iCar Dream Downsizes to Dashboards

While Steve Jobs may have regretted not making an iCar, Apple Inc. (AAPL) has felt ambivalent about the auto industry for years. Now, it's vying for dashboard space held by Microsoft (MSFT) Corp., BlackBerry Ltd. and Pandora Media Inc. (P).

By year end, carbuyers will be able to choose from several vehicles that incorporate Apple's iPhone functions, using Siri voice controls for navigation, texting, e-mails and music. Displacing competitors in the car may be more difficult than in desktop computing or mobile phones, as the technology giant grapples with challenges including extreme temperatures, noisy cabins and long product cycles. Read more...