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katie ta achoo

Blogger emeritus
Original poster
May 2, 2005
9,166
5


The only place I really have time to listen to my iPod is in the car. I live in Houston, and driving is a pretty huge part of life: I live about 12 miles from work and about 20 from the University of Houston, where I attend classes. The mass transit in this city leaves much to be desired, too.

I’m in the car for about an hour a day, about 2 hours if I get let off work during rush hour! To entertain myself in the car, I listen to my iPod. I have a Sony car stereo, the cheapest one that had line-in in the front and free installation. I have my 4G iPod plugged into the front while the iPod sits in the little depression under the cupholders. I love this system I have set up and I haven’t listened to the radio or a CD for a good year and a half.

So, let’s take out the iPod and replace it with the iPhone! It’s the best iPod ever made, right?

Read Full Article
 

hgraphics

macrumors newbie
Jun 29, 2007
13
3
Houston, TX
Katie,

I live in Houston, too.

You need to get one of those car stereos that connect to the iPod dock connector.
Those let you control the iPod from the stereo system and they also charge the iPod.
I know the Alpine ones work really well and even some of the cheaper models can do it now.
Now whether they work with the iPhone I don't know yet.

Good luck !!
 

MobyIck

macrumors member
Nov 5, 2003
31
0
Just create a bigger playlist. You could just add two or three albums or even the same one twice...

Katie,

I live in Houston, too.

You need to get one of those car stereos that connect to the iPod dock connector.
Those let you control the iPod from the stereo system and they also charge the iPod.
I know the Alpine ones work really well and even some of the cheaper models can do it now.
Now whether they work with the iPhone I don't know yet.

Good luck !!
 

jwsmiths

macrumors member
Jul 5, 2006
85
1


The only place I really have time to listen to my iPod is in the car. I live in Houston, and driving is a pretty huge part of life: I live about 12 miles from work and about 20 from the University of Houston, where I attend classes. The mass transit in this city leaves much to be desired, too.

I’m in the car for about an hour a day, about 2 hours if I get let off work during rush hour! To entertain myself in the car, I listen to my iPod. I have a Sony car stereo, the cheapest one that had line-in in the front and free installation. I have my 4G iPod plugged into the front while the iPod sits in the little depression under the cupholders. I love this system I have set up and I haven’t listened to the radio or a CD for a good year and a half.

So, let’s take out the iPod and replace it with the iPhone! It’s the best iPod ever made, right?

Read Full Article

If you don't mind repeating the album just turn on the "Repeat" mode on the iPhone. Tap on the album work, then near the top right on the loop. When you unplug the headhone adapter you'll be prompted to turn off the iPod (in case you forgot anyways) because of the music coming out of the speaker.
 

Ampidire

macrumors 6502
Feb 1, 2007
422
164
WA
My car, an '06 Scion tC has an iPod enabled headunit, so I have a 30-pin dock connector, and all control of the iPod is done on the headunit itself and on top of that I have steering wheel controls for volume up/down and track forward/back.

I can navigate all my playlists on the headunit with a 1-line display (not as advanced as other iPod HU's but fits my needs just fine) and enable random and repeat-1. It's also a digital connection so the sound quality is consistent and doesn't vary based on the volume of the headphone jack and the headunit volume.

The iPhone works almost exactly the same as my old iPod did in this situation.

The difference now is that when I hook up the iPhone it gives me the option of choosing airplane mode or not; I choose no because then I can still receive calls on the phone.

When I get a call the music fades out and I swipe across the iPhone and press speaker (which I can do now without looking at it) and it's loud and clear. Nobody has yet complained about me being too loud or too soft or not clear yet so it's doing it's job fine in that department.

When the call ends, the iPhone fades the music back in on the car stereo.

In this regard it's actually BETTER than my old iPod, because I used to have to mute and swim in my pockets for my phone all while jumbling the steering wheel. Now I don't have to do any of that at the cost of having to press an extra button when I hook it up to my car (declining airplane mode).

Also; while all this is going on, remember, it's a 30-pin iPod dock connector; so it's charging the phone too, so battery life is now a complete non-issue for me.

