IPOD on-screen control with navigation: your experience

The Soundgate and the Linq both look interesting now; the Soundgate a bit moreso since it already has native Apple support and allows control from the device itself.

Here's the important question--what happens when you get a phone call or text on an iPhone with each device?

 

It functions as expected. If you receive a call it will pause, and (if you have bluetooth) you can receive the call as normal. It will resume when the call is finished.

There are actually two different pieces you can use. The cheaper of the two being the TOYPD2, it is the same as the VAIS sli2-up piece. The more expensive, more featured pieces is the TOYPDSDR. Both allow locked/unlocked modes of the iphone/ipod though.

 

What about SMS/Text? Do you need to be in SDR mode to see these, or can you see new SMS messages on the phone while it's "locked"?

 

No problems with SMS, with either part. The iphone's "locked" mode just locks the ipod portion of it. Everything else is still available.

 

I guess I'd really like to see both products in action or hear all about them before I make a decision. The Soundgate seems like the best option at the moment, but if Artist/Album scrolling is perfect on the LINQ I might vouch for that one due to the ease of installation.

 

Hey guys .. if your iPhone / iPod Touch is jailbroken, try NoAccessorySplash from ModMyi.com ... it will remove the annoying splash screen when your iPhone is connected to the car through USB. With this, you can have finer control over your iPhone if you or your passenger want to ... I haven't tried it yet, but people seem to be liking it iPhone MobileMusicPlayer Accessory Attached message.. Need a Hacker! - Page 10 - Mac Forums

 

I think you maybe mis-understood my question. It's great that it will read a flash drive, but it is HOW it reads it that is important.

Let's say that on my flash drive I create 24 folders labeled A-Z. Then I make a subfolder in each letter folder with all the Artists that start with that letter. For example: an Aerosmith folder would be in A, and a Sublime folder would be in S. Within that Sublime folder I would have all of Sublime's albums as subfolders, and then finally all the actually track mp3s within that subfolder.

If you organized a flash drive like this, would you then be able to select tracks through this hierarchy on the VML unit? For a Sublime song from display i would choose S->Sublime->40oz to Freedom->Badfish.

Make sense? Would love if you could try this out as it could solve the scrolling problem pretty simply!

 

I really don't understand how these "wonder devices" can actually work with the existing Nav system or radio to the point where they can control features programmed within the car itself, like easy dragging during scrolling etc. From what I can see, the device programs itself as a Multi-CD player to the car. So whatever features you see on your existing multi-CD player, you'll get with this unit, and playlists on your music device get emulated as CD's to the car. I do not see how any 3rd party company can essentially reprogram Toyota's Nav unit to make it more user friendly.. only Toyota can do that. But since Toyota's USB/IPOD interface is so poorly designed compared to their multi-cd interface, I can see why there is a need for this product. But just be aware, you'll only get what you see when you use your multi-CD player basically. I just hope it doesn't take away my existing one.

 

Thanks, you just saved me $200! I'll use the factory iPod connector and use this app to get around the limitation. Already installed on my jailbroken phone, and ready to pick up my new car by this weekend.

Thanks to SPlautz for the insight.

 

I agree, the ipod integration is a joke and works only sporadically on iphone. My 2010 doesn't seem to have an aux connector, which was not made clear to me when I purchased. Are there some that actually have aux connectors? I am so frustrated. And the suggested accessories posted here as solutions only seem to work with an aux jack. Any other suggestions?

 

There should be an Aux jack right next to the usb in the center console. It's there on mine.

 

Just drove my new Prius back from the dealership, and the NoAccessorySplash hack works perfectly. I have full iPod control from both the NAV/Steering wheel and the iPhone itself.

I DO still get the "This accessory was not designed . . ." message, so I just checked Cydia and it looks like Popup Blocker will fix this.

100% perfect!

 

I agree entirely that the iPod integration is a joke. When I called Toyota Customer Experience to inquire about updates, they told me they encouraged me to have people call the 800 331 4331 phone number to express their dissatisfaction.

What they would not tell me is if there would be any help for those of us unfortunate to have already purchased the vehicle.

 

Just received my Kensington LiquidAUX Auxiliary Car Kit with Remote for iPod last night. It works great! Just remember to turn off the audio Bluetooth connection. I was getting weird "cracking" noises. Still bummed that I can't use my navigation screen to scroll my music, however, the steering wheel remote makes up for it. And of course the $25.00 price tag was awesome too.

 

Thats the solution I have gone for. Finally came to the conclusion that the best iPod interface available was the original iPod. Price is an added advantage plus no dissembling the car and creating any new rattles or marks. I usually select my entertainment before leaving home and only ever skip forward or back a track. The LiquidAux works well with the iPod in the armrest, hope its remote is not a thief magnet however and thinking about relocating away from the steering wheel to somewhere less obvious.

Is it possible that the cracking noises are from the problem they mention about earth loop? I expect to receive my earth loop isolator in the mail today.

David

 

Settled in now with my Prius ITech.

Very happy with the way the LiquidAux fits in with the way I use my iPod in the car. Only thing I did not really like is fitting the remote to the steering wheel. Could not find any position that I liked and finally I used one of the 3M Command sticky pads to mount the remote on the console next to the shifter.

So process now is to leave the iPod in the arm rest, if I dod not wish to continue from where I was last time I use the iPod itself to select a new song/audiobook etc.

The car did not have a USB connection sort of confirming the rumour that Oz iPods are not getting it very soon. Looked under the drivers seat and there is a big electronics box there with lots of wires. Not sure if that is part of the audio system and the place where the Viastech unit connects in. Might look closer some other time but at present my audio options are suitable for my needs so do not want to risk fiddling with anything. Certainly do not want to risk introducing any rattles by interfering with the dashboard or other trim.

David

 

Has everyone put in a sw request to Apple to use AVRCP1.3/1.4? If they update the iPhone/iPod Touch firmware to support this, then we should get full sterring wheel control and Nav screen control.

 

Where and how does one do that?

 

Go to Apple - Feedback and select your device (iPhone or iPod Touch) and type a nice note to them explaing that AVRCP 1.4 is supported by your vehicles Nav system and that you would like their technology to catch up.

 

VAIS update - Sorry to say guys and gals but I have stopped working with VAIS on the VML. I want to say this though. The product does a great job and I still highly recommend it for anyone who wants to keep a factory system.