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25 Responses to “Macworld Video: Fusion ipod Car Stereo CA-IP500”
If no one builds what I’m talking about we’re all “forced” to buy iPod-compatible units or nothing at all. Various attempts have been made by the aftermarket with little to no marketing. MP3 CDs are as obsolete as cassettes and few are radios with USB drives (mostly German cars). Then there’s all those crappy iPod accessories- fodder for landfills. Chrysler is the only one offering an “auto iPod” called MyGig. Sony should be doing this.
Our cars should have “iPods” of their own. With WiFi, we should be able to upload from home to car. Why carry a little device that’s prone to damage or dead battery?
How about never carry an iPod again? It’s like the Chihuahua of the techie. Carrying this thing around like its alive. Sony, Kenwood and everyone else should make their units with gigabyte drives and WiFi for sync with your home media. Unlike the iPod it will also have radio, bluetooth, and a better monitor. And you can’t loose it ’cause it’s attached to your car. Plus all those pesky cords and accessories (like rhinestone cases). Who needs ‘em? Money down the drain.
Innovative would be a car radio that can store your music collection with you and upload directly from your home net or laptop. No cords, no hard cases, no earbuds, and no more dancing unit on the passenger seat. That’s what stereo makers should be building for us.
Or get a unit that has its own solid state hard drive with ALL you music on it. And more to add via WiFi from your home network, lappity-toppity box, or iTunes store. How many people take their iPods with them when they get out of the car? Of those, how many do it all the time? Andfor the remaining, does one need music in their ears at Home Depot or 7-11?
Spending several hundred for an aftermarket stereo THEN spending a couple hundred more to carry your music to your car stereo, that’s ridiculous. Your car stereo should already contain all your music and upload more from your house while your planning your next road trip. Alpine, Sony and Pioneer should be making systems like that!!
The next step in car audio should be a unit that contains all your music for you. A unit that uploads new music from your desktop or laptop as soon as you “buy” it. You shouldn’t have to wrestle with cords and fragile devices everytime you go for a ride.
“Expanding the market” hits my ears as “creates another link in the endless chain of stuff I have that doesn’t work together”. The iPod and iTunes, for all it’s flaws, are the one bit of technology I use which I have the least trouble with (note: not none). I like it that way.
In a utopian world, yes, it would work as you described, but that won’t happen yet. In the meantime, we have this, and it’s pretty darn good.
iPod is a closed system. You don’t see anything wrong with it because it doesn’t show you anything else. I works because it only give you so much and nothing more. iTunes sells MP4 files which no one else plays because they don’t have the license to do so. And no one builds an iTunes compatible player because Apple will sue them if they do. You’re logic is if Apple doesn’t want to make a car stereo then NO ONE ELSE should either. You’re saying “NO” to innovation.
@myangeldustatymail The fact that you said that I claimed it had no flaws proves you didn’t read my comment, but I’ll bite anyway. I know how the industry works. I do freelance iPhone development, so you may see me as biased, but the only reason I support a company as hard-headed as Apple is because they are the only company which has gotten it right. When others get it right, we will switch to them. That’s how innovation works.
Utopian? You confuse marketshare with perfection or something like it. Zune works. So does Archos and all the others. They play all forms of video formats well. Apple didn’t invent the MP3 player and they didn’t make it better. They just wrapped it in antiseptic clothing. And they hit the right target market: people with disposible income and bland tastes. iPods haven’t even sold more than the other brands, they simply sold for a higher price. You should be asking for more product.
iPhone dev has nothing to do with car stereos. I only see you as someone who prefers the status quo no matter the limitations it imposes on you, on us. I don’t want to fiddle with an iPod, Zune, or whatever. I want a car stereo that holds all my music and uploads more from home. I don’t want radios that require more expensive components (or weak accessories) to give me that. And I want them to play ANY FORMAT not just those licensed by one company.
nice. i might get one of these and have it installed in my 2005 Dodge Stratus when i get it fixed soon. this costs around $250 bucks, but i need to find out how much installation is gonna cost. all in all it seems like it’ll be a pretty good investment
December 27th, 2009 at 1:26 am
If no one builds what I’m talking about we’re all “forced” to buy iPod-compatible units or nothing at all. Various attempts have been made by the aftermarket with little to no marketing. MP3 CDs are as obsolete as cassettes and few are radios with USB drives (mostly German cars). Then there’s all those crappy iPod accessories- fodder for landfills. Chrysler is the only one offering an “auto iPod” called MyGig. Sony should be doing this.
December 27th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Our cars should have “iPods” of their own. With WiFi, we should be able to upload from home to car. Why carry a little device that’s prone to damage or dead battery?
