Apple Computer has submitted United States Patent Application #20050147951 for an “Electronic device holder” that reads, in part:
An apparatus that can secure an electronic device and be inserted into a conventional cup holder is described. The cup holder, for example, is inside of an automobile. The electronic device being held can be a variety of devices that include a digital music player. One embodiment of the invention includes a spool about which connecting cable can be wound. Adapting sleeves that fit around the base of the apparatus can be used to adapt electronic device holder to cup holders of different sizes and shapes.
Digital music players are becoming more popular as personal entertainment devices. The attractiveness of digital music players is in their capability of storing and playing large amounts of music and their ability to play music without skipping. These attributes make digital music players ideal for use in different environments including automobile environments. However for automobile use, it is desirable to use a mounting device to secure the digital music player within the car. Otherwise, the jostling caused by the car’s movement can damage the digital music player. Also beneficial is a mounting device capable of managing the length of the cable used to connect the player to the car’s audio system. This is especially beneficial when lengthy cables can be messy and cause a hazard in which passengers can get their feet entangled. Specialized mounting devices are required to secure the digital music players since most automobiles do not come with digital device holders.
However, specialized mounting devices are difficult to install because special parts are typically required to attach the devices to car interiors. Also, specialized mounting devices usually cannot manage the length of cables. Therefore, in view of the foregoing, an electronic device holder that easily adapts to automobile interiors and which can manage the length of interconnecting cables would be desirable.
Patent application here.
Images from the application here.
Listen, we don’t care what you say, we’re sure it’ll be one helluva cup holder adapter. 
We do wonder, however, what Belkin, the makers of the “TuneDok Car Holder for iPod,” think about this patent application. Apple’s drawings and description do Think Different™ than Belkin’s already-shipping product.
yo!
i hope Apple gets this patent. they’ve been shafted on some of the most recent ones even though everyone knows that they did it best, first.
Looks potentially cool.
It’ll be nano sized
MW larger: as in drawing larger than actual item.
…”it” being the iPod interface and and the ‘Pod itself.
did i post first AGAIN?! dammit… that’s fcukin’ embarrassing when that happens….
What’s wrong with ‘bluetooth’ and no wires?
i’m likin’ that idea, Ron.
MW: ideas. interesting that.
What’s wrong with car audio makers just putting a line in receptacle on the front of their radios? Then just plug in your iPod. Seems simple enough.
MikeR: yet another good idea. i seem to remember one or two car audio makers who did that very thing a couple of years back… cant remember who they were, but i havent seen any other car head units with that feature since.
My Aiwa deck from only a couple years ago has an Aux in port on the front. Works great for my 4G 20 GB. I believe many/most/all? of their decks have this feature. Not high end, but very iPod friendly.
Hey Tempus, how the heck are you. Long time no speak with thee!
Those old units where probably built to accept a walkman. I wonder if they’d work with a iPod?
I posted on another thread that I hope Apple builds a receiver to accept an iPod. I would never again buy a Sony product so Apple would be it.
As far as a car radio, I only need two stations. One to listen to the Twins for baseball and one for the Vikings for football. That’s American Football for those of you outside the USA.
I just checked at the Aiwa web site and they make car radios with mp3 input. The line read ” MP3 playback capability (ID3 Tag ver.2.x)” whatever that means. Does the radio/receiver need software to play from an iPod or is it plug n play!!
Without checking the website (so pardon me if I’m way off), I’d guess the “mp3 input” is just a 1/8″ audio jack renamed for current marketing trends. What else could it be?
If it was WAAAAAY cool, MDN would have already told us about it, right?
You should go to the Aiwa site and view their horrible looking circle that they call an mp3 player. No wonder you never see them in stores!
Someone suggested that since iPod Nano’s center button is flat (not raised like the other iPods) and the audio jack is on the bottom is because the iPod Nano can actually be inserted into the car (much like inserting a CF card into your camera).
This patent sort of really backs that claim up.
How it could be implemented w/ older cars is beyond me.
[PowerMac]
http://store.apple.com/133-622/WebObjects/australiastore?productLearnMore=T7420LL/A
</i>This patent sort of really backs that claim up</i>
see I told you all
How it could be implemented w/ older cars is beyond me.
This device is for older cars, for those who just provide a stereo mini jack and for those car stereo companies that don’t provide a docking port for the nano in the head unit itself.
Also eventually as flash prices decreases, instead of having a fat iPod that holds all your music, you would own several iPod nanos.
Apple is going to standardize on the nano size so it can fit into everything.
Also if one notices the incredible thinness of the nano and the color screen and applies that concept to a notebook…
Now there is new technology that is basically a “always on RAM” instead of requiring a constant flow of electricity. It will eliminate the need for a hard drive and it’s power hungry needs in laptops. This is where Unix and it’s file permissions comes in handy as well.
Now Apple is going to use cool, Intel based dual core chips. Quite possible no fans or complex heat sinks will be neccessary.
What left? The optical dvd drive, how to get rid of this? In comes the iPod Nano, hopefully much cheaper than the original price because demand has made more factories and better production methods.
So what will the Powerbook of the future look like?
Imagine twice the thickness of a iPod Nano and last several days on one charge instead of a few hours.
HD-BlueRay DVD burners will be a external powered device because they will require a internet connection to verifiy HDCP (copy protection) keys if you want to watch protected movies.
I think Apple is looking at the 1000+ accessories for the iPod and are starting to realize how much cash is flowing elsewhere. However, I think they also know that this iPod ecosystem of peripherals is a very good thing. What was that line?
Oh yeah, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers,
With the arrival of the iPod nano, I’m wondering why Apple or someone else doesn’t do the obvious: A car stereo with a slot-loading dock connection for the nano in the front? no cables, would work like a cassette or CD player, secure connection, basically using the nano as a musical ATM card. I’d buy one in a heartbeat!
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Unless i’m missing something Apple is moving from being a computer company to being a consumer electronics company ala Sony. How long before they drop the word computer from Apple Computer?
…and risk drawing further ire from a similarly named ex-record and recording company whos only reason to exist is to manage a band that ceased to exist over 30 years ago of which half the members are dead?
naaaaaaah… i dont think so.
would that be some violation of the agreement with apple records? i don’t mind apple becoming a consumer electronics company, as long as they continue to make great computers and carry that ethic through out their entire product line.