iPod in G37

[BoilermakerG]

I just read through the options/packages posted for the 08 G37, and I noticed there is a "Digital Audio Interface (iPod)" included in the premium package. Anyone know what this is? The 07 sedan has A/V inputs via RCA cables, which is analog, so I'm curious if the G37 includes some sort of true iPod interface which could be controlled on the control screen?

[07G35S]

The wording, which specifically states ipod interface, implies it must integrate like other makes are doing. I hope it does, and I hope its an easy retrofit on the 07 sedan (considering its the same radio).

[MrRyte]

It's a shame that carmakers only make intergration kits for the IPOD but exclude other portable MP3 players. I know that the IPOD is the most popular brand but still.....:rolleyes:

[Investigator]

I am currently waiting for my 07 G35S to arrive. I almost didn't buy the car because of no ipod interface. I really hope there is a retrofit for the sedan. A very frustrating point for me.

[HokieSean24]

It's a shame that carmakers only make intergration kits for the IPOD but exclude other portable MP3 players. I know that the IPOD is the most popular brand but still.....:rolleyes:

no joke!! I hate iPod and everything else Apple and Volkswagon!

[Investigator]

Hokie, you hateing the ipod has little to do with this thread. I have my own reservations about it as well. Since they do have over 70% of the market share (5 at my house) it makes sense that aftermarket or Infiniti themselves would have some kind of integration. The "music box" just seems a bit cumbersome at present time.

[HokieSean24]

Hokie, you hateing the ipod has little to do with this thread. I have my own reservations about it as well. Since they do have over 70% of the market share (5 at my house) it makes sense that aftermarket or Infiniti themselves would have some kind of integration. The "music box" just seems a bit cumbersome at present time.

The main point of my post was that I, like MrRyte, wish the car makers would make an integration that would not work ONLY for iPod branded merchandise.

The thing I find so funny about the iPod phenomenon is that not so long ago Apple was sueing Microsoft because their software only worked on the PC platform etc etc, essentially monopolizing portions of the industry.... but now its OK for the MP3 player industry to be over ran by 1 maker?!?! Seems like a double standard to me?!?!

So, I will rephrase. I too wish Infiniti (and other car makers) would work towards developing integration for all MP3 players, not solely iPod. For the record, I still hate iPods, everything else Apple, and Volkswagons. :hsdance:

As for the music box, it should allow for the upload of MP3s from the CF card and MP3 cds, not just ripping. It should just act as digital storage. Thats my opinion anyways...

[volsfan0911]

Es ist "volkswagen" bitte :) And, having watched my girlfriend dump $$$$$ and hours upon hours of returning to the stealership just to hear the service manager say 'we can't find the problem or fix it, sorry' after $350 in labor to allegedly track down an electrical gremlin, I'll never own one. Not that I don't like the GTI. But her Cabrio was the worst example of automotive engineering I've ever seen besides a POS Saturn Ion I had to endure as a rental for a week. The Cabrio would make random beeping noises (hearing test sound) when using the turn signals. The radio would randomly shut down and go into "lock out" mode. The doors froze shut and couldn't be opened under 32F (not a good thing in North Jersey at the time). Fuses #8 and #23 (right rear brake light and right rear taillight) would blow at least 3 times a month. The vent direction knobs broke off and fell into the ducts. On all 4 of the dash mounted locations (try fixing that rattle without tearing the dash completely apart). And of course, the pinchweld surrounding the windshield was completely rusted out. Oh - did I mention the tie rods crapped out twice?!? At 42,000 miles...............

[HokieSean24]

Es ist "volkswagen" bitte :) And, having watched my girlfriend dump $$$$$ and hours upon hours of returning to the stealership just to hear the service manager say 'we can't find the problem or fix it, sorry' after $350 in labor to allegedly track down an electrical gremlin, I'll never own one. Not that I don't like the GTI. But her Cabrio was the worst example of automotive engineering I've ever seen besides a POS Saturn Ion I had to endure as a rental for a week. The Cabrio would make random beeping noises (hearing test sound) when using the turn signals. The radio would randomly shut down and go into "lock out" mode. The doors froze shut and couldn't be opened under 32F (not a good thing in North Jersey at the time). Fuses #8 and #23 (right rear brake light and right rear taillight) would blow at least 3 times a month. The vent direction knobs broke off and fell into the ducts. On all 4 of the dash mounted locations (try fixing that rattle without tearing the dash completely apart). And of course, the pinchweld surrounding the windshield was completely rusted out. Oh - did I mention the tie rods crapped out twice?!? At 42,000 miles...............

