Clarion Launches TTS for Social Media Apps

Clarion has released two applications that allow users to access Facebook and Twitter in their cars and post to the sites using text-to-speech technology.

The applications are FB4car and Tweet4car. They were designed for in-vehicle use via Clarion's Next GATE smartphone controller for the iPhone. When the iPhone is connected to Next GATE in the vehicle, users can update their status, check in, and reply to postings via voice support from Nuance Communications' Vlingo products.

Additionally, Next GATE integrates DriveSuite4car. This app lets users access VL4car (Voice Launcher), News4car, Weather4car, Calendar4car, and Contacts4car.

Next GATE controls applications on smartphones, allowing for advanced functionality. Bluetooth functionality allows for hands-free calling and enables iPhone features such as voice dialing and voice activation. 

In addition to Tweet4car and FB4car, other app partners include TuneIn, Pandora, INRIX Traffic, and Odyssey, with a series of new apps coming soon.