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Clarion AutoPC recieves 'Excellent' Rating; Technology Leader Launches Special Navigation Package

18 November 1999

Leading Consumer Publication( guess which one) Gives Clarion AutoPC 'Excellent' Rating; Technology Leader Launches Special Navigation Package

    GARDENA, Calif., Nov. 17 -- One of the nation's leading
investigative publications focusing on consumer products, has recently given
the Clarion AutoPC an overall excellent rating.  The independent review was
split into three sections: Clarion's Satellite Navigation System received an
"excellent" score, while the unit's display received a "good" rating and ease
of operation also ranked a "very good" score.  The rating confirms and
supports the phenomenal consumer response the unit has received since its
launch in January.
    The AutoPC, powered by Microsoft's Windows CE operating system, converges
car audio, computing functions, navigation and wireless communications through
hands-free voice activation into a 1-DIN unit in the dash of an automobile.
Designed with safety, efficiency and convenience in mind, the AutoPC
recognizes simple voice commands, allowing consumers to do things like select
music and retrieve contact information without taking their eyes off the road.
    "We are extremely pleased to have received such an excellent rating from
one of the nation's most prestigious consumer product publications," said Jim
Minarik, president and CEO of Clarion Corporation of America.  "We've known
for a while that the AutoPC was a winner.  It's nice to receive this
validation."
    In response to consumer interest as a result of this and other positive
industry reviews, Clarion is offering a special Nav310C AutoPC Navigation
System package at a price of $1599.  The package will include the 310C AutoPC,
GPS, Odyssey Navigation Software with a bonus NavTech Map Disk and will be
available today at authorized Clarion dealers nationwide.  Other package
incentives include a limited-time CUE special with the purchase of the CUE
receiver.  Customers will receive three months free service and a $25
automatic rebate from CUE.  There is also a compact flash card special at a
one-time promotional price of $40.
    "We would like to take the opportunity to thank our partners for helping
to make the promotion possible," said Minarik.  "Their support for the
platform is the key to making the promotion a success."
    InfoGation's Odyssey navigation provides route calculation from a user
specified starting location and destination, as well as spoken turn-by-turn
directions.  It is the first navigation system to integrate with a car stereo
allowing a driver to view and track the car's location on a map display.
Coupled with the Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, the unit provides
automatic starting point identification and location updates as well as
pinpoints the driver's exact locale.
    The NavTech database provides 150 navigation attributes for each street
segment, addresses, and points of interest in 42 categories such as
restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions.  NavTech is an extensive and precise
digital representation of the road network that provides the depth, accuracy
and coverage needed to enable turn-by-turn, door-to-door guidance.  It
provides detailed, street-level coverage for more than half the U.S.
population in over 3,000 cities nationwide, including most major tourist
destinations.  The remainder of the U.S. is covered at a level equivalent to
the roads featured on an AAA state map.  Additionally, the Clarion AutoPC uses
NavTech's SDAL technology, a comprehensive data access software environment
that delivers a common media format and enables CD-ROM interchangeability
across navigation applications, and NavTools, a suite of software libraries
containing high-level algorithms used for building robust navigation
applications.
    Clarion Corporation of America, with U.S. headquarters in Gardena, Calif.,
has been an international leader in car audio and electronics since 1940.  The
company conducts research, development, engineering, design and manufacturing
of entertainment, communication, security, computing and navigation systems
products.  Clarion has more than 14,000 employees worldwide and 24 factories
in 10 countries, with marketing and sales affiliates in Europe, North and
South America, Asia and Australia.  Clarion is located on the Web at
http://www.clarionmultimedia.com.
    Clarion is the developer and manufacturer of the revolutionary Clarion
AutoPC(TM), which is the first product to integrate car audio, computing
functions, navigation and wireless communications through hands-free voice
activation within the dash of an automobile.  Information on the Clarion
AutoPC, which is powered by the Microsoft Windows(R) CE operating system, can
be found at http://www.autopc.com.