If we must go on a tangent in order to have some conversation on this forum, I am game. I wouldn't own one for many of the same reasons, after one of my ex gfs spent about $800 trying to get the check engine light off and the service guy ended up telling her to 'put a piece of electrical tape over it' - I vowed, NEVER. I have a co-worker here in the office who had an 06 Passat's engine blow with only 8,000mi on it. I helped her broker a new deal for a new 07 keeping her payments the same. I also dont exactly like the hippy personage, but I will try to keep my very personal opinions to myself.... ;)

[MrMichael]

The main point of my post was that I, like MrRyte, wish the car makers would make an integration that would not work ONLY for iPod branded merchandise.

And how do you suppose that would work? All the different manufacturers would have to agree on a music transmission standard. Ain't gonna happen, ever. And the music industry is not going to allow the coping of songs off an mp3 player into a car's hard drive.

The thing I find so funny about the iPod phenomenon is that not so long ago Apple was sueing Microsoft because their software only worked on the PC platform etc etc, essentially monopolizing portions of the industry.... but now its OK for the MP3 player industry to be over ran by 1 maker?!?! Seems like a double standard to me?!?!

Ipod and software work on windows and macs, so what's your point again? People vote with their wallet and the fact is that the ipod hardware and itunes software for organization are the best options out there. No one has been able to compete yet although it would be good for everyone if someone could.

[07G35S]

When did this become the anti Volkswagen thread?

oh snap................

http://homepage.mac.com/dtnelson/iblog/C531572587/E20060320230621/Media/VW.png

[HokieSean24]

And how do you suppose that would work? All the different manufacturers would have to agree on a music transmission standard. Ain't gonna happen, ever. And the music industry is not going to allow the coping of songs off an mp3 player into a car's hard drive.



Ipod and software work on windows and macs, so what's your point again? People vote with their wallet and the fact is that the ipod hardware and itunes software for organization are the best options out there. No one has been able to compete yet although it would be good for everyone if someone could.

It could work the same way RCA inputs work, they could all use a similar style connection that could hook to the car, create a headphone style jack that could carry the information, I dont think it would be difficult if they wanted to do it.

My point isnt about iPod and the software, yes, they now work on Windows, it wasnt ALWAYS so, but they do in order to increase their potential. They have a very disproportional share of the market when it comes to aftermarket products and vehicle integration etc etc, yes, I realize this is b/c they are the most popular. I think you would be very surprised if you checked out some products, JUST because iPod sells the most units does not make it the best option. The Creative and now the new Microsoft MP3 players are excellent and offer many features iPods dont. The biggest factor though is EVERYONE else has an iPod, name recognition (most people call ALL MP3 players iPods, like tissues Kleenexes), and the simple fact that you can get ALL the add-ons in the world for them. They have also used great marketing. Ugh, and if you like iTunes and paying $1 for every song, more power to ya! You can buy CDs cheaper. Check out Napster and pay $15 a month for ALL the music you want- it wont work with your iPod though.

[HokieSean24]

When did this become the anti Volkswagen thread?

oh snap................

http://homepage.mac.com/dtnelson/iblog/C531572587/E20060320230621/Media/VW.png

unfortunately, I guess thats where it had to go to generate some discussion in this forum... I have to admit, those commercials are semi-funny, but I still would NOT buy one...

[MrRyte]

When did this become the anti Volkswagen thread?

oh snap................

http://homepage.mac.com/dtnelson/iblog/C531572587/E20060320230621/Media/VW.png
Wow....talk about WAY off-topic. :36:

Ok; not sure if my input is going to add fuel to the fire; I'll at least try to steer it back on track.....

What I was getting was that the newer vehicles only offer IPOD integration and nothing else in regards to music integration. Even though the IPOD is the most popular option, the other portable MP3 players should at least try to get the vehicle manufacturers to consider them as well. Since IPOD is proprietary, I'd be willing to bet that Apple saw another way to make money by marketing the IPOD integration software to the car makers and thus increase their popularity.

