Integrate iPod with Car or Risk Death 200
An anonymous reader writes "CNET has talked to Apple about its big plans for the car. Apple say they're keen to save the lives of anyone who risks death by "reaching into the footwell of his car to retrieve an iPod nano at around 90mph" and anyone who "considered skipping tracks on his iPod more important than the lives of multiple humans". Apple are also said to be "delighted by the efforts of Mac users who retrofit the Mac Mini into cars" and are "keeping an eye on what these hackers are up to with their Macs." The writer also pitched his own design ideas to Apple's director of global product marketing, Bob Borchers: "We suggested to Borchers that Apple should allow drivers to use their car steering wheel as a giant Clickwheel interface, so that you can change tracks by changing lanes. Borchers foresaw certain safety problems with such a device and rejected the concept.""
Never underestimate the quantity of stupid people (Score:5, Interesting)
You can kill someone by just focusing on the stereo display instead of the road, too. This guy was just more Darwinian than most.
Perhaps car stereos need to be rubber-padded to accomodate the lowest common denominator, like so many other consumer products. Something to prevent you from changing discs, tracks or stations unless the transmission is in park.
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:3, Insightful)
Hey, at least he wasn't placing a needle on a 45 while driving!
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:3, Funny)
Yeah, singles are so out. Custom 33 1/3 LP all the way.
Didn't a luxury car maker feature a turntable in one of their commercials?
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2, Funny)
All jokes aside, this is slashdot, so I'm not sure you actually needed to explain why playing vinyl records in a car doesn't work that well :-)
("You must be new here" comment in 5...4...3...)
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
It's a rediculously expensive record player that uses a laser to read the vinyl instead of a needle.
This sidesteps a major problem, which only leaves you with stabilizing the vinyl itself.
All that said, I did a quick google search and found this:
http://ookworld.com/hiwayhifi.html [ookworld.com]
It seems like there were in-car record players during the '50s and '60s
and they worked
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:5, Insightful)
Driver distractions in general are the problem. "Eyeballs off the road" or "fishing around in the footwell for my stray iPod" are extreme (and extremely stupid) cases. But just the thought process of "hmm...which CD has my Led Zeppelin and which CD has my Devo?" is enough distraction to take my focus off the road.
Another example is thinking I'm "safer" with my handsfree car phone than I am fumbling about with a handheld. Sure, that's a bit safer than not fumbling with it, but I guarantee that if you're on a hands-free phone call and get into a heated argument with your spouse (or any other emotionally upsetting phone call) that your concentration isn't going to remain fully on the road.
If car stereos were locked down while the cars are in motion, the temptation to change tracks would be gone, and so would the distraction.
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:3, Interesting)
I rarely talk on the phone while driving. I only do so if the call can't wait and there is little to no traffic. Even then I find the extra gadget distracting. My MP3 player is conveniently located within a finger's reach when I have my hand on the gearshift, so as long as I'm in 1st, 3rd, or 5th gear I barely have to glance at it to change volume or tracks. Talking on a cell phone with a manual transmission is a bit tougher, which is partly why I don't like talking on it while driving. Headsets aren't a pr
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:3, Interesting)
It's a bit worse than talking to an adult passenger, because a passenger is usually aware of the road conditions and will shut up at the appropriate time, and will understand when your concentration needs to be fully on the road. Peopl
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2, Insightful)
If I am able to turn the player off, I will become frustrated and unfit to drive.
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:3, Interesting)
Driver distractions in general are the problem.
No, the problem is that cars are driven by human beings who are inherently fallible. This is very old, but poor technology. Even if every distraction/impediment is eliminated, more people still will die from traffic accidents than any other preventable form of death.
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
Fatalities would go down because the computer won't get distracted. I am not talking about some fancy 'modern' PC running a crashable OS, I am talk
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
Try driving around Boston for a couple days. You could grab your nano at 90 and wipe out ten other cars and likely not hit someone who isn't also driving like an idiot!
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
Wrong. Purely Darwinian. Survival of the fittest based on prevailing environment. Environment full of idiots that shouldn't be driver. Person most able to avoid said idiots most likely to contribute to the gene pool. Of course if not for the never ending supply of idiots eventually there would be no idiots, and the ability to avoid them would no longer be a successful survival trait. In the real world you'll eventually reach an equi
rubber-padded for the lowest common denominator (Score:5, Insightful)
Most people can't even be expected to react quickly to outside events if they're talking on the phone while driving. Why would we expect anything more if they're not even focusing their eyes on the road, much less their brains.
