Additionally, the Smart Ecosystem is architected to integrate with automotive infotainment and mobile network service platforms.

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TI's Jacinto 5 automotive infotainment processor is an automotive-qualified, heterogeneous multicore processor providing power, flexibility and real-time signal processing.

ENGADGET: TI to be driving force behind Audi's next-gen MIB High infotainment platform

"TI and Audi's collaboration has produced a truly paramount automotive infotainment system, " said Matthew Watson, product line manager, audio and infotainment, TI.

ENGADGET: TI to be driving force behind Audi's next-gen MIB High infotainment platform

And meanwhile, every rival was scrambling furiously to steal some of the buzz Ford had created by boldly staking out its position on automotive infotainment.

FORBES: Ford Is Cut Up By Cutting Edge Of Car-Infotainment Technology

Automotive electronics are complex, and automotive infotainment is a high-growth area.

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Garmin's broad range of in-vehicle electronics for the automotive industry includes infotainment and telematics systems, navigation software, location-based services, and integrated portable navigation systems.

ENGADGET: Garmin K2 in-dash infotainment system brings a hint of glass cockpit to the road

Microsoft has a long history of delivering platforms and services to the automotive market, including in-car infotainment systems built on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform, in-car mapping services with Bing and the Microsoft Tellme voice application, and many other consumer solutions.

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Additionally, Wind River's automotive portfolio also includes Wind River Platform for Infotainment, a software platform on which automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 suppliers can develop sophisticated IVI devices.

ENGADGET: Wind River and Clarion pair up to bring Android to your imported street racer

Wind River Platform for Infotainment is among the first GENIVI-compliant automotive solutions.

ENGADGET: Wind River and Clarion pair up to bring Android to your imported street racer

Our SiRFprimaII auto infotainment platform is designed to enable a premium automotive navigation, entertainment and augmented reality experience that is affordable for everyone.

ENGADGET: CSR sharpens indoor and in-car navigation with SiRFstarV, SiRFusion and SiRFprimaII

The QNX CAR application platform from QNX Software Systems is a comprehensive, pre-integrated software stack designed to help automotive companies reduce the time and effort of building highly sophisticated and connected infotainment systems.

ENGADGET: QNX builds in-car speech framework with AT&T's Watson, knows our true intentions

Garmin's automotive OEM group utilizes the company's long-standing experience in interface and hardware design from its automotive, avionics and marine segments to develop innovative in-car navigation, telematics and infotainment systems.

ENGADGET: Garmin K2 in-dash infotainment system brings a hint of glass cockpit to the road

But increasingly, BMW buyers are as flummoxed as any automotive consumer by the array of digitally inspired possibilities now presented to them, ranging from infotainment devices and systems to a spate of accident-avoidance technologies.

FORBES: BMW Latest to Pick Up Apple 'Genius Bar' Idea In Showrooms