MINI’s F56 is a car that is not only aimed at MINI faithful but a younger demographic that sees cars less as objects of performance and more of hubs of technology. The interior of the F56 and the technology throughout the car is the result of this focus. However MINI was very careful in not only what was added but what technology was eliminated. And with the increased focus on digital media over traditional physical varieties, the in-dash CD player was an easy item to cut.
When the R50 was introduced MINI was still offering a no cost cassette deck in place of the standard CD player. It was an easy thing to do since the system was based on interchangeable DIN panel that allowed for easy swapping of technology. However with modern complex platforms (such as the F56’s UKL) offering flexibility through electronics rather than physical components, the idea of simply slotting in a CD player into an open DIN panel simply won’t work.
The solution? Offering an in-dash platform that allows 3rd party apps such as Spotify and Pandora as well as standard Bluetooth Audio streaming that supports almost any modern mobile device. In addition to that MINI’s F56 will have the typical USB interface that integrates music players from many platforms. Finally there’s the optional dash-mounted CD changer that MINI will offer for those who can’t quite let go of the joys (and consistent sound quality) of physical media.
<p>If only my USB connectivity enjoyed all of my MP3 devices. I’ve had issues since day one that they’ve not been able to fix on my Countryman. It likes my iPhone 5 pretty consistently; it never liked my iPod Classic; it intermittently liked my iPhone 4; and my Nano…for one day.</p>
<p>What if we want to play high quality music? The quality of MP3s in our iphone/ipod isn’t as good as the cd’s? Especially through bluetooth? the quality in my mini doesnt sound as good as playing from the cd? (H&K sound system)</p>
<p>One solution would be to use higher quality file formats which are compatible with most devices. The other is to opt for the CD Changer. Agreed Bluetooth Audio has quality issues. Personally I only use it when I’m not really listening to the music or for talk radio etc.</p>
<p>I really don’t think quality makes so much of a difference in a MINI; a car that is not a soundproof cocoon like luxury cars are.</p>
<p>Agreed. I’ve always gotten upgraded stereos in my MINIs and BMW. The sound quality in a MINI with upgraded stereo far far behind that of the standard stereo in a BMW. I’m sure it has a lot to do with cabin noise level but I’ve never been satisfied or impressed with MINI stereo systems. Even when I compared my old e46 stereo with my new countryman S in the garage, the e46 won hands down.</p>
<p>I for one, would gladly pay another $500 on top of the HK upgrade for much higher quality speakers/amp/etc. I am hoping that with the new UKL platform this is possible. I’m waiting to trade in my Countryman S in for a new F56 when it becomes available.</p>
<p>Use a loss-less file format when ripping your CDs. There are several to choose from. Works great with my MINI and an iPhone5. I do keep an MP3 disk in my CD player but almost never use it. It’s just another mechanical device that will eventually break.</p>
<p>Gabriel is 100% right. Use a higher bit rate or lossless compression format when ripping and it will be indistinguishable from a CD in the car.</p>
<p>I’ve had my new(est) MINI since March 2012, and I don’t think I’ve actually put a CD in the player yet- For all I know it’s totally broken! (thank you MINI Connected!) In my previous (2003 and 2006) MINIs, I would keep 2-3 CDs in the car “just in case”, but 99.9% of the time, defaulted to the AUX port. Still, the center console will look odd w/o the dusty slot. Should be interesting!</p>
<p>With this technologically progressive move, I hope that MINI have acknowledged the progression of the smartphone market. At the end of Q1 2013, Apple’s iOS only accounts for 17% of the worldwide smartphone operating system market, and this is forecast to shrink further over the next few years, the key years in the F56 product’s life.</p>
<p>My android phone works fine with the R5X MINI infotainment system. The only thing that an iPhone would give me access to is a handful of car apps that I wouldn’t use anyway.</p>
<p>It is because the other phone operating systems are so fragmented. Android has so many different favors running on different hardware and with the different carriers it makes developing for it a huge headache.</p>
<p>yep.</p>
<p>This may be true, however being that I work at a MINI dealer I will tell you 90% of our customers are Apple owners. You also need to give an accurate number as to the age of owners outside of the apple market. They are not trying to target the consumers who don’t yet drive…</p>
