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#278148 - 22/03/2006 17:44 Concept In-Car PC from VW
cushman
veteran

Registered: 21/01/2002
Posts: 1380
Loc: Erie, CO
One interesting thing they have in this video is an iPod dock (complete in-dash) that interfaces with the car's main nav-like screen. Cool video, still a lab concept, but it shows that some car makers are actually thinking about how to provide a good in-car experience for music and other devices.

Link to Video on C|Net
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Mark Cushman

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#278149 - 22/03/2006 17:47 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: cushman]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I don't see a good way around it, but I hate that it's proprietary. How many cars were sold that had a connection for a cell phone that only allowed a small handful of models all from the same manufacturer, and how useful are they today?
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Bitt Faulk

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#278150 - 22/03/2006 17:53 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: wfaulk]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Well, one could argue that a single generation of the iPod probably sells better than most of the other MP3 players combined, but I'm also not a fan of the proprietary connection.

I wonder if there'll ever be a better solution than the empeg...
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Matt

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#278151 - 22/03/2006 17:55 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: Dignan]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Well, back then, the Motorolas probably outsold everything else. But now even the Motorolas have a different connector. Heck, I have a 1G iPod and it doesn't have a docking connector at all.
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Bitt Faulk

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#278152 - 22/03/2006 18:09 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: wfaulk]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
What's specifically proprietary about the Apple dock? Does apple prevent (or extort money from) others from creating MP3 players with the same dock and messaging protocol?

I'm just wondering if perhaps it could become a de facto standard for MP3 player docks, thus opening the door for a universal portable player docking and control system.
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Tony Fabris

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#278153 - 22/03/2006 18:17 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: tfabris]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
even still, you have form factor issues unless everyone uses the same form factor.
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~ John

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#278154 - 22/03/2006 18:40 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: tfabris]
Dignan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/03/2000
Posts: 12318
Loc: Sterling, VA
Quote:
Does apple prevent (or extort money from) others from creating MP3 players with the same dock and messaging protocol?

Not that I know of, but I'm also not aware of anyone else using this connector, are you? And do you really think that if enough companies started using it, they wouldn't start trying to get that money? This is Apple we're talking about. Didn't they want to charge the 3rd-party accessory manufacturers?

I love the idea of a standard connection (wasn't there a big push for that a couple years ago?), but if it's Apple's, I'm sure they'd try to make a buck off of it.
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Matt

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#278155 - 27/03/2006 00:57 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: tfabris]
SE_Sport_Driver
carpal tunnel

Registered: 05/01/2001
Posts: 4903
Loc: Detroit, MI USA
Quote:
I'm just wondering if perhaps it could become a de facto standard for MP3 player docks, thus opening the door for a universal portable player docking and control system.


What'd be nice is if all of the other mp3 player makers go together and agreed on one. Apple has no need to agree to a standard now (other than their own) but if they aren't willing to share, this would be a decent alternative.

I'm guessing something like "Bluetooth 2" (my creation using 2 channels to have enough bandwidth or something ) would would make form factor a nonissue.
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Brad B.

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#278156 - 27/03/2006 01:32 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
msaeger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
How about just have a USB connector and support MSC devices.
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Matt

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#278157 - 28/03/2006 14:38 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: SE_Sport_Driver]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
Quote:
I'm guessing something like "Bluetooth 2" (my creation using 2 channels to have enough bandwidth or something ) would would make form factor a nonissue.

Bluetooth 2.0 already exists and has EDR which gives you 2.1mbps. It doesn't use multiple channels though, it just transmits faster. Bluetooth 1.x gives you 723.1 kbit/s. If you're just streaming MP3 data over Bluetooth then 1.x would be fine.

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#278158 - 03/04/2006 15:26 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: tfabris]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
Quote:
What's specifically proprietary about the Apple dock? Does apple prevent (or extort money from) others from creating MP3 players with the same dock and messaging protocol?

There is a licensing programme for manufacturers who wish to support the iPod dock. Apple have it tied up in various ways, plus it's probably impossible to buy the connectors without their consent.

The terms are reasonable though.. but obviously not to anyone wanting to use it for a competing MP3 player!

Rob

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#278159 - 04/04/2006 19:26 Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW [Re: rob]
altman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/05/1999
Posts: 3457
Loc: Palo Alto, CA
Obviously though, plenty of people make compatible connectors - pretty much every connector has a second or third source, whether authorised or otherwise. That'd be the best option if someone wanted to make a dock-compatible player.

I just don't think anyone has been brave enough to try it yet (outside of China - I'm sure some of the cheaper accessories that don't escape the far east aren't using the real-deal JAE connector) ... Apple have a lot of lawyers!

Hugo

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