Note: I do not have a chance to try out the stock HU come with the new batch of Forte, the review solely comparing the old 4-speeds ICE with this new chipset OEM HU.

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(image borrow from justkhai.com)

Installation: Autogain, Desa Pandan, Selangor.

Specification (some information retrieve from internet and some from the manual)
* 7.0” Digital Touch Panel (800*480), TFT Graphical User Interface OSD.
* WinCE 6.0 OS
* Processor: SIRF ATLAS V
* Chipset: SIRF Star 3
* CPU: 500MHZ
* Storage memory: 128 MB
* Power Specification:  12V DC, Current < 500mA
* Consumption: 4.5W(12V/360mA), normal power consumption 3W(12V/250mA)
* Built-in Shuma GPS System,
* GPS dual zone function: navigation while listen to music at the same time
* Position Accuracy: 10m, 2D RMS, WAAS enable
* Built-in Bluetooth Module, support hands free Phone call, Phonebook and A2DP BT Music.
* Built-in Analog TV tuner.
* Built-in DVB-T for digital television system (optional).
* Built-in iPod Control (iPod4, iPhone3/4/4S. iPhone 5 need additional iPhone adapter).
* Compatible with DVD, DVD±RW, DVD±R, VCD, SVCD, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA, HD-CD
* Playback  Audio: MP3, WMA, AAC, PCM
* Playback Video: Divx, AVI, Mpeg2, Mpeg4, WMV
* Playback Image: JPEG only
* Video Output Range: 1Vp-p ±0.2  (75?)
* Audio Output Range: 2.0V (1KHz, 0dB) ±0.2V
* Built-in FM/AM Radio Receiver (FM Tuning Range: 87.5~108.0MHz, AM Frequency Range: 530~1710KHz).
* Intelligent Steering Wheel Control
* USB port and SD card slot (SDHC card as high as 32GB)
* Car Parking Rearview Signal Input support (automatically display reverse view when engaged reverse gear).
* Parking close TFT automatically
* Electronic Anti-Shock Protection
* Full Function Remote Control
* PAL, NTSC and SECAM Color Systems
* 2 Video Input (AV, Rear Camera), 2 Audio Input, 2 Video Output and 6 Audio Output (4 high 2 low level)
* RCA audio output
* Built-in 4 x 45 Amplifier, Audio output: 4 x 52w, 4 Channel line out.
* EQ control: Bass, Treble, Balance and Mid.
* Changeable Wallpaper (device come with 6 default wallpaper).
* Working Temperature: -20C ~ 60C.

What's included:
1 x ISO Wiring Harness
1 x Radio antenna converter
1 x iPod cable
1 x GPS antenna
1 x Remote controller
1 x Users manual
1x 2GB MicroSD with SD card adapter (GPS)
1x Stylus touch pen

Look & Feel
I preferred this nice looking HU than other universal HU due to affinity of HU/fascia (come together with HU)/LED light color and design for Forte theme. It can be better if the grey part use darker color with metallic effects. The buttons are nice to press although the knob a bit small and glossy to turn compare to stock radio knob. The panel fit nice at the center, no gap on both sides, except the top part, the panel seems 1mm taller than dashboard curve, but not very significant. The protruding panel makes the fan/air-con speed button hard to press, sharing similar issue as previous version HU as per what I heard.


Features
* GPS & Navigation
Awesome good! It able lock GPS location within 2~3 seconds. The HU come with Papago 8.5 and MicroSD card with latest map. The HU can support other navigation software, but Papago is good enough for me at this moment. Installed Papago come with 2 keyboards, English and Thai. English keyboard do not have the option to shift to lowercase, that mean all your custom user defined class/favorite location was named in capital letters. Navigation guide voice will put the radio/USB playing sound into background as of when it provides the voice guidance. You can customize the navigation voice volume in setup menu to suit your needs.

* Radio
The radio comes with 3 pages of FM and 2 pages of AM channels. You can preset 6 channels per page, in other word 18 FM and 12 AM stations. The radio sound quality is in par with the stock one if not better. As of when I setup the radio channel, I found some channel’s reception not that good. That can be due to the area, and that is not fair for me to say that without compare it with stock radio side-by-side. So far, my favorite stations work perfectly. I read some forum comments on stock HU that radio/USB song playing is jerky when it runs together with GPS, thank to the new faster processor, I do not notice such problem in this HU. One more strange thing I encounter during setting up my favorite stations, some time the frequency scanning process do not stop on valid station frequency, you need to search backward again to get it there.

* Movie
Only few most common movie formats can be play in the device via DVD, MicroSD, USB, iPod, BT or AUX. The movie playing is excellent, no movie or sound impediment during playing. Apparently, the subtitle is not support other than playing DVD movies, and there is no movie slide bar to move the movie backward/forward.

* Song
The song output quality is salience compare to stock audio system. Where you can customize the speaker balance, audio settings (bass/treble/mid), equalizer Compensation (classic/pop/jazz/rock). HU can display mp3 song info based on it tag. HU can show the song list named in any UTF8 (Unicode) filename, but this device can only support ID3v1 for MP3 when come to mp3 song info, and ID3v1 do not support the Unicode. If you wish to display Chinese song info, Simplified Chinese encoding is a must (Chinese GB encoding), otherwise the device will only show “?????” for the song info. WMA file format is working fine with Unicode song info.


* TV
The device has built-in TV tuner. You need to install mobile TV antenna in order to receive TV signal, recommended to choose the antenna with built-in booster. Even that in place, you don’t expect to receive consistence and clear screen, especially when the car in move, you will see flickering screen swap between "No Signal" and "snowing screen". According to the AutoGain technician, we can only receive good signal with installation of satellite receiver link up with Astro decoder in the car. Unlike the radio, you cannot set your desired TV channel. HU will scan through all available/receivable channels and set all that in sequence. Not much customization here.


* Bluetooth for Calls
The device build-in Bluetooth for hand free, which can pickup incoming call and mute movie/radio automatically. New chipset OEM HU can download the contacts from phone and dial-up directly from touch screen after it paired with phone via Bluetooth.

* Reverse Camera
The rearview display on screen immediately once reverse gear engaged. I consider the response is fast enough within second, thumb-up!

I think the accessories shop charge me quite expensive for the so-so quality camera without the night vision feature. I suggest you to get the right camera/desired camera that fit right on your car out there and bring along with you for installation.

You can install additional front view parking camera by add in additional converter module. It triggers either by switching from Reverse gear to Drive, or press a button manually.

* Others
The HU also come with other gimmicks like board games, calculator, calendar etc.

I like the feature to turn off the screen display by press and hold the mute button, which not only can save the power, but also prevent screen burn-in and prolong the screen lifespan.


FAQ
• Steering control – The device can control by existing steering control (SX model), you can further customize it in setup menu.
• Existing USB reusable? - Yes
• Multilingual support – The device come with English, Arabic, Russian, and Turkish only. If you need other language, you need to inform Kenny in advance to install the language pack that you needed.
• Cut wire for installation? – Yes and no. The power and control pin harness are plug-and-play by reuse existing cables. However, there are still some wires tapping to the head unit wires (I think is for camera). Hence, get yourself an experience accessories shop with good reputation is essential here.
• What is new for this new chipset HU? – Faster processor, Mid control beside Bass and Treble, new UI, Upload contacts to HU via BT.
• Can instrument panel illumination control knob use to control illumination of the HU? – No, it can’t. HU have it own illumination control with day/night mode options.
• CD changer in new HU? - Unfortunately no, you have to let go existing 6 CD changer for this HU.