Point of purchase materials from DICE Electronics
To help increase sales, we offer a limited amount of free mirror hangers to our authorized dealers. The standard size (11.5” x 5”) of the hangers makes this colorful, flexible sign fit on every vehicle’s rear-view mirror. It’s eye-catching from a distance therefore it draws customers to know more. Its colorful design accents all makes and models and its unique material provides extreme durability.
Recent studies show that although advertising can leave a mark in the customers’ mind, but to elevate it from a mark to a purchase, a POP display has a significant role. Specifically designed POP displays essentially allow better display of merchandising and offer a crucial platform for the product.
To get your POP materials today, call DICE Electronics at 888.342.3999
DICE Electronics at the CES Trade Show - 2007
Listen to the interview with Laszlo Barabas, CEO of DICE Electronics, LLC. DICE Electronics is a company that specializes in HD Radio technology integration into OEM (factory) vehicles. He and Benjamin have a good discussion about HD Radio technology and what the advantages are to both the consumer and broadcaster.
New HD Radio Receiver Works with OEM Car Stereos
Tuesday, November 07, 2006 4:29 PM PT Posted by Alan Stafford - PC World
I like satellite radio, but I'm an even bigger fan of HD Radio, because I'm cheap. HD Radio's sound quality is as good as
satellite's--and often better--and you don't have to pay a subscription fee to get it (look here for more HD Radio info).
Now comes a product that really appeals to my thrifty side: DICE Electronics' HD DICE, an aftermarket module that adds
HD Radio capability to a car's existing head unit. That sounds like a great idea--especially because the module costs only $199; an optional iPod docking cable costs just $40-- considerably less than most auto makers' iPod kits.
Before the HD Dice, if you wanted HD Radio in your car, you either had to buy a very recent BMW 5 Series ($40,000 to $60,000, roughly) or an aftermarket head unit, examples of which cost considerably less--$299 and up-- but which required you to pull out your existing sound system. (I keep calling it "head unit" because the sound systems in today's cars do so much more than just radio). Dice Electronics has integration kits that allow the module to work with several car makes; if you can connect a CD changer or a satellite-radio tuner to your car's head unit, you should be able to use the HD Dice. The company says it will ship kits for BMW, Lexus, Scion, and Toyota next week; for GM vehicles on December 1st; and for Hondas in mid December. According to Dice, once installed, you can then see the song, artist, and other info that all HD Radio stations provide on your factory unit's display, and you'll be able to change channels
with your car's steering wheel-mounted radio controls, if it has them. The HD Dice is multicast-capable, which means that it can tune into the multiple HD side channels that some stations offer.
The biggest downside to HD Radio is that you still have to listen to same inane commercials that get aired on regular AM and FM channels. That's a big reason why I want HD Radio integrated with my existing vehicle's system--I want to be able to use its steering wheel-mounted controls to escape quickly from "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!" blaring from its speakers. What do the rest of you think of HD Radio? How do you think it is impacting--or will impact--Sirius and XM, neither of which can stand much competition these days?
Getting More Stations for Your Car Radio
November 9, 2006; Page D4 By RAYMUND FLANDEZ - The Wall Street Journal
What Is It: HD radio, a digital radio format, boosts the clarity and quality of AM and FM signals (better sound with less static) and because of digital compression, is capable of squeezing more audio streams, or radio channels, into a car's radio band. That means a car radio receiving HD radio signals can get more listening options on a single broadcasting
frequency. In Washington's 88.5 WAMU station, for example, its main signal is a news channel, but by scrolling up a tiny bit on the radio dial, you can find a second digital signal for adult rock music and third for bluegrass. Unlike satellite radio, it won't cost you anything to tune into an HD station, but you do have to buy a receiver or add-on device for your car radio. Right now, there are more than 1,000 stations broadcasting digitally across the U.S., with 400 stations sending more than one digital stream. More audio and electronics makers are trotting out car devices that can receive HD radio signals, and some auto makers are beginning to add HD radio to their premium vehicles as optional or standard features.
How to Get It: Visteon's HD Jump is a portable plug-and-play receiver that can be shuffled from car to a home stereo. Directed Electronics has HD Car Connect, a similar add-on receiver. HD Dice from Dice Electronics is an external HD radio tuner that can connect to an analog-receiving car stereo. Kenwood USA has an HD radio tuner that can be used to upgrade about 20 of its products. A Hyundai Tiburon concept vehicle shown recently featured an HD radio from Kenwood. Meanwhile, the BMW 5, 6 and 7 series feature HD radio as a stand-alone option for $500. The auto maker's HD radio, however, isn't able to pick up on more than one digital signal from a radio station.
Upside: Hear the difference. HD radio makes FM sound CD-quality and AM sound like FM. Also, these car radios display song titles and artists names as they're played, so no more guessing games of name-that-tune. Now, if they could only show scrolling lyrics so you can sing along without making up the words.
