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iPod Your BMW Official

Not too bad

This really isn't so bad. You plug in the iPod in the glove compartment, and it's out of the way. And everything else is controlled via the steering wheel controls, based on the creation of a few custom playlists.

I mean seriously people, what did you expect? A video-out to your Information Display system on your car mimicking the iPod display? Then I'm sure you all would be B**ching about the font used on the display. :eek:

This is a decent solution for people with compatible BMW's and iPods.

What APple needs to do now is work with the auto tech manufacturers and work to integrate iPod control systems into their cars, much the way Microsoft is doing with iDrive.

FOr example, APple works with DElphi Automotive to design and engineer iPod compatible systems that can be used by the automakers. But APple/Jobs tends to aim at the high market so... work with Mercedes, Lexus, Cadillac, Saab, Infiniti, and AUdi to get their audio systems more compatible with cleaner integration.
ANd if you want the iPod integrated with the Nav DIsplay, then Apple needs to write code to get it to work correctly. Shouldn't be too hard, since some of it is WinCE. :rolleyes:
 
"The first seamless integration of iPod and automobile"

I think a better caption would be:

"Not quite as half-assed as the iPod/New Beetle promotion"


Seriously, it looks like it just lays in the glove box, probably secured somehow, yet no dock or anything. What is with these so-called solutions they have been coming up with?
 
From the joint Press Release

"The BMW iPod Adapter is available for the MSRP of $149.00 (US) plus installation cost, and will be officially available for customers to purchase at BMW centers as of July 12, 2004 for 2002, 2003 and 2004 BMW models: X3, X5, Z4 and 3 Series. The Mini Cooper Adapters will be available later this summer. Consumers should check with their BMW or MINI centers for specific application restrictions or log onto www.ipodyourbmw.com."
 
mgescuro said:
I mean seriously people, what did you expect? A video-out to your Information Display system on your car mimicking the iPod display? Then I'm sure you all would be B**ching about the font used on the display. :eek:
Click to expand...

Actually if I remember correctly Alpine's iPod-Ready system does output Song/Artist/Album/Ratings to the display.

Edit:
"With a simple one-cable connection, iPod users will be able to operate key playback features from the Alpine receiver's buttons and have display of playlists, album, artist and songs on the head unit."
 
puckhead193 said:
I hope apple does with lexus.....Any one have an ipod and a lexus (ES with navi) and hooked it up so it can work. I don't really care about controlling it from the steeringwheel or radio, just so i can get the audio from it?

Might I add that is the worest commerical, very poor apple...
Click to expand...

maybe bmw had control over the commercial like pepsi did with itms. or maybe, apple is loosing its marketing touch. bring back dancing products in front of a white background!
 
3:02pm EST, ipodyourbmw.com takes me to register.com's new domain page. Anyone else getting this?

I also got the apple pics to compare

apple.jpg

bmw-apple.tiff
 
The Glove Compartment is empty...

Imagine if stuff shifted during the during the flight on the front of an iPod.....
 
iceLink

I am really curious to hear how much this costs. The iceLink by www.densionusa.com is a better solution than the Apple/BMW one. It costs around $200 (It varies slightly per car). One nice feature is that this device has a cradle and you can get car specific mounts to mount it in various locations in the car. This enables you to just plug it in without putting it in your glovebox and you can now see the display. The other nice thing about this is that you can put it in just about any new car. There is a different kit for different car manufacturers and models. You can have it professionally installed or hook it up yourself. It plugs into the cd changer port. It took me about 30 minutes to install since I had to figure out how to get to the back of my radio without destroying it. Now that I know how it would probably take about ten minutes. (I guess some cars would be easier and some more difficult.)

One feature the Apple/BMW solution has over the iceLink is the multiple playlists. I think this is an awesome feature! Maybe Dension will pick up this idea and offer an upgrade.
 
If you read the site it says that this is not compatible with cars with CD changers fitted. So this interfaces as a CD changer. That's the reason for the 5 special playlists. Your whole Library is CD 1 (or maybe 6) and the 5 others are CDs 2-6 (or 1-5) giving you the standard 6 CDs of a changer (yes you can get bigger changers I know). Seems pretty simple to me.
 
Pretty lame. I was thinking a car stereo with an integrated Hardisk accessed via 802.11g would be a slick way to sync your iTunes library with your car. How sweet would it be to park your car in the garage, go to your computer and tell it to sync with your car stereo!? it would be a totally separate device from the iPod, but it opens the door to all sorts of other content that you might want in your car. (Integrated address book for hands-free cellphone dialing?)
 
henners said:
indextop06212004.jpg


This is really not an adequate solution, one has to reach over to plug the ipod in. Then it is not properly secured in. Once in, the user has no real control of the iPod, 5 playlists? What about all the other 40 GB+ music? A vague stab without the expected apple touch. Shame
Click to expand...


I believe the Apple site states that "To listen to iPod music in your BMW, you can either create up to five unique BMW playlists within iTunes, or choose to listen to your entire library. Once you’ve transferred your BMW playlists to your iPod, just plug your iPod into your glovebox adapter cable, select a playlist and you’re ready to take your tunes on the road."

The CD head-unit contains six buttons to control the disk-changer, and I believe this will allow you to move between your special BMW playlists (on 1-5) or your entire library (6).

ooh, here's more info: "To choose one of your playlists, simply use the BMW Stereo control buttons labeled 1 to 5, or select button 6 to access your entire collection" (from the http://www.bmwusa.com/ipod/ site)
 
At long last...

After being compared for years, marketsharewise, it's about time they do something together. Does anyone know if the built in stereo can read the iPod display info? That would be very cool.

I would've liked to have seen a dock type connection, but you can't have everything.

Peace
 
Where's the Alpine

Where is the Alpine stereo with the ipod intergration. I've been waiting patiently since it was announced! While I would love to have a Mini, but it's gonna be a few years before I buy a new car just so I can listen to my Ipod.
 
You wouldn't want to tempt thieves

wPod said:
wow, this will work great for my mom! i think. i forget if her BMW is an '01 or an '02. . . hopefully its an '02 so she can get this to work with her iPod mini.

i think the glove box is a good place. thatway you just turn your car off and leave. if its sitting out in a dock, you have to put it up, otherwise someone will look in see the iPod sitting in plain sight, break the window and grab it. that would be bad!!

ive been looking for an excuse to get a mini. . .the car not the iPod. . . this would be really cool!!!
Click to expand...

Because driving a BMW is in NO way a tempation for the theif to break into your car, but an iPod, well that makes it all worth it :p
 
TR TR TR

I think it's really lame that it only displays "TR 02" "TR 43" isntead of the track information. ESPECIALLY since the iPod goes in the glove box. I don't mind it being it being in the glove box, but I'd wanna be able to see the track info.
 
I'm overwhelmed that this is such an underwhelming product. Where's the wood grain/leather dock? What if your glovebox looks like mine, and there's no room for a pod?
 
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