jersh

ok, so absent from the few previouis discussions about mp3 cds and ipod integration, etc., etc. was any real talk about how things _should be done_.

It was just taken for granted that we would be forced to use some proprietary, closed (and limiting) device like the ipod, and it was taken for granted that integration would be equally as closed.

In reality, the _correct_ way to integrate digital audio into a car (or any other environment) is simply to provide the following:

- a USB port
- logic to decode a standard filesystem
- an interface to parse and traverse that standard filesystem

End of story. Note that every single $2 thumb player from china can do those three things.

But really, who ever _ever_ does the sensible thing - the easy thing - the scalable thing.

Well, apparently VW does:

http://engadget.com/entry/1234000903058338/

Now the only question is, why is this available on cheap cars that VW makes, and not a D3 A8 ? (I guess another question is, why didn't they implement this 6-8 years ago, but I'll let that slide ...)

I'm calling them to ask, btw - updates later.

drive4fun

I thought exact the same thing you did. The A8/A6 with their MMI controllers and NAV screens seem tailor made for this type of functionality. I'd much rather have USB ports them some lame proprietary link to iPods.

Plano-4.2

Get a VW.

Ringmeister

1) it does not integrate to the MOST fiber bus
2) it only supports .mp3 encoded files, not AAC, not WMA, not DRM protected content, etc.
3) 6-8 years ago? MP3 players had no market penetration 6-8 years ago. The first MP3 player for sale in the US was the Eiger Labs MPMan in the summer of 1998. Also the RIAA lawsuit against Diamond Multimedia suppressed adoption during the first year of market availability. Look how long it took for auto manufacturers to switch from cassette to CD players.

D3AeighT

do some more reading on the subject.<ul><li><a href="http://www.mostcooperation.com/">http://www.mostcooperation.com/</a</li></ul>