BMW comes first with Apple iPhone integration

BMW is first to announce integration of the Apple iPhone to some of their models. Congrats to Munich for that smart marketing move, but it's nothing more than that. The iPhone integration uses the existing iPod integration availability and the Bluetooth function of the iPhone.

Wasting no time at all, BMW announced iPhone compatibility for its passenger cars yesterday. Apple's latest supertoy will work in Bimmers equipped with BMW Assist and Bluetooth connectivity. Furthermore, the iPhone's iPod feature gets full radio / iDrive screen integration in the following vehicles that have the iPod/USB interface installed:

* 3 Series built March 2007 and later
* 5 Series built March 2007 and later
* X5 built April 2007 and later
* 6 Series built September 2007 and later

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, BMW, iPhone

Source: BMW, Engadget

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Apple: Building GPS navigation for Mercedes!

According to German magazine "Focus" Apple is working on a navigation system for cars. At the start in 2009, it will be exclusively available from Mercedes, but 6 months later the other vendors are allowed to follow.

It might be that Apple will also use Google Maps for their navigation solution as on the iPhone, but until now that's only speculation.

Apple is seeking to conquer every tiny space of your digital environment. Great move, but why start with such an old-fashioned and boring brand? Just because big Steve is driving Mercedes doesn't mean that this tie-up fits.

Read the Google-translated story here.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, Apple, GPS, Navigation

Source: Focus Online, picture by Blog Outer Court

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Ford: Made by Mac

We all know about a Mac integrated to your car. But at Ford the cars are built by these wonderful little machines.

Ford Motor's contractor has installed the Apple-made computers in two of the automaker's northern Indiana factories as part of a sequencing solution to boost assembly line efficiency.

...

A total of 14 Mac minis running on Intel Core Solo chips have been operational at the plants since early November, helping Ford assemble 800 cars a day.

Related news: Foursprung, P4MR, Ford, Apple, Mac

Source: MacCentral

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