Audio equipment manufacturer Harman Kardon today introduced a new iPod in your car solution they think will hold an edge over similar products in the aftermarket car audio gear market. The new Drive + Play integrated docking system will be available in September for $199.95.
The Drive + Play, according to a Harman Kardon press release, offers iPod users complete control of their player, including full browsing capacity, while minimizing driver distraction. The system consists of three components: a small backlit LCD screen monitor which offers five lines of viewable iPod text, a five button navigational control which mimics the iPod’s user interface and can be mounted in multiple locations and the main “brainâ€, which acts as the information processor and rechargeable docking station for the iPod, using a wireless FM modulator or audio output jack to send tunes to your car’s stereo.
“More than half of all iPod owners use their players in the car, and we know many are frustrated with the current auto solutions available because they’re hard to use and offer limited functionality,” said Mike Giffin, president of the Mobile Systems Division for Harman Consumer Group. “Our goal in developing Drive + Play was simple — create a product that reproduces the iPod experience in any car while providing an array of options, including a line-level output, for connecting the iPod’s audio signal to a vehicle’s audio system, to offer consumers the most enjoyable way of taking their music on the road.”
