More on Apple, BMW and Others?

Macrumors said:
Earlier this week, Apple officially announced their partnership with BMW to provide iPod integration. Meanwhile, iPodYourBMW.com also went live to promote the new product.

Perhaps more enticing for non-BMW drivers is hints that Apple will be continuing this push with other manufacturers. According to Phil Schiller, "We are beginning a really big push into a world we all spend a lot of time in -- our cars".
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I am all about the combination of my two favorite things.. computers and cars. Now how about some gps?
 
This stuff ain't rocket science. Any car stereo capable of controlling a remote CD changer (and isn't that just about all of them now?) should be a candidate for an iPod dock.

I don't get the apparent withdrawal of support for the MINI, but I suspect corporate politics of some kind are responsible. MINI is trying to maintain a separate image from the mother company. You're never going to find them on a site called ipodyourbmw.com.
 
commercial

I saw a commercial for the BWM w/ iPod last night. I think it was on the Comedy Channel or the Travel Channel. It was pretty sweet, talking of the integrated steering wheel controls, etc.
 
Everybody seems to hate the idea of putting the ipod in the glove box, but I can see advantages, like security for one. With the controls on the wheel you don't need it out in some sort of dock, cluttering up the console. Not as bad (in my oppinion) as everyone thinks.
 
timmyOtool said:
Everybody seems to hate the idea of putting the ipod in the glove box, but I can see advantages, like security for one. With the controls on the wheel you don't need it out in some sort of dock, cluttering up the console. Not as bad (in my oppinion) as everyone thinks.
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i agree. it's not as slick, that's for certain, but it also doesn't scream STEAL ME!!!. especially w/ a convertible.
 
funkym said:
In reply to this latest news from Apple about integration with BMW, a company called "Dension USA" has been doing this for some time now. I purchased the IceLink kit for my 2000 Audi A4 and it works perfectly. I paid around $200 for the kit. Check them out at www.dension.com.
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I've been looking at that for a while....they now have a dock for the iPod mini, too. It's just that there's nothing about how you actually go about getting this DONE...do you buy it, bring it to whoever does work on your car, and say "put this in"? Or do you go to, say, your dealership first, and order through them?

The iceLink would absolutely rock....slot the iPod into the cradle when you get in the car, and you're ready to go; take the iPod out when you get out so it won't get stolen. Cool stuff! :cool:
 
five04 said:
no, the smart cars aren't in the US because the US population, as a whole, consists of fat lazy people who would rather drive big suv's that get 14mpg than a small smart car which gets 60. they're out in canada, though. the smart website says that smart will come to the US in 2006, but it'll only be an SUV by smart instead of their other cars. i'd love to own one of the cars, but that doesn't look like a possibility anytime soon.
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No, they aren't in the US because Americans don't want to worry about being killed if someone on a bicycle crashed into them. Did you see the size of that car? It doesn't look like something I would feel safe in. My lawnmower has bigger tires than that thing.

I agree that Americans buy too many SUVs. However, when given the choice of a high mpg vehicle that is a decent size they are buying them in droves. The new Toyota Prius is selling faster than Toyota can make them. It gets 55 mpg and yet it still seats 5 people with room for extra stuff in the hatchback, has real size tires, and looks very safe to drive.

There is a six month wait if you want a Prius and Toyota and Ford are releasing hybrid SUVs this fall as well. I bet there will be a wait on those vehicles also.

Later, Frank
 
nsb3000 said:
Right, I just hope the solutions for other cars will be more elegant than the BWM version. I am not crazy about having to put my ipod in the glove compartment. I think there should be a dock in dashboard type device..
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Perhaps they put the dock in the glove compartment so that people can't see it when they look inside of your car........

A dock on the dash would give someone a good reason to smash the window, especially since most people aren't going to take their iPod with them every time they get out of the car.

Frank
 
iPods are sweet but

As a professional user, I'd like to see them make a computer that is faster than a PC at rendering in Adobe After Effects. A dual P4 trounces a dual G5, for much less $$$; I HATE working on PC's but in my industry people buy what will be both cost effective and fastest....

