Re: Scarcity of in-dash hard drive players
- From: "MOSFET" <ntanner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 00:08:36 -0700
There are two things I predicted we would see in the future and I, too, am
surprised they are not catching on like I would expect:
First, HU's with memory stick ports in front (like the type used by cameras)
seems like a natural. The cost of 2-4 gig SD cards has come down
substantially in the last few years and it seems like a logical addition to
a HU (this way, you don't have to burn a disc, AND the newer ones can hold
significantly more than a CD-R).
Second, as you already mentioned, built in HD's. Empeg did have a fantastic
product (truly ahead of it's time, perhaps TOO ahead of it's time).
I suspect (and this is JUST a guess), that HU makers do not want to
antagonize the record industry, already leary of MP3. Yes, almost all HU's
today have MP3 capability, but, then again, almost EVERY SINGLE CD PLAYER
you can buy now has MP3 capability (even those cheapo $10 portable CD
players you buy at Walmart). It has become completely ubiqutues. By
incorporating a HD, however, this in a way discourages CD use (soemthing
record companies don't like). Especially those where you can put a CD in,
and it rips it to MP3 and stores on a HD (they REALLY hate that).
ALSO, as more and more HU's try and integrate their units to work smoothly
with iPod's (most of today's HU's have features that allow iPod control
functions right on the HU face), by having it's own HD built in, an iPod is
no longer necessary. This would not make Apple very happy. In fact, Apple
might decide that it no longer wants to help integrate it's iPod with Alpine
(let's say) if Alpine decided to start putting HD's in their HU's. They
would start seeing HU manufacturers not as partners, but as the competition.
So I see it as not wanting to piss off A) the recording industry and B)
(perhaps more important) not pissing off Apple.
There could be other reasons as well. But I agree it is a DAMN good idea.
MOSFET
"JT" <jack@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:12eikinrbldr819@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What is stopping manufacturers from selling affordable in-dash hard driveCDs
units with the same functionality (and price) as portable MP3 players? Is
there some marketing/licensing cabal working against these products? Are
they victims of consumer ignorance; people thinking it's easier to burn
and DVDs than using a hard drive cartridge you can quickly replace songsthem.
on? Is there some problem with HD reliability in a car environment with
heat, etc.?
The Empeg (aka Rio Car) was discontinued and overpriced to begin with.
"Changer" style HD units end up either discontinued or sold as high-cost
speciality items (Kenwood Music Keg, PhatBox). I read about iRiver setting
out to make a unit in 2004 but have seen nothing since. A few dash units
show up in luxury cars like Infinity but it's hard to tell who builds
Surely they can make something for the dash with a 20gb or 30gb drive for
about $300-$400? It seems so obvious to have all your music right there in
the dash, with a radio included. I'm almost becoming a conspiracy theorist
about the lack of these units. Does anyone have insight on why they're so
elusive?
JT
.
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