All-In-One Azentek SmartMirror

There is a new era of automotive safety innovations and “mobile connectivity” growing worldwide. Renowned electronics manufacturer Azentek is leading the way with its new all-in-one “infotainment system” named the SmartMirror.

The SmartMirror (model SM-450) replaces the original equipment rearview mirror with one that integrates a global positioning satellite (GPS) navigation system, hands-free Bluetooth cellular and PDA connectivity, and can also be used as a display for the (optional) rearview/backup camera.

Roughly, the left two thirds of the SmartMirror is a conventional mirror and the remainder features a built-in 4-inch TFT LCD touchscreen that serves as a display for the navigation, phone dialing and the rearview camera.

The 16-channel GPS receiver offers a host of very useful navigation options, such as Lane Assistant and Reality View for extra guidance, spoken street names via text-to-speech, intuitive menus, 2D and 3D maps with millions of points of interest (POI), as well as easy-to-read map views that adapt to the driver’s needs. Plus, it doubles as a Bluetooth speakerphone (via the built-in Bluetooth module), displays the incoming calls on the screen and supports Manual/Auto call answering.

With 21 Southern California locations, Al & Ed’s Autosound (featured on the show “Whipnotic”) was one of the first companies to install the SmartMirror. We recently visited their corporate offices (Van Nuys, California) and with the help of Product & Media Manager, John Haynes, followed Tito Vega as he installed the mirror and the optional rearview camera in the company’s full-show Escalade.

While Azentek recommends having the equipment professionally installed and set up, if you have a basic understanding of hand tools and can follow the detailed instructions, you can easily install the mirror yourself in about a half hour. Add another two to three hours to route the wiring to the back and install the rearview camera.