Any iPod enabled head unit, and I mean TRULY iPod enabled, as in as the 30-pin connector should work exactly the same as I have stated above.

This isn't a fault of the phone, but a fault of your pretty much jerry-rigging the whole iPod/Car thing by only using the headphone jack to transmit audio.

I suggest you invest in a headunit with a true iPod cable; it'll work just as stated above and you'll be safer and happier with it too.
 

akbram

macrumors newbie
Jun 28, 2007
4
0
Iphone in Car? Of Course!

Ok, it is ridiculus that people quibble over the miniscule "problems" with the Iphone. First of all, to the writer of the article: put your Iphone's Ipod on whatever album you want to listen to and choose the repeat symbol that comes up to the left of the time-scroll bar when you tap the screen! You needn't manually start the album over with either the Ipod or the Iphone because of the fabulous invention of a repeat button. You can also choose to repeat either the entire playlist / album or the single song..wow, what a marvel of modern science!

Furthermore, would people please stop writing entire reviews over a single problem that can be EASILY corrected. The Iphone is the best phone/mp3 player ever produced. Of course it is going to have its problems, but these problems are dwarfed by the Iphone experience as a whole. And, for the record, I am not a "Mac Fanboy" who will worship Steve Jobs and Apple; but this product is truly worthy of recognition. Yes, the Iphone may require more user interaction than an Ipod, but, if you use the controls correctly, it should not be more difficult than an Ipod. Neither the Ipod nor the Iphone are made for changing options while driving! Both demand the attention of the driver! Be safe and do not be an idiot!
 

PhatBoyG

macrumors regular
Jun 8, 2007
146
6
Tulsa, OK
iPhone works great with my Pioneer D3, aside from having to say NO to airplane mode. Have not noticed any TDMA noise from the phone at all. And yes, the flash is SO MUCH QUICKER than the 30GB iPod it replaced. When I used next/previous it is now instant compared to the lag I get with the HD-based unit.

I have not tried to make a call on the phone yet, but I will try that soon enough. If the audio comes out of the car speakers instead of the iPod I will be shocked/amazed/stunned/joyful?
 

Ampidire

macrumors 6502
Feb 1, 2007
422
164
WA
iPhone works great with my Pioneer D3, aside from having to say NO to airplane mode. Have not noticed any TDMA noise from the phone at all. And yes, the flash is SO MUCH QUICKER than the 30GB iPod it replaced. When I used next/previous it is now instant compared to the lag I get with the HD-based unit.

I have not tried to make a call on the phone yet, but I will try that soon enough. If the audio comes out of the car speakers instead of the iPod I will be shocked/amazed/stunned/joyful?

The phone call stuff doesn't transmit to the car, just the speakers and mic on the phone; sorry.

The iPhone has cut my daily devices down to 1 from 3.

Sometimes I skip taking my MacBook with me now, I don't carry my Nano with me, and my RAZR is at home counting down the days until it's VZW contract is over in sept.
 

Asbru

macrumors newbie
Jul 7, 2007
3
0
Chicago
Alpine CDA-9856

I have an Alpine CDA-9856 in my Jeep Wrangler and I can say that the iPhone is an almost perfect replacement for the iPod in my situation. I have the 30-pin connector and I am able to control the song selection from the stereo. So, repeating songs and changing playlists is no problem.

I get the same Airplane mode question, but, I don't take calls in the Jeep anyway since I can't hear a darn thing with the top down anyway. So, that is really not an issue either.

The only drawback for me is that, in the past, I would leave the iPod locked in the security box where I have the cable running to. I would only take it out when I needed to add new music or I was going to workout. So, now, if I replace the iPod with the phone... I have to keep taking it in/out everywhere I stop. That is a bit of a hassle. So, for the moment, I think I am leaving the iPod in the car.
 

strangelogic

macrumors regular
Aug 23, 2003
167
0
CA
Furthermore, would people please stop writing entire reviews over a single problem that can be EASILY corrected. The Iphone is the best phone/mp3 player ever produced.

