GROM Audio Forum: a New Channel in Our Car Audio Experience

Here at GROM Audio, we are passionate about our music, our car kits, and offering superior service for our customers. We are also passionate about the exciting innovations in connected car technology.

We aim to enhance car infotainment systems by offering hand-held device integration through our car kits. These innovations not only provide an exceptional listening experience, but also offer services like GPS navigation, along with other connected car features.

We know our customers share this passion. This is why GROM Audio wants to encourage a community amongst our customers.

For this reason, GROM Audio has just released a forum page on our website! This next development will be a fundamental step towards fostering community amongst our customers.

As you may be aware, forums are an excellent space to discuss products, network with other customers, offer suggestions and advice, and ask questions. Forums are also a method to search for answers to questions and problems that have already been discussed.

As always, GROM Audio also offers channels for our customers to ask questions directly to us through our contact page, along with our FAQ page with answers to key questions about our car kits.

We invite you to explore our new forum page. We have several sections to discuss various topics including GROM Products, GROM Software, and Miscellaneous & Others. We also have a Welcome section that includes topics for “Announcements,” “How it Works” (GROM products), and “Install help and questions.”

At GROM, we are committed to provide as many channels of communication available for support, information, and community amongst our customers. Our new forum page is the newest part of this commitment.

We hope that this new channel becomes an important part of our audio car kit experience. Thank you for being part of this experience!

Infotainment: Successes and Challenges

In reviewing the 10 best car infotainment systems, AutoGuide gave high marks for Ford for its MyFord Touch system. Specifically, they praised the voice activation feature, saying that it “practically makes every function of the infotainment system accessible to you without having to take your hands off the steering wheel or your eyes off the road.”

Infotainment Systems are those little computer screens and buttons on the dashboard between the driver and passenger side of your car. Usually they provide electronic mapping and GPS direction information for drivers, along with offering connectivity to internet radio, mp3, and other entertainment features for everyone riding in the vehicle. This fusion of information and entertainment has led to the creation of the term “infotainment.”

Most automakers offer infotainment systems in their latest models. Each system, though having the same basic design, are none the less different from another. They offer different features and providing varying quality on different elements of the overall design of an infotainment system.

The value of MyFord Touch voice activation system is in the ease of use—the user doesn’t have touch anything or take his eyes off the road to use it. As a driver, this can be the most important feature to look for when evaluating infotainment systems.

Another example would be BMW’s iDrive system. The infotainment screen offers high-resolution visuals, 1280×480 pixels, along with 3D maps and sliding animations. The controls for the system are accessed through a small knob with surrounding buttons located by the gear shift for ease of use.

There are also challenges that many of these systems face, among them are slow response to user commands and system errors.

Looking at MyFord Touch again, although the voice activation feature is well regarded; it is also plagued with malfunctions and errors, leading to negative feedback and complaints from owners. Kia’s infotainment system, UVO, has also developed a reputation, according to AutoGuide, as “frustratingly slow to respond.”

Another problem for driver’s with these systems are interfaces that can be complicated and confusing for the driver.

Infiniti’s InTouch system; which is well regarded because of features that allow drivers to access email, social media, and Google apps; has a dual screen system where one display is controlled via a touch-screen, while the other is controlled via a knob. This has been cited as both confusing and distracting.

Likewise, Mazda’s Connect system, which has very positive marks for its interface that includes both a touch-screen and knob setup, unfortunately also it has complaints for some of its basic functions that have been cited as needlessly complicated in light of other automaker systems.

At GROM Audio, we are constantly looking at these details in infotainment systems.

The successes and challenges in those systems can also be reflected in our car audio kits. The ability to enhance driver information and entertainment services are a both new and constantly evolving form of technology. This is the case both in onboard infotainment systems or external hand-held device, made more accessible through GROM’s car kits.

GROM Audio is committed to continually studying this emerging technology to create car kits that offer the best and safest experience for our customers.

Volvo XC90 Radio removal and GROM-MST4 USB Android iPhone and Bluetooth ...