Re: rubber-padded for the lowest common denominato (Score:2)
Re: rubber-padded for the lowest common denominato (Score:2)
Re: rubber-padded for the lowest common denominato (Score:3, Informative)
Have you ever seen the workload a beginner pilot takes on. He's constantly on the radio to ground, has one hand on the yoke or stick, both feet at rudder pedals and his other hand controls throttle and every other instrument that has to be regulated (mixture, prop) and to tune radios
and tall bumpers... (Score:2)
my last car was totalled by some jackass who went looking for his walkie talkie in the footwell... took his foot of the brake and his truck went over my bumper and through my trunk. you don't have to be moving fast to cause a problem like that. this happened at a stop light.
annoyingly, cars *are* supposed to be rubber padded for these sorts of things, but it doesn't work when to support a trucks "rugged look" the rubber padding, (the bumper) is a foot higher than it ought to be...
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
I now completely refuse to drive my wife anywhere. If she wants to drive, she can do it from the driver's seat.
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
Have you ever actually -used- an iPod while driving?
Most car stereos have a UI that is, at least to some extent, designed for the environment it resides in. This is far from the case with the iPod, Zen Micro, or just about any other portable media player I've touched.
I try not to change playlists or albums while I'm driving with my iPod. That stupid thing has caused me to drive out
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
Agreed. Now that cars are moving away from having tape decks anyway, there really needs to be a good way to interface musical devices. Especially since "musical devices" now encompass in-car movie playing. The best method would be a standardized docking cradle with a digital interface. Just pop your iPod (or any other audio/visual device) into the cradle and go. The iPod would respond to command
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
There is a standardized digital interface (but not a cradle/dock.) It's called a USB mass stoarge device. And this Kenwood [kenwoodusa.com] can play from it. Since mine was a retrofit, the installer filled the gap above it with a small in-dash pocket that's perfect for holding the USB device. (I'm using a Palm Lifedrive, but I've used a memory stick with good results, too.) It's a very generic solution that works for iPods, iRivers and
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
That doesn't work on anything purchased from iTunes or a WMP Store. Not to mention custom encodings like FLAC or OGG. All it does is add complexity to the car's system in order to support MP3 decoding. A standardized interface would provide high-speed channels for decoded audio/video content, tagging, a command interface, power, and ground. Not to mention that the standard could also define a form-factor
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
It'd be the perfect setup if I could navigate my iPod via my steering wheel controls and my head unit could essentially mirror iPod Display (or something similar.)
I just got an Alpine CDA-9856 to replace my worn out Aiwa. It plays CDs, MP3 & WMDs (or whatever MS calls their music format).
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
I'd go for producing it but the price would probably end up higher than a cheap stereo from a supermarket.
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
I'd go for producing it but the price would probably end up higher than a cheap stereo from a supermarket.
You get all that, plus AM/FM and the ability to play CDs & MP3 CDs for $200.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-dqg3xoV8x67/cgi-bin/P rodVie [crutchfield.com]
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
That's not just a good idea, it's the law. *rolls eyes*
That doesn't stop the controls for changing the movie from being in the front seat. While the driver probably shouldn't be messing with the movie controls while (s)he's driving, there's nothing saying that the passenger shouldn't.
Re:Never underestimate the quantity of stupid peop (Score:2)
I am sure someone has probably mentioned this in the responses but I haven't seen it yet. I bought the ipod2car which interfaces to my Jeep Liberty CD interface which allows me to skip tracks, seek and will also charge the Ipod while connected. Funny thing is that I still use the click wheel more as it is closer to the shifter than the radio.
The catch to the ipod2car is if you have anything else
Well... (Score:3, Funny)
Steering Wheel as a Clickwheel? (Score:5, Funny)
Jesus, is it April already?
Re:Steering Wheel as a Clickwheel? (Score:2)
Anything but a quick rejection from Borchers on that one would have probably resulted in a decrease in Apple's stock value if the word got out. In fact, that was a major test for Apple, to see if any demise they might meet would come as a result of them committing suicide - something that I could see happening with M$ if they continue to ride on that ill-fated ship that Ballmer is steering over there.
Re:Steering Wheel as a Clickwheel? (Score:2)
Rich
Dash mounted like an 8-Track? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Dash mounted like an 8-Track? (Score:3, Insightful)
The benefit of the "established" car audio manufacturers making ipod interfaces for their products is that when I jump out of the car to buy petrol/food/whatever, the local thugs walking past the car don't see the ipod and decide to "liberate" it.
