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Curious... why use "iPod Connection Kit" when USB works fine?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by talkin73, Jul 24, 2010.

  1. talkin73

    talkin73 Junior Member

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    I am using an iPhone 4 with iOS 4.01 connected to a 2010 Prius IV with Nav/BT system. I paid the dealership for the iPod Connection Kit which did not work properly with the iPhone (I told them I'd be connecting to an iPhone in advance and was told that would be fine). They even tried an aftermarket version which hadn't received a firmware update from the manufacturer so it didn't work either.

    On a whim I plugged it into the USB port in the center console and used the USB audio option. It provides outstanding sound quality, steering wheel controls, virtually all onscreen iPod controls (except that scrolling through songs automatically starts playing the song at the top of the list... a foolish "feature" IMHO) but random, repeat, song selection, playlist, albums, artists, everything is available... and it charges the iPhone at the same time :mod:

    I'm curious for those that have the Connection Kit if you have any other features that I may be missing here? I have asked the dealer for a refund as the parts and labor were nearly $500 and the USB cable is free :)

    Thanks for any feedback on differences between features... just curious if I'm missing out on something really cool that is actually worth $500 because I can't think of it just yet.

    Oh, BTW... I LOVE MY NEW PRIUS!!! :rockon:
     
  2. Sarlacc

    Sarlacc I also own a big thirsty V8 :)

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    Define - did not work properly?

    Do you mean the audio worked fine but it wasnt charging the phone? Because that actually does mean its working...sadly...most manufacturers havent updated their specs beyond the original iphone for charging. And the voltage requirements have changed.

    A $20 adapter by a company called scoshe solves that problem quickly and easily.

    If you are having other issues than that....sorry.
     
  3. Colonel Ronson

    Colonel Ronson New Member

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    Many people don't have the USB port, since it only comes with the navigation package. So short of an aftermarket stereo, the ipod kit is the only way to go. i personally wouldn't use it since i'd have to leave it in my glove box. i just use the aux port and control manually.
     
  4. Thai

    Thai Prius Neophyte

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    USB works amazingly well!! Love it with my Itouch64.
     
  5. chrisfenwick

    chrisfenwick New Member

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    iPhone 4 Retina Display vrs the "Crap MFD"

    Being a user of the iPhone 4 i'm assuming you are at least partially tuned to quality... I am replacing my 2007 that met an untimely demise and when I went to look at the 2010 was amazed by the USB connection (I have no idea how that works) but TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY disappointed by the quality and resolution of the Toyota Nav Screen. its CLEARLY lower resolution than my 2007 was.

    Does anyone have any hint/clue/insight as to whether they might go back to the higher rez screen on the 2011... if so I'll wait...

    I was totally disappointed in this "improvement". Maybe they thought all those extra pixels would just make it more distracting.

    ARG!!
     
  6. talkin73

    talkin73 Junior Member

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    Ah, that is helpful to know. I missed this fact. Also, at the dealer I purchased from, virtually every Prius on the lot (keep in mind it was last week ;-) had Nav in it. It seemed ubiquitous and the way the sales folks talked, most all of the ones arriving had nav. So, I anticipated most people would have it. But, sounds like that may not be the case.

    Regardless, for folks with Nav, I'd try the USB port first. There are a few fine tune type controls missing from an "interface" type of kit. But, with all the problems described with interface kits and the $500 price range, it was a no-brainer for me. I just felt fortunate my dealership was willing to refund the money :D
     
  7. Lantec

    Lantec New Member

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    My Prius with Tech package doesn't have USB on it.. :(

    it seems everyone else has it. Is there a way I can install one?
     
  8. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    I am not exactly sure when the USB was added as a stock option, but it was later in the MY 2010 build cycle. The first Prius I looked at was an early MY 10 build manufactured in December 09. It did not have a USB Interface but my MY 2011 does.




    Posted from my iPhone via the Tapatalk app.
     
  9. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    Not sure about Canada, but in the US, the iPod/USB connector comes with nav. This was not the case for the first several months of 2010 Prius production (not sure of the exact date--my Prius delivered June 2009 didn't have it). There is an dealer/customer installable iPod/USB connector kit available that can be installed in nav cars that didn't originally have it.
     