The Connected Car and How It will Change Our Future on the Road

In a recent Hollywood Action film, one of the movie’s heroes is attacked in his SUV by three phony police cars. Luckily, his truck was a highly advanced, armored super-vehicle. The SUV’s on-board computer gave him play-by-play damage updates as the bad guys tried to break into his vehicle and eliminate him. Soon, the hero was able to race away. As he did, the SUV’s computer began informing him about alarming changes in his physical, vital signs… like blood pressure.

With the bad guys right on its tail, the SUV’s computer became aware of a traffic jam from GPS data and informed the hero, who requested an alternate route. The computer told the hero where to go and soon he was able to not only evade oncoming traffic but also his deadly pursuers.

This scene isn’t only a sensational vision of a car’s connected potential, but the future of a typical car’s on-board connected services.

The term “connect car” is slowly moving into the public’s vocabulary. “Connected Car” can be defined as any vehicle that contains devices that connect to other devices within the vehicle’s system, networks, and services outside the car. This includes plug-in devices like mp3 players and smartphones. It also includes online services such as GPS navigation, traffic updates, and regional directories (local business information and so forth).

Envision your next vehicle not only providing mapping and navigation services, but also alerts on changing traffic conditions with alternate routes. Furthermore, consider your next vehicle alerting you to low fuel levels and providing suggestions for local gas stations, along with directions.
The coming generation of vehicles will also provide information about restaurants, stores, and services. Love road trips? Wouldn’t it be great to let your vehicle tell you the best places to get gas, grab lunch, or make sightseeing side-trips? These are also innovations that are being developed for future connected cars.

One can only speculate on advances to entertainment services or your car’s ability to interact with your smartphone or other handheld technologies, from Pandora to your own music library.
At GROM Audio, we are excited about all these future innovations and are constantly looking for ways for our car kits to contribute. Currently, GROM is working with Bluetooth technology to allow our customer’s cars to connect with their handheld devices wirelessly. GROM is also working to develop “hands-free” options, permitting users to safely use their handheld devices through voice activation and other safer options.

GROMAudio has been founded on the concept of the connected car and continually is seeking to be leaders in this area of car technology growth. Whatever Hollywood has envisioned for their heroes, GROM is also working to provide solutions and advantages for their customers

Miracles in Technology

It’s remarkable to contemplate how much our phones can accomplish these days.

Just perusing your Smartphone, you can use a map application to not only find your present location, but also find out what kind of businesses are close by.

One can then use a GPS feature to provide block by block navigation to the location. 

There are also apps on Smartphones that allow one to watch Netflix films or YouTube videos. One is able to peruse local news, social media, and email. Not only can one listen to any local radio station, but also any radio station throughout the world. More importantly, one can store and access music or listen to internet radio apps such as Pandora or 8Track.

All of this is available to the owner by just pulling out their Smartphone from their pocket. They are able to access nearly an unlimited source of knowledge and media content from devices that fit comfortably within their palms. This is one of the miracles of our era; however, there are other remarkable technologies emerging.

Consider some of the features now available to car consumers. We have cars that work on fuel cells and provide a substantial increase in the value of a tank of gas, which greatly reduces a driver’s need to refuel their vehicles. There are on-board systems that not only provide GPS navigational utilities, but also cameras that allow drivers to see what is going on in the rear of their vehicles. There are also driving features to allow vehicles to self-park themselves and voice activation features to access a vehicle’s various functions through spoken commands.

Here at GROM Audio, we are excited by these emerging technologies and what may come next. In fact, we’re constantly working to participate and bring together the innovations developing around us.

One can look at our car kits as a new technology that bridges both these innovations, providing our customer’s access to use both Smartphone and car technologies in unison, enhancing our customer’s driving experience while creating an environment of greater safety for everyone.

In the last several years, where awareness of the dangers of distracted driving is becoming extremely relevant, GROM car kits are being continually refined to improve our customer’s safety. Whether it is steering-wheel activation or voice command features available in newer cars, our kits allow safe integration through all hand held devices - Smartphones, mp3 players, or tablet computers.

Here at GROM Audio are continually amazed at the remarkable technologies being developed and are working to become a relevant part of this revolution.

The Motivation of Melodies: the Power of Music in Our Lives

If you’re like many people who use GROM’s car kits, you’re passionate about music, especially while you’re driving. You many even question, like us, what motivates your passion for music and, more importantly, how does music affect your life.

