When you hear the phrase “mobile electronics” you probably assume that it’s car audio. But today the world of car audio and mobile electronics encompasses so much more than just cars and a lot more than just stereos. From yachts to classic cars to Power Wheels, the full range of mobile electronics is ideal for whatever vehicle you drive!

While some car audio shops are stuck in the past, simply turning up the volume on stock stereos with subwoofers, many are expanding their installations to creative, innovative applications. Mobile video, iPod integration, and even in car TV are all growth areas in car enhancement, but smart shops are also broadening their customer base by branching out into servicing other types of vehicles. For example, marine electronics is a rapidly growing area for many installers, with wakeboarding set-ups and marine video being increasingly popular. Others are reaching out into niche markets like motorcycle sound systems. I’ve even heard of a car electronics shop that tricked out a Power Wheels with some serious speakers and blue neon.

In the end, the market for souped up Power Wheels is probably pretty small, but it illustrates just how innovative today’s mobile electronics can be. If you’re interested in customizing any vehicle-and I do mean any vehicle at all-contact your local car audio shop. Skilled installers should be able to equip just about any ride with car electronics, and a creative team may even be able to help you design a custom array. From four-wheelers to power riding toys to motorcycles, boats, and cars, with today’s high-tech equipment, the sky really is the limit for mobile electronics installation. With the help of your car customization shop, you can turn just about anything into the vehicle of your dreams!

Unfortunately, a vehicle is stolen every 26.4 seconds in the United States. And as more and more cars and trucks come factory-equipped with car alarms, those vehicles without security systems become even bigger targets. Stop gambling with your vehicle. Have a car alarm installed today for cost-effective, efficient vehicle protection.

Vehicle security systems are available today in a full range of features, ranges, and options. One popular new car alarm even has a 2-way remote; these high-tech systems send information back to your remote, confirming that your alarm is armed and the doors are locked. They can even alert you if your car or truck has been tampered with! Vehicle security systems are also available with a huge range of additional options, including:

• Keyless entry
• Starter kill
• Shock sensors
• Microwave motion sensors
• Back up batteries
• Air horns
• Paging systems
• Window roll up/down

Many of these features are simply for your convenience, but almost all of them also increase the safety of your vehicle. If you want the most complete protection, be sure to ask your car electronics installer which options are necessary to fully safeguard your vehicle.

Correct, complete installation makes all the difference when it comes to your car alarm. The simple truth is that unless your vehicle security system is properly installed, it will not protect your vehicle. Be sure your mobile electronics specialist has the experience and hands-on knowledge to correctly install your car alarm. Don’t entrust the safety of your vehicle to amateurs! One option is to visit your car dealership; but a more affordable solution is an area car audio shop. You’ll get the same great installation without paying dealership prices!

Although car theft rates have been falling in recent years, an astounding number of vehicles are still stolen annually. The majority are never recovered. Save yourself the distress, hassle, and stress of dealing with a stolen vehicle. Protect your car or truck-and your investment in mobile electronics-today with a car alarm. It’s a simple, effective solution to what could be a truly huge problem! Contact your local car audio video store to learn more and schedule your vehicle security system installation.

Tired of getting lost? Sick of the hassle of making wrong turns? Looking for an easy solution to reaching your destination without the stress? Then why not consider a car GPS navigation system. These convenient navigation tools have great features to help you easily get where you’re going and offer practically effortless operation. When you have a car GPS unit installed by your local mobile electronics shop, you’ll feel safer and enjoy driving more!

Car GPS navigation systems feature effortless touch screen operation and an easy-to-use interface for the ultimate convenience. Enter an address or place name, and your GPS shows how to get there with clearly marked routes and turn-by-turn directions. You even have the option of enabling vocal directions for completely hassle-free navigation. Your in dash navigation system will recalculate your route if you miss a turn, getting you right back on track. Most car GPS models also include point-of-interest mapping, helping you locate gas stations, stores, restaurants, and other attractions.

Most people probably don’t think of GPS navigation as a safety feature, but just consider all the ways it helps protect you and your passengers. These systems eliminate distractions by making it easy to navigate: no more trying to read a map or printed directions while you’re driving. Your car GPS provides clearly marked routes and vocal directions to keep you focused on the road and help you get where you’re going safely. In dash navigation also helps keep you from getting lost, preventing the very real danger of accidentally ending up in a bad part of town. When it’s put into perspective, it’s easy to see how GPS navigation makes your driving experience much safer!

