<p><img src="/assets/articles/318236/ipodcar.png" alt="" style="float:left;margin: 0 10px 5px 0;" />As Apple moves to see 30% of 2006 Model year cars sold in the US have standard iPod connectors, Acura is making a bold statement.</p>
<p>In an Apple press conference held today, it was annouced several new car makers are being added to it’s list of companies which provide iPod integration in their vehicles. Acura and it’s parent company Honda are on the list, along with Audi, Volkwagen and previous addition BMW.</p>
<p>However Acura is taking it to the next level, introducing an unparalled level of integration and accessibility.</p>
<p>With the development of the Acura Music Link, Acura is poised to provide drivers with unparalleled freedom to access their iPod’s music collection in their car!</p>
<p>This new technology is the first of it’s kind to include text-to-speech capabilities or VoiceID. </p>
<p>This will allow drivers, or passengers the ability to search for playlists, artist and album names, or genre using only their voice, thus keeping their hands on the wheel, and eyes on the road.</p>
<p>In addition to the Acura Music Link, all of the standard head unit controls will also interface with the iPod providing further system integration.</p>
<p>As Greg Joswiak, Apple’s VP of iPod Marketing says, “We’re thrilled to team up with Acura to provide drivers with a seamless iPod experience.” </p>
<p>Acura vehicles already come equipped with the latest in audio technology, the addition of full iPod integration shows that the company is commited to staying ahead of the curve </p>
<p>It’s expected the Acura Music Link adaptor will be available exclusively as a dealer installable option by mid-December!</p>

 

So will this adaptor allow retrofitting of the 2004+ TL? Or does this mean that the feature is a dealer installed option, in which case can my '00 TL get it too?

 

From what I have gathered thus far, I don't think it will be something that can be retrofitted, that's not to say it won't be retrofitted

If the Navigation system can be hacked by a member, I'm sure something like this can happen as well

 

that's what i want to know too!!!

 

anyone?

 

quite awesome

 

They made it nice and painful to get an IPOD hardwired in a TSX.

 

This is exactly what I was looking for, seeing as the third-party interfaces all have their problems. I sure do hope it works with an 04 TSX, although I somehow doubt it since the voice recognition probably requires the faster CPU in the 06 TSX nav. I assume this will require nav?

 

Nope, should work on any model with HandsFreeLink.

It will most definately not work "out of the box" with < 06 models... but I'm sure once we get our hands on it we'll figure something out

 

I already know what a christmas gift to myself is gonna be.

 

Does anyone know?

 

probaby will not work through handsfreelink. that is just used for the phone controls. Although I may be wrong here :P

 

interesting...pretty sweet option.

 

if it's a dealer installed option, i'm going to assume it's not a dedicated button like XM or tape/disc. which means "hopefully" they'll be able to integrate it into the 2004-2005 TL's TSX, and RL's

..unless there's going to be a dedicated AUX button on the 06...

 

how much will it cost though?? AHH??

 

$250 + installation.

 

Hopefully this will be an easy mod since many say that there is no difference in the 04-06 stereo set-up. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Damn I'm anxious to know

 

What about Honda? Will I be able to get this on the new Odyssey I'm planning to buy next year?

 

Nevermind. I just found this on Apple's web site:

SAN FRANCISCO—September 7, 2005—Apple® today announced it has teamed up with Acura, Audi, Honda and Volkswagen to deliver iPod® integration with their car stereos for 2006 model lines. Seamless integration of iPods in cars allows music lovers to enjoy high-quality sound through their car’s stereo system, easily access their entire music library and take their music with them everywhere they go. There are now 15 car companies around the world offering iPod integration, and more than 5 million cars will ship with iPod support in the US in 2006.

“We’re thrilled to team up with Acura, Audi, Honda and Volkswagen to provide drivers with a seamless iPod experience,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “Car companies are embracing the iPod, and over 30 percent of the cars sold in the US in 2006 will offer iPod integration."

The Honda and Acura Music Link iPod integrations will be the first to include text-to-speech capabilities or VoiceID, which is used to search for playlists, artist and album names or genre information. Acura and Honda will feature iPod integration in the majority of their lineup beginning later this year.

