Volume 12 Issue 1 » 39
Ask the Experts
The 4 Best Infotainment Systems
Words and photos by Benjamin Yong
»
If you’re old enough to remember, there was a time when the
only thing inside a car that could be considered entertainment
was an AM/FM radio. If you were really lucky, there might
have even been a cassette or CD player. Those days are long
gone, however, and automakers of all types are trying to create
an inclusive high-tech environment where you can control your
smart devices via your vehicle, and vice versa. These are some of
the latest automotive information and entertainment systems
available right now.
Audi connect®
The German manufacturer with the
four rings calls its information and
entertainment technology Audi connect®,
part of the Multi Media Interface (MMI),
which they describe as “all applications and
developments that connect Audi models to
the owner, the Internet, the infrastructure
and other vehicles.” One of the first
companies to provide broadband Internet
on-the-go, Audi has expanded its services
to include high-speed LTE support and
WiFi hotspot connectivity.
Working from the driver’s seat is no
problem with text-to-speech functionality.
Through a synced device, emails can be
read aloud, and SMS can be sent using
voice commands. To unwind, Audi music
stream is able to play songs from a personal
music library or from over 3,000 Internet
radio stations.
In the new Q7 and the upcoming TT,
Audi is introducing the Virtual Cockpit, a
replacement for the traditional instrument
cluster. A 12.3-inch display resides
where the speedometer and fuel gauge
would normally sit,