Katie is blogging for MacRumors about her experiences with the iPhone in her life. Think of it as a Road and Track or Car and Driver long-term experience. I thought it was a reasonable comparison between how she used her iPod, and how the iPhone is working out for her. And it starts a nice thread where others can share their experiences.

I still have not used the iPhone in my main car as a replacement for my iPod - of course I still have not had the Alpine with iPod integration installed in my new car. But I did use it with the earbuds in my jeep last night driving into DC - and it was nice to have the phone/iPod functionality blended in there, I want the mic and the 'remote' on that headset but without the ear-buds.
 

wsellers

macrumors newbie
Jul 2, 2007
14
0
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
iPhone as in-car iPod replacement

HI--- I REALLY REALLY wish DLO would come out with an iPhone compatible FM-Transmitter / hands free phone unit !!! I think a device like that would sell really well.

I've used DLO FM-transmitters with my other iPods and they seem to work the best----and most clear. BUT, to have the same functionality with the ability to make and take calls (voice going over the car speakers) would just be damn cool.

EMAIL DLO!

Will Sellers
Baton Rouge, LA
 

richdun

macrumors member
Sep 7, 2005
42
0
2004 Prius

This is probably not what you are looking for, since it requires one part pre-installed and one part after-market, but my 2004 Prius with Bluetooth hands-free built-in and an iPod connector from Peripheral works great with iPhone. The Bluetooth hands-free connects to the phone part, fading the stereo and using the car's internal mic/speakers for calls, and the iPod connector provides power and plays music through the car stereo with controls on the dashboard (song skip and volume only... you have to pick a playlist on the iPhone). The iPhone did give me the "this accessory not made for iPhone" dialogue when I plugged in the dock connector, but I told it not to go into airport mode and everything still seemed to work.

Of course, my solution does require that you have a Bluetooth hands-free system and a car stereo compatible with a dock connector kit, but it does work great.
 

Bitjockey

macrumors newbie
Jul 7, 2007
9
0
Thanks KT

My son has the same Sony radio in his Escort. It was what he could afford with an input jack for his iPod. I appreciate hearing your experiences with the iPhone along with SOME of the readers work arounds so I can pass them on to him.
 

txb

macrumors newbie
Jul 7, 2007
10
0
Katie is blogging for MacRumors about her experiences with the iPhone in her life. Think of it as a Road and Track or Car and Driver long-term experience. I thought it was a reasonable comparison between how she used her iPod, and how the iPhone is working out for her. And it starts a nice thread where others can share their experiences.

I still have not used the iPhone in my main car as a replacement for my iPod - of course I still have not had the Alpine with iPod integration installed in my new car. But I did use it with the earbuds in my jeep last night driving into DC - and it was nice to have the phone/iPod functionality blended in there, I want the mic and the 'remote' on that headset but without the ear-buds.

I see the argument that the author is blogging on the basis of her experience, but if it's also true that the author is basing their article on their lack of knowledge of the product ... what is the point?

The author in this case, makes the point that the deficiency is that there is no button for tactile feedback on the basis that she can't restart the album (and she does say that she's happy replaying the album) without unlocking and diverting her eyes to the iPhone. As 'jwsmiths' points out, there's a repeat option for the album play. So what's the point being made here? That the author should find out how to use the product? That perhaps time spent using it may provide the answer?

Not having buttons all over the iPhone is actually a feature ... one that is quite obvious. It's why we love the iPhone. Complaining that they don't exist is .. well, quite honestly, ridiculous.

This has the makings of a question or an FAQ, perhaps .. but a review? I don't think so.
 

jcholsapple

macrumors newbie
Jul 7, 2007
4
0
Harmon Kardon

I use the harmon kardon ipod system in my car. the us-dp1 I think is what it is.. you know the one that you have to have installed.

But it works the same way.. through the stereo.. 30 pin connector and it asks if you want airplane mode or not. fades out and everything.. I love it.. I always loved the ease of having the ipod like scroll wheel at my fingertips but now that I can accept calls and everything it's super!

