I don't think any of you people who recommend using the iPod interface in the car over using an Alpine head unit interface have ever actually tried using an iPod in the car while driving.
It's almost impossible.
Same goes for using the iPod while running, bicycling, or any other activity in which one cannot really take their attention away from the activity. The iPod screen (and especially the iPod mini screen) is small, and hard to read when the user is anything but stationary. Don't believe me? Then why did Apple make a remote to adjust volume and skip tracks to use in lieu of the iPod interface for active people.
The controls on any in dash stereo are much larger and more easily manipulated while driving than the touch sensitive wheel on the iPod...remember, stereo controls are *designed) to be used while driving...the iPod interface is not. Stereo controls remain in relatively the same location while driving...which is not true with an iPod. Finally, the display on the Alpine unit is backlit and large...designed to be read and interpreted from driving distance in direct sunlight and at night, etc., etc.
Most objections to this device should be that it (somewhat) expensive...but really, Alpine (who makes CD changers that they would like to sell) is producing an adapter for 3rd party device integration, and they have to charge something to cover their R&D and/or loss of CD changer sales.
In case you can't tell, I've been waiting for this since the announcement at the beginning of the year, and I'll happily throw my iPod mini in the glove box/console or wherever else I happen to mount the docking cable...
Greg
I think that Apple would be reluctant to recommend putting iPods into any kind of car stereo deck, because of the HARSH environment that an automobile interior can be.
For example, I live in Texas, and the interior of my car becomes very hot during the summer when I leave it outside for even brief periods. Most LCD displays change contrast remarkable with a change in temperature, and if I leave my iPod in my car (say, plugged into a car stereo deck, for example), the iPod would be exposed to those extremely high temperatures.
Agreed. More games and better games than text games would be nice. Ever play Bolo...old school Mac game, but playable in 256 colors and grayscale on 68020 Macs.
The best part of Bolo was the network play... The scroll wheel would make a great directional control. The more advanced aspects of the game might be difficult to implement due to the lack of buttons, but a simplified version just might be feasible. (but I know nothing of the iPod's processing capabilites, to say nothing of the programming challenge involved).
Wow...I get modded as a troll for posting a critique of an unfair comment against an innocent little iPod game that only wants to entertain and make people happy.
Did I mention I also own and like the iPod (in fact, I bought the mini on Friday night)? From that mod, you'd think I was employed by Microsoft.
Cry me a river...really. Who in their right mind would turn their nose up at the quality of a game on an iPod, which is market primarily as a MUSIC PLAYER?!?
If you want to play games while you walk around, go get a GameBoy Advance, download games to your cell phone, or strap a 12 volt lantern battery on that old PlayStation of yours and get to it. Otherwise, remember that text based games did entertain quite a few people back in the day, and probably can provide entertainment value even in these days of 4GB portable music players.
Just because you can't get 85 FPS doesn't mean there is no entertainment value. If you'll recall, the Mona Lisa, which is only ONE FRAME, has been going strong for quite a while now.
I thought about posting an iPod Mini release article last Friday night, when the iPod mini actually was released, but reconsidered. I guess someone finally got around to posting. That's ok though, as there has otherwise been a general lack of Apple news.
I bought a silver mini on Friday night. No problems so far, and I can say that the smaller size makes all the difference in the world for those of us who like to take our music with us when we run. Smaller size = less weight = less bouncing around while running.
(It's the same reason you see very few DD marathon runners.)
Slashdot Mirror
I don't think any of you people who recommend using the iPod interface in the car over using an Alpine head unit interface have ever actually tried using an iPod in the car while driving.
It's almost impossible.
Same goes for using the iPod while running, bicycling, or any other activity in which one cannot really take their attention away from the activity. The iPod screen (and especially the iPod mini screen) is small, and hard to read when the user is anything but stationary. Don't believe me? Then why did Apple make a remote to adjust volume and skip tracks to use in lieu of the iPod interface for active people.
The controls on any in dash stereo are much larger and more easily manipulated while driving than the touch sensitive wheel on the iPod...remember, stereo controls are *designed) to be used while driving...the iPod interface is not. Stereo controls remain in relatively the same location while driving...which is not true with an iPod. Finally, the display on the Alpine unit is backlit and large...designed to be read and interpreted from driving distance in direct sunlight and at night, etc., etc.
Most objections to this device should be that it (somewhat) expensive...but really, Alpine (who makes CD changers that they would like to sell) is producing an adapter for 3rd party device integration, and they have to charge something to cover their R&D and/or loss of CD changer sales.
In case you can't tell, I've been waiting for this since the announcement at the beginning of the year, and I'll happily throw my iPod mini in the glove box/console or wherever else I happen to mount the docking cable...
Greg
Hate to let you know this about your sig, but:
"life" - is actually the whim of several TRILLION cells to be you for a while
I guess you could be seriously unendowed though...that might make up the difference in your case.
LOL
I think that Apple would be reluctant to recommend putting iPods into any kind of car stereo deck, because of the HARSH environment that an automobile interior can be.
For example, I live in Texas, and the interior of my car becomes very hot during the summer when I leave it outside for even brief periods. Most LCD displays change contrast remarkable with a change in temperature, and if I leave my iPod in my car (say, plugged into a car stereo deck, for example), the iPod would be exposed to those extremely high temperatures.
Gregory
Agreed. More games and better games than text games would be nice. Ever play Bolo...old school Mac game, but playable in 256 colors and grayscale on 68020 Macs.
The best part of Bolo was the network play... The scroll wheel would make a great directional control. The more advanced aspects of the game might be difficult to implement due to the lack of buttons, but a simplified version just might be feasible. (but I know nothing of the iPod's processing capabilites, to say nothing of the programming challenge involved).
Wow...I get modded as a troll for posting a critique of an unfair comment against an innocent little iPod game that only wants to entertain and make people happy.
Did I mention I also own and like the iPod (in fact, I bought the mini on Friday night)? From that mod, you'd think I was employed by Microsoft.
Cry me a river...really. Who in their right mind would turn their nose up at the quality of a game on an iPod, which is market primarily as a MUSIC PLAYER?!?
If you want to play games while you walk around, go get a GameBoy Advance, download games to your cell phone, or strap a 12 volt lantern battery on that old PlayStation of yours and get to it. Otherwise, remember that text based games did entertain quite a few people back in the day, and probably can provide entertainment value even in these days of 4GB portable music players.
Just because you can't get 85 FPS doesn't mean there is no entertainment value. If you'll recall, the Mona Lisa, which is only ONE FRAME, has been going strong for quite a while now.
Sheesh.
I thought about posting an iPod Mini release article last Friday night, when the iPod mini actually was released, but reconsidered. I guess someone finally got around to posting. That's ok though, as there has otherwise been a general lack of Apple news.
I bought a silver mini on Friday night. No problems so far, and I can say that the smaller size makes all the difference in the world for those of us who like to take our music with us when we run. Smaller size = less weight = less bouncing around while running.
(It's the same reason you see very few DD marathon runners.)