Woe betide anyone who buys the inevitable "iCar" player (yes, you know it's coming one day). It'll be shiny white plastic, it'll stand out like a sore thumb, and you might as well get a
Re:Dash mounted like an 8-Track? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Dash mounted like an 8-Track? (Score:2)
It's not just the iPod, it's the different form factors of cassette players. Side loading vs. front-loading, and so on. Best to just
Re:Dash mounted like an 8-Track? (Score:2)
Re:Dash mounted like an 8-Track? (Score:2)
No, but you can buy an aftermarket CD player/head unit that has an iPod interface & cable. Very slick. $200.
http://www.crutchfield.c [crutchfield.com]
Sheltered much? (Score:5, Funny)
Obviously they've never had somebody 'borrow' their music player of choice and load it down with eight hours of 'Therapeutic Gong'.
Footwell? (Score:2)
Re:Footwell? (Score:2, Interesting)
It could have simply been the guy wasn't thinking clearly that one time. It's happened to me dozens of times where I won't be thinking and will do something incredibly stupid that I'd never do under normal circumsta
Re:Footwell? (Score:2)
Nowadays I simply have an MP3 CD player with 8 or 9 MP3 CDs stored on the dash visor. (My lifestyle doesn't mesh well with an iPod. I'm either listening to music in my home office with the laptop or in my car. A network shar
Easy: Link the scroll wheel to the steering wheel (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Easy: Link the scroll wheel to the steering whe (Score:2, Funny)
That's a GREAT idea! (Score:5, Funny)
And we could tie the accelerator to Volume control, and the brake could be the Pause button. Oh, and we could have the engine make funny clicking noises to provide sensory feedback and we would be all set.
We'd have to ban Brittany Spears though, because mayhem would quite likely ensue as thousands of drivers struggled to hit pause, turn down the volume and change tracks simultaneously.
We could call it the iPod MEGA. An iPod you can drive around in.
Re:That's a GREAT idea! (Score:2)
Tomorrow my iPod will work in my car... (Score:3, Insightful)
I honestly am not sure whats worse, being able to use it this way with all the distractions it may cause, or not having the option available. I will figure that out for myself.
Still it makes one wonder, should functions which inherently distract you from driving be prevented by the hardware? I know some navigation functions are disabled if the vehicle is moving, why not other functions?
I can change radio stations without visual queues but selecting playlists isn't going to be as easy. Sometimes I think answering your cellphone should shut your car off.
Re:Tomorrow my iPod will work in my car... (Score:2)
I think I'd rather see a mobile refuse answer when the car is in motion unless you're in headset mode. Visions of "hello?" *stall* *crunch* fly through my head, otherwise.
And yes, I know there are people who can't talk and drive, and that the headset solution wouldn't help them. Unfortunately, these people also tend to be the type who can't drive while talking to a passenger, listening to the radio, or breathing.
Re:Tomorrow my iPod will work in my car... (Score:2)
So you're saying that if I don't compare myself to others I can be a winner which means I'll be better than others.
What if my goal is to win the Olympics which is by defintion a comparison to others?
My head asplode.
Re:Tomorrow my iPod will work in my car... (Score:2)
When my nano falls... (Score:3, Interesting)
...I just grab the wire that's attached to it and start pulling. I use a lighter plug charger which has an audio-out jack on the charger plug, and the cassette adapter plugs into that. Ergonomically, it's like using a wired remote, only the music is in the "remote" itself. It cost a bit more for this than the other cheapie brands that don't have an audio jack, but I had already been using an MP3 CD player for a few years and was never happy with two wires to the player constantly getting tangled.
And why has it taken car stereo manufacturers so long to put input jacks on the damn things anyhow? Mine is seven years old, and I'm not too aware of what the norm is now. For all I know, they still aren't including input jacks. Cassette adapters are an ugly workaround that shouldn't be necessary, and FM transmitters are usually too weak or imprecise.
Re:When my nano falls... (Score:2)
Re:When my nano falls... (Score:2)
Why don't you just buy yourself some Viagra?
Re:When my nano falls... (Score:2)
My Jensen MP6211 stereo [tinyurl.com] is one of them and it offers this via an add-on adapter called the jport. The manual says it will control all of the iPods to date.
It doesn't, however, work with the shuffle option on the iPods. I don't have an iPod, so I can't comment on how well it works with them.
It'll also control a Jensen CD changer and has a set of RCA inputs for playing anything else via the stereo's AUX mode.
