iPhone car stereo that doesn't disable browsing on the device?

Scorlóg

Hi,

Does anyone know of an iPhone compatible car stereo that doesn't disable browsing/controlling your music library on the device when it is connected? There are several stereos that provide playback and phone connection but any that I have seen so far force you to browse through your library using the head unit which, from past experience with an Alpine iPod headunit, is not only frustrating when driving but bloody dangerous!

I need to connect using the iPod dock so that it will charge when it's connected - otherwise I guess i could just connect to the Aux in from the headphones. Something like this comes close but no cigar as it disables the ipod controls on the iPhone... http://www.alpine-europe.com/united_kingdom/products/details/cd-head-units/cde-103bt.html. Good video on how it works here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2anAevRdq4.

Cheers,

J

Type 17

Scorlóg wrote: »

...force you to browse through your library using the head unit which, from past experience with an Alpine iPod headunit, is not only frustrating when driving but bloody dangerous!

How would using the iPhone interface for browsing while driving be any safer?

Best to use playlists to set up what you want to hear before you take to the road...

Dades

I use a relatively basic Sony model I got here.

Note: It doesn't allow you browse from the headunit at all.
Just streams whatever you choose on the device via bluetooth or via the minijack socket.

Roar

Dades wrote: »

I use a relatively basic Sony model I got here.

Note: It doesn't allow you browse from the headunit at all.
Just streams whatever you choose on the device via bluetooth or via the minijack socket.

i have that and it's perfect, on the way to work throw on a podcast or wonder radio, and bob's your uncle

Scorlóg

Type 17 wrote: »

How would using the iPhone interface for browsing while driving be any safer?

Using the iPod to browse is far safer because it's much faster to do any one thing so can be done quickly when stopped at lights etc, assuming it's safely mounted on the dash.

The Alpine stereo I had gave you a window of 10 seconds to complete the action you were trying to do (such as find a song on an album) or else it booted you back to square 1. Imagine trying to find a song on an album by Muse which meant having to scroll through hundreds of artists 1 by 1 either from A-Z or Z-A via the head unit, select the artist, scroll through the albums, select the album, scroll through the songs, select the song. If at any point in that process you had to - heaven forbid - drive your car, the stereo display would go back to the main display after 10 seconds and leave you back scrolling from A again to find your artist at the next set of lights. Trust me - it's enough to start road rage! If you've ever used an Alpine iPod stereo you'd know...

With the iPod, especially the iPhone in coverflow mode, I can find any song on any album in about 5 seconds max and, if I do have to refocus on the road mid search, it doesn't forget what I was trying to do when I go back to it.

Dades wrote: »

I use a relatively basic Sony model I got here.
Note: It doesn't allow you browse from the headunit at all.
Just streams whatever you choose on the device via bluetooth or via the minijack socket.

Cheers - the problem with this approach for me is that it won't charge the iPhone which, as anyone who uses an iPhone will know, is the number 1 priority! The cigarette lighter jack in my car is already in use so I can't use a charger from that.

Incidentally - is there a loss in quality of sound streaming music over bluetooth?

Thanks for the feedback anyway...

J

Dades

Scorlóg wrote: »

Cheers - the problem with this approach for me is that it won't charge the iPhone which, as anyone who uses an iPhone will know, is the number 1 priority! The cigarette lighter jack in my car is already in use so I can't use a charger from that.

You could use one of these?


Did the Alpine headunit charge your phone?

Scorlóg wrote: »

Incidentally - is there a loss in quality of sound streaming music over bluetooth?

I don't notice any difference, but tbh I'm in no way an audiofile. I've used that Sony for a couple of months - and the previous version of it for a couple of years before that without any probs. Superb value imo.

Scorlóg

Interesting - I'll look into that double charger idea although I'm trying to avoid having cables going everywhere!

Yes, the Alpine unit did charge my 4th gen iPod as it was at the time, but it also disabled all controls on it. I've noticed that not all iPod stereos work with an iPhone though. I currently have the Audi iPod connection in my car and it will allow playback but it won't charge the phone. Hence the need to upgrade the stereo.

Dades

Might be tough to find a head unit that will charge as well as play separately. Would a unit with a USB slot charge the device whilst playing over BT or via a aux slot?

You'd definitely need to test that setup before buying.