Recommended I-pod player

Just a quick note. If you are a PC user, there are options other than Itunes for syncing your Ipod. I personally use Winamp.

My music library was already managed in Winamp, plugged in the new(old) Ipod and just hit "sync". Magically, all my music made it's way to the Ipod. It even transcodes the incompatible formats.

There are other options out there, I just happen to have been using winamp for years now.


David

 

If you're talking about the DICE, you can get it right on this site. Just click on the Prius Shop button at the top of the page.

 

The most popular downloading site is iTunes, but eMusic is terrific. If you enjoy off-the-beaten-path music, you should take a look at the selection there.

 

I already have an I pod but it does not work with the auxilliary unless you have a cable. anyone know what cable is needed for a 2008 package 2 Prius?

 

If you have the AUX jack in the center console, then all you technically need is an audio extension cord with a 3.5mm phono plug on each end. Any electronics store or RadioShack will have them. (Although they usually overcharge by a good margin on things like this)

If you are the kinda that is a bit of a pack rat and saves spare cables that come in packages with other things, you may have just what you need laying around the house. I know I've got about 5 of them scattered about.


David

 

Does anyone know if the DICE sold here on PriusChat is the same as their "SilverLine" model?

 

Well, any stereo store can install it. You can even install it yourself in about 30 minutes. I've attached instructions for the VAIS (does the same thing as the DICE), which is what I used when I install my DICE.

If you're worried about voiding the warranty if the dealer doesn't install it, remember the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975. In part:

This means that, under the provisions of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975, an automotive dealership/carmaker cannot void your warranty because your vehicle has been modified with aftermarket parts. They (the manufacturers) have to prove that the failure was the direct result of the installed aftermarket part. Unfortunately, too many folks have gone to a dealer to have warranty service performed on their modified vehicle only to have the dealer refuse to cover the defective items. The dealer usually states, that because of the aftermarket parts installed, the warranty is void (without even attempting to determine whether or not the aftermarket part caused the problem). This is illegal...period.

You can read more about it at Warranty and Aftermarket Parts - AOL Autos

Good question, I believe it is, but maybe Danny can answer it better. I had the original and upgraded to the SilverLine and have been happy with it.

 

No Flamers Please, just kidding. I love my iPod. I got the 80G when it 1st came out. I have at least 40 full movies downloaded to it. Most of which I just downloaded to my iTunes from my own DVD library. I also have somewhere around 3-4,000 songs and too many pictures to count on it. I plug it in to my Tahoe and it will play the movie on the video screen as well as the Nav Screen if I want it to. Now I do not have to carry my DVD's with me and chance them getting scratched. I hope to do this on my new Prius as well, if I ever get one that is.............

 

I just received and installed my DICE unit that I ordered here on PriusChat's Shop. You get a decent discount when you order through PC too. The unit arrived 2 days after I ordered it and the shipping was free.

Installation was fairly simple if you follow the directions someone posted here for removing the lower glove box and the vent panel. Just make sure you have all the cables ready that comes with the package (I misplaced one of mine but that's another story ). Once it's all hooked up it takes a little bit to figure out how to set it up for the first time through your MFD, but once that's done it's a decent interface that allows you to access and play all of your songs, playlists and albums from the MFD and from your steering wheel.

The interface could be better but it basically uses the CD Changer screen to kind of substitute for the different iPod functions. For example, when you press the soft button on the MFD for Disc [1] and then press the "Title" soft button, you will see the current song's title. As you press the hard "Seek" up and down buttons you will move to the next song. So from the Disc[1] mode you can scroll through songs by track.

When you press the soft button for Disc[2] and then the "Title" soft button, you can select from your playlists. You can also select by Album and something else maybe artist (I don't have the manual here with me and I'm still learning how to use it).

The difficult part is that you have to remember which Disc button does which function (1=tracks, 2=playlists, 3=albums?, etc). There's no special labeling on the MFD for these functions. That doesn't bother me much 'cause once you figure it out you really won't need to see the labels anymore. It's just a bit of a learning curve. But if you want a nice iPod functioning display on your MFD you will need to go with another more expensive device.

If you want to be able to view your videos on your MFD you will need an additional Video Cradle from DICE plus the LockPick from Coastal (or some other similar device). The DICE unit alone won't do that, but then again, do you really want to watch videos while you're driving? I just got it so my wife could enjoy her music from her iPod Touch while driving without having to use headphones. The sound quality was also very good, much better than those cheesy FM transmitters.

 

Do you know a device which provides a iPod-type functioning display on the MFD?

Thanks

 

The only other one that I looked at was a product from Coastal Tech, ULTIMATE IPOD. It has a nicer user interface and allows picture and video display from the iPod on the MFD but you can't control the iPod from the MFD or the steering wheel. It comes with a separate remote control unit that you use to operate the iPod functions. It's more expensive because you need to install their LockPick product first ($230) which unlocks a lot of the restrictions on the MFD (Nav and Radio Text while driving) as well as opens up the video and audio inputs to the MFD. Then you have to buy the iPod interface kit which is another $120 so you're looking at $350 total. I really liked the ability to control the iPod from the MFD and steering wheel which is why I went with the DICE unit.

There's another product by a company called VAIS (?) I think but they were also very expensive. Here's a topic that discusses it a little more...http://priuschat.com/forums/audio-electronics/45121-full-ipod-integration.html.

 

Re: Best Buy and Tweeter- Both Employ Nimrods.

There would be a difference. If you were to use a cable like they suggested, like the one at DealExtreme: $1.60 3.5mm Audio Jack Connection Cable (1.5M) you would be able to to control the volume from both the iPod and the radio. If you got the one like you suggested the only control would be from the radio, but I image the quality might be even better. And you'd be plugging it into the same place in the Prius for both cables.

Take a look at Toyota/Lexus Audio,Video and Information Solutions (Lexus Auxiliary input,Lexus iPod integration,Lexus XM integration) and see what you'd see on the MFD. The DICE does the same thing (it's cheaper too). You can also see it at DICE ELECTRONICS- iPod Car Integration - Hard-wired. And you can control the iPod on both the MFD and the steering wheel controls from either units. The up and down on the steering wheel changes can change the playlist or the songs within a playlist. Neither will display videos or pictures, but they will recharge the iPod on the go, which is something a simple cable won't do.

I have a 2005 which did not have an AUX input so getting a DICE or VAIS was the way to go if you didn't want to use the cassette adapter.

 

I'd advise you do a search here on Coastal Tech before ordering to see the threads. In short, they have great products, but you might not hear from them for months, or you might get it next week.

 

Yeah, that's why I wound up going with the DICE unit. That and the price.

 

Thanks, I am a Pack Rat but I collect useless stuff. lol
I will go to Best Buy. Thanks for your help.

 

If you have the DICE SilverLine it's best to have it in SAT mode. You'll see what each button does, plus you can use the tuning knob to zip through playlists and songs.

 

I get a little confused on what audio system you need to have installed to use an aftermarket IPOD integration unit. Does it have to be the multi-CD changer (or SAT for that matter), or can it be a single disk unit?

 

All the Prius OEM radios from 2004 on have a connector in the back right behind the tuning knob. That's for the satellite connection. The DICE or VAIS plugs in there. It doesn't matter whether you have the single disk or multi. If you do have a SAT system, both DICE and VAIS have a "Y" cable to plug in both the SAT and the iPod integration unit. There may be a difference on whether you have the NAV or not, but there are units for both.