With all this focus on iPods, one has to wonder: Apple still makes computers right ;) ?
 
bertagert said:
I know this is off topic but you brought it up. The whole "SUV" gripe is lame. People claim they suck down tons of gas yet they don't seem to look at any 6 or 8 cylinder cars or trucks that get the same or less milage. And there are a lot more of these vehicles than SUVs. My Jeep Grand Cherokee gets 26 hwy/18 cty. That's not bad at all. Please stop complaing about suv's as the gas guzzling theory doesn't hold. I do have a VW Passat TDI for 45 mpg just to make people like you happy. Kidding, it makes me happy.

Ok, sorry about that. Back on topic. Having an the reciever control the ipod doesn't do the trick. You really need to have access to all the features of the ipod. Having an external cable come out of the stereo and into the ipod is the best bet for now. Personaly, I would like to have a wi-fi ipod and wi-fi deck. That would be the ultimate solution.
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I'm sorry but I'm calling BS. Grand Cherokees don't get 26mpg.

autovantage new car summary said:
Extended-use-test 6-cyl 4WD Laredo averaged 15.7 mpg over 19,000 miles. Test 235-hp V8 models averaged 16.1 mpg with lots of highway driving, just 12.7 in mostly city work. Test 265-hp V8 averaged 14.5. Jeep recommends premium fuel for the 265-hp V8, regular for the other engines.
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People complain about SUVs for the simple fact that most get below 20mpg. That is absolutely unacceptable. As far as your argument about 6 and 8 cylinder cars getting the same mpg, you are dead wrong on that front as well. They don't get mileage as high as I would like but I just took a 6 cylinder Buick on a long trip and it averaged 32mpg for the trip. I too an 8 cylinder Cadillac on the same trip last year and it average 29mpg. This is much higher than any SUV averages.

Frank
 
seyo said:
As a professional user, I'd like to see them make a computer that is faster than a PC at rendering in Adobe After Effects. A dual P4 trounces a dual G5, for much less $$$; I HATE working on PC's but in my industry people buy what will be both cost effective and fastest....

With all this focus on iPods, one has to wonder: Apple still makes computers right ;) ?
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Duel P4?????
 
sinisterdesign said:
i agree. it's not as slick, that's for certain, but it also doesn't scream STEAL ME!!!. especially w/ a convertible.
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I think if you are driving one of these cars, your ipod screaming "steal-me" should be the least of your concerns..
 
Yup

Dual P4 Xeon machines are way faster at rendering AE6 comps than any dual Mac on god's green earth. Now if only I could get my hands on a VT cluster...
 
no, the smart cars aren't in the US because the US population, as a whole, consists of fat lazy people who would rather drive big suv's that get 14mpg than a small smart car which gets 60.
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That must explain the SMART cars driving around in the SF Bay area. There are a couple that show up here where I work. They're massively outnumbered by various Toyota and Honda hybrid-engined cars, but a few are on the roads.

They used to be sold here, but were pulled off the market when the original company was sold.

By the way, do you normally come off as a bigot, or do you have to work at it?

they're out in canada, though. the smart website says that smart will come to the US in 2006, but it'll only be an SUV by smart instead of their other cars. i'd love to own one of the cars, but that doesn't look like a possibility anytime soon.
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They're usable in cities, but they don't make much sense at all for the long distances driven here, particularly in the Western states. They're pretty much useless as a family car, to boot.

As for Americans not wanting to drive economical cars...that must explain why models like Toyota's Prius is selling out here at list+, and are on months-long waiting lists at every dealer that can get them.
 
I hope that apple does this with more companies (ie lexus) I have a great sound system (mark levension) that's awsome, but it needs my ipod! :D I think if you can afford a lexus you can afford an ipod...
 
seyo said:
Dual P4 Xeon machines are way faster at rendering AE6 comps than any dual Mac on god's green earth. Now if only I could get my hands on a VT cluster...
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sorry for the misunderstanding. The dual p4 threw me. I now realize you were talking about the xeon.
 
NOV said:
As I mentioned in a previous thread:

the *real* solution would be a WiFi equipped iPod feeding the built in tuner with music and being able to control the iPod through the tuner..
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The problem with this is multiplicity of databases and site-specific playlists, which makes a cradle the best way to go. If I'm driving the car, I can use my iPod; if my wife takes the car, she can put in her iPod. If I sell the car, the buyer can use his iPod.

