Note: Information reviewed only available from Pioneer's 2008 press release

TO BE RELEASED JUNE 2008

The highly anticipated summer release of Pioneer's AVIC-F series includes the uniquely designed AVIC-F500BT.
Unlike the rest of the AVIC-F units, the AVIC-F500BT is not an in-dash navigation device, but a portable GPS navigation unit that mounts easily on the dash or the windshield. It's beautifully crafted and designed like the AVIC-90BT. In fact, the AVIC-F500BT is like having the faceplate of an AVIC-90BT. It's the exact front-panel design and panel.

The Pioneer AVIC-F500BT features a nice large 5.8" LCD touchscreen display that is beautifully clear and crisp. The Pioneer AVIC-F500BT virtually features all navigation and media functions except for some minor details. Since it is only about an inch thick, the unit could not read CDs or DVDs-- relying primarily on its SD Card and USB port inputs for audio and video playback such as AAC, MP3, WMA, and DivX files. The AVIC-F500BT could also directly interface with the latest iPod products, allowing users to control the iPod from the on-screen display.

Pioneer has made it clear that integration is a priority in any new generation designs. With this in mind, all Pioneer AVIC-F navigation products are capable of 32,768 user selectable colors. This will allow it to install nicely on any dash to match any color scheme possible. Another great integration feature is the AVIC-F500BT's additional but optional add-on amplifier that amplifies media sound output from the unit. You could wire up sound output from your existing radio simultaneously as your sound output from the Pioneer AVIC-F500BT. The result is the ability for the unit to interrupt audio from your radio for clear and crisp navigation directions.

The AVIC-F500BT showcases one of the nicest GPS map display we've ever seen. The pre-installed GPS database even features contoured map display with over 12 million points of interest. It even has text-to-speech technology and the innovative MSN Direct capability that will enable the unit to display gas prices, local weather information, and other information you need for your travels.

That's not all of course, as the AVIC-F500BT also features its built in Bluetooth wireless technology that will allow drivers to safely make hands-free calling while displaying call status and caller ID on the 5.8" LCD display. Even without Bluetooth wireless technology, users could operate the AVIC-F500BT through voice commands that is both intelligent and conversational-- eliminating annoying mis-understandings of spoken words and names. The voice commands gives a user the ability to playback media files without the push of a button. With all the features, and nice looks, the cost to own one of these incredibly high-tech AVIC-F500BT units is relatively high at over $600