It's no secret that Pioneer's in-dash GPS navigation/infotainment systems designed especially for automobiles are among the most expensive, but at the same time, advanced products of this type are released in this specific market segment. However, it seems that the company has decided to take things even further and has just announced three new models, the Pioneer AVIC-F700BT, AVIC-F900BT and Premier branded AVIC-F90BT, which combine a multitude of functional entertainment capabilities with advanced navigation features.

Since these things are capable of delivering a multitude of functions, we'll just take them one at a time, starting with navigation. Thus, each system uses flash memory to obtain quicker mapping information and allow an "always on" navigation state, the map database from Tele Atlas covering the entire United States, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii. The database includes more than 12-million points of interest (POI), users being able to overlay certain POI categories onto the map for quick identification, further enhancing the navigation experience. On the AVIC-F900BT and AVIC-F90BT model, specific landmarks are illustrated using 3-dimensional icons.

As an added benefit, each system employs a Text-to-Speech (TTS) function to further improve its assistance capabilities. Moreover, the AVIC-F900BT and AVIC-F90BT versions also feature MSN Direct connectivity, allowing users to receive updated traffic, weather forecasts, gas prices and movie times information for more than 100 cities across the United States and Canada.

Each of the highly sophisticated in-dash navigation systems enable users to link and control their personal devices, whether we're talking about Apple iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, MSN Direct, HD radio, XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, single CD, DVD video playback and compressed audio and video playback through USB and SD memory devices. Additionally, each unit offers an advanced conversational voice recognition system (the "fruit" of a collaboration with VoiceBox Technologies) for hands-free dialing of compatible Bluetooth-enabled cell phones and control of an entire music collection on iPod players.

Another very interesting thing about the AVIC-F Series systems is that they also allow conversational elements from the user's speech, such as stumbles and pauses, without failing to respond to the command. For example, when the user says, "I want to, ah, play artist, um, Black Eyed Peas," the system distinguishes the command phrase from the extra unwanted words to perform the desired function.

Additionally, it's also important to mention the fact that the Pioneer AVIC-F navigation systems can be fully integrated into nearly any car with a double DIN dash opening.

All three new models from Pioneer (Pioneer AVIC-F700BT, AVIC-F900BT and Premier AVIC-F90BT) will be available for the eagerly-waiting customers in June 2008 for a suggested price of $850, $1,100 and $1,200 respectively, which means that you should start saving right now if you want to go "vocal" on your infotainment system.


We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That's why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .