Filed under: Accessories, Audio, iPod Family
Mitsubishi offers in-dash iPod dock
Now this is cool. Mitsubishi's iCar features an in-dashboard iPod nano dock. Just slide the iPod all the way into the slot where the dock connectors are and control it from the car's navigation display. No adapter, no transmitter, no clutter. For now, the iCar is only available in Japan. Here's hoping the technology (if not the car itself) makes its way elsewhere (and that Mitsubishi makes slots that can accommodate other iPod models).Wouldn't it be cool if Macs had slots like this?
[Via MacDailyNews]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Victor Agreda, Jr. said 8:53PM on 5-17-2006
Since I saw the first "official" implementation of iPod-in-a-car, I thought that this in-dash method was just so natural. Yet, in my Taurus, I can't charge my iPod while it sits in the cupholder. Detroit wonders where it went wrong? Anyway, stowing my iPod in the glove box seems goofy... I hope everyone has this in-dash dock as an option soon.
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USTommyMC said 8:57PM on 5-17-2006
I've had this in my dreams and thoughts for years now and finally someone bought it to reality. Unlike most Americans though I won't sue them.
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Alex said 9:04PM on 5-17-2006
What happens when Apple releases an even smaller iPod? Hopefully that faceplate is replaceable.
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SwissFreek said 9:29PM on 5-17-2006
Damn, I wish I had patented this when I made one for my car. Not terribly hard if you have a stereo like an Alpine that has an iPod connection system. Just make a slot that fits your iPod and then stick a dock connector at the bottom...
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Bill Raikes said 11:10PM on 5-17-2006
I love this iPod. Has everyone seen the new Apple commercial with the Mac and the PC falling over due to spyware and virus. It's hilarious.
http://www.str8up.com/watch.php?v=62
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John Curtis said 11:42PM on 5-17-2006
That is really cool. Car manufacturers have been so slow to introduce this functionality. That's why I put the Apline 9856 in my car.
John Curtis.
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Kai said 3:05AM on 5-18-2006
That's nice, but I like the slot of the Dension DH100ix much more. There you open the display of the radio head unit - just like on some CD radios, but it has a slot for the 80gb 2.5" hard disk - too bad they discontinued it.
http://www.densionusa.com/dh100ix_info.htm
Since the idea is still there, I'm hoping for other car manufactures to have slots for iPod nano & iPod *in the head unit*?
Kai
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CMC said 4:48AM on 5-18-2006
Hey, I have one of those in my car. Except the iPod doesn't plug into it, and it's also an ashtray.
In all seriousness though, I'd really like to have something like that. A big, gaping cavern for me to slide my 4G 60gb into.
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geezer said 5:33AM on 5-18-2006
Quote: "Wouldn't it be cool if Macs had slots like this?"
I remember rumors, ages ago at thinksectret, about such a slot to be featured on top of the Mac Mini. But as we all know now, that was nothing but a rumor ;)
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Adrian said 6:06AM on 5-18-2006
The macbooks and the macbook pros should have a slot for the remote.
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James Donevan said 7:22AM on 5-18-2006
"Anyway, stowing my iPod in the glove box seems goofy... I hope everyone has this in-dash dock as an option soon."
Right. And when you get out of your car you do what exactly? The great majority of people stow the iPod in their glove box... the same as they do with SatNav. The last thing I want is to mount an iPod in plain view of every low life that passes my car. Security is enough of a concern without adding to temptation. The glove box works very nicely. Simple plug-in, hidden. I think you will find the major car manufacturers recognize this.
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SwissFreek said 8:15AM on 5-18-2006
Right, which is why the slot for mine was in the glove box. Another option would be to have one of those flip-out panels covering it like more people ash-trays or coin holders nowadays. But my car is too ancient and decrepit to have something fancy like that...
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Mark Studdock said 9:32AM on 5-18-2006
while http://homepage.mac.com/reelmagik1/.Pictures/WEB-OLD%20IPOD%20PICS/05.gif seems cooler, I did http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/pictures/57.jpg to my mazda millennia (appx the same way he did it to his rx8) and it has been really nice and easy to use on my lap - or in the hands of my passenger.
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Troy McClure SF said 11:18AM on 5-18-2006
I claim credit for this idea.
And I still want one, dammit.
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Troy McClure SF said 3:27PM on 5-18-2006
Note to self: TUAW disallows linking.
I claim this idea- http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=360379
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emma said 11:18PM on 5-23-2006
its a nice invention but those cars are soo damn ugly. i dont know why anyone would want to drive around in those little things. if only they have ipod slots in nicer cars like toyotas and beemers....
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