Navigation systems are available in portable and add-on models as well as the high-end integrated DVD/CD/radio/GPS decks. Screen mounts include pop-up and windshield units in addition to the traditional in dash navigation systems. Navigation systems are available for practically every type of car or truck, and regardless of whether your vehicle came factory equipped with a screen, your new car GPS can be installed with a sleek, seamless OEM appearance.

So whether you’re ready to stop getting lost all the time or simply want the security of direction assistance, car GPS is an easy, affordable solution to making navigation a breeze. Upgrade your vehicle to the driving technology of the 21st century with a car navigation system! Contact your local car electronics shop for sales and installation.

With 150 million iPods sold (as of April 2008), it’s no wonder that iPod integration is one of the biggest trends in car audio today. These millions of iPod users simply want a way to easily listen to their music collection while in the driver’s seat. But until recently, there hasn’t been a truly good solution to the problem “How do I get my mp3s from my music player to my car stereo.” FM transmission systems have been tried (and are still available for those who don’t mind mediocre sound), but offered only so-so performance. So when iPod integration systems became readily available in the last several years, sales have gone through the roof! If you’re ready to enjoy quality sound and easy operation of your mp3 device while on the road, iPod integration is probably the solution you need.

iPod integration is the best way to connect your mp3 player with your car stereo for top-notch sound quality. Unlike the FM transmitter iPod connection systems of the past, new iPod integration technology directly interfaces your music player with your stereo: you get easy operation right on your deck as well as high-quality sound from your vehicle’s speakers. Enjoying your music collection in your car or truck shouldn’t have to be a hassle: tangled connection wires, knotted headphones, and staticky transmission are all things of the past with the new iPod integration technology. Some integration systems even allow you to access video stored on your iPod and play it on your in car video screens!

While some newer model vehicles are available with factory mp3 integration systems, your local mobile electronics shop can retrofit your car or truck with an iPod integration system. Call or visit their showroom to learn more about the various models and brands of iPod integration systems and which is right for your vehicle. Some drivers find the music management interface of several iPod integration systems unwieldy, so be sure to demo available systems at your car electronics dealer, if possible. This will help you get an idea of which systems are most convenient to operate and best suited for your listening style.

Few people would recommend buying a car or truck without at least taking it out for a test drive. So why would you consider purchasing mobile stereo components without demoing them. To ensure that you’re happy with your investment in car audio, you need to test drive your speakers, deck, and subs to determine which products and configuration best suit your listening style.

Each individual has their own unique taste in car audio, so despite ratings and recommendations, the best way to find the perfect stereo system is simply to test it out. The simple truth is that what sounds fabulous to one person may sound mediocre to another. You’re setting yourself up for disappointment if you decide to have a car stereo installed in your vehicle without hearing what it sounds like first!

Visit your local car electronics dealer to check out their selection of stereo components. Most shops will have a vast selection of speakers, tweeters, subs, and decks/audio inputs, so this won’t be an easy process. But the results will definitely be worth it! You’ll want to begin by researching mobile electronics brands and ratings so you have a base of knowledge to start from. A little research can go a long way toward narrowing your options so you don’t have to demo every single mobile audio component in the shop! You’ll have the advantage of knowing which manufacturers make the best components, and you can skip listening to no-name brands.

Different car stereo shops have different options when it comes to demos; some enable you to demo components together, but most are set up to let you test them separately. If at all possible, you want to listen to the complete configuration of speakers, woofers, amps, and decks that you plan to purchase. This will help you get the most authentic approximation of the listening experience you’ll get from the sound system once it’s installed in your car. Some shops, like Mega Watt Car Stereo and Security in Boston, have demo sound rooms that enable you to create custom configurations by switching between numerous decks, speakers, amps, and subwoofers for a completely personalized audio demo.

So before you make your car audio purchases, take them for a test drive with your ears; whether you listen to each component separately or as part of a customized configuration, you’ll have a better idea of your preferences than if you didn’t hear the components at all! Check with your area mobile electronics shop to learn more about audio component demo opportunities and to start exploring the myriad available options for your new car audio system.

Today mobile electronics aren’t just for vehicles with wheels-you may instinctively think of car stereos when you hear about mobile audio shops, but many also offer marine audio to bring great sound to your boat! Whether you prefer surf the waves on a wakeboard or just soak up the sun on the deck, a marine audio system can help you enjoy great music while you’re on the water.

Like aftermarket car audio systems, marine audio is usually made up of component electronics for great sound performance. Including speakers, subwoofers, decks, and amps, your boat’s sound system can be customized for optimal performance that suits your listening style. One important thing to keep in mind is who will be listening to your music-especially if you tow wakeboarders, water-skiers, and tubers, you’ll want rear-directed speakers so they can enjoy the tunes, too!

