iPhone Bluetooth streaming issue

I'd use USB. it's not sexy, but BT really eats your phone's battery. If you're charging, use the line out. I've always had a buzz when I try to do that, but maybe it'd work.

Once I have a PiP to test...(mañana, mañana) I'll see if there's a better way and post back.

 

That's really odd, i use Spotify all day long and never have that problem. If i hook it up via USB it defaults to the built in music app, but the second i start spotify the built in music app stops and spotify takes over.

 

I agree with BFD, use a USB tether instead. I have an iPhone 4S and was able to use Entune apps this morning when I tethered--with Bluetooth I was never able to get any of them to connect, even though the Entune app was running on the iPhone.

I agree that it would be better if I were able to stream from phone to car with Bluetooth, especially since I keep an iPod in my car all the time with my complete music collection on it (70GB); however, this works really well for me, and I'll take a good connection over a spotty (or nonexistent) connection w/ Bluetooth anytime.

Bob

 

i use rdio all the time and have not seen this either, but i wonder if you hit play/pause from the prius display that it activates Music.app instead of rdio/spotify?

for whatever reason, the prius does not see my iCloud-stored music when attached by USB. since Music.app's intereface disappears when you connect via usb, the only way to play the icloud songs is to use the bluetooth interface... so that's a reason to use BT.

i don't think internet tethering over bluetooth is supported.

 

This is an issue with iOS 5.0.1 and 5.1, apparently bluetooth Internet streaming worked prior to these releases. I know that Androids work fine with this feature. For me it's a pain with my iPhone because I have all my music on my iPod so that occupies the USB port, but if I want to switch to Pandora or another streaming app I have to swap devices.

 

I'm really surprised that iPhone users are having such problems. Usually, developers put all their energy into first getting the iPhone version of their application fully working, and then Android, and then (maybe, sometimes) some other platform. What is surprising is that that all of this streaming over Bluetooth is working fine on my Blackberry. And Toyota has declined to support Entune on my new Blackberry, due to "unsatisfactory user experience". (I had to side-load the Entune app for an old model.)

 

Same thing - only different - happened when I bought my GenII in 2009. First thing that didn't work as expected? iPhone and bluetooth streaming to the Toyota's system. Toyota's system caught up in the higher end '09 models like Venza, but now they're seemingly behind the curve again.

The technology is such a moving target. Wireless connection technologies like BT are only as good as the fastest, most recent evolutionary version. And getting EVERYTHING that came before that version to play nicely together - simultaneously - is still an elusive goal.

 

what app is it? it sounds like it's got bugs, since spotify and rdio seem to work okay.

 

You should be able to hit pause in the iPhone Music app to get it to shut up, and then be able to use your other bluetooth streaming capable apps.

 

Entune = quirky.
I've never, ever had a Toyota's or Lexus's NAV system direct me vocally right over the phone call I was in, at the same time.

 

Im not big on BT streaming with my IP4.....BT IMO is good for phone calls only...the sound quality is not so great.

I just grabbed a 16gb low profile USB flash drive, its low profile so when i put stuff into the armrest it wont hit it. I got it from Best buy for 15 bucks.

the best part is it only took 15 mins to drag all my music onto it(approx 2500 songs) and I still have lots of room left.....the USB sounds better then the BT does.

and plugging in the Ip everytime i get into car is just a pain in nice person....i have barely ever done that.

Only downfall of the USB flash drive is no playlists.....you can browse by artist, albums,songs,genre but not playlists...

Dan

 

OK, I hate to admit it - ENTUNE was half baked ... now, I hear Toyota has a new system coming out in the future???? Entune sucks!
I had such hi hopes

 

My audio observations after a week with my new Pip...

I like to use the MODE button on steering wheel....this toggles from my BT Ip4 to my USB flash drive to radio FM, AM Sat radio ect ect.....It works well as I always have my fave radio and XM radio stations on so every MODE toggle pulls another great song from wherever you go to next.

while I love the USB flash drive it is lacking in the fact you cannot do playlists....I got that to somewhat work though yesterday by going into itunes, and opening one of my playlists......For example I open a playlist I created in itunes named "current faves". Then select all(highlites every song in list) and right click choose GET INFO, then INFO tab. Now at bottom of that window you see GENRE. I typed in "Current Faves". This changed the genre of every song in my current faves playlist at once.

well when i tried searching by genre in the car it does come up....i think it takes time to learn and find each song, as at first it barely found any..but it seems to be grabbing more and more each time. Ofcourse the other problem is the car puts the songs in alphabetical order, so your playlist wont look the same order. But it sorta works.

for my true playlists on my Ip I tend to just leave my iP set on my fave playlist, so when i toggle the mode button on steering wheel to BT that playlist will start....and ofcourse on BT you can only toggle ahead or back one song at time and cannot browse. I just hate having to plug phone in when my USB drive is there, and when driving around getting in and out of car its not convenient. for long drives plugging in the iP is not too bad though.

Dan

 

Well I think there is one big thing you guys are leaving out is to inform which system you have. The display audio with entune (base model) is made by Harmon and the hdd is made by denso. Both system runs differently and different quirks about each.

Display audio works best with USB. It how the system works.

Hdd works fine with bt for iPhone.

Now here is the kicker....and what the issue is with the system is apple doesn't care about using outside systems. They don't care to support anything other then apple product so that is why it doesn't work seamless. Also Bluetooth has over 50 minor protocols you don't see that enable little things like call history, address book, audio streaming etc. every phone has to go through the tests and certified which is displayed on their website.

Which system do you have?

 

The Display Audio works OK with the iPhone. iPhone does it's Bluetooth for phone and music find. It will do the Entune's apps via USB OK. If you purchase Mobile Hotspot capability for your iPhone from ATT, then the iPhone will do Entunes via Bluetooth fine.

Trick with iPhone/Bluetooth internet connection (which is not officially supported but does work) is to go into the Setup/Bluetooth and edit your device. One of the items is VPN/DUNS where you need to enter your Entunes ID and PWD into the Nav. Once you do that, iPhone will do Bluetooth internet connection well.