Concept In-Car PC from VW

Posted by: cushman

Concept In-Car PC from VW - 22/03/2006 17:44

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
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 22/03/2006 17:47

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?
Posted by: Dignan

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 22/03/2006 17:53

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...
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 22/03/2006 17:55

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.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 22/03/2006 18:09

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.
Posted by: JBjorgen

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 22/03/2006 18:17

even still, you have form factor issues unless everyone uses the same form factor.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 22/03/2006 18:40

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.
Posted by: SE_Sport_Driver

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 27/03/2006 00:57

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.
Posted by: msaeger

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 27/03/2006 01:32

How about just have a USB connector and support MSC devices.
Posted by: tman

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 28/03/2006 14:38

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.
Posted by: rob

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 03/04/2006 15:26

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
Posted by: altman

Re: Concept In-Car PC from VW - 04/04/2006 19:26

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