USB and Safety Connect Are Almost Here!

Doug,

If I understand you correctly, eventually one will only be able to get Nav with SC. I put a deposit down months ago for a Prius IV with SR but wanted to wait for SC. It was my understanding that SC would be included in the price when it became available. Now I see that it adds another $450. Does this mean that, from now on, the Nav comes with SC at a price of $2250 and the SR package will become $4050?

Thanks

 

Does the new USB kit work with the iPhone 3GS?

I'd like to use the iPhone as my USB music player (so I can use the steering wheel controls for track switching) while the iPhone is paired with the Prius via bluetooth for phone calls.

Also, does this USB kit charge the iPod/iPhone while it is connected?

Thanks for this update, and for any further info you can provide.

-browe83

 

I'm assuming Safey Connect is non-upgradeable...

 

I ordered the USB interface kit today. I had to speak to a few dealers before I was able to find one to order it, since it doesn't show up yet as a valid part number.

Fortunately the parts guy at the dealer I bought my Prius at (Toyota Sunnyvale--there's a bunch of dealers closer, but once again they're worth the drive) took the initiate to look in a second system, and it showed it was released August 1, there were ~2,000 in the regional warehouse in southern California, with ~40 in transit to the bay area warehouse. I should have it by the end of the week. As Doug indicated, $240 + tax + install (I may attempt it myself).

 

how easy is it to be self-isntalled? I would like to be able to install it myself but if it involves ripping open a lot of panels and stuff I rather would have to dealer do it.

 

non-upgradeable - see post #7 above.

 

I posted install instructions in this thread:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...s/65848-usb-ipod-interface-kit-must-soon.html

 

The install doesn't look that hard but I'd rather have it done professionally given that it's a brand new car. Any idea of the dealer charge to do the install?

 

The USB Interface Kit is a clear improvement over the glovebox-mounted iPod Adapter Cable kit, and should replace it in almost all applications. It is a much cleaner and comprehensive implementation, both hardware and software.

The console AUX jack is replaced with a dual USB jack/AUX jack fixture that fits in the same hole. The kit's electronics module mounts inside the front console, below the OEM radio.

I reviewed the documentation and discovered that the kit does NOT include the white iPod/iPhone adapter cable (or the iPod) shown in the photos. The user provides their own USB-to-iPod or USB-to-iPhone adapter cable which they plug into the kit's USB jack, through which the device is charged and controlled (similar to existing Lexus, Scion, Camry kits). So, you might want to pick up an extra USB-to-iPod adapter cable to leave tucked inside your Prius center console

Supported iPods/iPhones:
• Nano (as from firmware Version 1.021.01)
• Nano G2 (as from firmware Version 1.02)
• Generation 5 (as from firmware Version 1.021.01)
• iPhone (as from firmware Version 1.021.01)
• Playlists, Album, Songs supported (artist and genre are not supported)
• Device charging is supported

 

Seems to me that they should give free installs to anyone with a 2010 since it was obviously an oversight that they didn't ship with this ready to go. Installation costs could easily be an additional $150 or more.

 

Great... half nice person ipod support. Doesn't play Apple's choice of audio format, AAC (.m4a). Might as well burn a bunch of mp3s on CDs.

Damnit, I was wanting this too...

 

Doug,

It means a lot to me that our voices are being heard and considered.

I have a solution to your product complexity porblem. It is a customer friendly approach currently being used by my favorite car company, Toyota (for the Scion brand). Every Scion is shipped with the audio bay empty. The dealer installs the customers choice of base audio, upgraded audio or audio with nav. Other parts of Prius bundles, such as autodiming mirror with homelink are port or dealer installed options.

With this approach, you could actually have fewer configurations that dealers and customers would have to hassle with while customers could get what they want without having to pay for features they do not want.

 

Will the USB and iPod interface kit work in a III without NAV?

 

Other than disabling satellite radio, what exactly is the difference between part # PT545-00082 and PT233-47100 (as shown at PriusChat Shop : 2010 Toyota Prius OEM iPod Interface Integration Kit [PT545-00082] - $209.99 The former is also supposed to be an OEM Toyota part.

 

Calm down, the MP3/WMA limitation only applies to USB mass storage devices, not the iPod.

 

I have to believe you'll be able to play AAC files on your iPod, otherwise it's not much of an iPod integration.

The quote I gave above was from the USB section of the manual.

 

From my perspective the significant difference is the USB connectivity.

 

After reading through the manual a bunch of times, I saw that mp3 and wma only under the USB section as well. Do the older ipod integration kits work with AAC files?