Enter the rumormill: Apple developing navi for Benz?



Oh, how the Apple faithful love a good rumor. Car folks are not so different. Some of us at Autoblog live in both camps, so imagine our joy when our two favorite rumor mills got together to whisper about a possible tie-up between Apple and Mercedes.

Foursprung is where we first saw the rumor that Apple is working with the Germans to develop an in-car navigation system based on Google maps. Despite Apple's penchant for super-secrecy, so the rumor goes, it can't plug all the German-speaking leaks. Focus magazine, a German publication, first broke the story, and says Apple plans not only GPS for Mercedes, but also a sound system. Supposedly the deal would be exclusive to Mercedes for the first six months of 2009, at which time the technology would be offered to other manufacturers.

Knowing Apple CEO Steve Jobs' preference for Mercedes, and Apple's new push into consumer electronics, a GPS system is at least somewhat believable. Add the audio system element, and we got to thinking. What if Apple wasn't working on two projects with Mercedes, but instead just one? It seems plausible that Apple's next step after in-car iPod integration would be in-car iPhone integration. Music, movies, Internet and GPS all from one pocket-sized gadget on your dashboard? Now that sounds like Apple. Unfortunately, there has been much gnashing of teeth over the fact the iPhone does not include GPS. But could it by 2009? Steve only knows.

Can we hope Apple and BMW are working on a new iDrive? Hey, the name's already there.

[Sources: Focus, FourSprung]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.








Autoblog Podcast #154: Gobbling up the News

Chris, Sam, and Dan kick out a podcast just in time for the long holiday drive.

 
 

Featured Galleries

  • 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  • 2011 BMW 5 Series sedan
  • Texas unveils new Vanity Plates
  • Spy Shots: Next-gen Buick Excelle for China
  • 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
  • Hyundai 2.4L Theta-II GDI
  • Ginetta G50EV and John Surtees at the Channel Tunnel
  • 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser
  • Review: 2009 Infiniti G37x S Sedan
  • Quick Spin: Superformance MKIII-R
  • 2011 Buick Regal Live Unveiling
  • BMW Concept 6

AOL Autos

Find Your Next Car

Autoblog Video


Autoblog Green

Daily Finance

Download Squad

Engadget

Joystiq

Autoblog Spanish

Switched.com

FanHouse

Asylum