Sony’s iPod Car Adapter?! (Sony @ CES 2006)
In an absolutely stunning move, Sony has dropped an iPod ‘Xplod’ Car Adapter — model number XA-110IP. Even the Sony representative hovering around car audio agreed that it was a truly unbelieveable offering from Sony, but a true sign that Sony is ready to play ball with the consumer and adopt whatever will make cash; with the iPod at 83% market share, who would do otherwise? The unit should function just like any other iPod car adapter, with full functionality for the iPod available via the DIN unit. Pictures after the jump..
WTF Sony is smoking? How long have we been waiting for an adapter like this for MD/HiMD/Network walkman device? And instead of that, they are making one for iPod? Not that I’m complaining (in fact, I might get one if it actually goes to market), but why not an adapter for their own products?
On a side note, looks like Sony is going to release new models for car decks. I hope the now include gapless/seamless for AtracCD.
Yeah… can’t say I’m too happy to see they’re prioritising an adaptor for their competition over their own new line of Walkmans etc.
I hope they plan to follow this up for their own ranges. Not doing so would really be missing a trick…
Actually, here in the UK Sony already market an adaptor for any Sony Walkman with a remote interface. I have one in my car and it controls my Hi-MD unit and displays song and artist information in the display
Kaledi:
I live in the UK. Would you be able to give me more info on the adaptor please? Where did you get it from? Aslo, I assume that it’s only fully compatable (displaying track info on the head unit) with Sony head units..?
Now they’ve done it! To quote the great Bill Murray:
Seriously, one could say that this was a move not too unexpected (or more to the point, it’s about bleepin time).
I agree with Damage. This is Sony’s car audio division I’m sure would want to have this product available to compete with other iPod adapter/interfaces on the market. Hey– why not grab a piece of the apple pie? Though I understand the desire for a Hi-MD/Network walkman-type deck.
Honestly if Sony is ever going to release something comparable to this for their own products, they need to standardize the data port for their portable walkmen like Apple has their 3G and up iPods.
Sony DO have a standardized data port, the remote jack. It’s all pretty much standard among MD, HiMD, PCDP, and the NW-HD series (hence the almost universal compatibility between the remotes).
Perhaps my gripe then is that each device I buy that doesn’t use a standard USB cable uses something different (I’m thinking Hi-MD, NW-A series, etc)? I’d still like something other than the headphone out hooking up to a car.
pata2001 is right, all Walkman (higher ended models anyway) has a standard 4 pin remote port, along with some non-walkman items, such as the Vaio Pocket (I’d imagine that the standard remote would work properly).
The problem with this, however, is that not all models support data transfers or such (my guess), since some CD Walkmen with non LCD remotes do not support LCD remotes at all! So, I wonder if they could receive data from the unit with things like track titles and such.
Also, considering that not all remotes work uniformly (The HiMD Remote 40ELK not working at all with CD Walkman for example)… Might be a bigger hurdle to climb than we thought.
[...] Human Sacrifice! Dogs and Cats living together… Mass Hysteria! Sony’s making gear for iPods! Say what? Yep. That’s right, Sony’s car line (xplode or kablooie or whatever) has crafted a nice interconnect kit for the pod, follow the link for more details. [...]
Man that sux!! Instead of making one for the PSP they went to Ipod !!! WHAT the hell sony!!!!!!1
This is exciting news. As the owner of a Sony car stereo and an iPod, I’ve been feeling left out. Now all I need is pricing and availability (and confirmation it’ll worth with my unit).
Good news from Sony because I own a Sony headunit CDX-F7750 black and a iPod 30gb video. Does anybody know when it’s come available and what the price is? Because I called Sony Netherlands today and they dont know anything about this product.
Greetings from the Netherlands.
Well when you people will relize that I-pod took the market away from everybody else. I love sony but please I pod is just out of another world. And alpine offeres way better connection for Ipod fast reliable fully functional Check it out all the 2006 models are in.
I think this is the same unit made by Connects2, only repackaged under the Sony name.
Sony displays iPod controller at CES…
There are a few things you might expect from a Sony CES booth tour — such as
pimpin’ laptops, Blu-ray paraphernalia, and the perpetually conceptual PS3 design — but you really don’t expect them
to be flaunting an iPod accessory out in the ope…
crutch field has just set a release date for the Sony XA-110IP. Aprit 5 for 79 bucks, ive been waiting for this product a very long time and now its time to reserve it
http://www.crutchfield.com
Great job guys…
This site lists a pretty simple (and not to mention cheaper) alternative to hooking your iPod up to your Sony stereo:
http://stuff.beforeseven.com/2006/07/04/sony-unilink-and-your-ipod/
I just replaced my existing SONY car audio system with a new head unit and this iPod Adapter. The sound quality is exceptional and the installation was breeze. Since I replaced the head unit at the same time, it took MAYBE 3 extra minutes to run the adapter’s wiring and velcro it up to a secure location.
However, I have one HUGE complaint about the unit. When you turn the car off (and subsequently the head unit and iPod), it does not RESUME playback from where it left off. Instead, it goes all the way back to the first track on the iPod. This is a very silly feature! Especially for someone that would like to listen to their iPod music but makes frequent stops during the day. I spend as much time searching for where I left off as I do actually getting to enjoy my tunes!
Dave
I have the exact setup as above (radio, ipod and adapter). Just like you I am p*ssed off that this setup does not offer resume. Also, This setup drains my ipod battery when I leave it plugged in….