Audi has come a long way in the US in recent years, but things are going to get even more interesting with Audi’s connected car initiatives. The German carmaker will be making their CES keynote debut this year as they introduce all kinds of whiz-bang technologies for their horseless carriages. We know that NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 dual-core processors will be providing the low-power processing behind a lot of Audi’s new connected car tech, but we have a feeling that that’s just the start of it.
We’re here at the Audi keynote to see for ourselves exactly what the company has planned for 2011. We’ll be covering all the live happenings at the keynote, so buckle up and get ready!
Thursday January 6, 2011
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10:56
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Alrighty folks, we’re just waiting for Audi to kick this keynote into high gear… for Audi to put the pedal to the metal… for Audi to go full throttle. Sorry, couldn’t resist the puns. |
10:56
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10:59
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10:59
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11:01
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Almost there. 20 seconds left on the countdown! |
11:01
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11:01
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Oh wow, James Cromwell is on stage! |
11:01
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11:02
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(The old guy/professor/scientist from iRobot the movie) |
11:02
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11:02
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Audi execs rolling out in an R8 Spyder. |
11:02
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11:03
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11:03
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11:04
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11:04
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11:04
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Rupert Stadler, Chairman of Audi AG is on stage |
11:04
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11:04
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Correction, they rolled out in the eTron. |
11:04
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11:05
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Talking about software in the vehicle navigation system that can help find places to eat, how to get around, etc. |
11:05
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11:05
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11:05
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11:05
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“Mobility will require sustainability” |
11:05
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11:06
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11:06
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11:06
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Audi is bringing hybrid drivetrains throughout their portfolio. |
11:06
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11:06
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“Our goal is to provide sustainability” for all Audi cars |
11:06
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11:07
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Talking about advances in entertainment, driver assist, navigation, and other in-car technologies. |
11:07
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11:07
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11:07
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11:07
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Audi wants to enhance the connected driving experience while keeping it safe |
11:07
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11:07
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“For the first time, we are making the internet mobile in an automobile” – great line |
11:07
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11:08
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11:08
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11:08
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“We are redefining what it means to be a really fast computer” – oh haha |
11:08
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11:09
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11:09
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11:09
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Showing the Pike’s Peak Autonomous TTS vehicle that can drive the Pike’s Peak road without a driver at race speeds |
11:09
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11:10
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11:10
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11:10
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Lane wandering tech will vibrate the steering wheel when the car drifts across a lane |
11:10
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11:11
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More safety tech that uses radar to detect front- or rear-ending accidents and prime safety systems for impact |
11:11
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11:11
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11:11
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11:12
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HUD (heads up display) will soon include laser-projected augmented reality to aid in driver safety. Especially in poor visibility. |
11:12
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11:12
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11:12
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11:12
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“Consumers are demanding all that the internet has to offer” in all kinds of devices, including cars. |
11:12
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11:13
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Vehicle advances has been constrained by development cycles that last 5-6 years. Mobile technology moves much much faster. |
11:13
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11:13
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11:13
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11:14
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The problem with connecting a car is to maintain safety. Phones are made to attract attention, but drivers need integrated services in a way that doesn’t distract the driver from the road. |
11:14
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11:14
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Audi MMI touchpad helps reduce distraction by allowing gesture recognition. |
11:14
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11:15
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11:15
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11:15
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The new Audi A8 will offer point of interest search via voice using Google search. |
11:15
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11:15
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11:15
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11:16
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11:16
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11:16
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“We want the best interface to deliver the best information” |
11:16
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11:17
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NVIDIA Founder and CEO Jensen Huang takes the stage, rolls up in an Audi A8, to talk up the new tech hardware. |
11:17
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11:17
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11:17
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11:17
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The Audi A8 has Google connectivity, WiFi hotspot tech. |
11:17
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11:18
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11:18
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11:19
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11:19
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11:20
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11:20
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11:20
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Jensen is holding up the LG Optimus 2X Star as a technology demonstration. Showing off the hardware capabilities in such a small form-factor – dual-core, high-def video, high-performance, low-power. |
11:20
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11:21
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11:21
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11:21
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Jensen talking about the Tegra 2 computers making “next generation digital cockpit” possible. |
11:21
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11:22
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11:22
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11:22
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CEOs congratulating each other, how touching. |
11:22
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11:23
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11:23
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11:23
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3D makes information more accessible, because the more realistic it looks, the less attention it requires from the driver. |
11:23
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11:24
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11:24
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11:24
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Audi announces E Solutions division to help integrate the best of connected tech into the car. |
11:24
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11:24
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11:24
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11:25
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11:25
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11:26
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“We are taking the lead in matching horsepower with processing power.” |
11:26
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11:26
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Audi has some great taglines coming out of this presser. |
11:26
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11:27
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“The car of the future is part of the mobile world, in every sense of that word.” Audi is moving towards that future, as it draws on its 100 years of history. |
11:27
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11:27
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CEO is done, but not sure if this press conference is wrapped. |
11:27
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11:28
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Yep, we’re wrapped. Thanks for joining us! Hopefully we’ll have some hands-on time soon. Until next time! |
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About The Author
Will Park
Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...