Will an iPhone work with the 2010 USB interface?

[Mt View]

Originally Posted by bighouse

Scotty,
What iPhone version and software release do you have?
What Nav System version?

I'm wondering if there's some firmware or software element I may be missing (or have) that doesn't match yours and that could be making the difference? I've read in this forum that after the USB port is installed that they have to run some kind of a software upgrade...but often it seems that you'll hear conflicting info in any such forum!!!

Nav system 9.1 here with 3GS running the latest OS (3.1 7C144) on the phone.

I've been working with Toyota support for over a month now on mine (two different phones and two different USB interface kits). They never mentioned any kind of firmware update required even though I have mentioned it several times. The only fact that they have shared is that it was only tested on the iPhone 2G (original iphone). Honestly the USB interface user interface with a flash card is pretty good. IMHO with an iphone (get to use it for a few minutes at a time) it is pretty bad.

[bighouse]

I hate having a lot of wires running around. I'm really hoping that using the USB port on the console will eventually do everything, BT iPhone working simultaneously with USB (or BT) audio...all the while charging my iPhone.

[Mt View]

Originally Posted by bighouse

I hate having a lot of wires running around. I'm really hoping that using the USB port on the console will eventually do everything, BT iPhone working simultaneously with USB (or BT) audio...all the while charging my iPhone.

I have myphone charging in the console from the 12V jack and a USB flash drive in the USB slot. The only down side I have is remembering to transfer the music to the USB flash drive every time I buy something new for my iphone. Yes the BT audio is connected and if I wanted to use it to hear something specific I would have to take the phone out to select it. I never do that unless I forgot to transfer something I really want to hear.

[scotty321]

Originally Posted by bighouse

Scotty,
What iPhone version and software release do you have?
What Nav System version?

I'm wondering if there's some firmware or software element I may be missing (or have) that doesn't match yours and that could be making the difference? I've read in this forum that after the USB port is installed that they have to run some kind of a software upgrade...but often it seems that you'll hear conflicting info in any such forum!!!

Nav system 9.1 here with 3GS running the latest OS (3.1 7C144) on the phone.

You know, we both have the exact same setup -- I'm starting to wonder if perhaps you have a faulty USB cable?! It might be as simple as that! Have you swapped out USB cables? You're using a standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable, right? Maybe try a different one and see if that makes a difference?

My nav system also says Map Data version 9.1, and my iPhone 3GS is also running OS 3.1 7C144... just like you.

I just went into my Prius and tested this again, and the iPhone plays just fine through the USB port... i just tested it for about 30 minutes driving around, and it was just fine without any interruptions or disconnections.

My iPhone has airplane mode turned OFF, it has bluetooth turned ON (although it is not paired as a Bluetooth audio device to the Prius, it is just paired as a Bluetooth cell phone), and I am listening to music through the USB tab on the navigation system.

But even if you can't get this to work reliably for you, I wouldn't worry too much about this. I am not planning on using my USB interface AT ALL for ANY music listening at all, because the Prius' USB interface to control the iPhone/iPod is so unwieldy to use. I discuss that more in my posting here. Another downside to using the USB interface is that you can't control music through your iPod/iPhone at all... you can ONLY control using the Prius USB interface, so you have no choice but to be locked into its poor controls.

If I were you, I would just play your iPhone music via Bluetooth or the auxiliary jack, and control the whole experience from your iPhone's touch screen. In my opinion, that is a much more satisfying experience.

[bighouse]

Scotty,
I just used a USB flashdrive today and used the Belkin mini-charger/USB cable to my iphone and it all worked fine. I may just stick with that method. I don't actually mind the USB display system...it's easy enough for me to select artists or playlists via the slider and not the up/down arrows. It's a helluva lot better than what I had before...NOTHING!

[Mt View]

Originally Posted by bighouse

Scotty,
I just used a USB flashdrive today and used the Belkin mini-charger/USB cable to my iphone and it all worked fine. I may just stick with that method. I don't actually mind the USB display system...it's easy enough for me to select artists or playlists via the slider and not the up/down arrows. It's a helluva lot better than what I had before...NOTHING!

I think the USB flash drive interface is a lot better than the iPhone interface. When you are scrolling through songs on your iPhone it will start playing any song you stop on. It doesn't wait for you to select it. I would almost consider this a software bug.

[pri-serious]

Originally Posted by IrishGuyJay

The first time I connected my phone (an iPhone 3G running firmware 3.1) I also got this message, selected "no," and was able to connect.

However, when I connect now I get a message stating that the device is not compatible and only an "OK" button -- no yes/no option on the phone to switch to airplane mode. When I press "OK" on my phone I am unable to connect and cannot see my music on the NAV screen. Has anyone else had this problem or found a resolution?

I was in a similar situation but I think I found out what is happening between the BT and USB and Iphone. Just got my car 2 days ago. When I first set up BT and USB on my iphone (3G with latest software update) everythings works great, BT streamed really well, when I plug in USB it switches to USB and when I unplug the cable, BT plays song on immediately.

However, today USB tab shows "device is not compatible" when I plug in iphone and ipod. So I did some tests according to what everyone says in the thread.

1, I turned on airplane mode. USB reads iphone/ipod fine again.
2, Then I delete BT pairing on Toyota. USB now works without having to go to airplane mode.
3, I paired my iphone (both music and phone) back to BT and now everythings works again like it should. No need to go to Airplane, when I unplug USB, BT kicks in again immediately.

One thing I find BT being better is that it auto levels. I was playing with the settings at volume 02. When it's BT playing, it sounds like volume 10 instead of volume 02. When I plug in USB, the sounds lowers right back to the 'real' volume 02.

So basically everything should work fine with iphone and switch back and forth nicely. What are the steps you've done to eliminate possibilities?

[bighouse]

In the "Owner's Manual 2010 Model Year Prius USB Interface" brochure (I hesitate to call two pieces of paper stapled together a "manual"!!!) it clearly states on the back page that the iPhone is NOT a compatible (audio) iPod for the USB system...hence why we're probably all getting the error message...

Flashdrives may be the best way to go...though I was hoping to be able to use that USB port to charge my phone WHILE using it for music as well.

And, in an earlier message I mislead people, I apologize. Guess I wasn't paying close enough attention and thought the BT and the USB screens had the same layout. There is no way, that I'm aware, to have "playlists" on a flashdrive unit with the system...and the flashdrive is limited to only searching by Folder and File...not by Artist or Playlist.

[pri-serious]

Am I the only one with iphone works with both bt and usb? i didn't not hack my phone, nor the car audio system..

[bighouse]

pri-serious,
You may be. It seemed to me that when my dealer set up the BT connection, that the nav system and the phone wanted to set themselves up the phone as two separate bluetooth devices- is that possible? My dealer didn't quite seem to know what they were doing in that regard- they got the phone working, but they didn't seem to quite get the BT right for the media player...I may need to go back and dig deeper on this one. But either way, I don't see why my USB tab would be available and show my iPhone music, but no sound comes out.
I really think Toyota ought to recognize that they need to make an adjustment to their system to allow us iPhone users to use our iPhone and our iPod functionality via the USB simultaneously...heck, I'd even prefer to do the actual Voice Control of the phone that way and see if it improves the lag I seem to get with BT.