Parrot ASTEROID Lineup

At CES 2011, Parrot unveiled the first Android-powered in-dash car radio, aka ASTEROID. Today, the company is updating its Asteroid lineup with three new products.

Priced at $599 (549 Euros), the flagship, the ASTEROID Smart, is packed with cool features, including a 6.2” WVGA (800×480) multi-touch capacitive screen, a GPS antenna with onboard navigation system, hands-free telephony, internet access via 3G/4G key or Bluetooth or USB tethering, built-in WiFi, SD card slot, USB connectivity and a broad range of connectors for audio/video extensions (6 RCA, 1 video input, 1 video output, and a rear camera connector).

You can connect and sync two smartphones at the same time, however, the ASTEROID does not handle two calls simultaneously. Smartphones running IOS, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Bada are supported. Thanks to its Android-based operating system (Gingerbread, version 2.3), Parrot offers an online store labeled ASTEROID Market, accessible from the device’s browser, where you can buy or download for free a number of applications dedicated to the device. From navigation, to music or radio, the device provides a broad choice of activities, however, a number of applications, such as email on-screen reading or video playback, are blocked when the car is in motion to ensure safety.

Gallery above : ASTEROID Smart

The more affordable ASTEROID Tablet features a smaller 5” multi-touch capacitive screen, an integrated GPS antenna with onboard navigation system, hands-free telephony, internet access via 3G/4G key or Bluetooth or USB tethering, built-in WiFi, and a more limited number of audio connectors (2 output – 1 input), no video connectors. When connected to the internet via WiFi or via tethering, you can access the ASTEROID Market to download apps as well. The ASTEROID Tablet will retail for $399 (349 Euros) in November 2012.

The entry level ASTEROID Mini comes with a 3.2” TFT display (non-touch), a GPS Antenna with a simplified navigation interface powered by Waze, internet access via 3G/4G key or Bluetooth or USB tethering, a more limited number of audio connectors (2 output – 1 input), no video connectors and no WiFi. Powered by Android 1.5, the ASTEROID Mini can access the ASTEROID Market, and it comes with a wireless remote control to be attached to the steering wheel. It will retail for $299 (249 Euros) in November 2012.

ASTEROID Smart features:

Available November 2012 – $599 in the US and 549 Euros in Europe

General

• 6.2’’ multi-touch capacitive
• screen
• 1 removable faceplate
• Bluetooth v3.0 with EDR
• Android 2.3 platform
• Apple certification: Made for
• iPod, iPhone, and iPad
• Internet connection
• over: 3G/4G USB Dongle,
• Smartphone (USB and
• Bluetooth Tethering), Wi-Fi
• Software update via USB key
• Steering-wheel controls
• compatible (Parrot UNIKA connector)

Music

• Voice-activated music Search
• Compatibility with iPod/
• iPhone/iPad by cable, USB,
• SD card, Line input
• Audio effects: Virtual SuperBass 2 & Sound Stage 2 Parametric equalizer with 7 bands, 5 presets, 1 custom preset
• Compatible formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV, OGG

Technical Specifications

• External GPS receiver
• SiRFStar IVTM
• 4 x 55 W MOSFET amplifier –
• 2 x line output – 1 x line input
• Noise reduction, full duplex and echo cancellation
• Processor TI – 800 MHz
• Flash memory: 1 Gb/8 Gb NAND
• RAM memory: 512 Mb/4 Gb DDR

 Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions : 178 x 99,8 x 114 mm
• Weight: 1000 g

Apps

• Download useful APPs from
• ASTEROID Market : Driving
• assistance, Navigation,
• Music on demand, Points of Interest…
• Link: www.parrot.com/
• Asteroidmarket

Telephone

• Dual Mode (MULTIPOINT)
• Advanced voice recognition
• Automatic phonebook
• synchronisation
• Call management (Answer,
• make, reject…)
• Phonebook: up to 5,000
• contacts per telephone/
• 50,000 in total
• Pairing : up to 10 phones,
• PIN code : 0000

Audio

• DSP,
• full duplex,
• advanced noise reduction,
• echo cancellation

Video

• 1 reverse camera input
• 1 RCA input
• 1 RCA output
• Compatible with H.264 format

Pack content

• 1 x ASTEROID Smart
• 1 x ASTEROID GPS
• 1 x mounting sleeve
• 1 x USB extension
• 1 x iPod/iPhone/iPad cable
• 3 x cable ties
• 1 x ISO cable
• 1 x double external microphone

Eliane Fiolet
Categories: Breaking, Cellphones, Tablets, Transportation
Tags: Parrot