iDrive by BMW & Apple iPhone

Apple™ and BMW started discussing an innovative way to work together and they have!

It all started back in 2007, when both of these great companies dominating the world made a discussion to work together and create something that will blow our mind. There’s a new BMW 1 Converter (2011) and it support this cool feature.

When you’re a luxurious car maker, you’d expect your customers to want some geeky luxury in their rides too. To BMW, Apple is luxury, and throwing a number of funky features Apple-related would help a lot in their sales. That’s right; BMW has updated its iDrive in-car computer system with a few new features mainly to do with connectivity through its ConnectedDrive system

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You first connect your iPhone to your BMW then you can do everything from calling, reading messages, emails. And also thee most awesome thing again, you can connect to your favourite social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Imagine updating your Facebook status while driving your beautiful BMW!! Not only you can do social networking but also check the weather online, search whatever you want on Google.

There’s also a feature called iPod-Out,

which allows display and control capability for iOS 4/4S devices using the on-board monitor and vehicle controls, including custom playlists, and the Genius function. BMW says they’ve changed the way they interface with iOS devices to the new iPod-Out system to ensure future devices can be used with the vehicle on a long term basis. iDrive’s audio player can now also display Cover Art on the on board monitor. Since there’s support for iOS 4, then most probably your iPad with iOS 4.1 will feel very much at home in here.

Next, BMW has finally caught up with the many other manufacturers offering on-board Wi-Fi services.

The Wi-Fi access point uses an internet connection from either a mobile phone that supports SIM Access Profile integrated into the vehicle using a snap-in adapter, or a SIM card drawer which you can insert a data-enabled SIM card. The car switches between UMTS and GSM frequencies – sadly no HSDPA here. Interestingly, BMW says the Wi-Fi hotspot function is available as a retrofit function for all current BMW models as long as it is equipped with the latest generation of iDrive and has the mobile phone preparation with Bluetooth interface option.

Undoubtedly one of the gadgets that a BMW passenger will be using in the backseat is one of those new iPads, so BMW is cashing in by selling a ‘luxurious’ iPad holder, which is an add-on to the optional Travel & Comfort System, which functions as the base carrier where holders can be hooked on. This Travel & Comfort system will debut with the new BMW X3 and will be available for all other models from spring 2011 onwards.

The iPad holder can be turned 90 degrees for a vertical or horizontal display, and tilt angle can be adjusted in the vertical mode.

Lastly, there is something for vehicles that are not equipped with iDrive. BMW seems to be suggesting you to use your iPhone as a replacement for the missing iDrive system. What’s more, they’ll even provide an “extremely high-quality BMW Station for the Apple iPhone” for a price, in order to make your iPhone as exclusive as the iDrive system. The “high-quality” BMW Station can be easily equipped to the 1-Series, 3-Series, Z4, X1, new X3 and outgoing X3. It allows the iPhone to be docked without any visible cable connections and also comes with a handsfree kit with a directional microphone, a radio mute function for incoming calls, and a charging function.

To complete the whole pseudo-iDrive experience, BMW will be releasing an iPhone app soon called BMW Link, which is sort of an in-car interface for your iPhone. Other than your usual telephony and music player functions, BMW Link also offers certain services from BMW ConnectedDrive such as breakdown assistance. So, is the BMW ‘the car’ for you Apple lovers? Well, driving from Point A to Point B has gone lots more ‘advance’ and complex thanks to BMW. Sure gives the thief another reason to break into that heavily tinted 7-series BMW. Who knows, you might get an iPad and iPhone too.

#Gadget

2 Responses to iDrive

1. 

   Teboho says:

   November 5, 2011 at 6:36 am

   Quite interesting.Apple tm and BMW,have proven that when people,work together they can do more and they can come up,with exciting stuff!

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2. 

   Tumi says:

   November 7, 2011 at 10:40 pm

   So True! Wish all car in the feature have this

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