Slick marketing can work wonders. ;)

[HokieSean24]

Wow....talk about WAY off-topic. :36:

Ok; not sure if my input is going to add fuel to the fire; I'll at least try to steer it back on track.....

What I was getting was that the newer vehicles only offer IPOD integration and nothing else in regards to music integration. Even though the IPOD is the most popular option, the other portable MP3 players should at least try to get the vehicle manufacturers to consider them as well. Since IPOD is proprietary, I'd be willing to bet that Apple saw another way to make money by marketing the IPOD integration software to the car makers and thus increase their popularity.

Slick marketing can work wonders. ;)

I agree about the marketing, not sure about whether Apple pushed for the integration or the car companies, it was obviously a deal that would make money for both parties. I also agree, whichever way it works, that other MP3 player makers need to be included in the integrations somehow/someway. Unless the iPod comes free with the car, they should not limit MP3 integration to one specific brand, even if that brand does control the majority of the market share...

[dmkozak]

I agree about the marketing, not sure about whether Apple pushed for the integration or the car companies, it was obviously a deal that would make money for both parties. I also agree, whichever way it works, that other MP3 player makers need to be included in the integrations somehow/someway. Unless the iPod comes free with the car, they should not limit MP3 integration to one specific brand, even if that brand does control the majority of the market share...

I might be able to help you with this. The "push" was a joint effort between Apple and the vehicle manufacturers. However, Apple's cooperation was restricted to manufacturers who would agree to an exclusive iPod interface. Nissan's AV inputs was a way to avoid Apple's exclusivity requirement (plus, before Zune, Creative did not have a vehicle interface, so iPod was the only game in town, making the exclusivity "no big deal").

Bottom line; if you are a vehicle manufacturer and you want to integrate a MP3 player into your existing audio system, you probably want iPod as your first MP3 player because there are so many more iPods out there than anything else. When you go to Apple, you learn they have what you need, and you can get it so long as you are willing to limit your integration to iPod. Since that is in your best interest, you agree.

[HokieSean24]

I might be able to help you with this. The "push" was a joint effort between Apple and the vehicle manufacturers. However, Apple's cooperation was restricted to manufacturers who would agree to an exclusive iPod interface. Nissan's AV inputs was a way to avoid Apple's exclusivity requirement (plus, before Zune, Creative did not have a vehicle interface, so iPod was the only game in town, making the exclusivity "no big deal").

Bottom line; if you are a vehicle manufacturer and you want to integrate a MP3 player into your existing audio system, you probably want iPod as your first MP3 player because there are so many more iPods out there than anything else. When you go to Apple, you learn they have what you need, and you can get it so long as you are willing to limit your integration to iPod. Since that is in your best interest, you agree.

Yeah, that sounds perfectly logical and also backs up how Apple how has tried to monopolize the MP3 player market. I just wish it weren't so. I use the Aux Inputs for my Creative Vision a good bit. I have recently been decrypting my protected Napster files to regular MP3s and loading them on CF cards and using those in order to be able to control the songs/music with the car controls. That coupled with the in-motion video lockout severely limits the funcitonality of the Aux. Inputs.....

[juicychus]

that's why there's an aux jack too. but if you happen to own an ipod ( and the chances are probably good) then you have the option to have an interface through the car

[juicychus]

btw, my 25 cents, if i were microsoft, i'd be pushing for wireless interface in cars for the zune.

[marsb007]

what about a standard mini-usb jack? I know my gigabeat has it...

Mini-USB is an accepted standard, and many phones/mp3 players already have them. It shouldn't be that hard to implement...

[MrMichael]

what about a standard mini-usb jack? I know my gigabeat has it...

Mini-USB is an accepted standard, and many phones/mp3 players already have them. It shouldn't be that hard to implement...

Thats just the connector though, even IF the car had a mini-usb port on it what would happen if a device were plugged in. Would it treat the storage as a simple external HD? Or would you interface with it via some type of API to access the commands natively on the device? From what I understand with all these ipod interfaces it actually docks with the car and sends ipod commands to the ipod to control it.

