Anyone ever hooked up an iPod Shuffle to their 2012 via USB? Can you control it via the screen just like other iPods? Does it show album art?
If you don't have one to test with, maybe you could borrow somebody's and give it a try. I suspect it would work.
I agree. It's still running iOS, so it should work the same as any other iPod as far as the controls go. Not sure about the album art. I suppose it depends on whether iTunes loads it onto the Shuffle or not.
Assuming that the 2012 prius v (wagon) is very similar to your 2012 prius, then the answer to the first question is Yes - you can control via screen. My shuffle doesn't have the concept of album (go itunes), so I have no idea on your 2nd question.
I doubt that the iPod Shuffle is running iOS. Same goes with any iPods other than the Touch. There are many generations of iPod Shuffles and some pre-date iOS. In the interests of keeping the costs and hardware requirements/footprint down, I seriously doubt Apple would shoehorn iOS onto such a device. You might find http://www.wired.com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/16-02/ff_iphone?currentPage=all insightful (search for operating and embedded). As for album art, it seems unlikely iTunes would bother putting it on there (and wasting flash storage) since none of the Shuffles even have a screen and IIRC, none can output any video.
Anything w/a color screen probably is capable. There were plenty of iPod models w/black and white screens. I had a 3rd gen click wheel black and white iPod. IIRC, that was around the time when the iPod Photo (had color LCD but couldn't play videos yet) was available.