  10. Lantec

    Lantec New Member

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    Hmm, I think I have one of the earlier models then =/ oh well, at least it's installable.
     
  11. Musicfan145

    Musicfan145 Junior Member

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    Mine (2010 Pkg V, Nav but no Adv. Tech) has the USB connection; it was manufactured in Feb 2010.
     
  12. Musicfan145

    Musicfan145 Junior Member

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    I've only had my 2010 for about a week. I've mostly been using an iPod classic with the USB connection, and it does work better than I had expected. Not great, but tolerable. (It displays the song title, album, and artist, unlike the Bluetooth/iPhone connection, and the sound quality is far, far better than the XM.) However, I've noticed that each time the car is shut off, it forgets which playlist it was playing, even if I leave the iPod connected. I often listen to a playlist set on random, and the next time I get in the car, it automatically resumes random playback, but from the whole music library, not from the playlist I was on. Anyone know if the interface kit works the same way? Or if there is a way to fix this on the USB connection?
     
  13. Lantec

    Lantec New Member

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    Mine was made around the same time too but doesn't have it! :eek:

    where is it supposed to be? in the arm rest compartment is only a cigarette plug and AUX... at the other cigarette plug is my heated seats
     
    1 person likes this.
  14. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    It's in the center armrest, next to the aux input.
     
  15. Lantec

    Lantec New Member

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    yeah, then it's definately not there =/ checked that area through and through
     
  16. mobyhead

    mobyhead New Member

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  17. malamalama

    malamalama Junior Member

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    Lantec and dustoff003, here is my post from last year. In a nutshell, my Hawaii Prius 2010 (March '10 build) didn't come with USB either. All we could conclude was that it was a "Hawaii" thing and the dealer wasn't bringing in what North America was. I wish I had a USB connection, but it's not too bad using bluetooth to connect my iPod touch. The main downside is that I don't use the bluetooth to connect the phone at all (separate bluetooth earpiece) since you can only use one or the other at a time.
     
  18. skilbovia

    skilbovia Member

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    Are you saying that if I buy a new iPod, connect it to the USB port in my Prius, I can go to the NAV screen and select any one of my 800 albums or 8000 songs to play while I am driving? If that's the case I will buy a 64GB iPod as soon as I get your response. If I am incorrect, could you please provide details on how finding and playing an album or song that is on the iPod works? Do you use the NAV screen or the screen on the iPod?

    The main complaint I have with the NAV system is that I cannot find a way to play what I want when I want over the USB Port. I have a Creative Nomad hooked up to the AUX port and that is about the best I can do to accomplish this, however I have to hook up the charger to the 12 volt output in the console which only charges when the car is on. I have always been a fan of Creative MP3 players but would be willing to cross over to Apple if the iPod gives me an easy way to listen to any song I want as I am driving along.

    Thanks!
     
  19. mobyhead

    mobyhead New Member

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    I have plugged in my iPod Nano (1st generation), my iPhone 3G, and my iPhone 4 into the USB port. All of them work with my Nav system--I can select playlists, artists, albums, songs via the touchscreen of the Nav system, and I can use the steering-wheel mounted controls to move between tracks in a playlist. I have repurposed my iPhone 3G into a 16GB "jukebox" for my Prius. The iPhone stays in the center console compartment, I never remove it (except to change the music I have on it, of course) and I control it entirely from the touchscreen and steering wheel.

    And here's a bonus: many Bluetooth-equipped smart phones, including the iPhone, can also play back music via a Bluetooth connection to the Nav system. But you can't select playlists, etc that way; via Bluetooth your only choices are Play, Pause, next track/previous track. So here's what I do: if I want a playlist, I choose USB as my sound source; if I want to play tracks at random I could use the USB-connected iPhone 3G or I could select the Bluetooth-connected iPhone 4, which I already have set up for shuffle play, of course. If you're still not sure, look for a refurbished or used iPod, and enjoy.
     
  20. bawzp9

    bawzp9 Caries eliminator

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    this is how we do

    (fiddy said it, not me) USB is excellent. Ipod stays in the car 99% of the time except to update playlists. Got a new mac so will have to update all of that! Wonder if there'd be a way to get it to play video through the interface - i haven't looked into that yet. Wouldn't that be slick?