Pioneer App Radio officially unveiled

Pioneer has officially unveiled the App Radio that AutoWeek told you about earlier this month.

Now that it's willing to talk, Pioneer claims that the radio and audio system is "the first in-vehicle product designed to utilize the processing power, storage capacity, network connectivity and apps of the iPhone and iPod Touch as the primary source for its information and entertainment capabilities."

That does sound a lot like what Mini Connected and, in a more platform-agnostic sense, Ford Sync are doing. Pioneer said it couldn't speak to the similarity of those systems, but Ted Cardenas, director of marketing for Pioneer's car-electronics division, briefed us on installation of the device and what Pioneer is doing to minimize driver distraction.

The product is entirely aftermarket. A consumer would buy it the same way she might purchase other automotive accessories such as running boards or roof racks, Cardenas said. The device likely will be distributed at outlets such as Best Buy that currently distribute other Pioneer products, and buyers could have the retailer install the product or go to a customization shop for installation. Cardenas predicts that average installation costs will be $75 to $100.

"We introduce a lot of products like this in our aftermarket division first, and as the technology proves itself, we begin offering it to our OEM customers as well," Cardenas said.

As for driver distraction, the device offers a more sensitive and intuitive touch screen. And Pioneer, like Ford Sync, limits functionality of certain apps while the vehicle is turned on. For example, in Pioneer's partnership with Pandora Internet radio, users can scroll through songs while driving but can't create a new radio station.

"Anything that is safe to do while you're driving is enabled and anything that is not is disabled," Cardenas said.

By Julie Alvin