meet their high standards."
fonte: «XM Satellite Radio Now Standard Equipment in All 2007 Acura Models», Yahho Finance, Wednesday September 13, 8:00 am ET
«Clear Channel Radio snagged an automaker for its Total Traffic Network. The broadcaster signed a multi-year agreement with BMW to provide traffic data as part of standard navigation systems offered on some 2007 BMW models, including the X5, M5, M6 and the 3, 5 and 6 Series models. The feature becomes available on BMWs in the middle of this month. Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network serves 125 markets in three countries, including the U.S., Mexico and New Zealand. It delivers traffic data via in-car or portable navigation systems, broadcast media, wireless and Internet-based services.»
fonte: «BMW to Offer Clear Channel Traffic as Standard on Some ’07 Vehicles», RWOnline, 7/9/06
«iBiquity director of broadcast marketing Don Kelly reported that there will be an HD Radio car converter on the market by Thanksgiving for standard analog radios. Though not digital, he said the converters will also be available for home radios. He also said there will be a transportable unit with a car kit on the market by later this summer»
fonte: HD Radio Update From Conclave, BRMonitor, July 14, 2006, By Mike Boyle
comentário: «So in other words, we have a product called "HD Radio" where the very name of the product implies superior audio quality. And yet we sell an adapter that is designed to broadcast that digital radio on the analog radios in every car - to subtract the "HD" from HD Radio (and before you draw an analogy to satellite radio, the term "satellite" does not imply "high definition" the way "HD" does). While it is not wrong that all these channels should be available on conventional radios, it does yet again raise the spectre of a central marketing and communication issue: "HD Radio" is a bad and confusing label that promises something the audience does not want and does not even understand. Forgive me for asking this question so bluntly, but is there anyone in the HD radio daisy chain of decision-makers who is thinking through a product strategy, a consumer strategy, or a marketing strategy? Or is it just "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead"?» (http://www.hear2.com/2006/07/hd_radio_dumps_.html)
As novas tecnologias digitais estão a fazer com que a relação homem-auto-rádio, uma relação com quarenta anos e sem traições (os CD foram apenas pequenas aventuras...*), esteja ameaçada.
Há cada vez mais formas de disputar a atenção que, até agora, era dada apenas e só ao auto-rádio.
O telemóvel começou por ameaçar, mas enquanto foi apenas para fazer chamadas significou apenas uma ocupação do tempo - ou seja, para questões ludicas ou informativas, o autoradio não tinha concorrencia. Mas o telemovel já tem musica (em downloads ou via internet) e a musica já chega por outros meios que não o rádio ou o CD (por exemplo, atraves de leitores digitais de audio). E sem publicidade.
Ou seja, a disputa pela atenção (tempo disponível) no interior do carro é feita de duas formas: pelo aparecimento de novas situações que nos prendem (como o GPS ou as conversas ao telemóvel), pela concorrencia na parte informativa/lúdica (aqui não é posisvel ignorar os leitores de DVD ou os ecrãs de televisão, no painel frontal
A rádio saberá tirar partido das tecnologias para não perder protagonismo no interior do carro? (o digital, o satélite, a webradio?)
* só alguém muito disciplinado (ou muito melomano) consegue fazer uma gestão dos CD no carro, renovando-os. Mas, sobretudo na musica pop, ouvir um CD nem sempre é uma opção válida, por ser monotona (duas musicas «boas» num CD...); além do mais quem é que se dá ao trabalho de gravar CD com «música variada»? No entanto, há cada vez mais sistemas que oferecem discos rtígidos com, por exemplo 30 GB, o que permite gravar os CD preferidos na memória... do carro e constituir uma oferta muito significativa e concorrencial com a rádio
«To receive portable Internet radio, you'll need:
- A pocket PC that has a built-in Wi-Fi card, such as the HP rx1955 ($299; www.hp.com);
- Free music-playing software, such as Windows Media Player 10 (www.windowsmediaplayer.com) or RealPlayer (www.real.com);
- A Wi-Fi hot spot, which is a place -- usually a coffee shop or public library -- that broadcasts an Internet signal in much the same way a radio station broadcasts its radio signal. A Wi-Fi enabled device can pick up these signals and log onto the Internet, in much the same way a radio can tune in radio signals.
While some hot spots charge $7 a more an hour to use their Internet, North America has tens of thousands of free hot spots. Find one near you at www.anchorfree.com.
- A wireless Internet account, if you don't want to be tied down to a hot spot. Verizon Wireless beams its broadband signal over most of the United States, and if you have a Wi-Fi enabled device, you can log on for $80 a month, or $60 a month if you have a Verizon Wireless voice account and a two-year contract; www.verizonwireless.com.»
fonte: Gwinn, Eric, «Radio on the go» Chicago Tribune, 30/5/06 in http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/reviews/chi-0605290211may30,1,3837879.column?coll=chi-technologyreviews-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
Mais uma marca automóvel a promover-se com uma associação de um leitor de mp3, neste caso o Modus Creative.
(só não percebi se o leitor de mp3 liga directamente ao carro ou se são duas coisas diferentes e independentes)
A BMW propõe vários audio-books para ouvir em mp3, no computador ou - dizem - idealmente no carro!
Como lembra o Edgard, a BMW está a fazer aquilo que a Mercedes já iniciara (ou é o contrário): «Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is testing their first iPod-compatible Audio Books at the New York Auto Show, open to the public March 25 - April 2, 2005 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. Designed to brief potential Mercedes buyers about new car features, Audio Books provide in-depth digital "walk-around" narrations through the familiar, easy-to-use iPod unit. Interested consumers at the show can download Mercedes-Benz Audio Books to their own iPod for $2.95 each, or they can experience the walk-around narrations without charge on loaner iPods. Downloads of the Mercedes-Benz Audio Books will also be available for purchase at http://www.apple.com/itunes/»; http://www.mbusa.com/features/iPod/index.do