iPod Your BMW Officially Launched

chasingporsches writes "Apple today announced the iPod Your BMW campaign on their front page. According to the iPod Your BMW page, 'Connect with music like never before behind the wheel of your BMW 3 Series, and X3 and X5 SAV, Z4 Roadster or MINI. With the installation of an integrated adapter developed by Apple and BMW, you can now control your iPod or iPod mini through the existing audio system and multi-function steering wheel. Which means no loss of power. No loss of sound quality. No loss of control.' There is also a QuickTime TV ad available for streaming. Apparently it only works with 2002 or later BMWs and Minis, and the iPod connects to a cable in the glove compartment."

Comments

arg

[prockcore]

why do they have the ipod flopping around in the glovebox?

Really, is it so hard to make an in-dash stereo have a slot-loading ipod?

Just slide your ipod into your stereo like an 8-track tape.

Plus, that way you don't need to buy a BMW to use it.

Cool stuff, can't wait for the mini-mini

[fname]

This is neat, but certainly not a huge deal. Hopefully, if succesful, the major car companies (Toyota, GM, Ford, Daimler, VW) will take notice and do something similar. This seems like a great, lo-tech way to get your MP3s into your car, without requiring a dedicated in-dash MP3 player. I could see this option becoming especially popular in rental cars (which probably limits it to the Mini for now). I'm sure they'll start running "get a mini with your mini" promotions pretty soon.

Sadly, I know 2 people with BMWs who just miss the cut; one has a 2001 3-series, and the other has a 2003 M3.

More to the point, this will allow the driver to control the iPod form the steering-wheel controls (is the steering wheel the scroll wheel--eeks!), with a dock cable running into the glove compartment. I imagine you could install a holder for the iPod elsewhere in the car too.

Re:I love how the iPod just sits in the glove box.

[BasilBrush]

It's better than leaving it out in full view of car thieves.

A DOCK?!?!? HA HA HA

[johnpaul191]

yeah leave your ipod in a cradle on your dashboard while you run into the WaWa... and maybe a wallet with $400 sticking out of it. at least in the glovebox you can secure it, and it's out of sight. it's marginally more secure, but someone not knowing it is in there is the best protection short of taking it with you every time you get out of the car.

Re:I love how the iPod just sits in the glove box.

[Total_Wimp]

Actually, this is a good thing. Whatever form factor the next gen iPod takes your car will still be "compatible" as long as they use the same connector on the new iPod.

Also, if they did this right, even if there is a new connector involved it'll just take a cable upgrade from BMW to make it work.

TW

Re:That is correct.

[FredFnord]

Of course, stealing an iPod from a BMW doesn't mean you have to steal the whole car, just smash the window. This will be a huge boon to radio thieves, as the iPod's white case is easily spotted even through tinted windows.

That is to say, 'I didn't bother to even read the article header, let alone the actual article, or I'd know that the iPod itself is in the glove compartment. Also, the controls are the same ones that are in all BMWs so there's no way of knowing that there's an iPod in the car at all until after you've broken the window, but since I'm not bright enough to read before I criticize, I didn't realize this.'

It's probably a much easier route than the current approach of mugging people with white headphones or an externally displayed iPod.

That is to say, 'I'm not smart enough to ever check back on a subject like this, so I don't know that the rumors that lots of people were getting mugged for their iPods were just that: rumors. Rumors, moreover, started by one British tabloid which leaked out into the more mainstream press before being disproved by a couple reporters who actually went and interviewed police sources, something the original author didn't do.'

All in all the iPod's high profile and distinctive white case helps thieves identify and target their owners. This has the advantage of increasing the risk to consumers who are willing to pay good money for DRM'd music.

That is to say, 'I'm a zealot -- an ignorant zealot; but then, most are -- who thinks that anyone who pays for music with DRM actually deserves to get mugged and potentially killed for it.'

This translation brought to you by babelfish++.

-fred