BMW to Support New 'iPod Out' Feature in iOS 4

[Whtddhesay]

snore

I've been doing all of this with my Parrot Mki9200 for a year and a half.
Hooks into dock connector (which also charges it), steering wheel controls, on-screen iPod-type interface, also handles all bluetooth audio including app audio like Pandora, radio apps, sat nav, etc., displays album art, song artist and album info, caller-id display, voice-activated calling, also handles audio from any usb drive, SD card, or any audio source with a headphone port. All audio (including calls, app audio, and ipod audio) come through your car's stereo.
These clowns are late to the game.

 

[Wurm5150]

I wonder how many fanboys will buy a BMW just because of this?

 

[mountainbiker80]

This needs to go even further, allowing for integration with other applications that might be on the user device.

I should, for example, be able to select a Pandora station directly from the BMW (or Audi, etc) interface as well as the local content on the iPhone or iPod.

I love German automobiles (I've owned three) but they are always lagging the latest domestic and Japanese innovations when it comes to integrating everything into the cockpit.

I was going to purchase an Audi S4 this year but decided to hold off as it is widely expected that the 2011 or 2012 A4/S4 will have a completely re-worked cockpit that will take the electronics and smart phone integration to the next level.

You're brave. BWM M3 owner here...been through 2 Audi S4s. Get ready for electrical issues. Audi must borrow the same production crew Rover uses...its horrible.

As for the interface news? Freaking fantastic. I HATE having to use the 3rd party UI from the deck manufacturer. No access to Genius, lyrics, etc.

 

[DougB541]

I guess this is the best place to bring this up but i always though that Apple should make a car unit...either for a specific car company or an aftermarket design.

First time i saw the iPhone i thought that technology should be in a car.

 

[Trauma1]

Sure, aftermarket products work great...but not in a BMW. They will either be missing functions or not work at all. I've looked at a lof of products over the years and nothing would work 100% perfectly.

 

[Singin Hobo]

is it just me, or do they seem to be making this a way bigger deal than it is?
this isn't something amazing.

When they said they've been developing this for 3 years I laughed out loud (well, snorted).

It's very cool, but they are making a bigger deal of this than is necessary... especially considering that they are doubtfully going to be the only 2011 cars to carry the feature.

 

[CocoaPuffs]

I've been doing all of this with my Parrot Mki9200 for a year and a half.
Hooks into dock connector (which also charges it), steering wheel controls, on-screen iPod-type interface, also handles all bluetooth audio including app audio like Pandora, radio apps, sat nav, etc., displays album art, song artist and album info, caller-id display, voice-activated calling, also handles audio from any usb drive, SD card, or any audio source with a headphone port. All audio (including calls, app audio, and ipod audio) come through your car's stereo.
These clowns are late to the game.

I understand the egoistic need to prove that you're ahead of the game, but spending the money to modify stock setup is entirely different than having such ability with the stock setup.

 

[Xelnaga15]

Is this an iPod integration or an iPhone integration? If I have to put my iPhone on airplane mode just to use it with this system, then it's no deal.

Also, the video makes this look cool, but I would have to see it in action before I would actually consider it. That iDrive thing in the BMW is something that people are constantly complaining about because it's too complicated. How 'bout a touch screen, guys?

I have a 2010 3 Series with iDrive
works perfectly with my iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.

charges it
able to control the ipod part/play any song(s)
can listen to Pandora (leave the ipod control idle and start the Pandora station manually via iphone)
if you link the idrive VIA bluetooth it will also link up everytime you get into the car and will gain access to your contacts on your phone. ( contacts are not stored within the car and all phone functions do not require the phone to be plugged into the car.)

while other cars sports features like this. they are showing off how the new iDrive will sport support for apples new iPod out feature to enable devices to gain access to apples iOS UI

 

[z4n3]

posted this last Friday in another post on MRumors, but reposting here as FYI

 

[Prissy]

hopefully there's a retrofit... this option will cost at least $500

 

[Prissy]

by the way, in the video.... didn't they say the "APPs" will also work with the iDrive? If it's true then....SICKNESS

 

[CocoaPuffs]

by the way, in the video.... didn't they say the "APPs" will also work with the iDrive? If it's true then....SICKNESS

It should be "very" difficult to achieve using third party touchscreen to access iPhone touchscreen, considering the simple AV output took 3 years.

