Ford's new amazing audio technology. This is the only time I will ever say this. I hope BMW takes Ford's cue.

(doubbleudoubbleudubble)(dot)autoblog(dotcom)/2007/07/04/video-live-from-dearborn-microsoft-and-ford-demo-sync/

I still cant post links... just edit out the (") with what it says in there.
Google maps intergration doesn't look as cool now. This kind of puts it to shame huh?

What am I missing? The link talks about pairing/using phones via bluetooth and plugging an audio player into an aux stereo jack... You don't even need iDrive to do that in a BMW, just the bluetooth and 6FL options.

It's cool that they're working on this though, and it sounds like their system has some cool gimmicks, but really as the article states this is an attempt to catch up. It should be pretty much given that they'll have some nifty new features, released just about the time that the other manufacturer debut their new features. That's the beauty of competition.

What am I missing? The link talks about pairing/using phones via bluetooth and plugging an audio player into an aux stereo jack... You don't even need iDrive to do that in a BMW, just the bluetooth and 6FL options.

It's cool that they're working on this though, and it sounds like their system has some cool gimmicks, but really as the article states this is an attempt to catch up. It should be pretty much given that they'll have some nifty new features, released just about the time that the other manufacturer debut their new features. That's the beauty of competition.

You have to watch the video on the page. That is the amazing part.

There's a little more to the voice commands than I've seen before, mainly that it reads text messages to you, and using the internet radio through your phone might be cool if it weren't too tinny like it is on my PC, but I've used cell internet while moving, and it cuts you off for a bit every time you have to switch towers. Just natural progression, nothing special. I haven't had much experience with the BMW system, but my friend's acura has song selection via voice commands and it's a 2005. Granted, he has to read the text messages on the nav screen...

It is nice to see advanced features making their way into the entry level consumer space! It means that the luxury guys are going to have to work harder to impress. It's kind of like with power doors, etc. First they're luxury, then they're optional on entry level vehicles, then they're standard everywhere.

It is cool tech. Is iDrive capable of viewing text messages aswell? I do like the cact that you can select songs through it. I wish BMW would have that on the '08's. Maybe they will. I am waiting for the 08's to buy my 335i coupe and my current car is a 2002 and doesn't have iDrive so I am not to keen on the abbilites of it. I really hope they get some great intergration like this on the next iDrive. That would be awesome.

Here's a basic overview from a user, I'll see if I can find a more detailed one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C60pS5Nw8A4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU0-U9IlTeo

Here's a basic overview from a user, I'll see if I can find a more detailed one...

Cool stuff, thanks.

Does anybody have any info on '08 iDrive? Any changes coming?

I think the changes they made in March will carry over. No sense in adding new features half way through the production year and then upgrading them yet again, but don't take my word for it.

The reason I think that is because it seems that when they make changes to iDrive they start out the new stuff in the higher end models and trickle them down. This newer version with the six favorites buttons is still fairly new, I don't know of anything newer in the upper models, but watch those if you want to see what's coming to the 3.

Ford's new amazing audio technology. This is the only time I will ever say this. I hope BMW takes Ford's cue.

(doubbleudoubbleudubble)(dot)autoblog(dotcom)/2007/07/04/video-live-from-dearborn-microsoft-and-ford-demo-sync/

I still cant post links... just edit out the (") with what it says in there.
Google maps intergration doesn't look as cool now. This kind of puts it to shame huh?
Now when the car crashes, do you blame Ford or Microsoft? That's a tough one to call :D.

Great. Just what we need - more driver distractions.

-Dave

Great. Just what we need - more driver distractions.

-DaveIt depends on how you look at it. It's supposed to make the things you normally do anyway less distracting. Fiddling with the stereo for 5 minutes trying to find a specific song,f or example.

Yes, the i-drive does display text messages and you can stream internet radio station via i-drive. I have it on my 04 530i. It connects to my treo via bluetooth. voice command only works for phone operation because i don't have professional navigation system. Alot of people complain about i-drive, but i actually love it. It makes my day behind the wheel alot more enjoyable.