iPhone 3GS Integration on 2010 Factory Sound With Navigation

Having used the Toyota factory audio and phone interface on a new 2010 Prius III with JBL sound, navigation and XM radio for a few days, the problems with iPod functions others have described have now become clearer.

The factory audio interface via USB cable to an iPhone 3GS works O.K. for phone and phone contact functions, but the phone's iPod functions through the Toyota screen are inadequate. In addition, when the iPhone is synced with its desktop computer mothership, iTunes now gives me a new error message that the phone can't be backed up.

What are people's current favorite (non-Toyota) solutions to have full integration of the iPhone 3GS with the Prius, including iPod music functions? If I had to, I could live without the XM radio, but want the functions of an iPod.

Thanks very much.

 

On this thread, Joe166, it seems there won't be quick answers for some reason. And I didn't find other threads I read about this to be complete. Eventually I'll do my own research by talking with electronics manufacturers. One source I've trusted for tools was Installer.com. I used a little of their stuff when I modified the factory head unit in my 2005 GTO. But I sent them an e-mail last week about the Prius and hadn't heard back from them. They might respond better to a phone call.

 

Hey, amorris: Since I have an older iPod (5th gen.?) which came just before the touch series, I tried it last night on my Prius. The Prius showed the same graphical user interface (GUI) as with my iPhone 3GS. Although the iPhone 3GS or iPod GUIs are vastly better, to me the real issues on the Prius GUI are that search, paging and viewing functions are glacial in speed.

Although Toyota says iPods are compatible with its nav system, for someone with thousands of sound files the Toyota to iPod GUI is impractical and virtually useless. I'm not discussing the car's overall value or utility to me here, but just that one (important) system.

I've had satellite radio before and was very happy with it; it's possible I'll start another subscription in my Prius before it lapses. But in my case it's at least as likely that I'll stream Pandora radio from the aux jack on my iPhone. And if I got tired of Pandora's infrequent ads, $36 per year for Pandora is less than $150 for Sirius XM. Before AT&T changed their billing options, my iPhone's data plan is $30 monthly for all I can eat.

 

Current software. Not jail-broken and not interested in it.

 

In answering my own question, VAIS Tech's products are looking pretty well-designed.