FW: BMW supports iPod Out, fills your 2011 auto with 2001's finest user interface

they better have a firmware update!!!!!  the current integration is awful.  i think it really needed this from the start to have a chance.  no album art, no track number, no total time or time remaining, no adaptive scrolling...  why is it so hard to control an iPod from your steering wheel?

Ford did a better job with SYNC, a Microsoft product.  pwnd?

Feed: Engadget
Posted on: Thursday, July 08, 2010 4:38 PM
Author: Tim Stevens
Subject: BMW supports iPod Out, fills your 2011 auto with 2001's finest user interface

If you wish the iPod support in your BMW or Mini was a little less Munich and a little more Cupertino, this latest development from Bavaria will make you a happy little infotainment meister. BMW is announcing that its in-car iPod compatibility will be boosted to support iOS 4's iPod Out feature, which does not enhance your gadget's Ryan Seacrest impression but instead allows it to output its interface to another device. So, the in-car dash will replicate the simple iPod UI, which could be a good or a bad thing depending on whether you prefer Apple's design cues to BMW's. No word on exactly which vehicles will get this support, but this is referred to as part of a "new offer," so it certainly sounds like future autos only. C'mon guys, haven't you heard of a firmware update? Gallery: BMW and Mini get iPod Out Continue reading BMW supports iPod Out, fills your 2011 auto with 2001's finest user interface BMW supports iPod Out, fills your 2011 auto with 2001's finest user interface originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink Cnet  |   | Email this | Comments

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iPhone 4 bars to signal strength mapped, antenna issue partially explained

Perfect.  This is exactly the information I wondered about.  Because, in a sense bars mean nothing to me.  They're a graphical representation of signal level and there's only five of them.  The article is really fantastic, http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/2, please, you have to read it.  

Honestly, the writer reminds me of myself how I like to test phones repeatedly in multiple environments and average their performance--I imagine we'd be friends in real life lol.  i like how he figured out how to get a numerical dBm reading since field test doesn't exist, Clever.  I asked myself why I didn't think of that!

Feed: Boy Genius Report
Posted on: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 8:33 PM
Author: Kelly Hodgkins
Subject: iPhone 4 bars to signal strength mapped, antenna issue partially explained

The folks at AnandTech just published their review of the iPhone 4 and took a close look at the antenna issue that is plaguing the handset. In true geek style, they mapped the bar representation of the signal strength from -51dB (perfect signal strength) to -131dB (bare minimum to maintain a connection) and measured the iPhone 4 signal strength attenuation in terms of  decibels. The result of the mapping show that over 40% of the signal strength range is represented by 5 bars which means your signal has to drop significantly (over 40dB) to go from 4 to 5 bars and only 10db to go from 4 bars to 3. Pretty big difference. They also found that the iPhone 4 on average loses 24.6dB when tightly held in your hand and 19.8 when held naturally due to the positioning of the antenna and the fact that it lacks insulative coating. These two above factors combined explain why those in strong coverage areas do not see any perceptible drop in bars while those in marginal areas do. If you are sitting pretty at -60dB you can easily absorb a 24dB loss to -84dB and not see any change in bars. But if you are at -91dB and lose 25dB, you will drop from four bars to almost none in a heartbeat. Interestingly enough, they find that the iPhone 4 antenna is significantly improved over the 3GS but is hampered by Apple's choice not to shield the now famous metal band. Be sure to read the full article here:  http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/2 Read

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iPad gets MiFi’ed

 awesome.  sounds like a good way to get what you want, and definitely a more versatile iPad since it can get internet access itself as well as act as a router for other Wi-Fi devices.

Feed: Boy Genius Report
Posted on: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 8:20 PM
Author: Andrew Munchbach
Subject: iPad gets MiFi'ed

Do you possess soldering skills and nerves of steel? Do you not care about potentially ruining hundreds of dollars in electronics in the name of science? Boy do we have the tutorial for you. Someone over at dishtvhdstore.com (of all places) has frankensteined a Verizon Wireless MiFi into their Apple iPad, resulting in a EV-DO iPad hotspot sans GPS. Now, under no circumstances are we recommending you try this, but if you are curious hit the read link…there is a step-by-step guide. Read

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BMW ConnectedDrive integration for BlackBerry available in vehicles later this year

 wonder if this gets around all the laws against using your phone while driving...  probably means i need a new BMW lol

Feed: CrackBerry.com blogs
Posted on: Friday, June 25, 2010 9:11 AM
Author: Adam Zeis
Subject: BMW ConnectedDrive integration for BlackBerry available in vehicles later this year

BMW has announced that they will be making their ConnectedDrive with BlackBerry integration available starting this fall. The service from BMW is the first of its kind and will allow users to receive email messages in vehicles via Bluetooth from their BlackBerry with the Pearl 3G will be the first supported device. The emails can be displayed on the iDrive control panel and even read aloud through the vehicles speakers. Users can also transfer tasks, calendar entries, text messages and more from the device for display on the control panel in the vehicle. As if that weren't enough, you will also be able to control the media player on your device via the iDrive system. This will be available to all BMW's fitted with a navigation system and will be offered in Europe and North America. Full press release after the break. Thanks to Eric for sending this in. More information on ConnectedDrive >> read more

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