This just in from MacWorld: Chrysler becomes first US Automaker to provide iPod integration as a standard option.
It will be $175 at the dealer for all 2006 cars, with retrofit to most 2005 cars.

Of course these 12 foreign carmakers already do it.

It looks like, through inaction, all the other MP3-player manufacturers have let the iPod interface become the de facto standard interface.

And guess what, Apple ain't sharin' it with nobody nohow.

And we all know what wonderful products pseudo-monopolies will eventually deliver to us!

I guess in hindsight, a little CYA activity in some IEEE committee doesn't look like it would have been such a bad plan to all the companies on the losing side of this deal.

I estimate 10-20% of all Chryslers sold will be fitted with this.
And some of those people would have been happy with a cheaper Brand X player,
particularly after a few years when "iPod Brand" becomes less of a status symbol.

But now all the Brand X's have lost those sales.