Porsche announces Aha integration at CES 2013

By Stephen Edelstein January 9, 2013

Porsche is the latest car manufacturer to integrate Harman’s Aha tech into its infotainment systems. The company announced the pairing at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Aha will be available on cars equipped with the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) interface. As with other automotive applications of this tech, Porsche drivers will be able to view content from their iOS or Android devices through a car’s dashboard screen, or listen to music through the stereo.

Porsche drivers will be able to download a free Aha Radioapp for their devices, which groups content into virtual “radio stations” based on subject matter. Porsche says more than 30,000 stations are already available, covering everything from music to news, sports, and audiobooks.

Aha also includes newsfeeds for Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. On a slightly more driving-related front, it also has Google POI (point of interest) which can search the Web for local destinations, then program directions into a Porsche’s navigation system.

Porsche says production of Aha-equipped vehicles is already underway, so they be in showrooms soon. Aha will be offered as a standalone option on cars equipped with PCM for $210.

Porsche isn’t the only carmaker to have an Aha moment (forgive the pun). The latest version of Chrysler’s Uconnect, and Subaru’s all-new Starlink both make Aha a central feature.

Moving content out of a car’s hard drive and onto the Web is definitely a trend; it allows for quick updating and puts a driver’s smartphone front and center. For tech-happy car buyers, a new car could start looking like a larger screen and better sound system for their phones.

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Stephen Edelstein

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Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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