<p>This may be true, however being that I work at a MINI dealer I will tell you 90% of our customers are Apple owners. You also need to give an accurate number as to the age of owners outside of the apple market. They are not trying to target the consumers who don’t yet drive…</p>
<p>I’m sure that it is true that more than 17% of MINI owners have Apple products, after all both products will appeal to a similar demographic. I doubt it’s 90% though, unless one’s in California! I think that Apple does have the advantage with developers, i.e. one handset, one OS, but others are catching, i.e. the Microsoft-Nokia tie up. On the street it feels like the market is changing, i.e. Apple stores here in the UK aren’t anywhere near as busy again, but each country probably differs in that respect.</p>
<p>That’s similar the numbers I’ve heard from MINI internal.</p>
<p>Where would they be getting those numbers from? I don’t recall ever being asked or surveyed as to the OS on my phone (hint: NOT iOS).</p>
<p>So, all this talk about ditching physical media, yet we still can’t get a proper adapter for the iPhone 5 in the R56? I’ve heard it might finally be available, but it’s been more than a year since that phone was launched. So either way, MINI might want to work on that before they get rid of physical media for good.</p>
<p>It’s available. However it’s insanity that it’s taken this long.</p>
<p>I have ~60GB of music on my phone, but only use bluetooth in the car for listening to podcasts. For music, I leave a 128GB flash drive permanently plugged in (updated a couple of times a month to keep up with new purchases) for music.</p>
<p>I can’t remember the last time I put a CD in a car. It’s been years, for sure.</p>
<p>I really don’t see the need for so much tech in cars. A backup camera would be nice, but other than that, everything they put in cars is out of date by the time the first car rolls off the production line. My phone is far more powerful than any car’s infotainment system, yet lives in my pocket and costs less.</p>
<p>I’m not saying we should use our phones while driving, but for navigation, music, weather, and anything else, my phone is faster and easier to use than any current car.</p>
<p>I find my phone much more clumsy and distracting than using MINI Connected. I also prefer seamless integration in the dash to using clumsy mounts that look like an add-on.</p>
<p>Instead if mini connect and whatever comes with it, I’d rather have an iPad integrated dash. Just leave a hole in the center for a flush munger iPad and admit defeat.</p>
<p>**Flush mount. What’s a munger?</p>
<p>There is unfortunately an issue with the iPad integrated dash- it would have to pass crash testing (this has been a huge sticking point as aftermarket parts do not- Garmin etc.) and would also be an issue for opening up the entire SDK- manufacturers need to keep certain parts of the car proprietary and sandboxed for obvious reasons- if it was opened up it could be exploited.</p>
<p>Why do some many people believe “everyone” (or most everyone” has an ipad or a apple product. It’s not true. And not “everyone” wants an apple product.</p>
<p>A CD did not (does not) require that a specific mfg item had to be used to listen to music or audio. Where as Mini only supports Apple products. I realize eventually CD’s will go away – but not in 2014 or the next 5 years. So Mini keep the CD player as standard equipment. For those that don’t use it, fine, for those of us who do, it will be there. It’s not really a big deal to have a single slot CD. And quite frankly it would make the center stack with non mini connect/GPS on the new 2014 Mini look 1000% better.</p>
<p>I’m more or less commenting that the screen should be replaced by a tablet. Apple is light years more intuitive and useful than any infotainment system I’ve ever used. They have to sync to your phone to stream pandora anyways.. Just cut the middleman and use iOS. I have zero experience with a PC tablet but I’m assuming its somewhat on par with apple (for arguments sake anyways). A CD player is a whole other conversation, I suppose you could still have one in my utopian scenario.</p>
<p>Supporting tablets other than Apple’s iPads is a complicated subject. Having worked for one of the largest providers of aftermarket tools for iPads, I can say that it has far less to do with believing everyone has an iPad than it does the realities of writing for one rigidly-supported platform with four hardware form factors versus writing for several flavors of OS with dozens of different hardware form-factors and a broad range of supported technologies. It’s not the people don’t want to support Android, it’s that its diversity is its biggest obstacle. Multiple hardware platforms with loads of options to choose from is great for consumers but terrible for developers.</p>
