Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD Head Unit
People want to pack more information into smaller spaces, leading to compressed music files. Designed with digital music in mind, Pioneer's AVH-P4100DVD double-DIN ($580, www.pioneerelectronics.com) restores lost sound to those compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files. The 7" touchscreen (with new interface) makes scrolling through your iPod or iPhone a breeze. Plus, you can watch iPod video, DVDs, DivX or your own jpegs on it. A true multimedia unit, it allows you to hook up other PMPs (portable media players) through the USB port or mini-jack input, as well as satellite radio and HD Radio tuners for more music and a Bluetooth adapter for hands-free calling.
Motorola W233
Renew Phone
Although it doesn't offer all the bells 'n whistles found on your iPhone or Palm Pre, the Renew mobile phone ($TBA, www.motorola.com) makes you feel good about helping the environment. The plastic housing is not only 100% recyclable, but is made from recycled water bottles. To offset the carbon dioxide created in manufacturing, distributing and even making calls from the phone, Motorola invested in renewable energy sources and reforestation. So, despite your gasoline indulgences, you can still be green and help the environment.
Eclipse AVN4430 Head Unit
For anybody who loves portable suction-cupped navigation devices but hates the dash-top clutter, Eclipse has the new AVN4430 ($850, www.eclipse-web.com). The double-DIN head unit fits into the dash as an installed head unit would, but it features a portable navigation device docked in its face. To bring your nav with you to another car, just pop it out (purchase the optional mounting kit for ease of use) and take it with you. Besides navigation, other features include Bluetooth for hands-free calls, voice recognition, CD/DVD playback plus iPod audio and video.
Kicker SoloClassic Subwoofer
Cabin space is often in high demand, so Kicker looked back to its classic small-box Solo-Baric subwoofers for lovers of deep bass with limited space. Updated with today's technology, the subs such as the 8" S8C ($250, www.kicker.com) - only require a 0.3cuft enclosure. The 15" version ($450) needs only 1.25cuft! Both leave plenty of room in the trunk for your groceries or other upgrades.
Giinii Movit Communication Device
Imagine a portable media player that also lets you surf the web as well as make and receive VoIP calls. That's the best way to describe the Movit Mini ($160, www.giinii.com). At about the same size as a portable nav, with a screen size of 4.3", the Movit Mini is large enough to view video, but small enough to tuck into a jacket pocket or bag. It works by utilizing WiFi hotspots to let you make those Skype calls, visit your favorite social network sites or just check emails. And with more cities creating larger WiFi zones, you really might be able to free yourself from an expensive data plan with your mobile phone carrier. When you're not using it for web-related tasks, you can just listen to music, play videos or take pics and video of yourself.