The iPod’s popularity certainly has a major say in the Car audio industry today, not directly from apple but from the millions of iPod users. Due to the massive amounts of people who regularly use iPod’s on a daily if not hourly basis Car Audio Brands and Vehicle Manufacturers have had to redefine how car audio and entertainment works and what is expected from each component within the system.

Vehicle manufacturers are more aware of the demands of the public and use additional add-ons as a selling point in an aid to promote new ranges and vehicles. However the majority of factory iPod car kits are simply an AUX input into the audio system. This allows music to be played through the speaker system, which for some users is enough. However this option does not offer any of the more advanced features that aftermarket kits do.

So the big question is do vehicle manufacturers see a future with iPod car kits or are they waiting for the next big invention?

The investments from Car Audio Brands suggest that the iPod is going to be here for a minimum of several years. The larger brands such as Dension, Alpine & Kenwood have taken iPod integration to the next level, although in separate directions. Alpine & Kenwood have built fully iPod compatible aftermarket stereos, with new features such as imprint technology & HD screens that allow users to configure the components depending music quality and type. Combined with Made for iPod & iPhone you can get the most out of your iPod by finding and playing music and videos much easier than ever before.

Dension however has made larger strides by combining iPod technology with factory fitted equipment. The Dension Gateway range provides an iPod connection into your factory fitted stereo, ensuring that the original look is maintained. The Dension Kits also provide Steering wheel control for the iPod and music, Text display on a lot of vehicles including the new CAN cluster display vehicles within the VW & Audi Group and the retention of your CD Changer via a CD Retention Kit at additional cost.

However it’s the new components that Dension are developing that offer the greater indication of where iPod integration may be heading?

The soon to be released AVR is designed to work with the gateway 500 fibre optic kit allows different sources of entertainment to be played simultaneously, So for example the adults might want to listen to their favourite music in the front of the vehicle while the kids enjoy their favourite DVD in the back. This step is a major advance in the car entertainment world and will open up several avenues for further development in the future.

Another one of Dension’s products nearing completion is the Wi-Drive, this device when complete will allow you to integrate your vehicle into the wireless home network, and this has many advantages at first glance. Such as instant file transfer from computer to vehicle and vice versa. However this device holds many more possibilities than first anticipated. A wireless internet network connection can be made with the use of mobile USB dongle currently available from various mobile networks providing internet access to all of the users in your vehicle.

The possibilities of car audio and entertainment & iPod integration in the future are endless, devices such as the AVR and the Wi-Drive will open up many avenues for the next stage of development. For example;

Security devices could be invented that provide live streaming from the vehicle to your own computer monitoring your vehicles safety combined with “web cams” installed in your vehicle you could see exactly what happening to your car live.

Live streaming or the download of music and videos from iTunes could be played on TV screens installed in the vehicle through the use of the Wi-drive and AVR while you’re on your journey, simply select and go through your iPod to choose all the latest Apple iTunes has to offer.

Television channels broadcasting live online could be watch instantly allowing new entertainment channels to be integrated into future vehicles, controllable at various points in the car. Maybe the kids want to watch different TV channels? No Problem now.

One thing is clear, the Car audio and entertainment business is moving on. New and improved technology being created continually and the iPod certainly can be at the centre of it all.

When it comes to iPod Car kits, there are two names that stand out above the rest, Dension and Dice. However, there are other brands out there that make iPod car kits, and not all of them are bad.

Connects2 have been making integrated solutions for iPods for some time now. Even though they are not recognised as a major iPod kit manufacturer by the general public, their kits have always worked well, and been a lot more cost effective than the Dension and Dice products.

Although they lack some features, for example text display, they still offer a solution for all iPods and almost all cars. The lack of text compatibility is sometimes a problem for people, but as not all stereos even support text, it is not always a problem. For the price the kit is well worth the investment if a basic connection is what you are looking for. Unfortunately the kits only support charging on the 12V firewire iPods, the new 5V usb iPods work with the kit but do not charge.

Recently prices of Dension Products rose by 30% in line with the ever strengthening Euro. IPodCarKitDirect have tried hard to keep the Dice prices from spiralling upwards also, as the pound weakened against the dollar, meaning importing stock from America was more expensive than before. Out of all of the price increases, one brand have actually reduced the cost of there kits to make it cheaper for iPod users to connect their music to their vehicles stereos.

Connects2 have reduced their prices by 16% which iPodCarKitDirect have passed straight onto the customer, meaning you can connect your iPod to your vehicles stereo and control it from the head unit for a low price of £74.97 (Reduced from £89.97)

The kits are a perfect alternative to the universal kits, which incidentally are often mistaken for low quality transmitters. Although the universal kits give crystal clear audio like the Connects2 kit, their lack of control from the stereo often puts customers off them, as they are usually too use to the stereo wheel controls they have with the stereo.

Dice Silverline Pro.

One of the major issues customers have with the Dice Silverline kits is switching between ‘iPod’ and ‘Stereo Only’ user modes.

The standard Dice kit uses dip switches on the main box to change control from ‘iPod only’ to ‘stereo only’. When the kit is in ‘stereo only’ mode, the iPod is completely locked out and can not be used to select tracks, albums or play lists. As the main control box is situated in the boot, it is impractical to keep stopping the vehicle, opening the boot and changing tiny switches just to change the user mode.

Dice have come up with a new system that allows you to shift control from ‘iPod only’ to ‘stereo only’ from the iPod itself, without having to change the dip switches. They call this ‘smart’ mode and it is controlled by the iPods “hold” button situated at the top of the iPod.