We wanted to know too and decided to find out. What we discovered was both remarkable and exciting!  We discovered that music is motivational and inspiring. It can influence our behavior and set the tone of our emotions.

According to a Halfords survey on playing music while driving, nine out of ten drivers felt that listening to music affected their mood and actions while they drove. 15% said their music choice inspired them to go faster and 5% said they became more aggressive, while 27% said soothing music helped calm them.

In fact, researchers over last several years have found many attributes to the value of music in our lives. Music can help us alleviate melancholy and stress.

These moods commonly affect many drivers whiling sitting in gridlock. A lot of people can relate to sitting in their vehicle in slow moving traffic, aggravated and feeling depleted.

Do you remember a time like this and found yourself turning to your stereo to pep-up and feel better?

Music can improve our cognitive performance and our ability to perform under pressure. Driving requires a lot of our focus and attention. It can be tempting to drift into our thoughts and daydream. At times like these, music could you help us reassert our focus back on our driving and help us become present.

Have you ever created a playlist to help you study or to get you through a long road trip? How many Pandora stations do you listen specifically to help you focus while in a sticky commute?

Here at GROM, we try to be aware of the benefits and risks with listening to music on Smartphones or MP3 players. We hope to facilitate safe listening with safe driving. The benefits of music can be outstanding and play a role in our driving lives; however, without safe technology like GROM car kits, we may be at risk.

This why GROM is constantly working to achieve the optimal design for safe usage and enjoyment from your smart devices. Thank you for being a passionate and consciousness customer!

References

Calm down dear drivers - listen to the music. (2011, May 13). Retrieved from Easier Cars:http://www.easier.com/89070-calm-down-dear-drivers-listen-music.html

McCraty, MA, R., Barrios-Chopin, PhD., B., Atkinson, M., & Tomasino, BA, D. (1998, January). Retrieved from HartFocus: www.hartfocus.nl/UserFiles/Image/Music_Mood_Effects.pdf

Learning to Drive without Texting

Cell phone usage while driving is far too common and very dangerous. Some state and local government agencies have made the use of a cell phone while driving illegal for obvious reasons.

If you really need to?  Perhaps consider hands free devices such as voice prompt through Bluetooth technology.

Learning to Drive without Texting - Written by a customer of GROM Audio 

I have done it even though I’ve said to myself and others that I wouldn’t. I’ve done it right in the middle of heavy traffic getting off the Bay Bridge and in my own neighborhood. I’ve responded to or sent a text to someone while driving.

In the last several years, America society has become more aware of the dangers and recklessness of texting and driving. Research has proven the dangers. Laws have been passed and violators have been penalized.

It has given me a lot think about while sitting in traffic on the bridge.

These days it is important for me to be more aware of what I am doing while driving, not just texting but general distraction while operating my car. This usually involves not just texting, but playing music on my phone or iPod. I find meandering through songs a soothing action while sitting in traffic, I just needed a way to do it safely.

The simplest solution I’ve found to texting while in my car is to park somewhere safe then text. It doesn’t usually take that long; however, there are times when I am competing with getting to my destination on time and sending an important text message. 

Also, the parking alternative is completely useless when I’m on a bridge or the freeway, which more often than not is where I am.

I’ve recently had more success in meeting both needs after buying and installing a GROM Audio car kit, specifically, the GROM-BT3: Bluetooth Hands Free and Audio Car Kit.

Though I’m not able solve the texting issue; this device, which provides integration between my car stereo and my Android phone, has voice activation features that are helpful in other situations. 

I can answer and start phone calls through voice activation prompts, a strong substitute to texting/driving. In addition, I use voice activation through the car kit to play music stored on my phone or listen to something through Pandora.

Technology has always grabbed my attention, as with a lot of people. It’s also made my life and the lives of many others more efficient and fun. Unfortunately, there seems to be two sides to every facet of life. 

Technology is no different. If I am not conscious of my relationship with my phone while operating a car, I could lead others and myself into trouble. I don’t want that.

By practicing safe behaviors, like pulling over before texting, or incorporating safe technology, like investing in GROM Bluetooth Hands Free and Audio Car Kit, I have been able to change my actions for the safety others and myself.

And, I almost forgot, sometimes I just take the public transportation instead. Either way, I’ve come a long way from text on the Bay Bridge.