Gizmodo: head unit

Fusion CA-1P500 Is the First Head Unit That Hides, Docks Your iPod

Jason Chen — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:20:00 EDT

We can't believe it, but Fusion CA-1P500 is apparently the first head unit that allows you to dock and hide your iPod directly inside the face. The thing costs £149.99 ($278), which isn't too bad for a head unit that has an OLED menu, a knob that corresponds to the iPod's scroll wheel, and SRS Wow. It fits the classic, touch and nano, but supposedly not the iPhone. Weird, aren't the touch and iPhone about the same? In any case, what we'd love is for it to take in the iPhone and give us full handsfree calling capabilities through a mic in the head and output through the speakers. [Fusion via T3]

Toyota Releases $300 iPod Integration Kit For All Current-Model Cars

Jason Chen — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:30:15 EDT

It's fantastic news for Toyota and Lexus owners, as the car company has just released an iPod adapter kit to directly link the player with your car's audio system. The kit fits into all current Toyotas and Lexuses and connects inside the glove box so you can control the iPod with your head unit (or steering wheel controls). The whole thing costs $300 (more than most iPods), and finally brings Toyota in line with GM, Ford, BMW, Mercedes and Audi in offering iPod integration. Toyota: happily being #1 by letting everyone else innovate beforehand. [Gizmag - Additional car expertise by Ray]

Update: Apparently this is a Toyota UK thing. Sorry for the confusion!

Becker Mexico Retro Head Unit

Jason Chen — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 20:53:54 EDT

Anybody over the age of 40 will recognize the styling on this classic Mexico radio from Becker Germany. Despite having retro looks, the features are most impressively in the 21st century. The head unit has a 13 color display with SD/CF reader and navigation built in. There's a slot for your SIM card so you can make calls from the unit and send/receive text messages. There's also a radio and external CD controls.

Available in Germany in July for $1,930. No idea why the Germans decided to call this the Mexico though. – Jason Chen

Becker [via Classic Driver via New Launches]