Fly or Why? iPod Interfaces
By Chuck Cage
Ever since the first iPod hit streets — allowing you to carry dozens (and now hundreds) of CDs in the palm of your hand — manufacturers have struggled to devise more and more complex interfaces to control the iPod from your vehicle’s head unit. But are these complications worth it in terms of cost and convenience?
While it’s cool to have your whole CD collection available in the car, most of the iPod interfaces we’ve tried are way too clunky to offer realistic access to that much music. Add to that the theft risk of leaving the infinitely pawn-able iPod’s in the car, and we begin to wonder if maybe a standard USB interface combined with cheap-ass USB drives mightn’t offer a better alternative.
But which do you think makes the most sense: iPod via audio jack, iPod via interface, USB, or none of the above? Let us know in comments.
(Thanks, alforque, for the great CC-licensed photo.)
September 11th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
iPod via audio jack would be my preferred method. With that, you don’t have any messy installs, and you don’t have to pay for any extra hardware (assuming your deck has an audio-in jack, which mine does not). A USB port would be my second choice, since you could charge at the same time, and it’s still just one convenient plug to worry about, but you’re going to pay extra for the USB host interface on your deck.
So, in my opinion, unless you’re an audiophile and you simply must have the latest and greatest of everything in high-tech audio, I say just keep it simple.
September 11th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
I think a USB port is a better choice. USB flash drives are dirt cheap, full size external hard drives arn’t that expensive and can hold more than iPod’s for less.
The head unit could be programmed to work with iPods and other MP3 players since they are essentially hard drives and flash drives with a screen and headphone jack. The head unit would just need to search the drive for music files and playlists.
September 11th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I’ve had both the iPod via auto jack and iPod via interface and I gotta say the interface method, with some limitations, is absolutely the way to go. I replaced the HU in my old Ford Focus with a Sony that had AUX in specifically for patching in a mp3 player. I used a Pocket PC for a while, then a Dell player and eventually an iPod. I ran the cable out through a small drawer in the dash (what used to be an ashtray when smoking was cool :). My iPod sat in the drawer and I could see it and reach it easily to change tracks. Even with that setup, it was a pain to change tracks and control the iPod without taking your eyes off the road for an extended period of time.
I just picked up a ‘08 Scion Xb and it has both AUX in and an iPod interface. Having the interface is a huge improvement. I can use the steering wheel controls to change tracks and working through playlists is easy since I’m not holding the iPod in my hand. There are some limitations that I’ve worked around but that are kind of annoying. For instance my HU does not have a menu option for Podcasts. So to get to podcasts I created a smart playlist in iTunes that lists all of my unplayed Podcasts. So in the car I go to the Playlists menu and choose my _Podcast list. I named it _Podcast so its the first one in the list.
In my old car I used a number of devices before I went to the iPod. It really depends on what you are looking for. For raw “lots of music” any storage device that you can use would be fine but for more advanced things like playlists and podcasts you really need a real player. My main concerns are podcast support and simple management/updating. The iPod/iTunes combo is the best I’ve found for what I need.
When I was just looking at cars, an iPod interface was one of my “deal breaker” items. Of course, now that I’ve got one I’m looking at a Pioneer AVIC-D3 which has better iPod support, DVD playback, and Sat NAV…
re: theft, I live in Vegas and always take my iPod out of the car. Sometimes its because I’m going to listen to it but mostly its because it’ll get too hot in the car.
September 11th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
My current HU is a Kenwood Xcelon KDC-X890, which has a USB port. I’m currently running a 4GB thumbdrive on there, and it’s pretty nice. As a double-bonus, it has ACDrive, which allows you to put text-to-speech voice prompts on the drive with the Phatnoise Manager software. This is a boon for me, since I drive a vert, and no matter what, with the top down, the screen is at least partially washed out by the sun, so having the voice nav is great. I keep going back and forth on buying an iPod so I can keep my whole collection in my car, but losing the ACDrive function makes me a bit sad.
Beyond that though, I think integration is awesome. I realize there’s more out there than an iPod, but having everything accessible from one control panel (head unit) is not only 20x cleaner, but safer too. My wife’s Jetta has an external Sirius radio, and I just think it looks tacky as hell having something stuck up on the windshield that size. Obviously, in my car I have the sirius ran through the HU.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:26 am
I’ve tried several solutions, from car-PC to iPod/generic MP3 players. My current digital music player is the OmniFi player. It has a removable/upgradeable 20GB HD and can download files via WiFi from my home PC. I modded a storage area in my Toyota 4Runner for the control interface so that it stores out of the way when not needed, and it connects to the stock HU through the CD changer controls. If I ever replace the stock HU, I’ll look for one that accepts USB drives (or, even better - SD cards).
September 12th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Kerry - The USB-capable HUs I’ve seen will accept USB card-readers as well, letting you use whatever media cards you want. I’d toyed with that idea as well.
September 17th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
I hate wires. MIT researchers are already working on transmitting power across a room wirelessly and not only has radio stations been the last to adopt digital technology but it seems they’re still running wires around the dash, as if all the power adapters aren’t cumbersome enough.
I’d like to see someone ball up and launch a wireless system. Sure, you may have to plug in that iPod for power from time to time but it’s a lot easier to mod in a permanent dock for power than to mess with signal wires to stream your tunes. You listening Apple? Wireless!
September 20th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
This is a good option. It doesn’t have have any cd reader use a SD card reader and a mini-input port.
http://www.blaupunkt.com/us/press.asp?lang=US-en&id=1596&year=2007&new=true