Audi has pre-installed iPhone/iPad charger

[Hankster]

Bought a new Audi Q5 last weekend. Was shocked to see it came with a pre-installed iPhone/iPad charging port. It's located in the glove box, there's a detachable cord that plugs into a power outlet. There's even a small cloth "shelf" at the top of the glove compartment to store the iPhone while it's charging.

Thought it was interesting. No need to use a car charger via the lighter.

 

[mbell1975]

Bought a new Audi Q5 last weekend. Was shocked to see it came with a pre-installed iPhone/iPad charging port. It's located in the glove box, there's a detachable cord that plugs into a power outlet. There's even a small cloth "shelf" at the top of the glove compartment to store the iPhone while it's charging.

Thought it was interesting. No need to use a car charger via the lighter.

My Scion Xb has an iPod/iPhone charger too haha. It's just a USB port that says iPod on it

 

[cynics]

It's getting harder and harder to find any vehicle that isn't pre equipped idevice ready. Especially cars marketed to younger generations, like mentioned Scions, the newer Kia's, the sportier Subaru's and Mitsubishi's etc etc.

 

[Almy]

I was happy to see our base model '12 Dodge Journey came standard with a touch screen radio interface and a USB connection in the center console.

 

[ritmomundo]

Bought a new Audi Q5 last weekend. Was shocked to see it came with a pre-installed iPhone/iPad charging port. It's located in the glove box, there's a detachable cord that plugs into a power outlet. There's even a small cloth "shelf" at the top of the glove compartment to store the iPhone while it's charging.

Thought it was interesting. No need to use a car charger via the lighter.

A lot of newer cars now support idevices and/or provide a USB port for charging, but I've noticed that only a few have integrated features. Can your iPhone play music/answer phone calls over the Q5's speakers through that port, or is it strictly for charging?

edit: btw, congrats on your new car I'm a big fan of Audis

 

[Hankster]

My Scion Xb has an iPod/iPhone charger too haha. It's just a USB port that says iPod on it

A lot of newer cars now support idevices and/or provide a USB port for charging, but I've noticed that only a few have integrated features. Can your iPhone play music/answer phone calls over the Q5's speakers through that port, or is it strictly for charging?

edit: btw, congrats on your new car I'm a big fan of Audis

There are many vehicles with the USB and card readers, but this isn't a USB port I'm talking about. That's why I'm surprised. It's a power outlet plugin (very small) with the iPad/iPhone connect pins.

 

[lordofthereef]

There are many vehicles with the USB and card readers, but this isn't a USB port I'm talking about. That's why I'm surprised. It's a power outlet plugin (very small) with the iPad/iPhone connect pins.

Vokswagen did this for a while too, and I do believe they are effectively the same company. FWIW I would prefer USB. That 30 pin standard isn't going to last forever (and there are rumors of it going as soon as next year). USB, however, should be here to stay.

 

[Leonard1818]

Vokswagen did this for a while too, and I do believe they are effectively the same company. FWIW I would prefer USB. That 30 pin standard isn't going to last forever (and there are rumors of it going as soon as next year). USB, however, should be here to stay.

yeah, was kinda thinking the same thing. My '09 civic has a USB input in it but every piece of literature that it came with says "iPod" with the little "R" symbol... so you know they designed it with iPod interface in mind. Not to mention the functionality is certainly program'd for i-devices. Tried a USB flash drive (was OK at best) and an android phone (didn't work at all).

I'd rather have a USB than a 30-pin any day.

 

[xraydoc]

I know that at least the '11 and '12 Audis have the iPhone/iPod 30-pin connector. My wife's '11 Q7 and my '12 Q5 both have it. Porsche and BMW also have as options iPhone/iPod 30-pin connectors.

You can control the audio from the main console; don't need to choose tracks on the iPhone itself.

However, I find reaching way over to the glove box to be kind of a pain on the Audis and would have preferred the connector be in the center console compartment. For now I've got a 3' extension cable connected to the iPhone glove box connector for easier reach.

 

[Leonard1818]

I know that at least the '11 and '12 Audis have the iPhone/iPod 30-pin connector. My wife's '11 Q7 and my '12 Q5 both have it. Porsche and BMW also have as options iPhone/iPod 30-pin connectors.

You can control the audio from the main console; don't need to choose tracks on the iPhone itself.

