2006 GM vehicles to feature iPod connector

General Motors is offering iPod connectivity with some new vehicles this year, starting with the new Chevrolet HHR. The audio systems include an auxiliary channel and front mounted auxiliary input jack, so that an iPod or other audio source can be easily plugged in and played through the vehicle sound system. "The Chevy HHR will help launch a new family of radios that will bring iPod connectivity to a broad range of GM vehicles," said Paul Nadeau, director, infotainment displays and controls, for GM Engineering. "We think the ability to easily connect an iPod or other audio source directly into the vehicle audio system will be a big hit with customers." The input will be standard equipment on 2006 models of the Chevy HHR, Impala and Monte Carlo; Saturn VUE and ION; Pontiac Solstice; Buick Lucerne; and Cadillac DTS. The radios will be fitted to other new GM models over the next several years as the vehicles are updated.

Chinese manufacturer offers iPod mini knockoff...

A company in China is producing an imitation of Apple's 4GB iPod mini. Unlike the Super shuffle -- a nearly identical copy of the iPod shuffle -- this device does not resemble the authentic product as closely. It does, however, borrow the general appearance of the Mini. While it may not look exactly like Apple's iPod mini, the imitation is marketed using the iPod name in an obvious attempt to confuse consumers. The device lacks the iPod's trademark scroll wheel, but attempts to mimic the scroll wheel's appearance by arranging the navigation buttons in a ring around the center button. The device appears to be available in a two-piece silver enclosure only. It also adds features not found in the iPod mini.

Griffin ships Dock400, 800 FireWire iPod cables

Griffin today announced that it is shipping the Dock400 and Dock800 cables, for synchronizing and charging an iPod using a PC or Mac's FireWire ports. Apple's newest iPod photo and iPod mini come with only a USB 2.0 cable, "so customers with computers that lack USB 2.0 ports will need a FireWire 400 cable for fast music and file transfers," explains Griffin. Griffin's Dock400 cable is intended for computers equipped with standard FireWire 400 ports. Dock800 is a dock-to-FireWire 800 cable. "Since FireWire 400 ports are at a premium, by using the Dock800 cable, you're making efficient use of your FireWire ports." Both the Dock400 and Dock800 cables are 48" long, use Apple-approved connectors and can be used with Apple's iPod dock, or plugged directly into the iPod. The Dock400 is $15 and the Dock800 is $20.