They offer a steering wheel remote as a
Re:When my nano falls... (Score:2)
Check to see if your headunit will control a cd changer. Go look for something called an 'auxilliary input adapter'. It mimicks a cd changer and gives you a direct connection into your stereo. I use one on my toyota for my portable XM radio receiver. Works like a champ. When my wife's with me we simply unplug the XM and plug in her iPod. Crystal clear and waaaay better than the tape adapter. Be aware th
If manufacturers do it, they need to do it right. (Score:5, Interesting)
The problem is, it doesn't work. They claim it works with all Dock iPods, and explicitly list all of them, but it just plain doesn't work with any 3G iPods. The radio comes up and says to update the firmware on the iPod. Of course 3G iPods haven't gotten any updates in a LONG time.
My girlfriends Mini (4G?) works with it... sort of. Only half the albums, artists or playlists show up... even if those songs play just fine in a playlist that references them.
It remains to be seen if later iPods actually work as advertised. The problem is, these products are not well supported (or supported at all). An iPod cable is a different beast from most car accessories or features. A quick search through various car support forums makes it sound like the problem is pretty common -- these non-Apple integrations sometimes work great, sometimes work some, and sometimes just don't work.
Caveat Emptor.
I have a solution (Score:3, Interesting)
There, we can all drive safer now.
Rule #1 of iPod safety: People reaching for their iPods don't cause car accidents. Idiots reaching for their iPods do.
Corrollary to rule #1: Anyone causing an accident while reaching for his iPod is an idiot.
Re:I have a solution (Score:2)
Ban ipods, radios, phones, noisy kids, and all other distractions from automobiles.
You can have my Shaker 1000 6-CD in-dash changer when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.
Agreed on the kids, though. Can we ban from all public spaces?
There, we can all drive safer now.
Well, you'd have to ban all the drivers as well to achieve that.
Rule #1 of iPod safety: People reaching for their iPods don't cause car accidents. Idiots reaching for their iPods do.
Is that like "Bullets don't kill people, bulle
Re:I have a solution (Score:2)
Of course, I can't make this comment without the appropriate Eddie Izzard response to the "Guns don't kill people, people kill people" bumper-stickers: "well, maybe that's true, but I think the gun helps."
Re:I have a solution (Score:2)
The fact out brains work this way is g
idiots (Score:3, Insightful)
First rule of driving -- don't be an idiot!
Re:idiots (Score:2)
Well, right there you've set the bar impossibly high for about half the population...
BMW/Mini (Score:5, Informative)
For a collaboration between two companies known for their design elegance, the BMW iPod dock is an abomination.
Basically, it fools your car into thinking that the iPod is a 6-disc CD changer, and yes, the stereo controls on the steering wheel do control it. Sort of.
You have to create 6 playlists called BMW1,BMW2 or MINI1,MINI2 etc and you're basically limited to using only those playlists unless you want to go through your entire 60gb library in alphabetical order. The model I own doesn't show text on the head-unit either, although I've been told that newer ones do this.
Top it off with the fact that the 'dock' is just a cable floating loose in the glove box allowing your 'pod to bounce around all over the place and you've got basically a hack that reduces your iPod to a stack of MP3 CDs because you can't find anything and the interface is completely crippled. Seriously, why would you create an iPod dock and then rob every trace of iPod-ness from the user experience?
I loathed this solution so much that I went back to the dealer and had an Aux jack installed in the glove box and just ran a cable down to my cupholder through the console.
Here's hoping that Apple comes up with a truly elegant solution.
Re:BMW/Mini (Score:2)
Re:BMW/Mini (Score:2)
Then I found this - http://ipodyourbmw.com/ [ipodyourbmw.com]
Yeah its an abomination. Shudder.
Re:BMW/Mini (Score:2)
I've got a 60gb iPod, I'm driving 200 miles on the Interstate at night and decide I want to listen to Nick Cave.
Unfortunately, Nick Cave isn't in any of my 5 top-of-mind lists.
My only option at this point is to preview 3200ish of the 6700ish songs (alphabetically!) to get to the track I'm trying to find. So is it und
Terrific! (Score:5, Funny)
I swear! I once saw a guy do that! I wasn't driving at the time...
Seriously, when people invent stuff like this and say it's 'Fool-Proof', they're basicly just sticking their tounges out at God, says "Lord, not even you could make a human so stupid, that they could screw this up!" God disagrees, and proves them wrong with horific, yet hillarious ease.
Re:Terrific! (Score:2)
Why do I never have mod points at the right time? At least I can say "thank you." Thank you for making me laugh. I needed that.
I'm screwed! (Score:5, Funny)
Yea-haw, buy ipod it'll save your life at 90mph (Score:3, Funny)
Most Factory Stereos Easily Integrate With iPod (Score:3, Insightful)
Most also include a less-safe option of an RCA bypass jack that you can use with other players. Online car stereo places sell good quality ones for between $100 and $200 depending upon your model of car. Not bad for CD-quality sound out of your ipod, through your car, when the Griffin iTrip FM adapter costs about $95 these days.
