AKS4

Any updates on whether the AutoToys icable is a plug-n-play thing? Is it like the PIE adapter and requires some soildering?

TIA

affenage

AKS4- the PIE adaptor requires no soldering - it IS plug in. The play, however, seems to depend on what version head unit you have. If you have a model higher than 9.53 the chances are that BOTH this unit and the PIE interface will work the same. If your head unit is 9.53 (like poor Thew's!) you're probably out of luck on this. The only solution requiring soldering is the tape deck modification, and Overload's interface.

I say that this is most likely the same as the PIE unit but with the extra cable thrown in.

jgoldstein2000

please let us know when it arrives

AWillsea

By the way I ordered a new head unit from trussville hoping to get a revision # of 9.55 or higher. When it comes I will have a spare head unit ver 9.53 and I will sell the tape unit with wires already installed. Let me know if anyone needs any of these.

thew

good luck i hope they dont have old stuff on there shelvs.

bobclevenger

Well, I have yet to see an 80GB iPod.
As one who has 3 different portable DAPs that can connect to my 8 (Rio Karma, Nomad JukeBox 3, and Archos AV420), I would still prefer to have a dedicated DAP module (mp3, flac, wav, ogg...) that is built into the car and integrated into the displays.
And I just don't get what "the other benefits of the iPod" are.
Different strokes...

StphNieuw

I have ordered the aux adapter. As soon as I am back from vaca I will install it. Right before I left I saw that it hadn´t been mailed.

Sputnik

When I did a quick check, I only saw 20 or 30 GB capacity on the phatbox, which is why I said that. I was unaware of any more capacity. