About 2 years ago I finally decided to replace the factory default stereo that came with my car (and broke twice). It was a cassete-deck one and I decided to upgrade to a CD player model that played MP3 CDs (11 albums on a burnt CD is nice). However, I knew then (and for a long while before that) what I really wanted was a stereo that had a convenient mini-plug auxiliary line-in. At the time I had a Nomad MP3 player that I would use on long trips. I had to use that annoying cassette adapter up until I got the replacement. I searched high and low at the various consumer electronics stores and eventually only found about 3 models that had that nice, simple, convenient feature. Two were no-named ones and at last I found a nicely inexpensive AIWA that I purchased and am quite satisfied with. I retired my Nomad and sufficed on a collection of burnt MP3 CDs for the most part. My recent acquisition of an iPod Nano (I'll defend that surprising decision some other time) has made me re-appreciate that firm requirement I had for my car stereo from back then. A simple mini-plug cable connects it to my stereo so I can listen to whatever music/podcast/audiobook continuously.
I wonder though. Was there some devious intent behind the lack of convenient auxiliary line-in jacks on the face of car stereos? Or were the makers really just clueless? When I was a wee lad the typical car stereo was a radio and tape deck. That's still largely true, they often make you get the CD-player option for extra money at the car dealerships. Anyhow, back then, very occasionally you'd see an 8-track deck but those were well past obsolete. The Walkman just came out to change the landscape of consumer electronics, but it was also just a tape player. No need for an auxiliary input since your car stereo played the same media. No problem. Then CDs came out, soon to be followed by the CD car stereo and the CD Walkman. Cassettes, however, were still a predominant listening choice though because you couldn't easily record CDs and make your own mix-tapes, what they now call playlists. So, if you had a CD stereo you couldn't play your tapes (unless you got the dual deck) and vice versa. This would have been a good time to make decks with a mini-plug line-in so you could play stuff on your Walkman in your car. Did they? No. You had to buy one of those hokey cassette adapters. Later, they came up with local FM transmitters. That was the best they could do? Both solutions degrade the quality, are failure prone, and are not as clean and efficient as a simple mini-plug cable connecting the headphone jack on your portable and the car stereo.
After the CD Walkman other forms of portable media emerged: first the MiniDisc and Digital Cassette came (and went), and later the portable MP3 players became all the rage. And you still had to loose quality of playback in your car via the transmitter or introduce a hum with the cassette adapter. I didn't like that. I remember having several copies of the same music on cassette, CD, MiniDisc, and MP3 in order to accommodate the different playing environments. I'm sure many can relate.
It took the introduction and mass popularity of the iPod to finally stir some movement, even though other MP3 players and similar had been in vogue for years. Now, finally, car stereos with a mini-plug on the front dash appeared. Not en masse, but at least there were a few. When I was looking for a stereo with just that feature 2 years ago some big-named makers required a pricey kit and an installed wire from the back of the stereo. Boggle. If they can put a laser, mechanics, and fancy displays in the stereo, then they can trivially put in an extra mini-plug input to accommodate portable players. It's not that obtrusive and it doesn't interfere with any other stereo features and people don't have to use it they don't want to. So why did it take them so long to get with the program and why is it still not a standard option? I sense a combination of maniacal consumer control conspiracy coupled with abject ignorance and ignoramousy.
23 comments:
hear hear my good man. i personally would love to buy into the whole conspiracy theory myself. FM transmitters and cassette adapters are assinine, yet extremely profitable, solutions to such a simple problem.
however, i have the sneaking suspicion that having a mini-plug simply isn't a SEXY solution. People who pay some attention to car stereos generally fall into the 'gadget junkie' demographic bucket. The FM transmitters and cassette adapters are ways of advertising to the world-at-large, "HEY, THE MUSIC PLAYER I'VE GOT IS SO HIP, I NEED AN AESTHETICALLY UNPLEASING AND INELEGANT ADAPTER TO EVEN HAVE IT WORK SOMEWHAT ADEQUATELY ON THIS OBSOLETE PIECE OF STEREO EQUIPMENT."
It might be the music technology equivalent of fashionistas wearing oh so precious distressed clothing. It's an all-too-conscious way of saying "I'm so cool, I've got to inconvience myself greatly just to walk around in your universe."
kinda like those old cd changers you had to access from the trunk of your car. you mean the trunk is really the only logical place to put that sucker? "I'm so hip, I have to inconvience myself by changing my hip music cds FROM MY TRUNK! That's how hip I am."
The ipod and cellphones aren't immune from this sexy gotta-have-it affliction. Jewel-encrusted cell phone covers? Does every cell have to ring with that fifty-cent song from two years ago? Why even buy neon plastic skins for an ipod?
oh you kids today. well, in my day . . . (voice quivering off in the distance.)
do you guys want some cheese with that whine?
ha! at least you both have the luxary of listening to your own music in your cars.. both the cd changer in my car (yes, it's in the trunk, snicker)and the cassette player have been broken for a couple of years. i'm so excited to use the fm transmitter for my ipod.. radio listening sucks balls. (sniffle) isn't that the saddest story you've ever heard? (sniff)
hey, why is sucking balls or getting them sucked such a bad thing. and get that FM transmitter IMMEDIATELY!
kilatzin's sucking balls and then back paddling by saying getting balls sucked kind of worries me.
i've said this kinda stuff for years, and NOW you're worried? come on, this is just another day at the office . . . if the prime activity of that office is ball sucking that is.
i was in denial. and yes i know that's not a river in egypt.
