iPod inspired BMW

serranoserrano
Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
well, i have no proof of this, but if <a href="http://www.bmw.com/e65/id14/3_a91_idrive.jsp"; target="_blank">this</a> wasn't inspired by the iPod's wheel i'd be very surprised.



nice car btw.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 16
    g4dudeg4dude Posts: 1,016member
    So now anything that has a wheel was inspired by the iPod?



    The iDrive has been in development for years and there is no real connection to be made between the two.



    Oh by the way, the new 7-Series is a joke. The iDrive is also WAY too complicated for the people in their 50's and up that buy that car. And for upwards of $80,000, it is not a very expensive or classy looking car.



    [ 07-15-2002: Message edited by: G4Dude ]</p>
  • Reply 2 of 16
    spartspart Posts: 2,060member
    Aww...I was hoping you could actually drive with it. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 3 of 16
    jonathan brisbyjonathan brisby Posts: 318member
    Common guys, lets not bash him. It is an intersting point of view. I find the resemblence uncanny. Thx 4 the link.
  • Reply 4 of 16
    low-filow-fi Posts: 357member
    and Bang & Olafson have had the exact same mechanism in one of their cordless phones for ages too.



    lowfi
  • Reply 5 of 16
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    iDrive first appeared on a BMW concept in 1999.



    Far far far before the iPod.



    Having used both, it's not at all similar.





    And G4Dude: you're just wrong. To start the car, you step on the brake and push the 'start' button. Nothing too complicated at all.



    you're also wrong about the price.



    I won't get started on the looks of it, but it's rather... distinctive. The front 3/4 of the car is gorgeous, classic BMW. the back is where it gets unique- i think it looks nice, very sculptural in person.



    Photographs don't do the car justice. The lines are very complicated.
  • Reply 6 of 16
    spartspart Posts: 2,060member
    Even less complicated than starting a normal stick-shift.
  • Reply 7 of 16
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    The back of the car is the only part I like, IMO (as a BMW owner.)



    But like Jonathan said. Insert brain, insert key, step on brake and press the ignition button. It's not rocket science. In normal conditions should always be stepping on the brake when you start any car.



    ...but, iDrive is still poorly executed. It's way too complex...8-way controller instead of 4-way. Typical drivers will not be able to both drive and look at the viewscreen at the same time either.
  • Reply 8 of 16
    splinemodelsplinemodel Posts: 7,311member
    1-Push in a pedal

    2-turn a key

    3-push a level forward

    4-push in a second pedal

    5-lower a second lever

    6-remove right foot from second pedal, push down a third pedal while slowly releasing the first pedal.



    That's how most of the world, myself included, starts up a car. Complicated? Not really.



    A little commentary:

    Damn car electronics. . . Not only do they add weight to the vehicle, but they draw current from the alternator, robbing precious horsepower from the drivetrain. So now you guys know why the M3 is so slow.



    A little relevant commentary:

    Once I get an iPod I'm going to route some wires into the head unit and use it in my car. Not the classiest way to do things, but hey, not even Vin Diesel had one of those. . . <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 9 of 16
    scott f.scott f. Posts: 276member
    I have to agree that the only similarities to the iPod is that it is round and used to manipulate data or settings.



    No offense, but that's what almost ALL knobs do. I cannot see any remote association between that raised knob and the shuttle-wheel on the iPod other than circularity.



    Sorry...
  • Reply 10 of 16
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    I"ve had my bang & Olufsen cordless phones for years... well before the iPod. I would venture to say that the designers behind devices like the ones mentioned here were all inspired in similar ways, and that it had less to do with a specific product, and more to do with being inspired to create something like that. It's hard to articulate into words, but as an artist, I know how I'm inspired to create things... and I can relate.
  • Reply 11 of 16
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    Splinemodel, and on some cars you have to get out and turn a crank too, but we live in the present. I'm not particularly enthusiastic about standard cars anyway. I'm much too lazy.
  • Reply 12 of 16
    serranoserrano Posts: 1,806member
    thanks for the clarifications guys, M3D- i see what you mean. as far as the car goes- it's fugly.
  • Reply 13 of 16
    splinemodelsplinemodel Posts: 7,311member
    [quote]Originally posted by Eugene:

    <strong>Splinemodel, and on some cars you have to get out and turn a crank too, but we live in the present. I'm not particularly enthusiastic about standard cars anyway. I'm much too lazy.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Maybe I wasn't clear. I was implying that braking, turning the key, and pushing a button is not a big deal.
  • Reply 14 of 16
    trevormtrevorm Posts: 841member
    [quote]Originally posted by janitor:

    <strong>thanks for the clarifications guys, M3D- i see what you mean. as far as the car goes- it's fugly.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Drive it and you will think it looks HOT!
  • Reply 15 of 16
    pevepeve Posts: 518member
    low tech or electronics

    stick shift or automatic

    bmw or fiat



    its a matter of personal taste (and money).

    don't get carried away.



    but to add a little food to the thread:

    "mine has only got two wheels"
  • Reply 16 of 16
    jasonppjasonpp Posts: 308member
    Too bad the best Mp3 player in the world is compare to the worst designed car ever! BMW 7 is junk.
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