Comments on: Over 50 percent of new cars to offer iPod connectivity in 2009 http://www.leftlanenews.com/over-50-percent-of-new-cars-to-offer-ipod-connectivity-in-2009.html Car news, reviews, and specs for the auto-industry Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:34:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: The Stig http://www.leftlanenews.com/over-50-percent-of-new-cars-to-offer-ipod-connectivity-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-412883 The Stig Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:12:01 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=10326#comment-412883 It helps to qualify the term "connectivity" in this case. Some define that as a headphone jack while others have full-blown iPod integration, which is a different beast. Few have done a worthwhile job of iPod integration. VW does it right - they have a cradle. Just drop it in and you're set. BMW's is pretty good too. Doing the music over Bluetooth is totally possible but why bother? You're still going to need (err, want) a cable to charge the iPod. Why support iPod? Because that's what people buy (40M sold in 2007) and what people are starting to expect on their cars. It helps to qualify the term “connectivity” in this case. Some define that as a headphone jack while others have full-blown iPod integration, which is a different beast.

Few have done a worthwhile job of iPod integration. VW does it right – they have a cradle. Just drop it in and you’re set. BMW’s is pretty good too.

Doing the music over Bluetooth is totally possible but why bother? You’re still going to need (err, want) a cable to charge the iPod.

Why support iPod? Because that’s what people buy (40M sold in 2007) and what people are starting to expect on their cars.

]]> By: beemerdude http://www.leftlanenews.com/over-50-percent-of-new-cars-to-offer-ipod-connectivity-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-412824 beemerdude Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:55:09 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=10326#comment-412824 How come there still needs to be a wire connecting the iPod? With many new vehicles incorporating Bluetooth wireless for cell phones, why can't digital music be integrated to the vehicle's electronics in the same manner?? Even in vehicles that incorporate a docking system, it's still a bit cumbersome to have to place the iPod into it. Would be much more cool if the iPod could just be anywhere in the vehicle and the signal gets picked up by the Bluetooth. How come there still needs to be a wire connecting the iPod? With many new vehicles incorporating Bluetooth wireless for cell phones, why can’t digital music be integrated to the vehicle’s electronics in the same manner?? Even in vehicles that incorporate a docking system, it’s still a bit cumbersome to have to place the iPod into it. Would be much more cool if the iPod could just be anywhere in the vehicle and the signal gets picked up by the Bluetooth.

]]> By: davebo http://www.leftlanenews.com/over-50-percent-of-new-cars-to-offer-ipod-connectivity-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-412766 davebo Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:10:47 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=10326#comment-412766 I think every car stereo should be equipped with a mini-rca input that any portable mp3 player, handheld game system and laptop can all use. I couldn't care less about proprietary interfaces like ipod's. It's only useful if they're building menu navigating functionality into the steering wheel controls, but even then, why decide to support only ipod unless they're getting some kind of kickback from apple? I think every car stereo should be equipped with a mini-rca input that any portable mp3 player, handheld game system and laptop can all use. I couldn’t care less about proprietary interfaces like ipod’s. It’s only useful if they’re building menu navigating functionality into the steering wheel controls, but even then, why decide to support only ipod unless they’re getting some kind of kickback from apple?

]]> By: whips001 http://www.leftlanenews.com/over-50-percent-of-new-cars-to-offer-ipod-connectivity-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-412745 whips001 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:21:30 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=10326#comment-412745 ground breaking research leftlane ground breaking research leftlane

]]> By: phillipsexeter http://www.leftlanenews.com/over-50-percent-of-new-cars-to-offer-ipod-connectivity-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-412723 phillipsexeter Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:28:30 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=10326#comment-412723 In other news: Grass green, sky blue, fire hot In other news: Grass green, sky blue, fire hot

]]> By: justagigilo85 http://www.leftlanenews.com/over-50-percent-of-new-cars-to-offer-ipod-connectivity-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-412654 justagigilo85 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:22:09 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=10326#comment-412654 I think I'm the only person on campus who DOESN'T have an iPod. Then again, my phone doubles as an excellent mp3 player. I think I’m the only person on campus who DOESN’T have an iPod. Then again, my phone doubles as an excellent mp3 player.

]]> By: johnnycanuck http://www.leftlanenews.com/over-50-percent-of-new-cars-to-offer-ipod-connectivity-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-412648 johnnycanuck Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:11:12 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=10326#comment-412648 If it wasn't for my daughter being in the car once in awhile I could go weeks on the same AM station. If it wasn’t for my daughter being in the car once in awhile I could go weeks on the same AM station.

]]> By: tyler_is_aero_tt http://www.leftlanenews.com/over-50-percent-of-new-cars-to-offer-ipod-connectivity-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-412640 tyler_is_aero_tt Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:21:26 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=10326#comment-412640 Only 50 percent? I was expecting much more. Only 50 percent? I was expecting much more.

]]> By: pavlindrom http://www.leftlanenews.com/over-50-percent-of-new-cars-to-offer-ipod-connectivity-in-2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-412639 pavlindrom Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:19:17 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/?p=10326#comment-412639 If they would make a $50 solution for older cars, instead of $200, I would care. If they would make a $50 solution for older cars, instead of $200, I would care.

]]>