I'm just jumping in, as a female voice, because you guys discussing ball sucking is getting a little creepy. Do you guys prefer man-scaped balls or is a little fur okay?
Damn! i don't blog for three days and everyone loses it! calm your asses down!
kilatzin: you are in NO place to ask if sucking balls or getting them sucked is such a bad thing, unless you've done both...
to reply to linesteppa's question (and ignoring mulysa's adnomition), I don't really know. ummm. I guess the bottom of the balls should be man-scaped. maybe i can deal with fur on the top side?
does this sound plausible? (he asks unknowingly, wink, wink, nudge, nudge.)
DEAR GOD!!! A blog on the convenience of the "line-in" jack in car-stereos degenerating into balls?! Have you all lost it? Ball sucking?! HRRRMPH...!
Getting back into the spirit of the blog, it seems that Nissan has got the right idea. As my faithful Sentra was breaking down earlier this year, I test drove a couple of Nissans, and the factory stereo already had the "aux" jack built in. Their brochures also boasted this little extra.
Now... ball sucking (or licking) has never done a thing for me. On the other hand, licking carpet, bare or fur, not a problem...
sigh... all potential and possible respectability for my little corner of the blogosphere, up in smoke. I knew kilatzin would be involved somehow.
Respectability got no one laid.
listen to the man, mikshir. you're severely lacking the lacking of respectability... that is, if you plan on getting laid...
ok ken, now, i seem to remember that most balls are fairly bare on the underside already. so, problem solved! they're naturally groomed for your enjoyment.
ronin, what do you think of the eighties fads for grooming. perhaps a nice fade, maybe some chargers style bolts buzzed in? perhaps some initials (rb?)
oOo. bolts sound fun. I think K looks more like a jerry curl kinda guy
okay, even I'm annoyed with how commenting something I didn't even originally write . . . muylsa was the first to coin "ball sucking" has totally obscured the post's original gripe with automobiles having no "line in" jack.
Just heard an advertisement on a Slate podcast touting the new model Lexus equipped with "MP3 player compatibility." how much you want to bet that it's just an audio jack? See, instead of just offering an line-in option, Lexus is making you think that their car is designed SPECIFICALLY with your mp3 player in mind.
doesn't that support my "sexy" theory?
may i clarify, emilf stated that lsitening to the radio sucked balls. you ken, then asked what was so wrong with sucking or having them sucked. You showed your fleshy underbelly to the wolves and we, uh, they went in for the kill. So just sit back and enjoy the fact you've spurred on probably the most enjoyable line of comments yet. hear hear old chap.
okay, now, here's a quote from your first comment:
however, i have the sneaking suspicion that having a mini-plug simply isn't a SEXY solution. People who pay some attention to car stereos generally fall into the 'gadget junkie' demographic bucket. The FM transmitters and cassette adapters are ways of advertising to the world-at-large, "HEY, THE MUSIC PLAYER I'VE GOT IS SO HIP, I NEED AN AESTHETICALLY UNPLEASING AND INELEGANT ADAPTER TO EVEN HAVE IT WORK SOMEWHAT ADEQUATELY ON THIS OBSOLETE PIECE OF STEREO EQUIPMENT."
It might be the music technology equivalent of fashionistas wearing oh so precious distressed clothing. It's an all-too-conscious way of saying "I'm so cool, I've got to inconvience myself greatly just to walk around in your universe."
Excuse me, did you say you were listening to 'podcast' from slate no less. what ever happened to just watching good ole tv? do we plain folk incovenience you by trying ti tie you down to a house?
hahahahahaha.. this reminds me of that "play it back" skit with dave chapelle. can't say shit and get away with it.
(note to self: watch what you say, linesteppa will call you on your shit EVERY time... oh, and be careful what you write on other people's blogs because that clever girl reads those too...)
linesteppa has asked me a question, and I cannot let it go unanswered. It'd be like leaving a friend hanging after bowling a strike. So... at the risk of contributing to the degeneration of this blog's commentary, I'll say that I have no problem with the 80's grooming fad (lightning bolts, my initials, a detailed picture with depth, the fade, etc). As long as nothing changes the original landscape. On the other hand, tattoos and piercings in that area kind of creep me out...
i'll keep that in mind next time i go streaking in your neighborhood...
well to anwser the linesteppa. i usually listen to the slate podcast on my headphones at night when i'm washing the bottles and making the next day's milk for baby. i can't have the tv on, cuz to make it listenable, i'll have to turn it up and wake mommy and baby. so i listen to the podcast on the headphones. it's quiet, it's only last 10 minutes at a pop which works perfectly with the bottle washing/making timeframe we're discussing earlier.
see, linesteppa i got no shit. i got reasons and logic to back me up. deal wid it!!!!!
also, it's not the pouncing on my flabby belly and balls that i find troubling. i regret the fact that my comment took away from this audio equipment discussion. linesteppa, you've schooled me. from now on, i will only refer to ball sucking on YOUR blog, where it'll probably be a better fit anyways!!!
DING DING!!
go to your corners!
BRING IT! bring your ball sucking, your ass sucking (from your first post of substance i believe) bring your toe sucking. so let's review we have tea bagging, tossed salads, hmm, what's the term for toe sucking? anyone, anyone? Is that Scregie in the back waving his arm ferociously? ooh ooh, mistuh cartuh...
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