On Sep 27, 2:01 am, RHF wrote:
On Sep 26, 12:55 pm, Roadie wrote:
On Sep 26, 12:22 pm, IBOCcrock wrote:
"Ford to Offer HD Radio on 2008 Vehicles"
"The option will be available for about $279 for standard HD radio, or
$299 for HD radio with iPod compatibility, Sears said. There is no
monthly subscription fee and the installation will take about 30
minutes and cost $40 to $50, he said."
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g...TS4DiajveYQOcg
Very interesting that Ford is not footing the bill for installation
and that installation is done at point-of-sale. Ford is heavily
promoting their new Sync option for the same $350. Still, this is not
good news.
Actually it is good news for proponents of HD radio. That one major
car maker is offering a dealer-installed HD radio will mean the others
will do so to remain competitive. And in short order HD compatible
radios will be standard equipment in new cars. Just as FM, tape
cassette, CD, satellite radio and Ipod went from niche to standard
equipment for providing in-vehicle entertainment.
Roadie - The History of Technological Change Repeats Itself. ~ RHF
I suppose it's only natural that marketing of a new device is somewhat
tentative until consumers really show an interest. Who knows, maybe
HD radio will turn out to be a flash-in-the-pan like 8 track tapes and
AM stereo. And then again consumers might see it as a way to improve
the choices they have with tradidional FM and AM broadcasts. I think
that HD radio also has a reasonable chance of becoming a successful
competitor with satelllite radio because there's no fee and the cost
to the station of adding new channels and programming should be lower.
One question is whether consumers will see a benefit from purchasing
yet another set of components to listen to yet another source of news
or entertainment. One can be entertained by signals from AM, FM,
Satellite, HD, Ipod, Internet, CD's, tapes, etc., and they all require
hardware.
When 'HD" Radio becomes the OEM Factory Equipment in new
Automobiles : Then with in 3~5 Years the average American
{Who Love's Their Car or Truck} will come to accept "HD" Radio
as being "What Is and Should Be"
I Ask Myself : What IBOC ?
All I See Is The Blinking Blue Light ! ~ RHF
In That Distant Land* Where IBOC Fears To Go :
Life Exists and Radio Listeners Live Beyond the 10mv/m Contour.
* Twain Harte, CA -USA-
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