Downside: HD radio is still a newfangled concept -- most folks, even salespeople, may still confuse it with satellite radio. In a recent survey of about 1,000 American adults, more than a third thought HD radio was the same as satellite radio, says American Media Services. Also, you may not be willing to spend more on listening to the radio, something that's technically free.
Cost: Last year, HD radio systems cost about $900, on average, according to iBiquity Digital Corp., the developer of HD radio technology. Now, they can be found at the $200 range. The HD Jump will be available in January with a car kit that must be professionally connected to the car radio's antenna. An optional home kit is extra. Pricing not available.
Directed Electronics' add-on HD radio will be available next month at $249. The HD Dice sells for $199 through representatives and dealers found at www.diceelectronics.com or www.hddice.com. With a $39.99 cable from Dice, you can also have an iPod-integrated connection with the HD radio. Kenwood's radio tuner sells for $199 at any authorized dealer. IBiquity is offering mail-in rebates of $25 and $50 on some 20 HD radio models for
homes and cars, until Jan. 14. Information is available at www.hdradio.com.
DICE Electronics introduces HD DICETM, the world's first car specific HD RadioTM reciever that integrates with OEM systems.
12 Volt News - November issue
Lake Tahoe, Nevada - DICE Electronics LLC. is proud to announce the release date of HD DICETM, the world’s first vehicle specific HD RadioTM receiver that flawlessly works with OEM car stereos. Explore HD DICETM from only $199!
“Finally, you can listen to those hidden channels you have been hearing about for months. With HD DICE you can enjoy the hi-fidelity sound of HD RadioTM through your factory-installed car or SUV radios,” - said Alfred Barabas, COO of DICE Electronics, LLC.
HD Radio is the most outstanding advancement in radio broadcasting since the introduction of FM stereo more than 50 years ago. HD RadioTM Technology enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast local programs digitally. You can experience more content, multicast channels, and higher audio quality at any of over 1000 digital transmitting terrestrial radio stations currently on the air! These multicast channels also provide commercial free digital content and since HD RadioTM is subscription free, you do not have to pay any monthly fees to be able to enjoy its quality.
Until now, to receive the digital transmissions, you needed to replace your OEM radio system with an aftermarket HD Radio receiver. This option however is less appealing and very difficult to integrate to modern automobiles which have tightly integrated entertainment systems. The solution is HD DICE. You can purchase DICE Electronics’ new HD DICE module and enjoy radio quality like you’ve never heard before without having to replace your factory stereo system!
The HD DICE is an external HD Radio tuner that integrates into factory radios the same way as a SAT radio tuner would. Vehicle specific connectors are provided to shorten installation time, and a standard antenna is used to receive the digital AM/FM signal.
“DICE Electronics provides several different flavors of HD DICE manufactured to match the communication system of the target vehicle. This tight integration allows users to change and select HD Radio stations using the buttons on their existing factory (OEM) car radio or using the entertainment system controls found on the steering wheel,” - said Michael Fong, Project Engineer of DICE Electronics, LLC.
The intuitive user interface allows radio listeners to simply tune to their favorite stations and receive them in either a digital or analog format depending on their radio. Tuning the dial will step the listener to each available multicast channel in addition to other digital and analog stations.
HD DICE will be available from mid-November, 2006 with initial vehicle support focusing on selected vehicles including: BMW, Toyota, Lexus, GM, Honda and Toyota vehicles. DICE Electronics is working on supporting other vehicles in the future to make HD Radio available for everyone.
For more information visit DICE Electronics’ website at www.diceelectronics.com or at www.hddice.com. To contact them directly, call 888.DICE.999
Aftermarket HD Radio Converters May Hit Price Point Bull's-eye
Radio magazine Aug 23
Talk to media academics, retail experts and market research professionals about what it takes to get consumers to bite off new media technology, and they’re likely to say the same thing--put it on the market for $99 or less and your chance of success increases substantially. HD Radio is no exception, and the $99 price point has become something akin to the Holy Grail among HD Radio broadcaster and vendor proponents.
Unfortunately, receiver manufacturers may have to wait a while to see the kind of high volume demand or for HD Radio product needed to make $99 per-unit pricing a reality. And industry subsidization, a practice used by XM and Sirius to bring the price of satellite radio receivers below $100, is not a realistic option in a free broadcast environment with thousands of station owners.
Yet highly affordable HD Radio for the car may not be far off. A little-known company called Dice Electronics announced last year that it intended to introduce and market an aftermarket HDRadio converter that would exploit unused CD changer input ports present on many late-model OEM car stereos. While Dice has yet to ship a production model, they are now successfully marketing a similar product that allows Ipod users to hook up to their OEM auto sound system for under $60.
