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i culled this from the san jose mercury news


Apple inks iPod deal with BMW

By Jon Ann Steinmetz

Mercury News Assistant Business Editor




Next time you're beating yourself up for being too materialistic, blame it on announcements like this one: Apple Computer and BMW are developing a device that will let users listen to songs from their iPod music players through the radios of BMWs and Minis.


Bloomberg News reports that the adaptors will be available in vehicles sold in the U.S., Eckhard Wannieck, a BMW spokesman at the carmaker's Munich headquarters, said in an interview. He wouldn't elaborate.


A deal with BMW is likely to be the first among several pairings between Apple and carmakers as the computer maker, once mainly known for its Macintosh PCs, tries to increase the use of its products. Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs, in Europe this week to open iTunes online music stores, said he is in talks with automakers he wouldn't name.


``It's just the tip of the iceberg,'' said Jim Grossman, a portfolio manager at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which manages $64 billion. ``The market opportunity for people who would like to play iPods in their cars is huge.''


A built-in product to hook iPods to car radios would be more sophisticated and have better quality than existing products, making them a more attractive option, Grossman said.

 

http://www.ipodyourbmw.com/

 

Here's all the information including part numbers:


http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/06/...ture_confirmed

 

thanks Gabe

 

But from the Article it doesn't sound like they are talking. Poor implementation. It seems as though BMW wants to hamstring themselves when it comes to some options. Bluetooth? Put an ugly switch somewhere(IMHO), don't use the existing or option the MFSW. Now with aplle, hey only use 5 play lists...I guess I'm just going to go with Ipod and AUX.

Paul

 

the ipod interface is so good that if you can find an acceptable mounting solution for it, its almost not worth tons of integration. And there is still volume control by the MFSW which is just about the most important function to have under your fingers.