Beginning in November, Audi will feature iPod integration in the A3, A4 and TT models and Volkswagen will offer iPod integration for the majority of their 2006 US lineup.

 

As an iPod owner from November 01, I really like the product, though it basically never leaves my car. I guess Apple is committed to keeping the Dock connector alive for a long time with all this integration. One reason when I set out to integrate a nice connection into the TSX for my iPod, I wanted to make sure you could plug in whatever you wanted as an audio source. This sort of upsets that concept's functionality with the massive proliferation of the Dock connector. Certainly having the integration like VoiceID is very different than the analog only connection. The question is whether other companies will attempt to hack into this connector. I assume that you could at least get a pair of line-level jacks out of this...

 

Nice to see we have soo many MAC users here...hopefully the integration will work for my 3 iPods I have already...2005 TSX I wish I could say more, but there is a reason I cannot comment about it...not like I know anything anyways.

 

who says that just we're ipod users we're mac users?

we should ALL be mac users. (lets not turn this into a mac vs PC thread. anyways they're gonna be the same in 2006.. lol jk)

sequoia. (who loves his 17" G4 and g5 tower)

God... i hope the kits are backwards compatible. and fit the nano too.. :-)

 

<---Mac user very pleased with his 15" flat panel iMac......and even happier with the 15" G4 powerbook! Trying to figure out if i should add a "nano" to my collection.

Go Apple!

 

wow...I don't have an iPod, but I can't wait to see how I can integrate this thing with my carPC

 

carPC???

 

it's a PC in his car...duh

 

i can read, you know... i guess some people have a problem understanding implied questions, for them i rephrase: can you elaborate on the car pc you have installed?
thx

 

no pics yet, but here's a description

 

gotta be honest here, i have a feeling that the display for the ipod integration will work with the handsfreelink leaving out pre-06 TSX, but including 04+ TL and of course the RL. Probably one of the reasons they added it to the TSX this year. As with new Mercedes, it will probably display track information directly in the gauge cluster via the STANDARD handsfreelink display, rather than the optional nav system. Does the no-nav have any display that could show enough text?

 

Hmmm... What I really want is an iPod cover with an Acura logo on it. Now that would be hot.

 

Hi guys..... here's the answer straight from the Horse's mouth.

You will be able to retro fit the IPod to the 2004 and 2005 TSX's.

We will be able to retro fit any 2004 forward cars with the sole exception being the RSX.

Our retro kits are scheduled to arrive in about two weeks.

Eli

 

Eli,
where can we get more info?
thx

 

Very cool. So this allows XM AND iPod then. Are there any details.

 

WHOO HOO!!

just in time for xmas.

woot.

 

This is exactly what I am looking for. Keep the info coming!

 

Can you tell us more about the retrofit? Is there software to update our head units for the MusicLink? Is it enabled through the 'XM' button on our head units?

Any details you can provide are appreciated. Thanks.

 

Hi all,
I just ordered the Music Link from an Acura dealer in NY and am dissappointed to announce it does not work with my '05 TSX audio system. In fact, when I called my local dealer they informed me that Acura put a release out to all dealers that it will not work with any model year of the TSX including '06.

When I called the NY dealer back to question them, they said it will work but you have to set your radio to FM and pick a station that does not broadcast in your area. If you have your stereo set to XM both the iPod and XM will play simultaneously. It works in the other models (TL, RL, etc.) because they have an Aux button, supposedly.

This stinks! I've been looking forward to this since September...

 

Did Acura mention anything about a splitter to split the connection between the XM and the ipod transmission? This would be a simple solution to use both separately...

I am hoping that Acura/Honda will come up with something like this for I believe many 2005 owners are frankly PO'ed - I am....

Chimchim

 

Ya, they include that part with the kit. Problem is with the software (i think) in the head unit... Don't know for sure, all I know is that it doesn't work *well*. I returned the kit today. Basically a lot of hype and no follow through, imo.

 

Great, you mention a retrofit kits...are you selling them? Hows can I obtain one?

Thanks,
ChimChim