BOSS crams USB, SD and Bluetooth into a car stereo

We've seen all of these fancy add-ons like USB, SD and Bluetooth show up in all sorts of separate car stereos, but BOSS is the first we've seen to get up the chutzpah to throw them all into one stereo for the ultimate in nerdy in-dash entertainment. Thanks to our complete inability to read Korean, we're not really sure what these stereos, the 638B and P255B, do beyond the obvious, but the pretty pictures tell us that you can plug your USB phone in for charging and possibly other functionality, and that there is iPod functionality of some sort. Sounds good to us, now all we need is a car and we're set.

[apt @ Jun 16th 2006 2:55PM]

Too bad it looks just as nerdy

Give it to Alpine or Pioneer and then we'll see what happens...

[Ian @ Jun 16th 2006 3:18PM]

The ultimate nerdy in-dash audio player is an EMPEG. Thanks for playing.

[Illphil @ Jun 16th 2006 3:21PM]

so what, i bought my sister a car stereo will all the above features (to be exactly: usb 2.0 and sd slot) for her birthday half a year ago, cost me 80 bucks (euros ;) - the only thing which is extra is the bt, and who the hell needs that ;P /pessimism off

first post btw yipee

[Illphil @ Jun 16th 2006 3:21PM]

damn, not the first post ;P

[Future Tech Web @ Jun 16th 2006 3:21PM]

I wonder who will win the battle for wireless nearfield communications. You have bluetooth, zigbee, infrared, philips NFC technology, and many others. The technology that becomes the dominant design will certainly provide some nice returns to the companies backing it up.

[mastershake916 @ Jun 16th 2006 3:37PM]

Bluetooth phones?
I mean that seems to be the obvious one, if the screen on this thing was better I would expect that text messages would should up, that and caller ID, but the screen doesn't look too great.

[Chris @ Jun 16th 2006 3:49PM]

I want a stereo with Wi-Fi and a nice size HDD to hold my audio/video. I want to be able to use my home PC or notebook to stream all my files to my stereo.


"I wonder who will win the battle for wireless nearfield communications. You have bluetooth, zigbee, infrared, philips NFC technology, and many others. The technology that becomes the dominant design will certainly provide some nice returns to the companies backing it up."

Honestly, I'm only well versed in BT and IR, but these two will be around for a long time. IR is very effective for line-of-sight and requires very little power. Assuming you aren't using it for large data xfers. BT is an excellent close range microwave and it seems to be getting better and better. I think IR will outlast BT is longterm functionality though.

[Pinkerton @ Jun 16th 2006 4:01PM]

Boss? That is not a brand that inspires confidence.

Blaupunkt and others make stereos with the same features. I've been eyeballing this model (at $500 it is probably a lot pricier)... http://www.blaupunkt.com/us/7646530310_main.asp

Heh, notice the model name, Memphis MP66_NRDS. NERDS!!!

[Guffy @ Jun 16th 2006 4:23PM]

Chris:
I think BT is alrady much more powerful and useful than IR ever was. IR is too slow, too short range and line-of-sight is obviously not as good.

I cant really think of anything good that IR could be used for that BT already cant do heaps better.

[kerunt @ Jun 16th 2006 4:49PM]

I see RAZR phones are supported.

[David @ Jun 16th 2006 5:02PM]

http://www.bossaudio.com/home/catalog/public_html/print/productSpecDetails.php?product_id=392

[TIMMAH! @ Jun 16th 2006 5:11PM]

Why is it always the no-name brands that need to drive these innovations! Where are any of the major players in all this?!?!

[Jimmy Kim @ Jun 16th 2006 6:21PM]

And this article was asking for a Korean to translate for you folks!
IT READS:--

The USB is to charge your phone, now you can leave home without worry about charging your phone.

The bluetooth is able to connect to your phone and the offer is that they all come with a free USB storage device to upload your favourite MP3's

Enjoy.

[TZK @ Jun 16th 2006 6:24PM]

oHO WoW ThIS is NEATO!

[matt chanoff @ Jun 16th 2006 6:38PM]

Sounds like a kludge of useless features.

What car stereos really need (besides decent sound and intuitive controls) is storage and a cd ripper. Practically every car is full of CDs - you step on them, put them in the wrong cases, get gum and soda and cherios all over them. Instead, you should be able to pop the thing in, rip it, and bring it back inside. The marginal cost couldn't be that high, because you'd get rid of the complicated, slow multiple CD magazines.

[Joseph Jenovese @ Jun 16th 2006 7:11PM]

contacted the company.....only plays 249 off of flash or hdd......a waste.....buy a hu that plays mp3's off cdr

[Taylor @ Jun 16th 2006 7:53PM]

Yeah, in case it hasn't been mentioned, you can get these at newegg. It's pretty cool, but it's all cheap; i wish a nice company did it though.
-Taylor

[TSUNAMI GADGETS @ Jun 17th 2006 4:31AM]

cannot link with my treo I think.. :(

[Mac112 @ Jun 17th 2006 5:07AM]

This is by no means the first car radio with this - for the past 6 months I have had a "BlueTinium" with these specs:

RDS-radio, CD/MP3-player, SD-slot, USB (plays MP3's from USB-keyrings) and Bluetooth handsfree. Unfortunately the microphone for the handsfree is in the in the front of the unit, and there is no plug for an external mic (the radio is mounted way low in my car (Alfa Milano/75), so i have to speak very loud…

I bought it in a supermarket for app. US$ 170.

[tim @ Jun 17th 2006 8:03AM]

And you're supposed do push all those tiny buttons while [i]driving[/i]?

[Magnit @ Jun 17th 2006 11:17AM]

Walmart sells 80$ simular device - http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4744710

[Eugene @ Jun 19th 2006 7:47AM]

This is by no means the best radio witch those features. If you are thinking about one then peep this one by Legacy. http://www.autotoys.com/x/catalog/LEGACY_LD53UM_DVD_AM_FM_RADIO_WITH_35_INCH_MONITOR_p_6521.html. It has everything a 3.5" Wide TFT Color LCD Screen it can play DVD, VCD, DVD-R, CD-RW, CD, MP3- MP4 and it has MMC/SD/USB card reader.

[Eugene @ Jun 19th 2006 7:51AM]

This is by no means the best radio witch those features. If you are thinking about one then peep this one by Legacy. It has everything a 3.5" Wide TFT Color LCD Screen it can play DVD, VCD, DVD-R, CD-RW, CD, MP3- MP4 and it has MMC/SD/USB card reader.

[Bunyamin Najmi @ Jun 29th 2006 10:12PM]

Can play DVD too,

http://bunyaminnajmi.blogspot.com/2006/06/explosound-ea-83d.html