I have an Empeg, and it works great in my 2003 Skoda Fabia. When you're talking about the interface on the Empeg, it is something best demonstrated. A simple stacked menu means you can tweak and pick playlists in seconds. It is very fast and reminds me of a Palm in the way it is lightweight and responds instantly to button presses.
Another thing about the Empeg is its flexibility. Want to pick an album? You can use turn the knob on the face, or you can press the buttons, or use the remote, or even queue up some tracks on my Treo and beam them over. Take it home, plug it into your stereo and use it from across the room - the display is big enough. Plug it into your network and stream your music to iTunes with an ARM compile of mt-daapd. Run out of space? It takes up to 2 standard 2.5" laptop drives. There is serial, you can have GPS, you can have Pacman, the possibilities are endless.
Anand,
what exactly are you looking for when you say UI?
I mean, technically speaking, we are talking about a way to choose what song you want, and play that song. Maybe I am not understanding due to the fact that I do not own an iPod, but how hard is that? Are you refering to navigation of the hard drive and organization of how the music selection is presented? I am guessing this is the case, because beyond that, it really would not be any more different than a CD changer. Display songs. Choose song. play song. I mean, to me, the "coolest" part of the iPod would be that darn little wheel. Quite clever. But I cannot imagine trying to use that while traveling 70 MPH down the freeway in traffic. I'd be all over the place in the menus... the volume going up and down... it would not be a pretty sight. I just would like to know what you mean exactly when you say you do not want to give up its interface... Thanks in advance!
- Creathir
a projector displays the UI on the windshield.
eye tracking cameras will pick up where you look (it has to be calibrated, and it has to be activated; perhaps a button or voice command to tell the cameras to start)
Then the issue of UI is up to the software; the iPod software is better than a CD changer, as the CD changer only displays a list of CDs (akin to a list of playlists). Being able to select by artist/album/genre/composer would be nice.
My guess is that Apple knows it's way better at UI development than the auto manufacturers. But, the auto giants want a universal UI that runs everything and won't relinquish power over to Apple. Apple has no choice. It's either play the game the way the auto folks want to play or not have any place for the iPod in a car. An imperfect presence in the car is better than no presence at all. iPod users will know that the iPod's auto UI was not designed by Apple so Apple's UI reputation should remain untarnished. Only car owners will suffer having to use an inferior UI.
There's also politics. There are probably already established groups in the auto industry working on UI. They don't want someone else telling them "how to do their job." Not only is it demoralizing but also threatens their livelihood (i.e., they'd eventuall be layed off).
The big problem is that very few head units come with a front line-in connector anymore. So your choices are hack an extension on a rear line-in, live with the bad sound quality of an FM transmitter, or buy an overpriced iPod dock.
Yes, but sometimes it is not very easy to find the line in, especially when, like Anand mentioned, so many cars have non-standard dash boards. They make it very difficult to get to the radio. Then it is basically a hack job anyway.
a completely intact mini is actually slightly smaller than most din sized stereos (yeah, it really is that small). pictures really don't do it justice.
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14 Comments
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hussein - Friday, October 14, 2005 - link
I have an Empeg, and it works great in my 2003 Skoda Fabia. When you're talking about the interface on the Empeg, it is something best demonstrated. A simple stacked menu means you can tweak and pick playlists in seconds. It is very fast and reminds me of a Palm in the way it is lightweight and responds instantly to button presses.Another thing about the Empeg is its flexibility. Want to pick an album? You can use turn the knob on the face, or you can press the buttons, or use the remote, or even queue up some tracks on my Treo and beam them over. Take it home, plug it into your stereo and use it from across the room - the display is big enough. Plug it into your network and stream your music to iTunes with an ARM compile of mt-daapd. Run out of space? It takes up to 2 standard 2.5" laptop drives. There is serial, you can have GPS, you can have Pacman, the possibilities are endless.
Never think the Empeg is old or dead. Check out the active BBS at http://empegbbs.com/">http://empegbbs.com/ or the most comprehensive FAQ known to man at http://www.riocar.org/">http://www.riocar.org/ The v3 software is in Alpha and still in active development. There are still lots of accessories being made.