Read more info here:
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?
i have one for my new corolla... took about 10 minutes to install and works flawlessly.
90 mph? (Score:2)
Just use Aux interface only, please. (Score:3, Interesting)
Just place the iPod near the steering wheel, use that as the controller for the tracks and playlists, and forget about all the horrible interfaces in the head-unit. It should only be connected with an Aux cable for audio. Actually, a bluetooth interface for audio transfer to the car would even be better, since there's no cable. Need apple to come up with a bluetooth equipped iPod, though.
Padding of statistics, etc. (Score:2)
Re:Padding of statistics, etc. (Score:2)
Re:Padding of statistics, etc. (Score:2)
The trouble is that most people consistently overestimate their own ability. Especially Americans, for some reason.
> The fact is if I can manage to change tracks on my portable music player, and answer cell phones while driving I should be able to.
Now there would be an interesting driving test.
Re:Padding of statistics, etc. (Score:2)
Re:Padding of statistics, etc. (Score:2)
Like i've said in the past..... (Score:2, Funny)
I made a pretty slick iPod interface... (Score:3, Insightful)
I have a '99 Camry, which is, of course, before they started making iPod retrofits, steeringwheel controls, and all that jazz. I got a nice leather case by Vaja, with a rivet in the back, that hooks into a little belt clip. What I did is bought a second beltclip device, and mounted it on my dashboard in the center console, above the stereo. I ran a Blitzsafe connector (which delivers line level audio, as well as power) to the CD changer port on my stereo. So I basically have a quick little clip to hold my ipod (I went in and bent down the clip so I don't have to press the button to remove the iPod) on top of my dashboard, and I can bring it right up in front of me when operating it, so I can keep my eyes on the road. When I get out of the car, I can pull it clean off, in one swoop, and clip it back on my belt. So when I leave the car, it goes with me, and it's become second nature to do so.
For safety reasons, I wait until I'm at a red light, or when there's no traffic around me to switch tracks (and no, I don't use playlists, I hate playlists). If you change albums, I usually wait until an oportune time (like a red light), and navigate to the track I want before the previous track finishes, so all I have to do is hit "menu" "center button" to play the next track I want to hear, I don't even have to look to do that! Also, I listen to a lot of prog, which has 10-20 minute tracks, so I don't switch tracks very much, if at all...
The real killer is people who do custom mods that require that your iPod be docked into a stationary location, so you have to actually bend over and squint to operate it. I was blown away when I noticed how many people are doing this, it seems like the worst thing in the world to do. Go onto iLounge and they have a forum for car modding, and so many people have done this thing of putting a universal dock into their ash tray. I think the solution is to be able to move the iPod around at will, so you don't feel the need to bend down to operate it, or a passanger can operate it. In this way, it's probably even safer than a car stereo... and less prone to theft, as well.
IPOD assumption (Score:2)
I tell ya, if next time I go to buy a car and it has an ipod interface (especially one that only works with ipods and not other audio players) I'll be looking for another car.
Keen to save lives or... (Score:2)
use it while driving? If not, in this day and legal age they are leaving themself
open to some very large suits.
Cool GM Cables (Score:2)
Re:You sure this isn't April 1? (Score:2)
Nobody in the developed world is moronic enough to believe that...
I've learned never to say those words, no matter how absurd things may seem.
Re:You sure this isn't April 1? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:You sure this isn't April 1? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The problem is display and control (Score:2)
Re:Carpool (Score:2)
If you take the train, you can read a book, listen to your tunes, eat a meal, have a beer, all without
risking your life.
It is the driving and not the iPod that is dangerous.
YMMV
Re:Carpool (Score:2)
That's funny, around here you still are risking your life; it's just that you're more likely to be the victim of a robbery than a wreck.
Re:HUD (Score:2)
The problem is when we're driving were in motion, surrounded by other vehicles. It's not that we cant drive and do something at the same time, its the problem of reacting to all of the other environmental hazzards while driving, while doing something...
A fighter pilot with a HUD can do plenty at once and has plenty of other displays within the cockpit to distract him. Luckily for pilots there isnt as much traf
Re:HUD (Score:2)
Re:Tactile buttons (Score:2)
If I put my thumb on my iPod wheel, I know where everything is. With my eyes closed. I know:
1. The wheel is at t
Re:Tactile buttons (Score:2)
Re:Tactile buttons (Score:2)
I *used* to be able to use my cellphone without looking at it... no more. What are these fucking morons thinking?
This really isn't an "ip