CEA announces connection standard for portable media players

The Consumer Electronics Association's Mobile Electronics Committee looks set to shake up the portable media player industry a bit, today announcing a new connection standard for PMPs that'll extend to vehicles in addition to in-home use. While details are somewhat light, the standard (otherwise known as CEA-2017) describes a single connector that'll let you both play and charge a portable media player in conjunction with any in-home or in-vehicle audio/video device sporting the same common connector. From the looks of it, the newly-standardized connector would also seem to be well on its way to acceptance, with more than 100 companies having a hand in its development, which apparently includes a number of automakers and accessory-makers in addition to PMP manufacturers. Not so clear, however, is when we might actually start seeing devices with the connector, although we're guessing that it'll still quite a while before it truly becomes "standard."

[Dster @ May 15th 2007 2:06PM]

I sure hope this "standard connector" looks a lot like a mini-usb connector.

Do you know how many devices I have that use that?

[Marian @ May 16th 2007 1:33AM]

It cannot.
The standard USB connector is worthless for line out.

[dave @ May 15th 2007 2:14PM]

Yeah- miniUSB is already the standard (except for proprietary plugs like the iPod's). What's the new standard for- to sell new cables for devices?

[andy @ May 15th 2007 2:23PM]

erm, lame atempt to dethrone ipod? lol, the standerd pmp connector is the dock

[JL @ May 15th 2007 3:55PM]

You really want to be in a world where there is only one choice for a portable media player?!?! People cry about Microsoft's domination in the OS arena yet it's ok for Apple to monopolize the portable media player market. Sorry, last time i saw stuff, two wrongs don't make a right..

not everyone has or chooses to use an ipod..

[andy @ May 15th 2007 4:01PM]

no, not at all, but switch this around to say microsoft controlling the pmp market, with no mac support and everyone paying them for licencing and propriety plugs! this wouldnt be happening. its just nice to be on the other side of the fence for a change

[andy @ May 15th 2007 4:19PM]

well, ill name you a pmp with equal mac and pc support, now you name a few? end of i think, apple doesnt abuse its power like microsoft. they use open standards.

[Calgoldenbear @ May 15th 2007 3:02PM]

My guess is this is aimed squarely at the auto market. Car manufacturer's are claiming iPod docks which are noithing more than Auxillary inputs on the stock stereo. Aftermarket stereos have iPod compatability and some have USB, but they want something that can control all of these and sit in a sturdy cradle. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some kind of pressure to get drivers to use their stereo controls instead of looking down at their PMP while driving.

[Ian @ May 15th 2007 3:09PM]

This is soley the reason I have an iPod. I can control it from my Kenwood head unit. If I could control a Zune or Zen from my head unit, I'd do it. My head unit also has a USB plug that works pretty well with a generic thumb drive too. I only use this for audio books though since I don't like having audio books on my iPod cuz it muddies iTunes cuz theres 65 files with the same name.

[Matt Carrell @ May 16th 2007 1:26AM]

Ever use smart play lists? Tag your audio books, use playlists to eliminate them..

[Ian @ May 16th 2007 9:05AM]

No its not that. I have playlists set up. I just like to use party shuffle on my entire playlist and I hate it when an audiobook chapter pops in there. Thanks for the tip though!

[Buck Jones III @ May 15th 2007 3:12PM]

I'd hope this would be in all transportation (where you use portable devices the most). Planes, trains and automobiles...

[NTD @ May 15th 2007 3:12PM]

Meh, connectors are so 90's. Seriously, with wireless recharging on its way and wifi and bt already widely accepted, what exactly is the point? Double meh.

[JL @ May 15th 2007 3:51PM]

It's about time! Seriously, from my own personal experience of looking for head units - A lot of them bill themselves as ipod compatible with interconnectivity (i mean more than just the audio-aux input) and for those of us who do not want to use ipods, it limits our choice of head units. Like an earlier poster mentioned, it would be nice if there was a wireless interconnect (maybe using bluetooth for remote control and audio streaming) but if the manufacturers don't want to go that route for cost reasons, a wired media player interconnect standard would resolve the issue nicely, in my opinion.

[Buck Jones III @ May 15th 2007 4:05PM]

Yeah, consumers need and want choice of their devices and content. I think they choose the wired route for high def video transfer and super-fast data transfer. I'm not sure what you can transmit over bluetooth, but I doubt it's HD video capable.

[Chris Biele @ May 15th 2007 7:00PM]

How about iTunes running on anything, but not being able to use my Zen on a Mac. I think I used my Zen touch for about two months before I went out and bought an iPod.

[Josh McGrath @ May 15th 2007 10:24PM]

if itunes only ran on macs, apple would be out of business.

[nikster @ May 15th 2007 8:19PM]

it's a good idea and about 5 years late, but better late than never.

I am an absolute iPod fanboi, they are still the best out there and half the size of competing products that cost the same.

but things like plugs / connectors to car stereos really need to be standardized so there can be some healthy competition. And, erm, mini USB would be an excellent choice.

I hope Apple doesn't pull a Microsoft on this one and plays along nicely - I would kind of expect them to. It's better for Apple if they are compatible with all car stereos on the market.

[nikster @ May 15th 2007 8:32PM]

I think no one can compete with the iPod right now. It has - the best design, the best usability, the best integration with software, the best technology like LED backlit screens, and due to volume also the best negotiating position with parts manufacturers to it's both cheaper than other players and generates more $ for Apple. => No one can compete.

It has fewer features than some unCreative ones which is deliberate if debatable.

the only problem that the iPod has is that there is not much left to improve. nanos can get more memory. but other than that, they are small enough, last long enough on battery, have big enough storage, etc.

better and easier integration with car stereos and home stereos is I think a major area of improvement because it currently sucks. this is where this new standard will come in handy.
all car stereos should have large screens, iPod like controls on the steering wheel, and be hard disk based with an easy way to get music onto the stereo. either with a slot for a PMP or a way to copy music from the PMP to the car. maybe we'll have to wait for Apple to build a car stereo...

I just bought a new car with an in-dash 6CD changer. Talk about useless! I don't even have any CDs, I have to burn mp3 CDs from iTunes. It's dumb.

[Marian @ May 16th 2007 2:27AM]

You're funny, but you're telling lies.

But I have to agree, AAPL wouldn't worth over 90 billion dollars now if they wouldn't have released iPods also for Windows.

[Tarry @ Aug 14th 2008 3:43AM]

This is great news

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