Marine video is even an option with today’s exciting technology: whether you’re interested in a GPS navigation system or a video monitor and DVD player to watch movies, your local mobile electronics shop can bring marine video to your boat.

Marine electronics have a number of challenges different from car audio, namely the presence of water! The most important thing about your boat stereo system is that it is correctly installed. While some components, such as marine speakers, can tolerate quite a bit of moisture, other parts of the system have to be kept dry. A professional marine audio installer can help design a system that ensures waterproof locations for vulnerable components as well as offering superior sound. They’ll integrate your speakers and the rest of the sound system into your boat for attractive appearance as well as ideal performance.

Be on the lookout for car electronics shops that claim to install marine audio without the experience to back up that statement. You really don’t want amateurs working on your marine audio system, and it really is a different application. Just because an installer can put a sound system in a car or truck doesn’t mean they’re qualified to install your marine audio system. For correct, waterproof installation and the best performance, use a shop with experienced, trained marine audio technicians and marine grade components. You’ll get aesthetically beautiful, functional results and a sound system you’ll be able to enjoy for years!

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase “mobile electronics?” Do you think of a souped up car stereo? Or what about car DVD players? What probably doesn’t come to mind is safety. That’s right, you can protect your vehicle and make your driving experience safer with some basic upgrades from your local car audio dealer. From no-nonsense car alarms to back-up cameras, Bluetooth integration, and GPS navigation, the latest generation of mobile electronics is safety oriented.

Car Alarms

Car is stolen in the U.S. once every 26 seconds! To protect your vehicle, it’s important to have a car alarm; as more and more vehicles come equipped with security systems, those without become even bigger targets. If your vehicle is vulnerable, most car audio shops can install a complete car alarm system. The best on the market include dual-shock sensors that differentiate between light taps and attempted entry, integrate glass-break sensors, and feature hot-wiring prevention measures. Without a car alarm, your vehicle is at risk; with a high-quality vehicle security system, you’ll safeguard your car and your peace of mind.

Bluetooth Integration

As cell phones have become more pervasive in our society, more people are driving and talking simultaneously. However, in many states it is illegal to hold a cell phone and drive at the same time; it’s also unwise, dangerous, and risky! That’s why the majority of mobile electronics dealers now offer Bluetooth integration. These hands-free cell phone systems enable you to safely talk on your cell phone while driving. With features including on-screen caller ID, voice dialing, voice commands, touch screen dialing, and voice texting, no matter which Bluetooth integration model you select, you’ll be able to operate your vehicle and phone at the same time. These systems are available in visor mounts as well as fully integrated stereo units. Choose the smart solution to driving and talking!

GPS Navigation Systems

You may not consider GPS navigation a safety feature, but consider trying to read a map and drive at the same time. Or what about getting lost and ending up in a bad part of town at night? When it’s put into perspective, GPS navigation definitely makes your driving experience much safer! With a wide range of options including touch screens, turn-by-turn directions, saved destinations, and point of interest locators, nav systems can save you a lot of hassle and help you avoid accidents as well. If you take long car trips, are prone to getting lost, or simply want the security of direction assistance, contact your local car electronics shop for sales and installation.

Back-up Cameras

By now, most people are familiar with the car DVD systems designed to let the kids watch cartoons in the backseat. But what many people don’t realize is that mobile video extends beyond entertainment. Perhaps one of the most innovative and useful safety features available for vehicles today are back-up cameras. These rear-mounted cameras interface with a dash-mounted LCD display to help you ensure that your path is clear when you’re backing up. As vehicles have gotten larger, simply looking in the rearview mirror is no longer enough to see all of your surroundings. Especially if you have small children or live in a neighborhood with lots of kids, a back-up camera can be a lifesaver. Literally. Unfortunately, an average of 229 children die every year after being struck by a vehicle in a driveway or parking lot. The majority of these children were under four years old, too small to see easily. And even more tragically, the driver of the vehicle was frequently a loved one who just didn’t see the child. Having a back-up camera installed on your vehicle is the best way to avoid this type of preventable accident. Let the latest mobile technology work for you to make your vehicle safer!

So, even though most people don’t think of safety when it comes to car electronics, there are a number of ways technology can make your driving experience safer. Your local car audio shop should be able to install any or all of these safety features-from Bluetooth integration to back-up cameras-on your car. Of course, mobile electronics shops also do specialize in the entertainment side of vehicle upgrades. So if you’re taking your car in to get a car alarm installed and decided to spring for an in car video system too, who could blame you? For the best of both worlds, opt for vehicle safety and security features like GPS navigation as well as entertainment features when you visit your local car audio store!