Full ipod integration?

[priuseeker]

The Vais is getting rave reviews. I guess they have great customer service as well. I'm leaning toward a Vais myself...

[hybridcouple]

We have a 2008 basic model Prius. Does anyone have experience with either DICE or VAIS ipod integration products for the 2008 basic?

[mrblaise]

I have a 2008 Model 2 and love my Dice unit. It does everything I could ask for in a unit and is $100 less than the VAIS

[kjconrad]

I was kinda leaning towards the VAIS because I swear I read a thread here where most people were bashing the Dice and raving about the VAIS. Now this thread everyone loves their Dice unit.

Is there anywhere that has an unbiased look at both units comparing features and usability?

[Danny]

I haven't personally done a side by side comparison of the 2, but I have not heard any complaints since DICE came out with the DICE Silverline (the one the PC Shop carries).
The only thing that I am aware that the DICE cannot do right now is charge the iPhone 3G (but they are coming out with an updated cable in the next couple of months).

[CCC712]

[moving this post]

[hybridcouple]

Thank you everyone. We'll order the DICE Silverline and let you know what happens.

[CCC712]

Originally Posted by kjconrad

I was kinda leaning towards the VAIS because I swear I read a thread here where most people were bashing the Dice and raving about the VAIS. Now this thread everyone loves their Dice unit.

Is there anywhere that has an unbiased look at both units comparing features and usability?

I'm trying to decide whether to go with DICE or VAIS myself and so far I've found a few main differences other than price:

1. The DICE unit changes the order of the songs in your playlist. It re-orders them based on album or artist name so when you go to play a certain playlist it plays them alphabetically based on album/artist, not the order you put them in on iTunes. I don't think the VAIS does this.

2. With VAIS you can change playlists from your steering wheel by holding down the MODE button (see aminorjourney's video). Can't do this with a DICE, have to use the MFD.

3. DICE has an extra mode called SAT mode that displays the category name. So instead of just knowing that "disc 2" is playlists, it actually says "Playlist". In SAT mode you can also use the tuning knob to scroll through names of songs/playlists/artists/etc for faster searching.

DICE and VAIS owners - please correct me if I'm wrong about any of this, I got this information from previous posts and talking to support reps at DICE and VAIS.

I think if you don't care about having your playlist song order changed the DICE is a better deal for the money and the SAT mode is a nice feature. But if the song re-ordering would irritate you or if you want to able to change playlists from the steering wheel then VAIS is a better option.

[troycole]

We just bought a 2008 Prius - Canadian Base Model (single CD, no navigation)
Like many others here, I'm trying to determine what the best option for iPod integration is, based on functionality, ease of installation and price.

The Vais and the DICE seem to be the heavy favourites for full integaraton, but there are a couple of others that I've stumbled across in my research that don't seem to be mentioned here at all. Just wondering if anyne has any experience with

Grom Audio - GROM iPod Adapter Direct Interface(GROM-I2-TOY)

or

Scosche - AXIPTA

Also, any thoughts on the best options for simply adding an AUX jack, so you control the music via the iPod rather than through the factory stereo and steering wheel controls? My only question with this, is how would I access the AUX input as my stereo only has AM, FM, Disc, and Scan buttons?

Thanks in advance.
Troy

[reverai]

There is a Toyota version of a an ipod connection which I saw on ebay that seems to work only with 2008 and 2009 Prius's. I buy one of these if can find if my single CD player has a "audio head unit to be satellite ready"....

You may want to check it out too.

Steve