Locking the iPod using the hold button moves the dice unit to ‘stereo only’ mode, unlocking the iPod using the hold button moves control back to the iPod, but the best part is that all text information is still displayed on the stereo even in ‘iPod only’ mode.

In addition to this, the new Silverline Pro has been upgraded with the latest firmware, and all kits come as standard with the 5V charging cable, needed to support the iPhone 3G, iTouch 2G and Nano 4G.

The best part is the price; the new Pro Kits are exactly the same price as the standard Silverline kits, so you really do get more value for money.

The Silverline Pro will be landing in the UK in the coming weeks, stay tuned for an update shorty.

Dension Electronics LTD has been working hard in the last 9 months to update their current range to work with more vehicles and iPods. After successfully moving from 12v to 5v USB, Dension has been looking at broadening their range of vehicle and manufactures covered by their highly successful Gateway 100 and 300 ranges.

The latest addition has been the long awaited Vauxhall kits. Being the most popular vehicle make on UK roads that have not currently got a compatible, high quality, iPod kit available, Dension have been eager to develop a solution. The new Opel kits, although only currently work with the CD30 MP3 head unit, covers most of new and recent Vauxhall vehicles, meaning that most Vauxhall owners have a fully integrated solution. Dension is working hard at expanding compatibility to other stereos in the Vauxhall range.

Another problem faced is the lack of text compatibility for the popular makes and models, mainly Audi, Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda and Vauxhall. With the recent introduction of CAN to the latest models of vehicles, Dension has been able to find a solution to this problem. If the CAN vehicles are equipped with a central display cluster (located within the instrument panel), the new CAN Gateway kits send the information to the cluster display, so you get a full text display of the Album, Track Artist etc direct from the iPod. If the vehicle does not have the cluster, track information such as “Track 1, Track 2 etc” will be displayed on the stereo.

Renault drivers have been deprived CD Retention in the past, which has caused some upsets as a lot of vehicles were ordered with CD Changers. Dension has now released a CD Retention kit compatible with the Renault Gateway. It will allow all of the current Gateway 100s and 300s to connect into the Tunerlist/Update List and Cabasse stereos without sacrificing the CD Changer.

The last major development from Dension worth noting is the new cradle inserts for the Active Cradle. They are for the new iPhone 3G, Nano 4th Gen, and iTouch 2G. The inserts are due to ship to the United Kingdom in the next few weeks, and will be available to purchase soon after from iPodCarKitDirect.co.uk.

Taking wireless technology to the next level, Dension Audio systems have developed the next step in connectivity for you vehicle to bring it into the 21st century. Using 3G and wireless technology, WiDrive plugs into a USB port inside your car, any USB port is fine, and if your vehicle does not have one the installation of a Gateway 300/500 will provide one.

Once connected, the WiDrive provides a wireless connection for all wireless devices in the vehicle. It allows you to connect to your wireless network at home, when your car is parked outside, meaning you can synchronise your vehicle with any information from your home computer, or wireless applications.

The system will allow you to keep your vehicles storage device up to date, by automatically updating itself when in range of the houses Wifi Network. You can be sat at your Pc one night, updating your music or film collection, and the information can be sent automatically to your vehicles storage device without touching a single button.

Another key feature of the WiDrive is its ability to provide a Wifi access point within the car, when used in conjunction with a 3G dongle. Plugging the 3G dongle into the device, the WiDrive then broadcasts the signal within the vehicle; in the same way your broadband router does at home. This means that one 3g dongle can provide internet for several devices. Laptops, PSPs, PDAs and other wireless applications will be supported.

In all the WiDrive provides a fully mobile solution for all of your electronic needs whilst in your car. Stay tuned for the next update, and when we have had a play with a beta model to put it through its paces.

The Apple iPod has changed the way we listen to music forever. We can have our entire music collection on one small device that comfortably fits into your pocket, handbag or anywhere else you choose to keep it. The battery life is ever improving and you can now listen to music for longer and leave the device on standby for longer than ever before.

Apple have generated a new business boom for digital media, so many inventions have been made on the back of the iPod and iPhone. New app’s are being invented daily that allow the users to customise their iPod as suits making the iPod device and application truly unique and individual to the user.

The new Genius system creates playlists and suggests music that you may like on the back of your favourite choices in your collection, so you can discover new bands and music you may never have heard before, opening your mind to new ideas and creative influences along the way.

The New iPhone 3G and iPod Touch are more of a multimedia system that a simple MP3/MP4 player, both come with WIFI (wireless) connect-ability, Internet browsing access & 1000’s of new app’s that range from checking on the weather reports for where you live to accessing payment & delivery networks for Business operations, but it doesn’t end there.

Apple systems have been incorporated into a lot of home technology too. New docking stations into TV’s provide a new form of digital TV & Digital video reproduction. Wireless media stations can be set up from as part of the home network transferring all of your audio & video files in iTunes to your TV and or Music systems around the house, giving you access to you entire collection.
 
However one of the more useful inventions that has been developed specifically for the iPod is the iPod Car Kit, this allows the ipod to be connected through the vehicles stereo to play your favourite music and videos (where compatible) while you drive. These kits take your iPod to the next level of music integration and allow you to listen to what ever you want, when ever you want, where ever your going, basically exactly what the iPod was invented for.

iPod car kits car extend the iPod usability further by providing a range of features from steering wheel controls & iPod charging through to text & artwork display and video integration, all from the comfort of your vehicle, you can create your own mini multimedia system at the touch of a button.