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2015 noob: Iphone 6 BT or USB?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Chuckolicious, Apr 7, 2015.

  1. Chuckolicious

    Chuckolicious Junior Member

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    Proud new owner here, like as in today. Can someone tell me the pros/cons to connecting my iPhone 6 via Bluetooth vs. USB?
     
    Boston Jim likes this.
  2. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Bluetooth for music.

    USB is necessary for running Entune.


    Use an original apple USB cord though. I learned the hard way and used a pep boys cheapie for the last few months and it would constantly go on and off. Ever since I swapped it for my apple cord it hasn't happened once. :)
     
  3. Chuckolicious

    Chuckolicious Junior Member

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    So Entune seems to have horrible reviews on iTunes. Would there be a reason why it would be better than just using the phone (with a good dash mount of course)?
     
  4. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Yeah, entune kinda sucks and does nothing that a smartphone can't do. Only perk is I guess is that it's right there in front of you. It's not great but not terrible but could def be more intuitive and it sucks that you have to use your phones data to run it..

    You do not need the USB to run the nav though. Not sure if that applies to the traffic app though?

    Edit: If you use pandora and or Iheart music it's decent I guess. I don't but probably would if I ever got rid of xm radio.

    iTunes Radio is awesome too but that can be streamed via Bluetooth...
     
  5. breakfast

    breakfast Active Member

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    I have an iPhone 6 and I am giving Entune a full try. To its credit, Entune does add traffic capability to the GPS, and the traffic alerts have been accurate so far. Not sure how data use of Entune compares to running Google Maps directly from the phone.
     
  6. benalexe

    benalexe Member

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    Entune is complete garbage. Total crap. The nav is garbage also I just use waze and I have a mount for my cel phone in my cd slot called mount tech
     
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  7. Boston Jim

    Boston Jim Active Member

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    I don't use Entune so I can't comment on that, I figure I can look stuff up on my phone easier if I need to. But for music definately use the USB, it has much better overall quality. You can easily compare for yourself between the two with the music you will be mainly listening to. If you listen to podcasts or books on tape etc. it won't make much of a difference. If I'm doing a short trip and don't want to pull my phone out of my pocket I use the BT.

    Sometimes it's a night and day difference between music from the radio vs the same song from my phone using the USB.
     
  8. eeek

    eeek Junior Member

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    You don't need USB for entune. You can do it over bluetooth, no problem.

    As well, if this is a new car and you have you have satellite radio, you are getting traffic from SiriusXM. It's free for three years.

    That being said, if you use the apps on entune, it works decently. I tried to become a fan of Pandora, but I never liked it (and still don't.) Bing works great and it ties in fine to the navigation. I don't understand that rage people have over it, quite frankly.
     
  9. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Toyota would have been better served making a universal mount point for smart phone mounts and a micro-USB connection for communication and power. Putting the smartphone where you can comfortably interact with it makes more sense than a poorly-conceived head unit interface with "apps" for which most have no use.
     
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  10. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    ^^^^To access the internet, which is required to run the entune apps (except maps, but is needed for traffic) you MUST plug your phone in via usb!

    As stated prior, you can stream music via blustooth from your phone but usb is required to run the entune internet required apps..
     
  11. eeek

    eeek Junior Member

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    I have a 2015 Prius 4 with JBL. I do not have to use USB.

    edit: In fact, here's video.

     
    #11 eeek, Apr 25, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2015
  12. breakfast

    breakfast Active Member

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    Thanks!

    Apparently, it only works with really cheesy 70's music like "Magnet and Steel" ;)

    But seriously, it may be that it works with the 7" system and not the 6.1".

    I have only tried with my lightning cable with iPhone 6 and my 6.1" system - I will try later with bluetooth and see what happens.
     
    eeek likes this.
  13. eeek

    eeek Junior Member

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    Yes, you must use horrible music from the 70's. That's the secret.
     
  14. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Outside of Entune, the biggest difference between using BT over USB is that if you want "album art" to show on screen as music plays, it has to be USB. BT doesn't convey that information to the head unit.
     
  15. roamerr

    roamerr Member

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    Usb sounds better but bt is easier.


    iPhone ?
     
  16. jaglio16

    jaglio16 Junior Member

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    This is wrong. My 2012 shows the album art with both my android and my iPhone connected over Bluetooth streaming spotify.


    iPhone ?
     
  17. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    What trim level? I don't get it on my Prius Two.

    Ah, you're using a special app. It doesn't do it with base iPhone apps.
     
    #17 qdllc, Apr 27, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2015
  18. breakfast

    breakfast Active Member

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    I tried it this morning with my 2015 Prius Four (no sunroof, so the 6.1" system), and Entune does *not* work via Bluetooth with my iPhone 6 - it requires the USB connection.

    So it does look like wireless Entune with an iPhone works with the 7" system and not the 6.1". I personally don't mind as I prefer to leave my car with a fully charged phone :)
     
  19. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Also, are we talking an iPhone not working with "Entune" or not being able to stream music/podcasts/etc. to the sound system?
     
  20. breakfast

    breakfast Active Member

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    Entune. With all systems and the iPhone 6, music/podcasts/etc are streaming wired and wirelessly. With the iPhone 6 and the 7" system, eeek (mid-thread) showed that he is able to engage Entune over bluetooth, but with the 6.1" system, I require a USB connection to connect to Entune.