Apple wants more iPod ready cars

Not just an AUX input but an digital connection. No A/D convertion.

"Yeah, I'd like to have more integration of iPod in my mustang...VROOM!"

I have a raven black 66 GT convertible with red pony interior connected to my old silver iPod mini 4 GB... Click the iPod, VROOM the 289.

I just wanted to add that the newer Alpine head units are even better since they do not require a separate $99 iPod adapter component which I had to purchase last August. The price point is around $199, sometimes with free installation depending on which big box store is offering the deal. I have the same gripes about my iPod car interface though- while it's great to have it's really only acceptable if you use playlists or don't have very many artists/albums to scroll through. I will be even less happy when I want to use my own iPod with a vastly larger music collection than my wife's 4GB mini...

I also have the Alpine interface. I have had it since it first came out and it by far the best solution out there.
I do recommend gettinf one, but get one of the larger display head units, they display more information.

Apple should create the perfect car stereo/ipod and then sell them directly to car manufacturers as an option in new cars.

Personally, I think the best solution would be an Apple Tablet that is 2DINs high. This would give you a 6.5" touchscreen interface with which to control the music that is in the Tablet.

Instead of "Front Row" it has "Front Seat" which gives you a simple interface to access Music, Videos, GPS, etc... When you put the Tablet into the built in dock it automatically goes into "Front Seat" Mode.

When you get out of the car you pop it out of the dash and into your pocket. When not in the dash it runs a slimmed down version of Mac OS X.

yeah i have a honda element and love that car bc it has an auxillary port right in the front for me to plug my mp3 player into. not just an ipod but any device really. besides from all the other cool options it really make my car the best!

This would be great. The crap hanging off my cigarette lighters is ridiculous. I want one universal mount that can clip over the ashtray/drinks holder or something, or the option of mounting to the dash. One cable to provide power, audio signal and control....aaagh.

mm66

If Apple wants car manufacturers to have better iPod integration, they should also hold manufacturers to having good iPod integration. Honda has completely failed to do this with their Honda Music Link. If you would like, read my review of the Honda / Acura Music Link at http://www.nuxx.net/wiki/Honda_Music_Link_iPod_Adapter_Review and you can see just how horrible Honda's integration is. Google around for a while and you'll see that I'm not the only one who feels this way about the Honda Music Link.

-Steve

Its called an auxiliary input. Thats all thats needed. Unless you want to be able to view the song and artist information on your radio's display. I'd just like to have an aux in jack. My wireless fm transmitter just sucks for sound quality.

I have the Alpine iPod interface that kungfumaniac is talking about. I've had it for a couple years now. It works great if you make good use of playlists, or keep the iPod in shuffle (like I do), but scrolling threw artist/album/song lists is too slow.

It amazes people, though, when they see the artist info scrolling across the screen as each song plays, or watch me switch playlists by browing through them by name...and realize it's all coming from the iPod in my glovebox.

And it charges my iPod while it plays!