Angus Kidman08 January 2007, 12:48 AM
No matter what Apple's official plans for the next iPod may be, a number of manufacturers are showing intriguing new devices at CES that add features like Bluetooth networking, with a special emphasis on in-car use.
Speculation on future additions to the iPod -- whether at next week's MacWorld or at some unspecified future date -- is now running so rampant that it's only a matter of time before someone suggests that the next iPod will run Windows Vista natively.
One of the more common suggestions, however, is that the iPod will beef up its networking capabilities in order to compete with Zune's much-discussed (and not always well-regarded) wireless song-sharing feature.
Whatever the future may bring, the iPod economy is already in overdrive trying to add those capabilities.
 BlueLife IPBTT |
One notable example I encountered at CES is the BlueLife IPBTT from Scosche [not listed on their site yet], which plugs into the iPod dock connector socket and allows it to connect wirelessly to a range of devices -- included a receiver designed specifically for a car's head unit.
Scosche is also developing a range of in-car kits to allow iPod integration, which is good news for owners of old bombs who can't anticipate their vehicle manufacturer getting onto the iPod gravy train.
Other vendors also eyeing the iPod+networking opportunity at CES include Roadmaster, which also has car options, and Australian company Avega, which, in a different technical twist, is licensing its solution for high quality Wi-Fi audio to OEMs. Apple may regret never having licensed the Airtunes protocol it uses for its Airport Express if Avega's wireless audio standard takes off.
It's presumably a handy coincidence that all this activity is taking place at the same time Microsoft is getting into bed with Ford and other car manufacturers -- though Apple has hardly been a slouch when it comes to lining up vehicular partners either.
But whether it's built-in or added later, more networking capabilities for the iPod (and a new source of music when you drive) look like a certainty.