Alpine/iPod Head Units
I have an installer friend with an "in" to Alpine. He called me today to say that the expected debut of the iPod cable/box/charger unit is now pushed to September. Should retail for around $100 when available.
Also, I asked if it was compatible with existing AI-Net receivers. Answer was that it "may or may not be" on a case to case basis, since it is software dependant. Definitely 100% compatible with 2004 AI-Net HUs.
[430 byte] By [
tanakasan] at [2007-11-9 19:45:59]
# 1 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
New to the ipod thingy... Maybe you could fill me in on what exactly Alpine is offering. I thought the company was producing ipod-compatible HUs. I wasn't aware that they would offer stand-alone interfaces for use with older products. I did read that some Alpine device was selling for $100 but how does that compare with the ice>link at $200 without full control? In your opinion, what's the best hook-up for the OLDER Ai-Net HU?
Thanks
# 2 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
I do think the Alpine setup sounds pretty neat, but I'm really not too keen on the look of the head units. I think Sony and Blaupunkt make some much nicer looking head units. So I'm debating whether to go for the Alpine head unit for full functionality but horrible looks, or go for an alternative nicer looking unit but sacrificing full control
# 3 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
Yeah, I agree that the looks of the Alpine could be better... I also wonder about spending more on proprietary hardware. It would be better, in the long run to wait for some company to develop a full-control generic i-box. I know, this is asking for alot!
At any rate, for us existing Alpine Ai-Net users, I sure hope some interface surfaces from Alpine with decent features.
# 4 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
I checked alpine's website and was unable to determine which models were the 2004 ai-net HUs. Does anyone know which models are?
# 5 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
They haven't released that info yet.
# 6 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
It seems if the last letter of the HU model # is A (i.e. CDA-9835) then it's an AI-Net model. From an alpine press release in January of 2004, CDA-9835 CDA-9833 CDA-9831 and the CDA-9820XM would all be 2004 models. It looks like the IVA-D300 would be a 2004 model as well, but I'm not sure.
# 7 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the "A" in the p/n number does not a ipod-compatible HU make! Sure, you can run an iPod from the Ai-Net but I don't think you will get full-control. That is what Alpine is addressing with some of it's new units. Maybe somebody can chime-in on the level of control through Ai-Net alone.
# 8 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
that is correct. the "a" refers to being ai-net compatible, not fully compatible with ipods. I was referring to the top post that stated "100% compatible with 2004 AI-Net HUs".
# 9 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
I'm not sure where the confusion is coming from, but any Ai-NET headunit will be able to control the iPod-ready module.
People seem to think that the iPod plugs into the ACTUAL headunit, and that's not the case. Think of the iPod-ready kit as an adapter that tricks the headunit into thinking it's connected to a CD changer.
While it's conceivable that not all Ai-NET headunits will work, certainly all MP3 Ai-NET headunits will be compatible because they have the navigation setup required. The only increased integration that you might get from a 2004 or newer HU is the ability for "iPod" to appear in the source selection list.
Here's a picture of the iPod-ready unit thanks to VW Vortex (http://www.vwvortex.com)
http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/uploads/alpine.jpg
# 10 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
I for one am confused! My take on this is that Alpine is introducing head units that will recognize iPod and operate it and display it as such- not just some CD changer or "AUX" with basic control. Why would Alpine go to all the trouble to focus on the iPod and not offer complete control over the thing? If that were the case, one could just go get some Ai-Net cable and some RCA patch cable and be done with it. Whether the iPod plugs into the HU or a ibox is not the issue, it's how much control is available from the HU. I won't buy a new HU just to get a little more control over what you get now over the Ai-Net and a non-iPod Alpine. In fact, and this is MY question, what additional benefit will there be in purchasing the i-box and mating it to a pre-2004 iPod HU? Nobody seems to know for sure (see top post).
# 11 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
Okay, in reviewing my last post I can see where things could get confusing.
So here's my best attempt to spell out exactly what iPod-ready is:
This is a completely integrated solution for using your iPod in your vehicle. It allows you full control over playback (forward/backward scan, advance and play pause), as well as display of ID3 tags on your MP3 files. Basically, the screen and controls on your iPod are recreated using the display and buttons on the Alpine headunit that iPod-ready system is connected to. Additionally, the iPod is charged and power is automatically controlled so that when switching to a different source, the iPod is turned off. It will also resume where playback left off when switching back to it, or when turning the headunit back on.
Now to clarify what I said in my post above. As you can see in the picture in that post, the iPod connects to an interface box that is controlled by the headunit over Alpine's Ai-NET BUS. Basically, the headunit thinks it's controlling a CD changer, and the iPod-ready box takes those inputs and recreates the controls for the iPod. EX: When you hit the play/pause button on the headunit, it sends a signal on the Ai-NET BUS (that's just their name for the protocal they use to control their CD changers and accessories) to pause CD playback in the changer. The iPod-ready interface then takes that signal, and changes it into a signal that the iPod recognizes as pause. Everything else works similarly.
For text display, the iPod-ready box converts the ID3 tags into what the headunit expects to come from the CD changer in the form of CD text info. It's then displayed on the headunit.
So as you can see, the iPod-ready interface module (the beige box in the picture above is what makes the magic happen). The headunit just things it's controlling a CD changer. That's why any headunit that makes use of the Ai-NET BUS system should be able to control iPod-ready just fine.
Of course we'll have to wait and see, but rest assured this is the ultimate control for your iPod in your car, it's not just an auxilary input for Alpine owners (which already exists).
# 12 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
Skicrave- Wow, short of getting it direclty from Alpine, this is a very good description of how the control takes place! Excellent! I think, if the rumors hold true, that for $100 this is worth a try. I guess we wait until official release.
# 13 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
Good, I'm glad that helped clear things up.
Also, I would expect it to cost a bit more than $100, probably up near $200 at least (Alpine gear is spendy, but worth it).
# 14 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
Nope, *expected* cost around $100, at least thats what my installer friend's Alpine connection stated. And debut pushed to September, not this summer as originally planned. Of course, he could be wrong, I could be wrong, dates change, etc, etc.
He also stated that they will guarantee compatibility on 2004 AI-Net HUs. Any existing AI-Net HUs "may or may not" be compatible. Need to wait and see.
You are correct in stating that this is not just an Aux in adapter. This will allow full control of the pod from the HU.
Can't wait!
# 15 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
Yeah, can't wait either. Maybe I'll sell my almost new CDA-7998 in the mean time...
# 16 Re: Alpine/iPod Head Units
Originally posted by tanakasan
This will allow full control of the pod from the HU.
It might be more correct to say "... ALMOST full control...".
I also talked to an "insider" at Alpine. The info I got was the you will be able to browse by Artist or Album via the HU, but not Genre. That kinda sucks, but you can make up for it fairly easily using Smart Playlists. Which brings up the next issue...
I think I read somewhere that the Alpine HU support will include allowing you to play playlists that are on the iPod, but until I see that in writing from Alpine, I will not assume that it is true. If it's NOT true, then I'm back to having a problem with not being able to browse by genre.
Also, regardless of other support for playlists, I would wager that the Alpine HU will NOT provide support for browsing the iPod and adding tracks to the On-The-Go playlist. That would be another (smaller) disappointment.
All in all, as long as it has basic playlist support, I will still buy it. But if they don't have genre and on-the-go playlist support in '04 and add it in '05, I will be ####ed.
