BMW's current cabin tech uses a USB port to connect with a standard 30 pin iPhone cable.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
BMW started the trend in 2004, offering native integration between car and iPod. Now almost every new car sold has some method of plugging in an iPhone or iPod. This integration is very convenient for drivers, as they can select music from the device through a car's own stereo controls.
However, reports of a smaller, 19 pin connector for the iPhone 5, replacing the current 30 pin connector, may bork iPhone integration with car stereos. Short of getting a new car to match your shiny new iPhone, what is a driver to do?
The good news is that many cars, such as those from Ford, BMW, and Honda, use a standard USB port to connect to the existing white iPhone cable. The new 19 pin connector is likely to use the same sort of adapter cable as current iPhones and iPods, so should plug right in. However, those existing cars may not be able to decode the signal from the iPhone 5 and its connector, depending on how much Apple reengineers its interface.
Ford's Sync software can be updated by the owner, which may be necessary to make it compatible with the iPhone 5. BMW owners using a snap-in dock will have to wait until BMW comes up with one designed for th... [Read more]
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