Car stereo and iPods

[olasparov]

I see many car stereo in stores advertise on "ready for iPod". What does this expression mean here? An example: http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?partno=KDG421
You need a special cable to make this work.

To my knowledge it must be easier, better and cheaper to just buy a car stereo with USB slot (and/or AUX slot). Then you dont need another cable and the iPod presumably will also charge will playing. Here is an example of this kind:
http://www.eltax.com/eltax/index.php?item=10&id=11501
Or am I wrong? Perhaps this player cant play iPods music just through that USB cable? Then whats the use of the USB slot then?

[GodEater]

The USB cable kind would presumably just mount the iPod as a disk device. In order to be able to play the music on the iPod sensibly after having done that, it would have to understand the iTunes binary database stored on the iPod which translates the obfuscated directory / filename system into something the user could understand on their car stereo. Otherwise you'd be stuck with having to listen to random tunes that you couldn't identify until they started playing.

Of course - this wouldn't be a problem on a rockbox'd ipod with the music copied to it via drag 'n' drop

It also wouldn't be a problem on any other DAP which keeps it's files organised sensibly.

[olasparov]

Well, did I say I dont use Rockbox on it?? Of course I am. Why should I then be asking this on a Rockbox-forum if I didnt?

So you think then it will be ok?

I have been presuming that one will play the songs from the iPod, meaning that one will browse the files and choose them from the iPod. But perhaps when using the USB it starts to change into just acting as an external harddrive? This might also be a major problem (when using Rockbox) when considering these audiosystems for livingroom where u put the ipod itself right into a slot and can play on a sort of stereo thing (http://www.apple.com/ipodhifi/ , http://www.alteclansing.com/product_details.asp?pID=IM7), since these are based on the iPod/iTunes self system. Then the remote and everything with the system wont work?

Of course its another deal when just using an AUX cable, but then you wont get the power charging as the USB cable does..

[GodEater]

Well, did I say I dont use Rockbox on it?? Of course I am. Why should I then be asking this on a Rockbox-forum if I didnt?

Whether you use Rockbox or not is neither here nor there. A lot of iPod owners that run Rockbox stick to using the iTunes method of transferring their music, and then use Rockbox's database feature to manage their music on the DAP.

I don't believe it would be possible to use the iPod controls to playback the music when it's connected via a USB cable - there's no protocol I'm aware of (Apple of otherwise) which sends music over the USB connection. This is only a feature when using a dock (and Apple's Accessory Protocol, which I'm sure I don't need to remind you, Rockbox doesn't support).

[gnu]

Be careful! Many car stereos only support USB devices until 1 Gb: my car stereo won't mount my 2 Gb nano ...
Try it first, or buy a stereo with an AUX slot, or use a FM transmitter (that's what I do)

[GodEater]

...or an old school cassette converter - which is what I use

[lights0ut]

I use a Car Deck with an AUX input, it's probalby easiest to browse your gigabytes of music with rockbox than through the primitive car stereo controls.

Cassette converters, and FM transmitters both lose audio quality.

[soap]

Cassette converters, and FM transmitters both lose audio quality.

Though the difference is huge.
If an AUX input is 10/10, a decent cassette adapter is 8/10, while the best FM transmitter in the world would have a hard time being 4/10.

(While there is a great deal of truth to the above, obviously the numbers are pulled right out of my...)

[Nate!]

I use an Aux cable also.  Sound quality is great.  I of course then have to use a separate charger to charge my Gigabeat.  I have two separate plugs for power in the front of my car though, so the convenience of charging over USB isn't necessary.  Your situation may be different.