I finally looked around enough to figure out what Entune is about. It looks cool but unfortunately some people, like myself, won't be able to use it really. I don't have an unlimited (or even limited) data plan at the moment nor do I have a smart phone to pair with it. Maybe if I pick up a hitch-hiker they'll have a phone plan with data so at least I could listen to Pandora while he's in the car.... But not quite worth the 40 or 50 ducks a month to play with that I don't think. Maybe someday.
If you don't have a data plan, you won't stream Pandora anyway. I'd just hook in with the aux jack and listen that way.
I have uninstalled Entune from my 4G phone, due to it having caused the phone to lock up, and also because of the way it seems to want to take over everything. Seems as though it should be easier to turn it on and off, instead of having to sign in every time or leave it connected all the time. Maybe it works better with other phones? As for Pandora, I have it on my phone, but can get music I really want in the car from my iPod, or listen to a mix on XM, without the hassles involving Entune. Maybe there will be some software updates available soon. Until then, it's not for me.
I have no problems using Entune without even having my phone in the car. With the phone in the car it works fine too. My phone is a Verizon, Motorola, Droid Bionic. You can sign up for Entune using a desk top at home. There is no cost for the first three years in my PIP base model.
Internet-connected mobile phones make many great inventions possible. Unfortunately, all of those inventions do need an Internet-connected mobile phone. The good news is that they'll get constantly cheaper to own as the years go by.
I don't have any songs stored on my phone. My iPod is not Bluetooth equipped, so I use the aux jack for that. My Entune systems asks for a phone when I try to do anything like Pandora or Maps without the phone. I get a message that says "no internet connection, would you like to configure a phone now?" I can use XM without the phone. Planeflyer, just what are you able to use the Entune system for without a phone? It says in the info about the system something to the effect that it is designed to work with smart phones.
I think entune sucks on an iPhone . I just use Bluetooth. I hate having to plug the phone in to use the entune features. iPad ?
There are apparently some issues with the Apple implementation of certain Bluetooth profiles (which work fine on Android phones). Toyota is working on work-arounds, so at some point, the USB cable won't be necessary. While the Entune app does not work on my Blackberry, the phone, e-mail/text message integration, and media player functionality work quite nicely over Bluetooth.
I'm a little annoyed that I have to use my iPhone as the data connection for traffic info. I have unlimited data, so I'm not concerned about how much data it will use. But I'm more annoyed that I have to plug my phone in order to use it for the data pipe. I'm hoping Apple & Toyota will both come up with a fix. Roger, have you tried plugging the iPod into the USB port rather than the aux port? I personally prefer using the USB port since I can then use the steering wheel controls to go forward/back a track, get track info, etc. You an also browse playlists, artists, etc, from the MFD touchscreen.
I don't mind plugging the phone in, as long as Toyota put a 1Amp charger in, and not a 1/2 Amp charger. With 1/2 Amp, the battery will deplete as you make a call.
David, Thanks for the suggestion about the USB port. I will give it a try. The only problem that I can forsee is running the battery down on the iPod. Having had my '06 and the iPod both for nearly six years, I am quite used to "listening blind" by using the shuffle feature for my 400+ songs. I have to remember to shut the iPod off when I leave the car, as otherwise it keeps going and runs down its battery, once it loses the 12v supply.
In theory, the iPod should shut itself off when the car is turned off. It's msupposed to be sent a signal telling it to do so. I know that when using the Bluetooth connection for the iPhones, when I shut the car off, it stops playing, and I believe when I've had the iPhone tethered to the car, it also stopped playing once I shut the car off. We have an old 30G video iPod that I'll have dig out and experiment with. I know the feeling of "listening blind" all too well. I've been using a tape adapter in our minivan and my 2005 for a long time. I much prefer being able to use the MFD to see what I'm listening to, and the ability to easily change tracks via the steering wheel controls. Doesn't hurt that the sound level is a bit more uniform and that the iPod or iPhone gets charged at the same time.
I noticed that after the IOS 5.0.1 upgrade on my iphone 4S the bluetooth network link to entune now seems to work much more reliably. I had issues before that required rebooting the phone but now it seems to work much better.
Tried the USB port, and it charges the iPod and stops it when the car is turned off or the audio source is changed. How good that is for the iPod, I'm not sure.
I've had an iPod in my 2006 for probably 5 years (connected via a DICE Electronics gadget which charges it and lets me control it via the steering wheel) and I can't say that my iPod has seen any ill effects. It's been a while since I've taken it out of the car and ran it down to see how long the battery lasted, but last time it I did, it kept playing for at least a day. It's an iPod Photo branded by HP so it's really really old.
I don't understand the value of Entune. On the Basic Prius, is the deal that you get to pay $5/month so you can use the data connection on your smartphone to deliver apps to the screen in the car? Doesn't seem worth $5/month. The Advanced package looks like a better proposition.