Ad: Manage updates with the Download App
ie8 fix

iva-w205

Review: Alpine IVA-W205

With the launch of the IVA-W205, Alpine becomes the second aftermarket manufacturer to combine mobile- and in-dash navigation. Unlike the Eclipse AVN2210p, which uses a similar combination of in-dash dock connected to a portable TomTom GPS device, the IVA-W205 can be purchased--and used--independently of its portable Blackbird PMD-B200 component. With the Blackbird installed behind the faceplate, the IVA-W205 becomes a useful in-dash system; without the Blackbird portable, the IVA-W205 is a simple--but versatile--multimedia player in the vein of the Alpine IVA-200. Read the full review here.

Photos: Alpine IVA-W205

Ten months after its debut at CES 2007, the Alpine IVA-W205 is finally hitting the shelves and we got our hands on one for a full review in our CNET test car. In its most basic configuration, the IVA-W205 is an in-dash multimedia player with the ability to handle a range of audio-visual disc format (CDs, MP3- and WMA discs, DVD video and VCDs) plus a bunch of other media sources such as iPods, HD and satellite radio via add-on modules. The star feature of the system, however, is its ability to swallow Alpine's standalone portable Blackbird GPS device, … Read more

Alpine IVA-W205: multimedia player, Blackbird nest

The honeymoon of portable and in-dash navigation devices continues here at CES 2007. On Sunday, we brought you news of Eclipse's AVN2210p, and today we had a close-up of Alpine's IVA-W205, which combines with the Blackbird PMD B200 portable GPS unit in a unique way. Instead of requiring drivers to attach the portable unit to the front of the installed cradle, (as per the Eclipse unit), the IVA-W205 actually swallows the portable navigation unit, with the latter slotting in cartridge-like behind the installed unit's fold-up screen. Also new on the PMD B200 is its built-in, Bluetooth, hands-free, … Read more