 

[Tiauguinho]

I am glad to see BMW and Apple working together. If I recall correctly, BMW was the first big brand to give full support for the iPod on their cars... I think I even remember Apple's homepage having that on the front page

 

[ACKRITE]

I have a 2005 E46 ZHP with the OEM Navigation-it would be awesome if this would also be backward compatible for it. If not, at least I know that this be featured in future BMW's.

2004 ZHP here! Such a great car, but I doubt you'll see integration of this going that far back. Oh well, it's time for an e92 335i xDrive M-sport anyways!

 

[jmpage2]

You're brave. BWM M3 owner here...been through 2 Audi S4s. Get ready for electrical issues. Audi must borrow the same production crew Rover uses...its horrible.

As for the interface news? Freaking fantastic. I HATE having to use the 3rd party UI from the deck manufacturer. No access to Genius, lyrics, etc.

Wow, do we really need to get into this in this discussion? I've had two Audis over the span of 10 years and haven't had electrical issues with either one of them. My BMW on the other hand had several electric related problems.

Maybe we should stick to the topic of this new i-drive interface and how useable the technology should be (and whether it might wind up in other manufacturers vehicles) and not spend time bashing on others choices.

 

[riverfreak]

Um. 3 years. They've been working on this for THREE YEARS. Way to go guys. Let's see if we can get back to the moon in the next three thousand years.

 

[spillproof]

Audi, your move. Audi > BMW

The last time I used iDrive, it was a pain.

 

[Arn1499]

Anyone else notice the first song in the "F" section when they're demo-ing the interface is **** Off by Kid Rock?

 

[jmor]

Seems pretty awesome, hopefully all manufactures adopt and implement this as well.

 

[portishead]

Few cameras have the DOF seen in the video. Also BMW was using the 5d mark II in some other commercials.

There is only 1 shot that has ANY depth of field in there. Also, this isn't a professionally produced commercial, it is more of an amateur internal video department.

 

[John.B]

I so want this, but in a Nissan Leaf!

 

[John.B]

Besides, DOF has little to do with the camera, it's mostly about the lens.

Not true. Depth of field is a function of lens aperture and sensor size.

 

[NightFox]

Now the iPod interface is sneaking into more car models (I'm not just on about this article, I'm including those manufacturers who use their own GUIs over the iPod connecter), I wonder if we'll ever see a headerless iPod designed for use in vehicles - i.e. one with no standalone screen that you would either control through the car interface or by hooking it up to iTunes.

 

[John.B]

Now the iPod interface is sneaking into more car models (I'm not just on about this article, I'm including those manufacturers who use their own GUIs over the iPod connecter), I wonder if we'll ever see a headerless iPod designed for use in vehicles - i.e. one with no standalone screen that you would either control through the car interface or by hooking it up to iTunes.

That kills the utility of being able to take the iPod with you after you get where you are going. The display and clickwheel in a nano or classic doesn't add that much to the cost of the iPod...

 

[NightFox]

That kills the utility of being able to take the iPod with you after you get where you are going. The display and clickwheel in a nano or classic doesn't add that much to the cost of the iPod...

I have a Range Rover Sport which has a built in iPod connector - I bought a second hand Nano just for the convenience of not having to remember to bring my iPod with me and plug it in/take it out all the time. It just lives in the car and I forget about it.

A headerless unit wouldn't necessarily be a consumer product - it could be a unit supplied by the manufacturer that can be removed from the car and connected to a Mac/PC to set up and sync with music etc. As long as it was clear that it was an Apple product, Apple would benefit from the aura effect.