Seamless iPod Integration for Ford, GM and Mazda

Apple announced it will join forces with Ford, GM and Mazda to create a new integration system for more than 70% of those manufacturers' 2007 models. For Mazda, that means its entire 2007 lineup will offer the system. Ford and GM (both of which already have 2007s on lots) will start offering the system later this year in most of their vehicles.

The system will work from the glove compartment and will not only allow users to access their playlists from the standard radio controls, but will also charge the iPod at the same time. From the press release, it sounds like artist and song titles will also be viewable as long as the car’s radio can show text. Some aftermarket companies offer similar systems.

There's no word on cost yet, but it sounds like this will be a dealer-installed option. 

[Source: Apple]

Comments

It's about time. How many million iPods needed to be sold before automoakers woke up?

well most cars have an Aux input now so you can plug in an iPod or other MP3 player. It just doesn't allow for full integration. Let's just hope the new system isn't outdated every 2 years like the iPod player itself.

this will outdate very quickly, just like the cassette player, the walkman, and the other electronics of the 80s and 90s....

well we had tapes for what? 15 years? CDs? 15 years. Portable hard drives like an ipod will last at least that long. Plus remember the sound on your CD is still better than the iPod. Personally in a car I like a single slot cd player and my handy CD wallet.

I don't know if we had CD players in our cars for that long. As recently as 2003, pricey models like the Jaguar X-type and Honda Odyssey came only with a standard tape deck, while it took popular mainstays like the Camry and Accord until the early 2000s to incorporate a standard CD player.

I'd say the cassette seriously outlasted the CD in automotive usage, though in-dash CD players will probably be around at least another 10 years.

i meant CD technology overall. I guess that number is closer to 20 years though.

The iPod integration will enable drivers to use their car's multifunction controls to select their music using artist, album, playlist or shuffle songs, as well as to easily skip between tracks and playlists. Hmmmm another possible factor for road accidents. This could be entertaining yet distracting.

Will the 2006 Mazda Radios be compatible with this "Dealer Installed Option" or are the actual radios changing?
Since this was a quick announcement, I wonder if all the "magic" is in the new adapter - If so, perhaps it would work on recent vehicles also.

A CD sounds better than direct digital input? not selling me on that one. IF one WAS better than the other, I'm sure the human ear could not tell the difference. I wanna see the ipod integrate like the removalbe faceplate after market radios out there. Being able to controll the ipod from your steering wheel is a heck of alot better than trying to fumble with it will one hand,digging it out of your center console or glove box. NOt to mention all this activity pulls your eyes from the road.

IPOD INTEGRATOR DOES NOT WORK WITH 2006 MAZDA MIATA. I just purchased the IPOD integrator to work with my 2006 Mazda Miata's factory installed Bose system. (spent $360 on part/labor and $250 for an IPOD) It definitely does not integrate with the 2006 model and doubt it does anything different for the 2007. 1) The Mazda emblem takes over the IPOD menu screen, so cannot scroll through and pick by artist, genre, song, etc. The stereo system screen does not display any information on artist, genre, song, etc. either.....so you would have to either print out updated lists or know what order everything is on your IPOD....or just pretend your expensive IPOD is a shuffle. By the way the integrator won't work with any other MP3 player or the inexpensive IPOD shuffle..I already had a Creative Zen and the tiny IPOD shuffle. 2) It appears that you have to unplug the 30-pin dock connection when not in use because you cannot turn the IPOD off. Sure, the car when on ACC will charge the IPOD while playing...but what happens when the car is parked, and the IPOD won't shut down unless you unplug it. I'm just wondering how long the 30-pin dock connector will last with that much plugging and unplugging.

I agree. Just bought a 2008 Miata. Have my ipod nano connected, and this is truly the most laughable setup I have ever seen. Have the people who designed this syatem never listened to music? I'm truly disgusted....

As long as the car has "Aux in"...play your cassettes or Ipods iTunes or mp3's etc. Aux line in will never "go out of style". Is digital sent to analog via "AUX in" worse than digital to the amp? Who knows, would have to know the specs.

And that comment on "direct digital" lol ITS DIGITAL! Your player is reading numbers, either on a CD or a IPOD. The difference between a commercial CD and iTunes or mp3... is BAD MP3 COMPRESSION. CD's are 16 bit...which is bad enuf. MP3 compression just makes things worse.

Frankly I just control the iPod via the nice screen on the iPOD and send the signal to "AUX in" (as opposed to tryin to control the Ipod via the cars USB, wich in the Ford is ridiculous using voice commands via SYNC)

I will NEVER understand why a manufacturer would integrate a tech that is licensed to one manufacturer like this with Apple.

Just install an Aux jack and let us choose how we transport our music.

Oh, and whoever said MP3 is same quality as CD - you obviously either encode lossless (which i'd love to do but i have nearly 1000 cds so isn't really practical for portibility) or your hearing is off. Even poor quality CDs sound WAY better than a 192 kpbs MP3.

I've been watching for articles on how to get better iPod integration with your Mazda at http://www.mazda-ipods.com if any Mazda owners are frustrated by this lie and want true ipod integration.

I got a brand new 2008 Mazda3 and it did not come with iPod integration... it came with an audio jack for any mp3 player but it does have any ipod control integration in the stereo at all, it's simply an audio input.

Whatever you do, don't buy an integration kit from DICE ELECTRONICS. Mine stopped working after about five weeks and they wouldn't refund me because they only warranty their product for 30 days.
Yup - an electronic component manufacturer that won't stand behind their product for longer than a month. I should have looked into it before spending the 200 plus.
My money is gone plus the additional cash that I had to spend to have it removed - not to mention the money I'll have to spend on an integration kit that actually works (which I'm sure will be backed by the company - because it actually works)