So its not just HOW to connect it to the car that has to be a standard but the communication with the device that also has to be standardized. That communcation part is the part that will NEVER be the same across all devices. So car makers have to go with whatever is popular at the time. It happens to be the ipod and there really is no end in sight yet.

[marsb007]

well, yes... anything docked would essentially act as a mass storage device. It would then be up to the car manufacturer to design the software which would play the mp3s stored on the Ipod/Gigabeat/Iphone/Smartphone... any compliant mass storage device. That's essentially what any MP3 player, including the IPOD is... a huge hard drive with proprietary software which plays what is stored on it... I dont see any problems...

Of course, the problem would only arise when people so enamored with Ipods, etc... ***** and moan that the software designed by the manufacturer of the vehicle does not exactly emulate their ipod/etc.

While I do understand the reason for using an ipod (I happen to have 2... along with a gigabeat and a pocket pc phone... all of which act as MP3 players)... nothing can be exactly like the source, unless it is the source!

Unfortunately, the best we can hope for is usability... and at this point, a mass storage device, with an ok interface, and a standard plug is waaaaaay more than anyone has done... but look at infiniti... they already have a way of using the CF slot. They obviously have the APIs/Decoders necessary to process MP3 files... all you have to do is have essentially a USB interface... aka new theoretical design.

Seems pretty easy!

[ryan.mccabe.2]

I have been on the fence about this one, but I have to chime in.

The issue with iPod integration in vehichles is that people want to transfer not only the sound to thier speakers, but Track titles to thier dashboard, and sweet sweet electrons back to the iPod's batteries all at the same time. Guess what - this will be a proprietary jack for every manufacturer until the end of time.

DRM is the real problem. People that moan and groan about how Napster or Urge music won't work on thier iPod need to consult the Googles. Once you burn that garbage to a disk - it is yours to rip as you please, minus the DRM.

I bought a CD some time ago that would noly let you rip it through softqware on the disk, and only in WMA or MP3. Guess what - I burned a copy and just like that I have snazzy little M4A files. :eek:

M4A > MP3.
MP3 is slowly going the way of the buffalo. With the ridiculous storage space available on today's increasingly affordable hard drives, 128 kbs MP3 ( which used to be the accepted standard btw ) is a thing of the past. Seagate is going to start selling Terabyte hard drives later this year! M4A is a far more advanced compression algorithm than MP3, one of the best of the "lossy" methods. There are also great methods of lossless compression, namely apple lossless and FLAC. If you really want the best quality - you aren't going to get it from any compressed file - BUY THE CD. Support the artists you want to see make more music. The artist gets a larger cut of the profit when you buy the CD, as Steeve Jobs doesn't get his nickel or what have you. Besides, nothing beats ripping the plastic off of a highly anticipated new album by your favorite artist. Not to mention that your kids will ever have the same exitement going through your iTunes / WMP library in 30 years as they would going through actual tangible music that was so enriching when you had that bad hair decade before they were born. Going through my best friends record stacks when I was younger is what got me into music so passionately to begin with.

I think that was more than two cents, but I feel better now...where's my coffee?

[HokieSean24]

Our kids will have just as much fun scrolling through our then archaic MP3 players which will also include pictures and video- giving them a better glimpse of our lives all in 1 package! haha-

[MrMichael]

well, yes... anything docked would essentially act as a mass storage device. It would then be up to the car manufacturer to design the software which would play the mp3s stored on the Ipod/Gigabeat/Iphone/Smartphone... any compliant mass storage device. That's essentially what any MP3 player, including the IPOD is... a huge hard drive with proprietary software which plays what is stored on it... I dont see any problems...
Except the RIAA complaining about the music being easily copyable if you open the car up to having direct access as if the device were just a hard drive. There is a reason you can't easily copy tracks off an mp3 player but you can easily put them onto it. They don't want you taking your fully loaded player over to a friends house and dropping your thousands of tracks on their pc and taking your friends tracks as well.

This is not the makers of the players issues but the recording industries concessions in order to do any of this in the first place.

The artist gets a larger cut of the profit when you buy the CD

Actually the artist hardly gets anything when you buy a cd. If you really want them to get your money go to their concerts, buy their overpriced tee-shirts, see if they sell direct via their websites. A lot of the money they make off cd's just goes to paying back the record company for the studio time and cd pressing.