However, I find reaching way over to the glove box to be kind of a pain on the Audis and would have preferred the connector be in the center console compartment. For now I've got a 3' extension cable connected to the iPhone glove box connector for easier reach.

wow. So not only did audi put in a 30-pin (which could or could not need an adapter when/if the "new" technology comes out-- rumored to be soon) but they put it in the glove box? As if people are going to have a fixed device in there that they won't be connecting/disconnecting every time they get in/out (like, say, an iPhone).

I sometimes complain cause mine is in the center console and I have to feed the wire out of the center console for easy connect/disconnect of my iPhone... guess I shouldn't be so picky!

 

[xraydoc]

wow. So not only did audi put in a 30-pin (which could or could not need an adapter when/if the "new" technology comes out-- rumored to be soon) but they put it in the glove box? As if people are going to have a fixed device in there that they won't be connecting/disconnecting every time they get in/out (like, say, an iPhone).

I sometimes complain cause mine is in the center console and I have to feed the wire out of the center console for easy connect/disconnect of my iPhone... guess I shouldn't be so picky!

I actually usually keep an iPod nano attached in the glove box. But for those who want to connect/disconnect their iPhone every time they get in or out, it is kind of a pain. Center console would be easier.

 

[mattwallace24]

I actually usually keep an iPod nano attached in the glove box. But for those who want to connect/disconnect their iPhone every time they get in or out, it is kind of a pain. Center console would be easier.

+1 I have a Mercedes GL450 and the connection is also in the glove box. Makes no sense why they could make the connection in the center console for easier access.

 

[cyks]

My Scion Xb has an iPod/iPhone charger too haha. It's just a USB port that says iPod on it

Odd. My '06 Xb came with an iPod/ iPhone connection that was fully integrated and allowed the stock radio access to the playlists/ music on the device.

The only issue was that at some point Apple changed the connections so that the newer iPhones/ iPod touches could no longer charge while connected, but the radio still had no issues with playing from the devices.

It couldn't take and play calls over the speakers, but it would play ringtones or any alerts.


Needless to say, having iPhone/ iPod/ iPad controls in a car is nothing new as I saw it nearly 7 years ago.

 

[Hankster]

wow. So not only did audi put in a 30-pin (which could or could not need an adapter when/if the "new" technology comes out-- rumored to be soon) but they put it in the glove box? As if people are going to have a fixed device in there that they won't be connecting/disconnecting every time they get in/out (like, say, an iPhone).

I sometimes complain cause mine is in the center console and I have to feed the wire out of the center console for easy connect/disconnect of my iPhone... guess I shouldn't be so picky!

The first car (Range Rover Evoque) I looked at had several USB connections in the center console. I didn't like it. I prefer the glove compartment because I only plug in my iPhone to charge it. I don't text while driving and the phone is connected to the car, so all phone calls are routed through there. It's neat I don't have to buy a car charger and have it sitting oddly in my center console. Instead there's a nice shelf for the phone inside the glove compartment .

 

[Arnezie]

My BMW has a dedicated iPod iPhone cord in the glove box as well. Seems all car company's are getting with the times.

 

[aztooh]

Odd. My '06 Xb came with an iPod/ iPhone connection that was fully integrated and allowed the stock radio access to the playlists/ music on the device.

The only issue was that at some point Apple changed the connections so that the newer iPhones/ iPod touches could no longer charge while connected, but the radio still had no issues with playing from the devices.

It couldn't take and play calls over the speakers, but it would play ringtones or any alerts.


Needless to say, having iPhone/ iPod/ iPad controls in a car is nothing new as I saw it nearly 7 years ago.

You had full iPhone integration in a car that was released well before the iPhone was even announced? That's pretty cool.

It's getting harder and harder to find any vehicle that isn't pre equipped idevice ready. Especially cars marketed to younger generations, like mentioned Scions, the newer Kia's, the sportier Subaru's and Mitsubishi's etc etc.

Mitsubishi's certainly do not have a 30 pin Apple connector. The Lancer Ralliart and Evo have RCA jacks and/or a USB port...but not a 30 pin.

 

[cyks]

You had full iPhone integration in a car that was released well before the iPhone was even announced? That's pretty cool.

No, I had full iPod integration in a car that was released nearly 5 years after the iPod, but, because Apple (for the most part) has been using the same connections since then, it works fine with iPhones as well.