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Apple Partners with Ford

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i-have-a-synergy-deal-deal-with-delorean-motors dept.

conq writes "BusinessWeek reports on Apple's latest partnership with Ford. This new accessory will be available in all Ford, GM and Mazda 2007 models allowing users to control thei iPod through the car's stereo controls. From the article: 'Currently, most MP3 players connect to vehicles via tape-deck or FM radio adapters. The devices are relatively cheap, ranging from $20 to $90, but are often difficult to operate while driving and can distort sound quality. But the iPod jacks, situated in glove compartments, let drivers easily operate players with existing stereo controls and charge a device's battery without an additional adapter.'"

7 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting, but... by CyberSnyder · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'd be happy with a simple mini jack standard on car head units. Then we wouldn't have to play around with those terrible FM tuners. My Sirius sounds worse than AM through the FM tuner.

  2. Bah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why can't they put a USB port in the cars instead, or even AUX inputs or stereo minijacks? If Ipods ever phase out of the mainstream, we're going to have a mountain of proprietary crap just because Apple refuses to use a standard, widely accepted connector.

    Being the owner of other brands of players (superior sounding, at that), I find how everyone only supports Ipod very frustrating.

    A USB port could have other potential uses, too. For instance, adding a hard drive unit that could interface with the audio controls, that would enable you to truly bring your music collection wherever you go. Or, quickly charging other devices via USB. The possibilities would be endless.

  3. Glove compartment? by anlprb · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why are these in the glove compartment? In the dashboard, as a slot, or instead of the ash tray, etc... Why do I have to reach into the glove box each time I want to put my iPod in there? Does anyone do any usability studies anymore?

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    1. Re:Glove compartment? by NMerriam · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Because people want to put it in there, close it, and have it completely invisible to thieves. You have to break into the car and pry open the glove compartment to even know if there's an iPod in there. Several aftermarket units already locate the iPod there for these reasons, and because it's usually an easy place to access all the wiring and the car's antenna if you want to do a passthrough.

      I agree, I'd like to have a slot I loaded my iPod into (I even started building one a few years ago), but it's not like putting it in the glove compartment is some crazy counter-intuitive place that nobody would ever want.

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  4. Re:OK But... by iso · · Score: 3, Insightful

    That would entirely defeat the purpose of having the playlists and controls through the faceplate of the stereo.

  5. Re:Or... by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 4, Insightful
    It puzzles me why a line-in jack isn't standard.
    I think Honda do on some lines of vehicles.

    But...it's pretty obvious why auto manufacturers don't want you to use your audio hardware in their cars. They'd like you to spend lots of money on buying their crappy audio systems. In particular, they exploit a kind of 'bug' in human reasoning. If you're buying a $20,000 car many people will think little of wasting $1000, say, on a stereo worth $500 because the $500 seems insignificant compared to the total price of the car and the expense slides under many people's radars, even though under normal circumstances those people would balk at being ripped off so badly.

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  6. Re:Nice, but I want better... by SheldonW · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No need to remember your iPod. Just remember to keep your iPod when the battery dies. You can get great deals on iPods that don't hold a charge and it doesn't matter because the adapter will provides the power.