This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 9th, 2007 at 11:55 and is filed under Analysis & Commentary, Audio, Autos, Hardware. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Rockford Fosgate tried it with the MP3.8 and Blaupunkt had one, too. Neither succeeded. I’m sure I am missing others that tried to bring gobs of music to vehicles easily that just could not pull off the great idea. None of these products had the hottest brand name etched into its back: iPod.
Apple should introduce a faceless iPod. Basically, just a hard drive unit that you can easily dock and sync with iTunes. All your movies, music, and photos would sync onto the unit just like any other iPod with a screen but you wouldn’t use this for portable enjoyment for your eyes. No, this would only be used in a car, friends home connected to a TV, or even a business for music or video display on external devices. Heck, there are tons of uses for this kind of headless device. I’m sure by removing the ClickWheel and screen, Apple could shave easily $100 if not more off the price of the iPod. Maybe even add a second drive and logically fuse them together as one large drive. It’s a market Apple hasn’t tried but one that exists already.
I rarely use my iPods screen as it sits in my trucks “glove” compartment 24/7. It only comes out for syncs and an occasional use on my belt or drop into an iPod boom-box. But for the most part, it’s in my truck always. I’m not the only one doing this and I would venture to say there is a lot of people using their iPod for the same thing I am: CD changer replacement in the car. With its high density, easy navigation with nearly every after-market and OEM car stereo, the screen on the iPod is no longer needed with this endless music source inside the dark cavern of many glove boxes. We just want our music – all of our music – with us where ever we go. The iPod does that for us.
To remove the expense not needed, a new venue of revenue could be created for Apple. I know many would buy the iPod Car just for the mere purpose of having one for their car. Keeping their 5G iPod for the gym or bike ride or what ever it might be is perfect for the screen version. For those smaller needed amounts of music play, the shuffle will still gladly fill the void. Top that off with the iPhone and now Apple has all bases covered. Home run.
So where Blaupunkt and Rockford failed, Apple would easily succeed. Hopefully its something that it’ll consider and maybe, just maybe, I’ll get that 200GB iPod for my truck after all.
May 9th, 2007 at 17:06
No, it doesn’t make sense — not unless Apple produces (or engineers & licenses) an interface for the stereo head unit that is truly as easy to use as the iPod itself.
Where the other guys have failed wasn’t in storage density, it was in how you’re supposed to select & play tracks from the face of the stereo. Nobody got that right until the iPod came along, and it’s still easier to navigate the iPod directly than it is to use the stereo’s controls. Some systems even require separate car-only playlists or have a limit on how many tracks can be accessed.
There is still no better “iPod interface” than the iPod. Other manufacturers can mess around with portable hard drives to plug into their car stereos if they want.
May 10th, 2007 at 3:55
Leland is right.
I recently bought a GPS navigation system with built-in hard disk with on-screen iPod control, and everything with it like radio, DVD player, TV receivers. Big mistake! The GUI for iPod control is slow, and just impossible to use. And the worst thing is that it disables iPod controls.
I should have known and should have bought just a straight cablle with simple audio out, and power lines for chaging. That would have been cheaper as well.
I will not buy any devices that claims to control iPod, unlesss Apple-licensed software and patented GUI technogies are used.
May 10th, 2007 at 10:22
You may both want to look at Clarion’s line of iPod full-screen controls. Identical to the iPod ClickWheel layout (without the wheel aspect support) as well as complete replication of the iPod screen layout. I’ve used Pioneer’s and Alpine’s iPod interface and while not as good as Apple’s, it ain’t bad either.
With an option to save a hundred or more dollars on a head-unit people are already using, I don’t think the lack-luster interface issue would prevent people from buying a faceless iPod.
May 15th, 2007 at 16:24
I have an idea that I have wanted to ask Apple to do. Kind of what you said here but not really.
If Apple paired up with Pioneer or some higher end audio person and turned the iPhone into a head unit face then that would be awesome. Image just sliding your iphone into you head unit like you do your removable face plate now. When the phone power up in the head unit it goes to horizontal display and does GPS, video and iTunes in your car.
I think that is the next step. I was telling a buddy about this just a few weeks ago.