Car makers are "getting" it, finally - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

denim · 09-16-2005, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CNN

USB for your car

Friday, September 16, 2005; Posted: 11:41 a.m. EDT (15:41 GMT)

Want to take your iPod in your car? Volkswagen -- and other car companies -- are starting to add in-dash USB connections.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Leave the CDs at home.

With digital music players becoming more ubiquitous, Volkswagen AG is offering a stereo component that lets motorists plug in all manner of portable digital players -- not just iPods -- and manage their tunes and podcasts on a dashboard display.

Although the in-dash CD player has yet to go the way of the eight-track, digital devices with USB connections -- be they fancy iPods or simple keychain drives -- seem now to be portable music's future.

Volkswagen, Europe's biggest automaker, is thus making the USB connection an option on its Golf, Golf Plus and Touran models in December and on remaining models next year.

Just plug your device into a built-in console in the center armrest. The option comes in two varieties, one for the iPod, another for other USB-based players. Up to six of the player's folders will be displayed on the car stereo system, and the radio buttons can be used to scan, search or shuffle your mix.

The setup will cost $240.

Also at the International Auto Show this week, Mazda Motor Corp. unveiled its Sassou concept car. Instead of a key, motorists use a special USB drive to lock, unlock or start the car. The drive can also carry your favorite tunes.

Meanwhile, Japan's Denso Corp. has developed a security system that not only honks the horn incessantly when disturbed but also snaps a digital photo of the vehicle's interior and e-mails it to the owner.

I wonder what else a USB-to-car connection could be used for. I mean, okay, a mass storage device containing MP3/WMA/ACC files, of course, but what else?

fightnight · 09-16-2005, 01:28 PM

Holy crap, this is grounbreaking..... I hope this can somehow become a widespread solution quickly!!

Kubz18 · 09-16-2005, 01:29 PM

about time.....im sick of using my itrip

but that last part about snapping a digital photo is ok but emailing the owner? come on not like im going to be sitting at my computer everytime im not in my car maybe it could call my cell phone or something......interesting idea though

denim · 09-16-2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubz18

but that last part about snapping a digital photo is ok but emailing the owner? come on not like im going to be sitting at my computer everytime im not in my car maybe it could call my cell phone or something......interesting idea though

It didn't say "e-mail the computer". It said "e-mail the owner". So you put your phone's e-mail address in the car. Or your computers' (work, home), or something else.

j8ear · 09-16-2005, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denim

I wonder what else a USB-to-car connection could be used for. I mean, okay, a mass storage device containing MP3/WMA/ACC files, of course, but what else?

It's about time! Here are somethings I would like to see:

1. Instead of bluetooth phones...maybe USB phones.
2. Engine Management for tuning and tweaking your car based on a number of factors, like ambient temperature, fuel octane, or driver (like perhaps detuning it for the kids, or uptuning it for the track).
3. Active navigation.

Really the options are limited, imagine what you can connect to your PC with USB...and realize that your car is all computer controlled.

Again, it's about freaking time.

-bear

Psycho Dad · 09-16-2005, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denim

I wonder what else a USB-to-car connection could be used for. I mean, okay, a mass storage device containing MP3/WMA/ACC files, of course, but what else?

I can see Mapquest and other online mapmakers offering something that can download trip information into navigation systems. Technicians could use it to pull data from the engine management system into a computer to diagnose problems. And [tinfoil hat]the insurance companies can read those "black boxes" that so many people were concerned with a while back.[/tinfoil hat]

denim · 09-16-2005, 02:07 PM

Techs already have a plug in the engine compartment of most if not all cars for diagnosis. It's not USB, though. Don't expect car makers to break out this kind of thing to make it easy to reprogram the car. It'd expose them to too much liability when you tell your car's engine to do impossible things from inexperienced reprogramming, for instance.

Psycho Dad · 09-16-2005, 02:15 PM

But the onboard connector they use now is only good if the car can be brought to where the diagnostic equipment is (oten read towed). This would allow the tech in Bumfuck Iowa to e-mail data to someone better able to diagnose the problem.

Borla · 09-16-2005, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denim

Techs already have a plug in the engine compartment of most if not all cars for diagnosis. It's not USB, though. Don't expect car makers to break out this kind of thing to make it easy to reprogram the car. It'd expose them to too much liability when you tell your car's engine to do impossible things from inexperienced reprogramming, for instance.

OBD - II

And you can buy programs now for your laptop to tune your car, plugging into the car there. The plug is usually above the pedals on the underside of the dash on the driver's side.

denim · 09-16-2005, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borla

OBD - II

Ah, time to do some Googling. I haven't heard of that, not that I'm some kind of car hacker.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borla

And you can buy programs now for your laptop to tune your car, plugging into the car there. The plug is usually above the pedals on the underside of the dash on the driver's side.

I'm definitely not some kind of car hacker.

Borla · 09-16-2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denim

Ah, time to do some Googling. I haven't heard of that, not that I'm some kind of car hacker.

I'm definitely not some kind of car hacker.

Hahahaha........any car made in the last 9-10 years has it.

There are simple changes you can make (like adjusting your speedo and shift points when you adjust tire size, or your final drive gear ratio), and there are more complex changes (like adjusting fuel curves after making serious modifications). They've made it fairly user friendly for someone who knows a bit about what they are doing. Obviously it's not the automakers that promote and support the software adjustments you can make to your car's PCMs, but it's definitely out there in the aftermarket performance market.

Gary_the_Rat · 09-18-2005, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j8ear

It's about time! Here are somethings I would like to see:

1. Instead of bluetooth phones...maybe USB phones.
-bear

USB is a wired connection type, unless you're thinking somehow differently than me, this wouldnt be very practical.

Cynthetiq · 09-18-2005, 01:39 PM

BMW and MINI already had a factory iPod connection two year ago IIRC.

I don't really see the advantage of the USB connection as there is always going to be someone who says it sucks because they cannot connect their "insert USB product here" and say that it doesn't work so why do they have it.

I have USB connectors on my cable box for 7 years now... can I use them at all? nope.

09-16-2005, 01:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kubz18 Crazy Location: Austin....Austin, Massachusetts	about time.....im sick of using my itrip but that last part about snapping a digital photo is ok but emailing the owner? come on not like im going to be sitting at my computer everytime im not in my car maybe it could call my cell phone or something......interesting idea though __________________ "I have no idea whats going on"

09-16-2005, 02:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	But the onboard connector they use now is only good if the car can be brought to where the diagnostic equipment is (oten read towed). This would allow the tech in Bumfuck Iowa to e-mail data to someone better able to diagnose the problem. __________________ Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

09-18-2005, 01:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	BMW and MINI already had a factory iPod connection two year ago IIRC. I don't really see the advantage of the USB connection as there is always going to be someone who says it sucks because they cannot connect their "insert USB product here" and say that it doesn't work so why do they have it. I have USB connectors on my cable box for 7 years now... can I use them at all? nope. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

09-16-2005, 01:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
fightnight Insane Location: The lovely Northeast	Holy crap, this is grounbreaking..... I hope this can somehow become a widespread solution quickly!!

09-16-2005, 02:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
denim Banned Location: Massachusetts, USA	Techs already have a plug in the engine compartment of most if not all cars for diagnosis. It's not USB, though. Don't expect car makers to break out this kind of thing to make it easy to reprogram the car. It'd expose them to too much liability when you tell your car's engine to do impossible things from inexperienced reprogramming, for instance.