MINI Updates iPhone/iPod Integration For Future Vehicles
MINI announced today that they will make use of the new iPod Out feature in iOS4 (Apple’s new operating system for the iPhone and iPod Touch) in future vehicles. The launch of a newly developed BMW Group interface technology will give both future MINI vehicles an easy-to-operate, intuitive way of using their iPhone and iPod touch.
Official Release: iPod Out enables BMW and MINI infotainment systems to display and control the music playback feature in iPhone and iPod touch in the vehicle’s main display. The on-board monitor in BMW and MINI provides users with the simplicity and familiarity they have come to trust in their iPhone and iPod touch and the intuitive and integrated iPod navigation menu can be safely operated through the vehicle’s interface controls. Additionally, state-of-the-art iPod features such as custom playlists and Genius, which instantly creates a playlist of songs that go well together from a user’s own library, is immediately made available to BMW and MINI drivers through the vehicle’s main display. iPod Out requires iOS 4 with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPod touch (second and third generation).
The new interface technology developed for this purpose by the BMW Group enables continued availability of iPod Out features of iPhone and iPod touch in vehicles and represents a new milestone in consumer electronic device vehicle integration. Future vehicles equipped with this technology will be able to adapt more quickly to the software lifecycles of iPod touch and iPhone. The new interface technology was developed by an international cooperation of the BMW Research and Development Centre in Munich, Germany and the BMW Group Technology Office Palo Alto in Silicon Valley, California.
Once again the BMW Group takes a leading role in the Infotainment integration of iPhone and iPod touch. In 2004, BMW was the first automobile manufacturer in the world to integrate iPod in the audio system. In the following year a corresponding solution was presented for MINI. Right on time for the market launch of iPhone in 2007, the BMW Group once again offered an exclusive technological solution for integrating iPhone in the infotainment system of its vehicles.
The new BMW Group iPod Out support mirrors the innovation strategy of BMW ConnectedDrive for the BMW brand and will be part of the new offer called MINI Connected for the MINI brand. Both brands aim at connecting driver and passengers to their personal infotainment world in an intuitive and non-distracting way while on board. The optimized use of consumer mobile devices in an on-board environment play a central role in this connection.
<p>“leading role” – ha!
Maybe this new system will be better, but BMW/MINI have only sucked so far</p>
<p>Yes waiting for new iphone 4 snap in adaptor, I modified a iphone 2g adaptor to snap my iphone 4, once again I am ahead of Palo Alto. Full integration.</p>
<p>BTW voice dialing via voice control does work through the older BMW ULF system. Since it uses the bluetooth phone integration, you can use your MINI bluetooth to control after holding the home button on your iphone 4 and 3GS. Changed mine to english voice on iphone 4.</p>
<p>I think peiker acustic is working on it as we speak.
They just need to cut back on the wind tunnel testing and have it ready at launch of iphone 4. lol</p>
<p>Also, you will have to take the iphone 4 bumper off anyway to snap in but… here is the good part the bmw iphone snap in uses a electropad under the set ( not direct) to amplify the signal via a 3 watt boost. Fixed that signal problem. Bars do not decrease with snap in, but go up.</p>
<p>I’ll be buying a 2011 Clubman with the audio/nav package. I am concerned that technology like this will be obsolete in five years because I plan to keep the car for ten years or more.</p>
<p>@Ian – Couldn’t agree more! BMW Group’ idea of “iPhone/iPod integration” is a joke. They should be working on voice dial feature – or lack there of! It’s great that my phone an car can connect via Bluetooth and all, but if I cannot dial or control the songs on the device hands free, what’s the frickin’ point?!</p>
<p>@Ke – Including NAV in any MINI will always date the car. The most elegant solutions are usually the simplest. BMW Group should focusing on perfecting the little things – as mentioned above – as all these fancy screens and media-info-tainment devices steal character from a car that is otherwise full of it!</p>
<p>Just my opinion.</p>
<p>@Mark – They have achieved what you have just stated. By giving you full access to the functions of your iPhone or iPod touch via this system they have done what they have never done before. In the past you could use your iPod but through an interface they created which didn’t match what you would be accustomed to using with your device. they have finally gotten the picture with this new MINI Connected system.</p>
<p>I can voice dial in my 2010 Camden. What’s the problem?</p>
<p>Voice dialing works in current MINIs. Maybe not the way you’d like it to, but it does.</p>
<p>Voice dialing worked for all MINI’s 2002 on, as stated in the German Full Bluetooth kit, it even worked with the two spoke steering wheel, just did not come to the market till 2003-2004 as an add on.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any knowledge with the Philips MC235B Flat Wall Mountable Micro Shelf System I was thinking about getting it and just wasn’t certain if its the best 1 to buy.</p>
<p>I’d like to see if MINI could integrate a gauge package into this display. It would be cool if they could do an electronic version of your car’s temp, boost, g-force, and anything else, right here.</p>
<p>I like the new look of the system.</p>