Do you own an iPod?

If you do then you need to view this post and a few others in the next while. Anyone that owns an iPod knows that it is one of the coolest devices on the planet. For the uninitiated, the iPod is essentially a laptop hard drive encased in an aluminium or plastic casing. What makes it very special is the controls and software that Apple created to operate it. Unlike so many other MP3 players that have fallen off the radar, the iPod (now in its fourth and current generation) continues to evolve, expand and garner more converts. Many an article is written about the next batch of players that attempt to take the crown; they have ALL failed.

So, that said, you have this device with a capacity ranging from 4GB to 60GB (not including the minuscule iPod Shuffles of 128MB and 512MB persuasion). Basically, for most people, you walk around with your entire CD library available at your fingertips. Now, to get that into a car so you can stop lugging CD cases about, you will need some help.

Early adopters used the common cassette adapter which plugs into the headphone jack and slides in like a normal tape. This setup works very well actually, as long as you can minimize the hum. the problem is that most vehicles now sport a CD player sans tape deck.

Enter the wonderful FM transmitter invention; wonderful that is until you try to use one. Radio Shack sells a number of these items and their usefulness ranges in parallel with the price; the more it is, the better it tends to perform. Essentially, these devices turn you iPod into you own internal FM radio station. Unfortunately, you inherit all the woes of FM as well; susceptible to interference, has to be amplified (requires a power source), is very directional and is very lossy compared to a CD (or even the cassette adapter). It does work though and allows the CD players of the world to play the iPod through any radio. The other major drawback is having to pick up the iPod and/or look at it to tune in the song you want to hear. Not a good idea at speed on the highway.

So how do you get better song AND the ability to operate the iPod with minimal interference to your driving? The answer is fairly simple, but the solution can be a bit involved and costly. you need to get the new wave of devices sprouting up in the car audio world. The link here is to one of many companies offering kits that integrate the iPod into a factory system or compatible aftermarket radio system. This can be as simple as showing basic display and control from the head unit to full fledged operability with your steering controls and display of the song and artist on the built-in screen of the existing system. Many manufacturers, like Pioneer, Eclipse, Clarion and Alpine, are creating new head units with the integration of the iPod in mind from the outset. Clarion's model even goes so far as to provide a touch screen on one DVD unit that shows a customized display mimicking the iPod controls and layout. Very cool.

Ciao!

Dension USA