December 27th, 2009 at 1:32 am
How about never carry an iPod again? It’s like the Chihuahua of the techie. Carrying this thing around like its alive. Sony, Kenwood and everyone else should make their units with gigabyte drives and WiFi for sync with your home media. Unlike the iPod it will also have radio, bluetooth, and a better monitor. And you can’t loose it ’cause it’s attached to your car. Plus all those pesky cords and accessories (like rhinestone cases). Who needs ‘em? Money down the drain.
December 27th, 2009 at 1:34 am
Innovative would be a car radio that can store your music collection with you and upload directly from your home net or laptop. No cords, no hard cases, no earbuds, and no more dancing unit on the passenger seat. That’s what stereo makers should be building for us.
December 27th, 2009 at 1:37 am
Or get a unit that has its own solid state hard drive with ALL you music on it. And more to add via WiFi from your home network, lappity-toppity box, or iTunes store. How many people take their iPods with them when they get out of the car? Of those, how many do it all the time? Andfor the remaining, does one need music in their ears at Home Depot or 7-11?
December 27th, 2009 at 1:40 am
Spending several hundred for an aftermarket stereo THEN spending a couple hundred more to carry your music to your car stereo, that’s ridiculous. Your car stereo should already contain all your music and upload more from your house while your planning your next road trip. Alpine, Sony and Pioneer should be making systems like that!!
December 27th, 2009 at 1:43 am
The next step in car audio should be a unit that contains all your music for you. A unit that uploads new music from your desktop or laptop as soon as you “buy” it. You shouldn’t have to wrestle with cords and fragile devices everytime you go for a ride.
December 27th, 2009 at 2:06 am
“Expanding the market” hits my ears as “creates another link in the endless chain of stuff I have that doesn’t work together”. The iPod and iTunes, for all it’s flaws, are the one bit of technology I use which I have the least trouble with (note: not none). I like it that way.
In a utopian world, yes, it would work as you described, but that won’t happen yet. In the meantime, we have this, and it’s pretty darn good.
December 27th, 2009 at 2:52 am
iPod is a closed system. You don’t see anything wrong with it because it doesn’t show you anything else. I works because it only give you so much and nothing more. iTunes sells MP4 files which no one else plays because they don’t have the license to do so. And no one builds an iTunes compatible player because Apple will sue them if they do. You’re logic is if Apple doesn’t want to make a car stereo then NO ONE ELSE should either. You’re saying “NO” to innovation.
December 27th, 2009 at 2:55 am
@myangeldustatymail The fact that you said that I claimed it had no flaws proves you didn’t read my comment, but I’ll bite anyway. I know how the industry works. I do freelance iPhone development, so you may see me as biased, but the only reason I support a company as hard-headed as Apple is because they are the only company which has gotten it right. When others get it right, we will switch to them. That’s how innovation works.
December 27th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Utopian? You confuse marketshare with perfection or something like it. Zune works. So does Archos and all the others. They play all forms of video formats well. Apple didn’t invent the MP3 player and they didn’t make it better. They just wrapped it in antiseptic clothing. And they hit the right target market: people with disposible income and bland tastes. iPods haven’t even sold more than the other brands, they simply sold for a higher price. You should be asking for more product.
December 27th, 2009 at 3:05 am
iPhone dev has nothing to do with car stereos. I only see you as someone who prefers the status quo no matter the limitations it imposes on you, on us. I don’t want to fiddle with an iPod, Zune, or whatever. I want a car stereo that holds all my music and uploads more from home. I don’t want radios that require more expensive components (or weak accessories) to give me that. And I want them to play ANY FORMAT not just those licensed by one company.
December 27th, 2009 at 3:07 am
How much did it cost you?
December 27th, 2009 at 3:18 am
@myangeldustatymail How much did what cost me?
As for the rest, when you build that, let me know so I can buy it.
December 27th, 2009 at 3:34 am
I was asking masteez6969 how much did he pay for his unit?
December 27th, 2009 at 9:08 am
i got mine for 60 cause it was a best buy store model. bu i would suggest gettin something else. but last time i checked 250 brand new
December 29th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I like what i saw :] Gonna look around to see for more alternatives, otherwise ill get this one i think
rocks!
January 26th, 2010 at 3:39 am
This is super cool.
February 14th, 2010 at 5:56 am
nice. i might get one of these and have it installed in my 2005 Dodge Stratus when i get it fixed soon. this costs around $250 bucks, but i need to find out how much installation is gonna cost. all in all it seems like it’ll be a pretty good investment
February 14th, 2010 at 6:19 am
nvrmind, change of heart. CNET gave this 2 stars out of 5 and two reviewers on Amazon each gave it a 1 star rating
February 16th, 2010 at 3:51 am
Got one on ebay for $100
February 18th, 2010 at 4:13 am
@PackersFan340 how do you like it?
March 6th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
I haven’t actually used it yet lol I don’t get my car til april but I will tell u then.
March 8th, 2010 at 11:31 am
for fusion it don’t look to bad. but i still don’t think it’s enough to beat Pioneer’s Stage 4
March 30th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
soooo … no cd’s?