MacDirectory 141
INTERVIEW
Recently MacDirectory caught up with
Jeremy Briggs, president of iCarKits
. The topic of our discussion
was iPod car adapters – devices that
enable devoted iPod users to play their
favorite tunes using the car stereo system.
MacDirectory > So what started you on
your journey to work with sound adapters
for car stereos? Was it the popularity of
the iPod?
Jeremy Briggs > Actually, no. I started
long before that, probably 1998 when CD
changers were $1,000 and could play only
70 to 100 songs. Since my PC could play
hundreds more as MP3 files, I strapped a
computer into the trunk of my car and
had a thousand of my favorite songs at
my fingertips.
MD >
So, to have a better selecton of
music, you actually strapped a computer
into your car?
JB > Yes, and I showed others online how
to build the same thing using plans I
developed. Of course, lots of people
wanted a finished product so I started
building MP3 car players and shipping
them all over the world.
MD >
So what happened when the iPod
came out?
JB > When that first generation of iPods
were released, I knew my business had to
change. The days of strapping a PC in your
car were clearly over (laughs).
MD >
So what was your next step?
JB > For several years, I marketed car MP3
players to retail stores, car audio dealers,
and individuals. But at some point, I
realized how ridiculous it was for people
to buy a second MP3 player when they
already had an iPod (or were planning on
ICARKITS > TRANSFORMING IPOD VEHICLE INTEGRATION
WORDS BY JONE DEVLIN
