Apple Partners with Ford

conq writes "BusinessWeek reports on Apple's latest partnership with Ford. This new accessory will be available in all Ford, GM and Mazda 2007 models allowing users to control thei iPod through the car's stereo controls. From the article: 'Currently, most MP3 players connect to vehicles via tape-deck or FM radio adapters. The devices are relatively cheap, ranging from $20 to $90, but are often difficult to operate while driving and can distort sound quality. But the iPod jacks, situated in glove compartments, let drivers easily operate players with existing stereo controls and charge a device's battery without an additional adapter.'"

Interesting, but...

[CyberSnyder]

I'd be happy with a simple mini jack standard on car head units. Then we wouldn't have to play around with those terrible FM tuners. My Sirius sounds worse than AM through the FM tuner.

Re:OK But...

[Jeff DeMaagd]

Frankly, just an analog audio jack would work for me, there are players like that. I don't want to pay a good fraction of the portable device's selling price to make it work with an audio deck's proprietary connector and changer controller. That also means that I'm not tied to any audio device brand on either end of the cable.

Bah

[Anonymous Coward]

Why can't they put a USB port in the cars instead, or even AUX inputs or stereo minijacks? If Ipods ever phase out of the mainstream, we're going to have a mountain of proprietary crap just because Apple refuses to use a standard, widely accepted connector.

Being the owner of other brands of players (superior sounding, at that), I find how everyone only supports Ipod very frustrating.

A USB port could have other potential uses, too. For instance, adding a hard drive unit that could interface with the audio controls, that would enable you to truly bring your music collection wherever you go. Or, quickly charging other devices via USB. The possibilities would be endless.

Glove compartment?

[anlprb]

Why are these in the glove compartment? In the dashboard, as a slot, or instead of the ash tray, etc... Why do I have to reach into the glove box each time I want to put my iPod in there? Does anyone do any usability studies anymore?

Re:OK But...

[iso]

That would entirely defeat the purpose of having the playlists and controls through the faceplate of the stereo.

Re:Or...

[exp(pi*sqrt(163))]

It puzzles me why a line-in jack isn't standard.

I think Honda do on some lines of vehicles.

But...it's pretty obvious why auto manufacturers don't want you to use your audio hardware in their cars. They'd like you to spend lots of money on buying their crappy audio systems. In particular, they exploit a kind of 'bug' in human reasoning. If you're buying a $20,000 car many people will think little of wasting $1000, say, on a stereo worth $500 because the $500 seems insignificant compared to the total price of the car and the expense slides under many people's radars, even though under normal circumstances those people would balk at being ripped off so badly.

... when all cars have iPod dock connectors....

[Cryptnotic]

No, not everyone will buy iPods. Instead, it will open up the market for adapters for other devices to iPod dock connectors, possibly with translating command signals.

Re:Glove compartment?

[NMerriam]

Because people want to put it in there, close it, and have it completely invisible to thieves. You have to break into the car and pry open the glove compartment to even know if there's an iPod in there. Several aftermarket units already locate the iPod there for these reasons, and because it's usually an easy place to access all the wiring and the car's antenna if you want to do a passthrough.

I agree, I'd like to have a slot I loaded my iPod into (I even started building one a few years ago), but it's not like putting it in the glove compartment is some crazy counter-intuitive place that nobody would ever want.

Why Ford? Why not "automakers"?

[NotQuiteReal]

Even the summary says "Ford, GM, and Mazda"...

Study by AAA: iPod = Road Hazard

[reporter]

In 2001, the American Automobile Association did a study examining the interaction between distraction and automobile crashes [aaafoundation.org]. According to the study, "adjusting radio/cassette/CD" is the 3rd most common cause of distraction. Depending on the set of numbers that you use from this study, "adjusting radio/cassette/CD" causes between 1.5% and 3% of all automobile crashes.

Judging from the numerous articles (in this particular discussion) praising the fun of using an iPod within an automobile, I suspect that "adjusting radio/cassette/CD/iPod" will soon rise to become the 2nd most common cause of distraction, leading to even more automobile crashes.

If using an iPod causes a fatal automobile accident, will some victim of such an accident eventually try to sue Apple?

Re:Glove compartment?

[AnswerIs42]

Simple.

Cost savings. You have any idea what it would add to the cost of the vehicle to design something to plug an iPod into? Instead of a 50$ addition for the additional wiring.. you are adding a few hundred dollars because now they to re-engineer the dashboard to fit the iPod.

It is cheaper to just run the wire to someplace no one really uses much anyway.

Also it is theft deterant; out of site, out of mind.. and the iPod is still in your car when you get back.

Re:Nice, but I want better...

[SheldonW]

No need to remember your iPod. Just remember to keep your iPod when the battery dies. You can get great deals on iPods that don't hold a charge and it doesn't matter because the adapter will provides the power.

Fords problem

[tf23]

The article title seems misleading. It's not just Ford, it's GM (and Mazda).

But this has been Ford's, and American auto manufacturer's problem. They're behind the times.

I bought a Ford Escape 2005 (in 2004) a few years ago. Asked if their stereos could handle the iPod (I already had an iTtrip). The sales guy says "a what". Ended up talking to the sales manager, discussed it with him. He bluffed that he knew what I was talking about. :(

While this is great news, in that it can only help sales, they should eat the cost and build it into every single auto they manufacture. The iPods are that prevalent that the small cost (and write-off) to them is relatively insignificant, compared to the positive sales and attitude towards the American manufacturer.

And yes, I come from a long line of family who's worked for Ford. It's depressing to see them doing so poorly. But that's another topic in and of itself.