| It is natural for you to want to listen to music, as a | | | | Already own a car but don't have the connectivity? |
| music lover, anywhere and everywhere. One of your | | | | iPod enabled audio systems are commonly available, |
| favorite places is likely to be your car, so you can | | | | and all you need to do is venture out and get a new |
| relish the drive while listening to your preferred rock | | | | one installed. |
| star. You can have the option to use the iPod you | | | | Now let us look at the options available for those of us |
| recently spent a small fortune on, to play your beloved | | | | who have already invested their surplus cash in the |
| music even in your car! In fact, I am going to talk about | | | | iPod and cannot afford to buy a new, compatible audio |
| how to hook on your iPod to your car audio itself, | | | | system. Make use of one of the several options |
| freeing you from those pesky earphones (and the | | | | enumerated here. |
| chance to book a ticket - using those earphones while | | | | Making a direct connection between the car audio and |
| driving may well be illegal in your locale) and add the | | | | the iPod allows you to use the full functions of your |
| thumping power of your car audio speakers to your | | | | iPod, and is the recommended solution. Some car |
| music. | | | | connection kits use a simple cable to connect the iPod |
| Using your iPod thus frees you from the shackles of | | | | (either of the dock connector or the earphone out |
| conventional CDs and tapes since it allows you to | | | | jack) to the auxiliary input jacks provided. Others may |
| download music in unlimited quantity from the internet. | | | | utilize the CD changer port found behind several car |
| You can thus harness the explosive power of music | | | | radios. Added features with some of the kits are dock |
| software to enhance your listening experience. The | | | | mounts, or auxiliary controllers and displays. The best |
| free music software that comes bundled with the iPod | | | | way out, of course, is to leave the decision of best |
| would already allow you access to the plethora of | | | | compatibility, testing and installation to an expert. |
| songs/music on your PC, and get a fresh lot when you | | | | Coming to the car radios which include a cassette |
| get bored with the old ones. | | | | player, you need to invest in a cassette adapter. |
| Some of you may be lucky and only need to pull out a | | | | Typically, these adapters look like a tape with a cable |
| cable to attach to the audio system - your car | | | | attached, and work by transferring the audio output |
| manufacturer may have been good to you and | | | | signal from the iPod to the read head of the cassette |
| included iPod connectivity to your player. Go through | | | | player. Switching to 'Cassette', and pressing play will |
| the instruction booklet that came with the system. If | | | | allow the iPod music to play over your car speakers. |
| you don't find the cable in the glove compartment, | | | | The last but definitely less preferred method is to use |
| chances are you may have been provided with a | | | | an FM transmitter to transmit to your car radio, which |
| dashboard jack. The iPod is controlled through the | | | | uses an unused FM frequency to do so. While it |
| car's in-dash audio system, and even recharges while | | | | enjoys the advantage of being wireless and easily |
| it plays! Alternatively, you may use the auxiliary input | | | | portable, there is a definite loss in music quality. |
| jack to hook on. | | | | Another problem is finding a free FM channel in a busy |
| If you are buying a new car, make sure you check for | | | | city environment, though none of these deters this |
| the availability of this feature, or you may well end up | | | | solution from being the most popular one as of date. |
| paying a couple of hundred extra for the privilege of | | | | So go ahead and reap the benefits of technology by |
| setting up the connectivity. Some car companies like | | | | using any of the methods outlined above. Spread the |
| Acura, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ferrari, Ford, GM, Honda, | | | | good word, and meanwhile, appreciate that melody |
| Volvo etc have this feature pre-installed. | | | | when you go out on the next long drive! |