I am so in love with the iphone right now.
 

kellen

macrumors 68020
Aug 11, 2006
2,385
68
Seattle, WA
So an headset connection to a stereo input works on the iphone?

Sign me up to be a product reviewer and send me a MP or a MBP....

Oh and just for everyones sake, not all Alpine headunits work with the iphone. Seems like the newer models (988x) don't, while last years (985x) do.
 

Clix Pix

macrumors Core
I've got the Alpine head unit that works absolutely wonderfully with my iPod. I also have the Garmin Nuvi 660 GPS navigation system. My solution is to continue using my iPod with the Alpine unit and to take advantage of the Nuvi's Bluetooth connectivity to pair it with my iPhone. Voila! I can enjoy my music from my iPod and work all the features from the head unit's screen and I can take or make phone calls with the Nuvi's Bluetooth connection. How cool is this?! For various reasons I cannot use a Bluetooth headset or earpiece so I am just thrilled to pieces to have hands-free phone dialing/receiving in my car through the Nuvi. What works for me and what I find fantastic may not be the same for someone else, though....
 

loudestnoise

macrumors 6502
May 31, 2005
321
0
Nashville, TN
That little retractable cable is sweet. I too am lucky to have a Kenwood deck with a 30-pin connector for iPod/iPhone. Allow I am given the warning about the accessory it still works just fine with all iPhone features still enabled. Thank goodness, I would have been upset if it didn't.
 

lou2000

macrumors newbie
Apr 14, 2007
16
0
San Mateo, Ca
car driving playlists

I just plug my ipod into a cassette adapter. It works fine. I set it going before i get out of my parking spot and usually don't touch it till i'm parked again. Frequently I have thought about getting any number of car related ipod accesories but what i have works and i'm too lazy and cheap to get anything better.

Someone suggested to Kate, just to make a larger playlist and i second that motion and have an addendum.

Just like Kate I make different trips that last different times in my car. But I love podcasts. So i keep 3 playlists on my ipod. the first one is for my 40 minutes drives and i keep long podcasts like "wait, wait, don't tell me", "this American life" , "TWIT", and "Buzz Out Loud". For my short 15 minutes to work drives i listen to "the Daily Gizz Wizz" NPR's Story of the day, and Science Talk. And then I have one more playlist where I keep really short podcasts like "Onion Radio News", 60-Second Science, and the NYT Front page for the really quick trips. If i'm in the mood for music i always have the latest Roots Rock Radio, the Dead Show, and Big Band Seranade.

I haven't tried this yet but i think you could set this up with smart playlists that synch up automatically.
 

XjeffX

macrumors member
Jun 4, 2004
74
0
Yes, I've had several scary moments on the road trying to control this "iPod". I've never had any scares driving while controlling my old iPods.
 

MarcWill

macrumors newbie
Jul 8, 2007
1
0
DENSION IceLink!!!!!!

icelinkplus_10.gif

I have had a DENSION Icelink since they were released and this is by far the best iPod/iPhone intergration you can get without buying an aftermarket radio.

The real advantage is the cradle so the iPhone stays stationary the entire time as it CHARGES!! No janky cables runnin all through the cig lighter (BONUS - it rotates to you can get the cover view by swinging it 45 degrees)

It plays just as loud if not louder than my iPod and I dont miss calls because it rings through the stereo! I can also use it as a sort of nav system with google maps and just hit the next arrow when I am getting close to my turns. I can also watch movies in the car with the landscape view (when I'm at stop lights of course ... hehe)

I didn't think it would replace my iPod but with 8 gigs of my most recent movies and music - I haven't used my iPod since I got my iPhone. :)
 

metanoia

macrumors member
Jan 11, 2006
57
0
Just for the record, the iPhone does NOT work with USB-based iPod connections such as with the Pioneer DEH-P6900UB. Too bad, I was hoping to get rid of the 5G.

Metanoia
 

Mr Mikey

macrumors newbie
Jul 9, 2007
1
0
I have an iPod hook-up on my car stereo and connected my iPhone today. It didn't work... An error message appears on "iPhone about device not supported".
 
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