<p>As an Android developer, you can never be certain that the functionality you want is going to work on enough devices to make development a good return on investment. With Apple’s platform, you follow the rules and it works across the board, and if you’re making hardware to house the device, you only have about four form factors to worry about, rather than about 50.</p>
<p>Developers can hit 100% of the iPad market, which is 50% of the tablet market with very little variance in development costs. The other 50% of the tablet market is so fragmented, it makes development really challenging. It often has nothing to do with favoring Apple because of its brand.</p>
<p>As for the demise of CDs in cars: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/08/04/cd-players-cars-disappear/2601827/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/08/04/cd-players-cars-disappear/2601827/</a></p>
<p>Well, I’m not going to get into a debate over the CD thing anymore as I did in another post. I disagree with the removal of the CD player, let’s just leave it at that. I do want to comment on the pics that the editors of this site consistently use. Specifically,f I’ve noticed that only pics of the higher end Mini options, in this case the Mini Connect and GPS. No everyone will get this option and some of us just can’t afford it (since Mini’s are getting more expensive).</p>
<p>Dear Motoringfile, the suggestion I have is use dual pics on stories. In this case, the standard audio system (center stack) and one of the upgraded audio center stack.</p>
<p>I feel the regular non mini-connect/gps center stack is horrendous. Since Mini decided to go away from the center speedo, then at the very least they should have made the non-mini connect/gps center stack the radio, info screen not the cheap looking small window LED display.</p>
<p>Even the hyundai accent has a better looking center console and screen. The new Mini FXX non s cooper with regular center console is a big round plastic circle with small square LED display window and lots of wasted space. Oh yeah lets not forget we’ll get a mood light ring (non-sense and idiotic). I also noticed the numbered buttons on the bottom are so small that only a 5 year old’s finger could use it.</p>
<p>Well I guess what does one expect when car designer are making things for the Millennium gen and that Gen is over infatuated with high tech and believes (feels) “well everyone has a (fill in blank)………” and cost is not a issue and “everyone can afford that.”</p>
<p>Are you still shopping your next Kia?</p>
<p>Why? Do you want to join me?</p>
<p>How dare MF show pictures of the advanced technology offered in articles about MINI offering advanced technology! Don’t they know that not everyone can afford or figure out how to work that stuff?</p>
<p>Also, what’s with all these magazines hiring models hotter than the women most guys can get?!</p>
<p>Article was about Mini dropping CD and comment was to suggest have pic of new center stack without Mini connect/GPS along side pic of one with.</p>
<p>I’ve seen a pic of new center without Connect/GPS and it’s not positive. Since MIni decided to move speedo, I feel Mini should have done better for those not getting the upgrade.</p>
<p>As for your other comment – typical.</p>
<p>MINI released photos of one trim level so they could speak to some of the technology that will be offered. When the full photo set drops on November 18th you’ll see some of the stock tech.</p>
<p>Thanks. It was just a suggestion for future articles when showing new interior/exterior shots.</p>
<p>Not all markets will get the “base” trim…</p>
<p>Presently, my MINI’s CD slot serves one purpose: as the mount for my (Mountek) CD Slot Mount for Cell Phones. Thus, my iPhone provides all GPS functions (superior to my MINI’s inbuilt one) from its happy little nest… but now, were I to upgrade to an F56, it looks like I’d have to find another way to mount my phone! The march of progress…</p>
<p>Where we live ( North central Idaho) Pandora is of no use on any kind of trip as we lose cell phone coverage shortly after leaving town.
Downloading a large collection of CD’s to USB sticks or my I phone is an unnecessary pain.
Sirrius radio and CD’s are often the only way to enjoy music.</p>
<p>Do we know if there will be a software upgrade coming for previous MINI’s to match the new ones? Kind of like iOS7 for the iPhone 4, when the 5s came out.</p>