Jan 6, 2011

JVC Announces New Receivers With Expanded App Control And Connectivity With iPod/iPhone

JVC Mobile Entertainment, a leading developer and manufacturer of sophisticated mobile, audio, and video products, enhances iPod technologies in 2010, as it continues to meet the high demand for in-vehicle connectivity and app integration.

Starting at an MSRP price of $119.95, the KD-R520 USB/CD Receiver features direct USB connection for iPod® and iPhone®, giving the user access to full digital playback, full speed playback, simultaneous charging, control from receiver or iPod®/iPhone, and external mode. Song and artist information is displayed on both device screens. External mode allows audio playback of iPod/iPhone applications through the car speakers. Using a simple USB connection, devices stay charged while listening to audio from apps such as internet radio, turn by turn navigation apps or YouTube®. The 2011 In-dash CD player line-up also includes 11 other models, which are also compatible with iPod/iPhone through USB connection. Video content played back from iPhone® and iPod® devices can also be displayed on multimedia capable models, using either a KS-U39 adapter cable for Navigation receivers, or the KS-U30 cable, which is continuing from 2010. Both cables are priced at an MSRP of $39.95.

JVC KD-R520

App control on connected iPhone® and iPod® devices has also increased this year with the addition of compatibility with the iheartradio® application on iPhones®. When connected to JVC’s two new Double-DIN Navigation receivers, users can listen to over 750 of iheartradio®’s original web-based radio stations or other Clear Channel stations currently broadcasting in cities all over the U.S. Through USB connection, users can control stations from the receiver while High-resolution album artwork and Artist/Song title information is shown on the display. Some stations even broadcast lyrics, which can be shown on screen as well, when available.

While both new 2011 Navigation models feature built-in HD Radio tuner and iheartradio® control, the flagship KW-NT50HDT adds capability of receiving News, Sports, Weather, and Real-Time Traffic data from Clear Channel’s Total Traffic+ HD Network through its HD radio tuner, or via cellular connection with using the iheartradio® Application on connected iPhone devices.

JVC will also be adding connectivity with Pandora internet radio to four of its new In-dash CD Receivers with Dual USB ports. When connected to iPhones via USB, users will be able to access station lists, bookmarks, Play/Pause Commands, and even thumbs-up and thumbs-down functions directly on the stereo controls.

JVC has also expanded their lineup of receivers from four in 2010, to five to be released this spring with built-in iTunes tagging; a feature allowing users to “tag” songs broadcasted over HD Radio, then download them later from the iTunes® store. The new KW-HDR720, priced at an MSRP of $179.95, will be the first In-dash Double-DIN CD player offering in the lineup to include a built-in HD Radio® Tuner with iTunes Tagging.