Better still, Dice now says that they may have their “HD DICE” product shipping as early as this Thanksgiving. Though the company has yet to publicly commit to a MSRP for the product, there has been considerable speculation that it may be able to break through the pivotal three-figure barrier.
And the potential impact of low-cost HD Radio converters hasn’t been lost on industry observers. A recent Reuters article on HD Radio cites the HD Digital Radio Alliance as betting that HD Radio converters will be the spearhead that succeeds in breaking up a logjam of auto manufacturers still unwilling to include OEM HD Radio as an option or as standard equipment.
For broadcasters committing hundreds of thousands of dollars per station for HD Radio and multicast conversions, a little stocking stuffer like Dice’s converter might be just the thing to make Christmas 2006 merry indeed.
Is the SEMA Car Show Going Mainstream?
By Bill Howard
Is SEMA going mainstream? For years, this bad boy show was a J.C. Whitney parts catalogue brought to life across a million square feet of convention space: tuner accessories, pimp-my-ride options, chromed wheels, and loud stereos. In recent years, automakers have scoured the aisles for new ideas they could tone down and adapt to new cars. One SEMA theme the automakers may not like this year is the prevalence of excellent portable navigation devices selling for half to a quarter of the $2,000 they charge for built-ins.
SEMA is the Specialty Equipment Market Assocation (www.sema.org) and the annual bash runs Tuesday to Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 3. It's in Las Vegas, of course.
Besides new tech, another thing most all showgoers will be watching is the dress code for booth models, even if that's not how the New York Times will lead off its show coverage. Two years ago things got out of hand, even for Las Vegas, even for SEMA. A leading culprit was the front-andback- panel dress (no side panels) held together by top-to-bottom side lacing that tended to loosen as the day went by. SEMA cracked down and vendors agreed to a modest dress code. But that was last year.
As for products themselves, expect a flood of high quality PNDs, many with real-time traffic, as well as replacement radios offering navigation features. Many will be around $500, some as low as $300, none surpassing $1,000. Compare that to in-car navigation systems costing $1,500 to $2,400, per car. In-car navi is always better, has bigger screens, and is less likely to be stolen, left at home, or be in the car though missing the power cord. But for most consumers, $500 plus minor hassles for a PND looks pretty good compared to $1,750 and built-in.
Sony will show a second-generation Nav-U PND, the NV-U71T, which is smaller and offers real-time traffic for $5 a month atop the system's $500 street price. Sony's original Nav-U, cost more than competitors but offered few size or features advantages beyond the Sony nameplate. This one features GestureCommand: Draw a carat (^) onscreen with your finger and you can invoke frequently user commands such as "take me home" with simple finger gestures.
New to the navigation market is Panasonic with an in-dash, double-DIN (a standard size) StradaCNNVD9 05U video monitor/DVD receiver navigation system with Bluetooth and iPod video, not just audio, connectivity. It connects to either Sirius or XM satellite radio tuners; opt for the Sirius tuner and you can get real-time traffic reports. There's a 30GB hard drive onboard but only for navigation data; not, alas, for ripping music as some others offer.
Who needs a backup-assist feature on their car? Everyone, says Bill Howard.
Delphi's Nav200, just shipping, is an ultra-compact unit with a 3.5-inch display and 1.5GB of map data in flash memory; it's $350. The Dual NavAtlas XNAV3550 is another nav system with a 3.5-inch display, plus MP3-playing capabilities, and one maybe-neat gimmick: LED turn signals on each side indicating which way to turn. The price seems a bit optimistic, though, at $800.
For off-roaders, Magellan will show the IPX-4, a sub-$400 unit that's ruggedized and waterproofed for use in cars, dune buggies, on foot, and even in boats. Magellan also plans to bring out three pocket-size, lowcost nav systems: the RoadMate 2500T, 2200T, and 2000. Alpine has its long-shown (since CES in January), recently-shipping BlackBird PND that can be used standalone or docked in a car and controlled using an Alpine touchscreen car AV system.
The HD Radio alliance recently celebrated the 1,000th radio station in the U.S. broadcasting in HD as well as standard analog FM or FM,. At SEMA, two vendors announced add-on HD tuners that can retrofit existing car audio systems: AAMP of America's Peripheral (that's a brand) and DICE Electronics. Complete replacement HD radios are as little as $200, but for many cars with proprietary or sealed radio systems, there was no HD path (before these add-ons) other than replacing the car.
In the traditional realm of performance enhancements, but with a high-tech twist, e-Racing Motorsports will conduct a seminar on the benefits of electric supercharging. Rather than using nitrous oxide, an exhaust driven turbocharger, or a belt-driven supercharge, electric supercharging employs storage batteries (or, soon, giant capacitors) and electric motors to provide extra horsepower. That's essentially what hybrid cars do, but in the name of fuel economy, not necessarily awesome 0-to-60 acceleration runs. Separately, Altair Nanotechnologies will unveil plans for an all-electric sports utility truck.