Anand, what do you drive? If you try hard enough, it will go in any car :)
kalaap - Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - link
I know Alpine is making an aftermarket ipod interface. And you can expand it to use on their nav systems w/ the lcd screens.http://www.alpine-usa.com/products/leading_technol...">http://www.alpine-usa.com/products/leading_technol...
creathir - Sunday, September 11, 2005 - link
Anand,what exactly are you looking for when you say UI?
I mean, technically speaking, we are talking about a way to choose what song you want, and play that song. Maybe I am not understanding due to the fact that I do not own an iPod, but how hard is that? Are you refering to navigation of the hard drive and organization of how the music selection is presented? I am guessing this is the case, because beyond that, it really would not be any more different than a CD changer. Display songs. Choose song. play song. I mean, to me, the "coolest" part of the iPod would be that darn little wheel. Quite clever. But I cannot imagine trying to use that while traveling 70 MPH down the freeway in traffic. I'd be all over the place in the menus... the volume going up and down... it would not be a pretty sight. I just would like to know what you mean exactly when you say you do not want to give up its interface... Thanks in advance!
- Creathir
michael2k - Sunday, September 11, 2005 - link
Really what we need is a HUD;a projector displays the UI on the windshield.
eye tracking cameras will pick up where you look (it has to be calibrated, and it has to be activated; perhaps a button or voice command to tell the cameras to start)
Then the issue of UI is up to the software; the iPod software is better than a CD changer, as the CD changer only displays a list of CDs (akin to a list of playlists). Being able to select by artist/album/genre/composer would be nice.
Kensei - Saturday, September 10, 2005 - link
My guess is that Apple knows it's way better at UI development than the auto manufacturers. But, the auto giants want a universal UI that runs everything and won't relinquish power over to Apple. Apple has no choice. It's either play the game the way the auto folks want to play or not have any place for the iPod in a car. An imperfect presence in the car is better than no presence at all. iPod users will know that the iPod's auto UI was not designed by Apple so Apple's UI reputation should remain untarnished. Only car owners will suffer having to use an inferior UI.There's also politics. There are probably already established groups in the auto industry working on UI. They don't want someone else telling them "how to do their job." Not only is it demoralizing but also threatens their livelihood (i.e., they'd eventuall be layed off).
Oh well... I guess the beat will go on.
Kensei
Nemokrad - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
Solution: Mount the iPod next to your steering wheel and plug it in to your head unit's line-in. Continue using your iPod's UI.dwcal - Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - link
The big problem is that very few head units come with a front line-in connector anymore. So your choices are hack an extension on a rear line-in, live with the bad sound quality of an FM transmitter, or buy an overpriced iPod dock.Gage8 - Friday, September 9, 2005 - link
Yes, but sometimes it is not very easy to find the line in, especially when, like Anand mentioned, so many cars have non-standard dash boards. They make it very difficult to get to the radio. Then it is basically a hack job anyway.my .02
Gage
michael2k - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
So what you want to see, really, is an Apple iPod Auto.Or a Mac Auto? Take a mini, strip out the laptop harddrive and put in a 60gb iPod harddrive, rework the UI, and make it the car-computer for anyone!
Either one would work. I wish someone would do something like that.
Wahsapa - Friday, September 9, 2005 - link
can a stipped mini fit in a DIN?pcmatt1024 - Friday, September 9, 2005 - link
a completely intact mini is actually slightly smaller than most din sized stereos (yeah, it really is that small). pictures really don't do it justice.Eug - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
I'm salivating over one of these.http://coastaletech.com/ipod_interface.htm">http://coastaletech.com/ipod_interface.htm
GTaudiophile - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
Anand: Can you comment on these http://www.hkepc.com/hwdb/r520firstlook-e.htm">R520 Spy Pics/Info? Got one of these in your lab yet?Come on, drop us a line here :)
Scrogneugneu - Thursday, September 8, 2005 - link
You might have noticed that every news coming on the R520 is taken from other, say, "minor" sites...Maybe this is the cause of a NDA binding the major review sites? ;)