Yet more on that iPod integration everyone seems crazy about these days (via Maccentral):
“We are beginning a really big push into a world we all spend a lot of time in — our cars,” Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, told MacCentral. “So many people invest in great cars that have great stereos, but one thing they don't have is access to their music library. Now you can put your iPod in your BMW or MINI and have all of your music everywhere you go.”
BMW recognizes a shared customer base with Apple: Both companies attract technology-adopting, successful people. It's this synergy that brought them together.
“We know that a lot of BMW owners are people that achieve success early in life — they are work hard, play hard kind of people and they adopt new technologies that help them save time or empower them,” said Jim McDowell, vice president marketing BMW North America. “We knew when we saw the iPod come out that it was something that would appeal to a lot of BMW owners.”
…The success of the iPod has spawned a burgeoning market of third-party solutions used to connect iPods through car stereos, ranging from wireless FM transmitters to wired cassette tape adapters. Such solutions have drawbacks, however: FM transmitters can produce low-quality sound or may not work correctly unless they're tuned to an unused frequency. And while cabled solutions may sound a bit better, they also tend to create a mess.
“As we saw the number of iPods sold increase at an amazing rate, we said, 'There just has to be a way we can combine the two,'” said McDowell. “Then we discovered how many BMW owners were attempting to do this on their own using the auxiliary jack in the car. That really is an awful solution because you don't have the same sound quality and your iPod is sitting in the cup holder — that's why this was such an elegant solution from our perspective.”
The difference between third party solutions and the Apple/BMW offering isn't just cosmetic: The integrated connector offers something nobody else can at this point — a digital connection.
“Above all this really delivers phenomenal audio quality because it's a direct digital connection through the connector in the bottom of the iPod,” said Apple's Schiller. “Now you can have the best mobile music experience that's ever been in a car — you have your whole music library, a digital link and an incredible stereo.”
….Apple's fit with automobile manufactures will go beyond BMW in the future. Apple's Phil Schiller said this is the first of what he thinks will be several partnerships.
The kit to hook up your iPod will cost $149 plus installation, according to BMW.
“Our drivers have known the ultimate driving experience for some time; this combines the ultimate listening experience with the ultimate driving experience,” said McDowell.
You can read the entire article here
Since there's so much interest in this product from our readers we're planning on reviewing the BMW kit (which will operate in an identical way to the MINI) in a couple weeks. We'll also be able to do a complete comparison to the Dension ICE-Link. And barring any other big news we swear this will be our last iPod/MINI story until then… or at least a week 🙂
<p>in the article i see reference to a full-digital pathway from the iPod into the car stereo, something i had not heard before. </p>
<p>in the car environment i doubt that the difference between digital in and an analog input via the aux cable will make much difference but it is a differentiator.</p>
<p>Now if only BMW had approached Apple <em>before</em> designing the i-Drive interface.</p>
<p>Did anyone notice that Apple quitely removed references to MINI on their homepage and the page for this product (<a href="http://www.apple.com/ipod/bmw/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.apple.com/ipod/bmw/</a>)?</p>
<p>Earlier this week, MINI was mentioned in the ad copy and a small car image was featured.</p>
<p>Perhaps MINI will get its own dedicated campaign separate from BMW?</p>
<p>Of course, wouldn't it be cool if you could access your playlist through I-Drive?</p>
<p>That's most likely the version that will come out for the BMW 5 series, 6 series, and 7 series.</p>
<p>Hmmm, Alpine announced today their iPod adapter for their new decks is finally shipping. This allows the deck to display song/artist info too. Maybe I should forget the Harmon Kardon option on my new MINI and put in an aftermarket Alpine deck with the iPod adapter.</p>
<p>…Doesn't the ICE-Link system also connect the iPod digitally? </p>
<p>I could have sworn they also used a connection through the bottom of the iPod into the head unit…</p>
<p>The ICE-Link doesn't connect on the bottom of the iPod.</p>
<p>Correction, Alpine's adapter is shipping in the fall. No worries for me; I won't be getting to my spot in the delivery line for a convertible until next spring. At least.</p>
<p>The new ICE-Link version, 1.1, does connect to the bottom of the iPod. Here is the link, it has a dedicated cradle with the dock connector built in. It is pretty cool, but in my opinion still not worth the $.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.densionusa.com/x/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=375&Itemid=79" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.densionusa.com/x/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=375&Itemid=79</a></p>
<p>Oh you're right – forgot about V1.1 </p>
<p>I think it's worth the money if you're really really into having the ultimate iPod/MINI connection. Yeah it's pricey but so far nothing on the market gives you the freedom and flexibility of the ICE-Link system. Now if they could just make that dock look a bit better…</p>
<p>I should have a review in the next couple of weeks on the Apple/BMW version to contrast and compare to the ICE-Link.</p>
<p>Apple has pulled all MINI references from it's site: <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipod/bmw/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.apple.com/ipod/bmw/</a></p>
<p>It was there yesterday and gone today. I hope they haven't discovered an incompatibility.</p>
<p>I tried <a href="http://www.ipodyourmini.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.ipodyourmini.com</a> and it says “coming soon” so maybe MINI will get its own campaign.</p>
<p>think maybe, because the '05 MINI's will have standard mp3-compatible cd players, that will have any effect on being able to read trak names, hence making it slightly different from the BMW version??</p>
<p>My hope is that that somehow comes into play – and also that someone comes out with a cool dock or iPod holder for inside the glove compartment.</p>
<p>Re: Apple's website dropping all references to the MINI.</p>
<p>My guess is that MINI doesn't want the advertising connection to BMW. They've been very careful to (re)create a brand in and unto itself apart from the BMW name. If you've followed the MINI press and advertising for the past two and a hlaf years, you know what I'm talking about.</p>
<p>That's just my guess but it seems to make the most sense at this time.</p>
<p>ChrisW,
It is (now) possible to use an aftermarket head unit with the HK amp/speakers …</p>
<p>This iPod for MINI saves me the work I was planning ;)</p>
<p>Ian,</p>
<p>What aftermarket head unit can be used with the HK amp/speaker system? Please inform me!</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>Jason</p>
<p>Jason,
Any aftermarket head unit, with the “HKenabler” 😉
<a href="http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive/000405.shtml" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/archive/000405.shtml</a></p>
<p>ipodyourmini.com was bought by someone who is trying to sell it for a profit. it was not obught by MINI</p>
<p>I fugured. I'd be surprised if MINI wouldn't follow the same campaign as BMW. BTW just did a “whois” look-up – the guy who bought it is in Barcelona.</p>
<p>I finally updated to an iPod this week (had it for less than 48 hours now.) I think it's a great product and cannot wait for this adapter for my '03 MCS. Looking forward to the review…</p>
<p>hello frenchie needs help
where can i order the cables to put an ipod in my minibmw
sorry my english is not top</p>
<p>Hi. when can we expect the ipod adaptor for the 525i. I purposely did not get a shuttle expecting to get a 525i adaptor, and will use the i-trip until it gets released.</p>
<p>thanks, peter</p>
<p>Hi,
I guess, I´m the first one to ipod a BMW in Spain, as nobody seems to be able to get the stuff to function. The BMW radio simply doesn´t reconize the ipod mini. My car is a 2004 330d with radio Business cd-frontplayer. Could anybody tell me what´s wrong, please?</p>
<p>Hello everyone!
I just connected iceLink to my BMW 525i 2003.
There no problems at all</p>