[Anneka @ Sytner]

For those of you who are specifying a new E92/E93 and are selecting Bluetooth telephone preparation with telematics (option 633) and a navigation system (either option 606 or 609), you’re in for a surprise!! (Or not, because I’m about to tell you all about it )

Behold… The All New ComBox

Features:

In-car office - The Office area displays calendar items, tasks and notes transferred from compatible bluetooth phones in the iDrive menu under “Office”.


Contact card image transfer - When calling a contact from the address book, his or her image appears on the Control Display.



Text-to-speech - Playback of text via the vehicle speakers for the new office features.

Call log update - The call log list (missed and received calls) will be updated in the car on connection of the phone.

Bluetooth audio streaming - Wireless audio streaming from a phone or audio player over the bluetooth connection. This includes the capability to play/pause/stop/skip/fast forward/rewind the music. Artist and track information is visible on the Control Display. Multiple bluetooth devices can be used simultaneously (eg. the audio player of one device and the telephone function of another device can be used at the same time).

Connection via original Apple iPod USB cable - For the fifth generation iPod onwards and the third generation iPod nano onwards, you can connect the iPod with the original Apple cable.

Album art display - Album covers are displayed in the Control Display with music playback via the USB audio interface (option 6FL). MP3 players, USB memory sticks, MTP players and iPods (gens. supported above) will be supported.


And my favourite…

Voice control of external devices - For vehicles equipped with Voice Control (option 620) and the USB audio interface (option 6FL), it is possible to control an external device by voice control with the selection of 'Genre, Artist, Album or Title'.

*Not all features will work in conjunction with all mobile phone devices, please ask your sales executive for full details. Combox will be integrated at no extra cost to vehicles that meet the specification requirements and that are built post March 2010.


Those of you with an interest in technology like myself, or who practically work out of their cars might appreciate

[creepy coupe]

Is the piccy of the album artist under the "entertainment details" new to the 2010 cars?

[xenon]

Christ, spend all that money on all those options and then put Craig Bloody David on it.

[Anneka @ Sytner]

yes, new to the LCI E92 and E93, and also to the 7 series saloon. BMW is the first vehicle manufacturer to offer this, 'the in-car office' and 'contact card image transfer' as in-car features.

[ECBMW]

Would there be an upgrade of such available for those with the E90 (2009 LCI) to benefit with Office etc or is this strictly for E93/2 and 7 series?

[Mud]

Very nice, will upgrades be available for E90 LCIs?

Also I want that Christine's number! hahah

[NFS]

Originally Posted by ECBMW

Would there be an upgrade of such available for those with the E90 (2009 LCI) to benefit with Office etc or is this strictly for E93/2 and 7 series?

"Connection via original Apple iPod USB cable - For the fifth generation iPod onwards and the third generation iPod nano onwards, you can connect the iPod with the original Apple cable."

This suggests that the hardware in the £40 ipod lead is now built into the USB interface.

The other bits sound like software?

[- Paul -]

Looks good!

[toxicnerve]

Is this a software feature or does it require specific hardware? i.e. Could a pre-LCI E92 have it implemented?

[Anneka @ Sytner]

Early days yet, the ComBox requires different hardware as well as software.
ComBox might be avilable on other models in the future, but that said it isn't being incorporated into the F10/F11.

I will report back here if and when BMW release more information, these are certainly an excellent and desirable set of features!

[themetz]

clever!

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by xenon

Christ, spend all that money on all those options and then put Craig Bloody David on it.

It's ok Ian, you won't be able to see the image while driving, as BMW think you might be a Numpty and crash.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

It's ok Ian, you won't be able to see the image while driving, as BMW think you might be a Numpty and crash.

Unless you fit a 'tvinmotion' module and then you can access all features whilst driving - even play DVD's if you want

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

Unless you fit a 'tvinmotion' module and then you can access all features whilst driving - even play DVD's if you want

How much are they M3F?

[dxb335d]

This the bowlacks.

[M3-FAST]

£99.99 for the older nav type systems:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-TV-Free-Vi...item3caac49768

£126 for newer 'CIC' HDD based nav:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TV-FR...fAudioQ5fVideo

I have the latter in mine, takes about 45 mins or so to fit

[dxb335d]

So it can be reftrofitted.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

So it can be reftrofitted.

No Del commented that a lot of the features would prob be disabled once the car is moving, as BMW treat us like idiots and if we read a screen whilst driving we may crash! This module basically overrides the safety lock that turns the screen off once the vehicle starts moving.

Great for playing music DVD's etc.. and means you can get the google stuff up whilst on the move. Not saying you should do this all the time, but when crawling in traffic it's good to have.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

you can get the google stuff up whilst on the move. Not saying you should do this all the time, but when crawling in traffic it's good to have.

I have notice that only the DVD playback is halted when driving.

If when stationary you are viewing connected drive online, say google or BBC news etc, when you drive off it DOES NOT STOP.

I noticed this last week when driving round the gridlock that is stafford town centre last weekend, carried on reading the news all the through and out the other side!



BTW, why haven't BMW used the REAL Craig David?

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

No Del commented that a lot of the features would prob be disabled once the car is moving, as BMW treat us like idiots and if we read a screen whilst driving we may crash! This module basically overrides the safety lock that turns the screen off once the vehicle starts moving.

Great for playing music DVD's etc.. and means you can get the google stuff up whilst on the move. Not saying you should do this all the time, but when crawling in traffic it's good to have.

Is that the same for the new cars also though!?

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by doughboy

I have notice that only the DVD playback is halted when driving.

If when stationary you are viewing connected drive online, say google or BBC news etc, when you drive off it DOES NOT STOP.

I noticed this last week when driving round the gridlock that is stafford town centre last weekend, carried on reading the news all the through and out the other side!

As per my earlier post DB, it's only just happened on mine
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363068

99.99 for the older nav type systems:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-TV-Free-Vi...item3caac49768

£126 for newer 'CIC' HDD based nav:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TV-FR...fAudioQ5fVideo

I have the latter in mine, takes about 45 mins or so to fit

Cheers M3F, did you fit it yourself?

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by doughboy

BTW, why haven't BMW used the REAL Craig David?

Is that Rolfe Harris, do you like two little boys DB ?