I know there are geek work-arounds, but a cradle would be clean, simple and Apple.
 
thats good news to hear. i love having my ipod in my jeep. first thing i did when i got my jeep was install my ipod and i dont know how i would be without it. just to let you guys know you dont have to wait for apple to pull something out of their hats. take a look at PIE auxillary or blitzsafe to get your ipod in your car.

iJon
 
ummm....

bull***t.

I would like but I just took a 6 cylinder Buick on a long trip and it averaged 32mpg for the trip. I too an 8 cylinder Cadillac on the same trip last year and it average 29mpg. This is much higher than any SUV averages.
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and i'm not even going to argue it, as anyone here who has ever driven a caddy knows it. again, bull***t.

and to list a few V8s that are EVERYWHERE and get just as crappy gas mileage as suvs... better yet just one: MUSTANG V8.

and what about fullsize trucks with oversize tires?

i've got this hippy friend who gave me crap about buying my V6 isuzu vehicross, and as she's griping at me about it she's sitting in a 80's model THUNDERBIRD and the rest of the time drives a late 70's VOLVO STATION WAGON. hipocrites.

oh well, no sense arguing. people do what they do.
:rolleyes:
 
frankly said:
I'm sorry but I'm calling BS. Grand Cherokees don't get 26mpg.



People complain about SUVs for the simple fact that most get below 20mpg. That is absolutely unacceptable. As far as your argument about 6 and 8 cylinder cars getting the same mpg, you are dead wrong on that front as well. They don't get mileage as high as I would like but I just took a 6 cylinder Buick on a long trip and it averaged 32mpg for the trip. I too an 8 cylinder Cadillac on the same trip last year and it average 29mpg. This is much higher than any SUV averages.

Frank
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the turbo diesels in the grand cherokee's as well as the new turbo disel liberty can easily get that much. Plus the new gas Cherokee will help with gas mileage with the new MDS engine.

iJon
 
technocoy said:
bull***t.



and i'm not even going to argue it, as anyone here who has ever driven a caddy knows it. again, bull***t.

and to list a few V8s that are EVERYWHERE and get just as crappy gas mileage as suvs... better yet just one: MUSTANG V8.

and what about fullsize trucks with oversize tires?

i've got this hippy friend who gave me crap about buying my V6 isuzu vehicross, and as she's griping at me about it she's sitting in a 80's model THUNDERBIRD and the rest of the time drives a late 70's VOLVO STATION WAGON. hipocrites.

oh well, no sense arguing. people do what they do.
:rolleyes:
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A mustang V8 even a cobra gets better mileage than say an escalade. Maybe a Mustang doesn't get the best mileage but these SUV's get like 8 miles a gallon. Your point is valid, but lets keep everything in perspective.
 
ITR 81 said:
The Smart car aka city car/k-car will see US sales by 05' according to what I read awhile back in Autoweek. So far they've met all the EPA and crash stds. Now they just need to play with the option packages.

I believe Smarts would sell well in Big Cities..and also probably Med. sized Cities as well.
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- a little off topic, but YESSSS!!! Ever since i went to Europe in '01 , ive wanted one of these-you lucky europeans, you get everything first!
:D the US is just starting so see the light of small cars.
 
ok, last OT post for me...

okay to put it in perspective, how many mustangs/caddies/etc, are being driven as compared to escalades? many more (same goes for the hummer). a general mass market 4cylinder/6cylinder SUV gets just as good of gas mileage if not better than a lot of cars. my point being that the term SUV has become a catch-all for gas guzzling. there are gas guzzlers for every type of vehicle. the problem is LARGE SUV's, LARGE CARS, LARGE VANS, LARGE TRUCKS, period. mind you, if you drive one of these and actually use it to a good clip for what it intended for, i.e. hauling, off-roading, utility, i have no problem with it. but driving one of these just because it is percieved as a success emblem or "cool" is rediculous. it's wasteful and harmful to the planet, not to mentions more dangerous to other vehicles in a collision.

PEACE! :D
 
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