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.

Contour Design has introduced its new iSee inked cases for the fourth-generation iPod nano Chromatic. Made from clear polycarbonate with a snap-together design, the cases feature different patterns etched directly into the case. Other features include full access to all ports and controls, a scratch-resistant coating, and an included, removable screen protector. Contour Design’s iSee inked cases for iPod nano 4G are available soon ONLY to ICKD in Swirls, Reverb, Argyle, Flourish, Squares, Circles, and Zebra designs, and sell for around £25.

If you are using a Dice Electronics or a Dension In Car iPod along with a Dock Cable then these will be the perfect addition!

As Christmas is drawing near, in car network have decided to make it that little bit easier on your wallet when purchasing your iPod equipment. We have decided to create one special offer per month until Christmas.

October’s special offer is free delivery to all UK Mainland customers when ordering Dice RDS FM Modulators.

The Dice are one of the leading brands of iPod car kits. Based in the USA they produce integrated kits for a range on cars and a very competent RDS FM Modulator that is universal providing you have a European ISO Aerial, so basically you can connect it to 99.9% of European stereos both factory and aftermarket…

The iPod Car Kit connects directly into the Aerial on the back of the headunit that provides an excellent signal interface that also reduces the chance of interference from other FM broadcasting stations and devices that FM Transmitters can’t block out. The Dice RDS FM also charges your iPod when it’s playing and provides RDS Track information if the headunit is compatible.

The Dice kit is provided with a dock cable for easy access and can be mounted anywhere in the car with the use of brodit mounting brackets and passive cradles depending on your iPod.

To claim your free delivery on the Dice RDS FM

type OCT_DICE into the coupon section when ordering

There are a variety of iPod car kits available on the market today, some good, some bad and some extremely poor. What are the best kits available and what features do they offer?

Dension are producing a new accessory for the gateway 500 enabling users to control the functions of the Gateway 500 in a much more user friendly way. The AVR unit will allow videos to be watched on original screen or on a display installed in the rear of the vehicle (IVE1000 still required to play AV).

Densions main reason for developing the new AVR accessory is that it allows multi source operations, meaning that the user can play multiple choices, so maybe you would like to listen to your favourite music on your iPod while driving & keep the Kids quite by watching their favourite Video in the back. This is set to be a revolutionary break through for Dension as multi source has never been done to this extent in car audio.

The AVR may be some time away as Dension are first trying to complete the production of various projects like the BTA2000 Bluetooth Adapter, the CD Retention kits for BMW & some secret projects we can’t tell yet!! (Prepare to be amazed because you are going to want some of these). However more information on all new products will be available soon at www.iPodcarkitdirect.co.uk

The Dension BTA1500 Bluetooth adapter is now available at www.iPodcarkitdirect.co.uk, the specially designed unit will maximise the Gateway 500 fibre optics system in allowing the user to make hands free phone calls, stream music from mobile phone (and other AD2P devices) and browse your phone book on all compatible screens. The New BTA1500 has been in development since the BTA1000 was discontinued several months ago, Dension realising the importance of this technology to its customers have put their full concentration on completing this project in minimum time and maximum testing ensuring the new Bluetooth unit lives up to expectations.

The New BTA1500 Bluetooth adapter is only compatible with the Gateway 500 Fibre Optic Systems. The BTA2000 Densions’ next product is expected to be ready nearer October 2008 and is expected to be compatible with all Dension Gateway systems. No Doubt more information regarding the BTA2000 will be available here soon.

We would like to inform anybody that are looking to buy Dension Gateway iPod kits from ANY source - whether it be online or offline - to be very careful.

iPodCarKitDirect & Dension have been informed of a number of “Grey stock” items which have been imported illegally or through the wrong channels are worming their way into the UK market.

When buying an iPod kit for your car, please double check that the items you ordering are legitimate otherwise the Dension warranty will be void. If you are aware of anybody selling these kits then please inform ourselves.

There are VERY FEW legitimate online dealers of Dension iPod kits, for a full list visit the following link:
http://www.dension.com/dealers.php

OK, so you are probably thinking “How do i tell if the people selling me the Dension kit are buying them from the correct source?” Well the answer is simple:

When you buy, ask the retailer if they can tell you the serial number on the item, the serial number is always found on a Dension sticker on the bottom of the unit. If they cannot provide this then they don’t have one - meaning that the stock is NOT to be trusted.

If you already have an item purchased from anywhere which doesn’t have a sticker then please contact them to discuss.

Dension have been working very hard behind the scenes to make sure that all you guys with new Apple iPod’s and the new Apple iPhone can have them mounted on your dash in a cradle.

Previously, if you wanted a Dension Gateway kit that would hold your iPod or iPhone, you would have to have gone for the Dension Dock Cable and stored your iPod or iPhone in your glove box - NOT ANY MORE.

Dension have just released sleeves/inserts which will come with the Dension Active Cradle as standard on any order from now on. They will allow all new iPods to fit into the Dension Active Cradle as well as the iPhone.

This is very exciting news for our customers, many of which have been waiting for this for a long time!

If you already have a Dension Active Cradle and DON’T have the sleeve/insert for the new iPods and iPhone then fear not, these will be available soon to be purchased separately.

Brodit and iPod Car Kit Direct have been working very hard on producing the highest quality iPod mounts and passive cradles for a very long time indeed. The latest batch of items will hold all the new iPods into a passive cradle in your car without damaging the dashboard.

The cradles will work with the following Apple iPods:

The Apple iPhone (all hard disc sizes)
The Apple iPod Classic 5th Generation (All sizes)
The Apple iPod Nano 3rd Generation (All sizes)

To view these items just simply click “iPod Mounting” on the left hand of our website underneath the “products” bar. Then click “Passive Cradle”

Due to the high demand for this item and a good platform, Dension have decided to expand the capabilities of the Dension Gateway Bluetooth Adapter. Expected features include phonebook browsing, music streaming from your phone, text capability (on supported cars and phones) and a few other little tricks which we are keeping up our sleeves.

Dension are due to split the original Gateway bluetooth adapter (the BTA1000) into two separate parts:

The Dension BTA1500 Bluetooth Adapter, specifically designed for the Dension Gateway 500 on all platforms (BMW, Audi, Porsche, Saab, Volvo, Mercedes) and will definitely feature phonebook display.

The Dension BTA2000 Bluetooth Adapter, designed for all other Dension Gateway models including the Dension Gateway 100, the Dension Gateway 300 & the long awaited Dension Gateway 200i (for when it finally arrives - most probably near December 2008).

The Dension bluetooth adapter is just another chapter in Densions push to continue to be the worlds number one iPod Car Kit specialists. Dension seems very confident that these new designs will be knocking on iPod Car Kit Directs doors within 2 or 3 months. Prepare yourself for the ULTIMATE integration!