Future of the Rio Car

I was just wondering... I know that SonicBlue is switching to the OEM car audio market. But, does that mean that they will sell future products to car manufacturers for factory installation, or will they sell them to Sony, etc. which will then produce aftermarket Empeg-like products? I'm really just wondering if there will be future aftermarket Empeg products available for purchase (seeing as carplayers.com has run out).

The "discontinued" entry in the FAQ doesn't really seem to specify, so I thought I'd ask.

Thanks!

does that mean that they will sell future products to car manufacturers for factory installation, or will they sell them to Sony, etc. (...) The "discontinued" entry in the FAQ doesn't really seem to specify, so I thought I'd ask.

The FAQ doesn't specify, because the Cambridge folks have also not specified which it means. It could mean either, or both.

But ask yourself this question: Which is the more likely scenario, and why?

The FAQ doesn't specify

Well, I just like to make it clear that I looked in the FAQ whenever I say something. I feel stupid when I get 9 replies telling me that the answer is in the FAQ.

Understood, of course.

Have you asked yourself that second question, though? What answer did you come up with?

It seems to me that selling to Sony and others would be better. They would be able to blend Empeg features together in way that would be great, but would also be able to attract more customers with their marketing, brand, etc. If Empegs were sold to car manufacturers, I doubt the average car buyer would want one. What confused me was when I read the EOL announcement, I got the impression that SonicBlue was aiming towards the car manufacturers. What do other people think?

I think it's the car manufacturers minus Ford (Visteon seems to be in bed with Phatnoise). AFAIK Delco has no MP3 product planned... or do they?

I think it's highly unlikely empeg can OEM anything to the likes of Sony and Pioneer simply because they already have the technology. They just use it in a moronic way.

I'm almost 100% certain that you will never see anything from the Empeg folks in anything from Sony in the forseeable future. Not only does Sony already have a similar product, they seem to have a very anti-empeg-open-MP3-philosophy: ATRAC.

I could see someone like Clarion doing it, provided their AutoPC experience didn't leave them too bitter. Or anyone else wanting an empeg-esque product.

Alex

I'm almost 100% certain that you will never see anything from the Empeg folks in anything from Sony in the forseeable future.

Well, I guess that was just wishful thinking on my part. I had forgotten about the related products from Sony and Pioneer. I would really like to see some kind of future aftermarket product though...