As we've noticed over the past few years, cars are getting smarter and smarter with every new model that comes out on the market, most of them featuring advanced infotainment solutions right out of the box or supporting a wide range of after-market improvements. In fact, the most recent systems of this type are built around powerful (yet low-power) CPUs, and that's exactly the case with the I-Navi AE, which has just been released by Korean company Thinkware Systems Corporation.

So, the system in question is based on the low-power Alchemy Au1310 processor, the latest addition to the Alchemy Au1300 lineup, which includes the second-generation Media Acceleration Engine (MAE2), providing hardware Bit Stream Acceleration and entropy decode to enable Wide-CIF (480x288) video decode and frees up additional CPU performance “headroom” for enabling multi- tasking capabilities such as navigation, advanced user interface, media playback and other communication features.

With the help of this advanced CPU, the I-Navi AE on-dash navigation system is able to offer users an intuitive GUI, advanced backlight control and numerous passenger entertainment options. The system is pre-loaded with a newly upgraded “I-Navi SE 3.2” navigation application software with an integrated 7-inch diagonal, wide screen display and sports a new case design that complements the most luxurious vehicle interior. The Starlit Black case is wrapped on both sides with a transparent bezel containing soft orange 6 LED lights and full touch controls.

The “I-Navi AE” introduces the L-sensor (luminance sensor) that automatically adjusts the LCD screen backlight brightness based on ambient lighting conditions. This will automatically adjust the screen brightness during nighttime driving or when entering a tunnel.

In addition to the advanced navigation and design features, Thinkware’s “I-Navi AE” also supports a variety of passenger entertainment options such as digital TV broadcast (DMB), a karaoke player, several entertaining games, and multimedia playback features (audio and video) to enable user media playback from an external USB memory device.

“We have had a long relationship with Thinkware, and we believe the innovation that they bring to their markets coupled with the best-in-class capabilities of the Au1310 will continue to be a winning combination,” said Mike Wodopian, vice president of marketing, ultra low-power processor products at NetLogic Microsystems. “By being able to offer a solution that extends the platform family to deliver the performance needed for this advanced, multifunction navigation device while maintaining pin and software compatibility throughout the Au1300 family, gives our customers a distinct advantage in being able to deliver a scalable product offering.”


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