Apple goes MONOPOLY-c with their IPODS !!!, page 1

70 percent of US autos to be iPod compatible
By Stuart Corner
Friday, 04 August 2006
Apple's iPod looks set to take an unassailable position in the US in-car entertainment market through new agreements that will see 70 percent of new US autos shipping with iPod integration by 2007.
Apple announced on 3 August agreements with Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Mazda to deliver "seamless iPod integration" across the majority of their brands and model.

According to Apple, this will mean "making it easy for iPod users to enjoy and control their iPod's high-quality sound through their car's stereo system." Apple claim that, as a result more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles will offer iPod integration.

"Seamless integration" according to Apple means not only providing a connection that allows the iPod to be charged and play through the vehicle's audio system, but "enabling 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."

Automakers, and the supplier of in-car audio, won't want to support this tight integration with a wide range of different MP3 players and for such a car-intensive culture as the US being able to play stored music in the car through the car music system using the conveniently located in-car controls (it is reported that in some models control of the iPod will be via buttons on the steering wheel) and a familiar interface will be a powerful argument in the choice of portable music player.

Microsoft with its soon to be launched Zune will have to play catch-up big time.

is this mean tribalmixes podcasts will be listened in 70% of the auto?  

haha, it could be... :)
no, this just means that in 70% of new cars you will not have any problem connecting your ipod...

That's awesome. It can be a big pain to get your iPod or other MP3 player to play through your car stereo system if you don't have the right setup. This shows how big the iPod has become.

i dislike this idea, apple is the elite, it cant be on 70% of the total amount of cars

i think its really cool that ipods will be able 2 be connected 2 70% of the cars,the ipod is an amazing piece of technology i think.go go gooo ipod  

my friend, you would definitely use a week on the streets on nyc, or any other big city with a financial district here... 99% of straigh-pants/white-shirts are wearing ipods, it is like having a watch on your hand now, like having sun glasses on you - it's become a part of their outfit..

excuse me, but apple has been for elite, but with the release of ipods, apple has become "a tech-thing in every house" now, like a tv-set... and all you need for an outdoor party is a set of speakers for your ipod. i think it's all lame.. sorry to all ipod owners, i think this "fashion" has become an obsession for people... i'm glad i don't have an ipod, i'd better wait for zune... :)

i am sorry but i disagree with u.
i have had several mp3 players and i can assure u that the only one that never broke is the ipod, thats why i bought it and thats why if i change i will only upgrade.
if the ipod creators were so smart to create such a small object which can be considered as a lifestyle and all that, i think that has nothing to do with installing it in the cars, and if people buy it it means they have done a hell of a job!
of course there are people buying it just because, as u say, of fashion...but not in 100% of the cases whatever is fashion is not the best
anyway i have never had anything as amazing as my ipod shuffle

hmmm ipod.. fashion!!!!
its not about fashion to own an ipod... at all. an ipod is a very very usefull machine... to have all ur music on it, photos, and movies tooo.... what more do u neeed!!!

I use products from creative. I own my mp3 player (jukebox) since 4 Years. Never had problems with him. It's old and big but is really ok for me. A mp3 player is not fashion for me. I need this to hear music. I hate Monopoly-c!!!

ok, my friends, you really need to write what i'm writing there... i wwas talking about USA, where lots of people can afford an ipod like a thing of fashion. if you don't have an ipod, you look poor in other people's eyes. in my opinion, it's still a fashion, but put up very organized and advertised properly. half of the subway trains and bus stops here in chicago are all painted with dancing ipod people.. of course the thing they're trying to do now is a very smart move, and microsoft has enough money already, so apple should even be free of any kinds moral issues. but anyways, as much as i respect apple, i think ipod isn't worth all what's going on about it..

I agree, I think Apple is great in there own right and the ipod is a great mp3 player but, its not all that.  Pretty much there are better mp3 players made, its just they don't have the advertising that Apple has.  I would much rather own a Creative, Toshiba, or even a Samsung mp3 player in my opinion. (The Nice Samsung, not the crappy one. )

slash, what u say is not against apple and ipod but against the society in USA...
and u say ipod isnt worth all whats going on about it...?? in which way?
i paid 99€ for my 1gb ipod shuffe, never broke, never gave me any trouble, never spent 99€ better.

heyhey! easy on turns, mister.. :)

i own a 4gb nano i pod and it never gave me any trouble i cant do withou my ipod :)