I just got a double postcard from BMW.
On the front it says "Control freaks, rejoice."

On the inside it says, "iPod your BMW. The first seamless integration of
iPod and automobile."

Aside from the fact that the statement is a blatant lie, it's pretty cool.
(Seamless iPod adapters have been available for other makes and on the
generic front for Bimmers for a year or two.)

Standard dealamabob that you would expect. An adapter cable runs into your
glovebox. You plug the iPod in there, and control it with your steering
wheel controls. It takes the place of your CD changer, which means you get
five playlists. And no tag information on your display. Just the
infinitely non-useful "Track 02" type information.

In other words, just like their choice of Sirius instead of XM Radio, a
near-miss. It shows that they're trying -- just not very hard.

Seamless? Yes. Worth having? Only if you don't know what might have
been.

And for those of us who have portable players which are better than iPods,
or in-car players which are waaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than "make 5 playlists"
compromises, we're still screwed.

And since old iPods don't have on-the-fly playlist creation, you have to dock
your iPod into a Mac (because they don't support PCs) and re-program it
periodically in order to freshen up your playlists.

Weak.

In fact the PhatBastard is still probably a better deal for people
who want no-hassle BMW installs.

But people who don't know any better probably think, "Wow! I can get a lot
of music into my car!"

I'm not naive enough to expect they will ever officially support my Karma.
But wouldn't it be nice? Of course, hassle-free Empeg install would be nice, too.

It's particularly grating that they only support Apple's proprietary stuff,
when the announcement of this comes just a week or two after Sony announced
that it has a Digital Walkman which they hope to use to eat iPod's lunch.
(Equally proprietary, of course.) But knowing Sony, if they don't get it
right the first time, they will by the second or third. Not to mention all
the other little (and not so little) guys jumping into the fray.
Come on folks! We need a standardized personal audio connector.
Get on the ball, here!

Any bets on timeline? My guess: two auto cycles, probably 5-8 years.
Any bets on standard? My guess: Microsoft/Sony DRM-encrusted bullpucky.

"Empeg, there is no substitute"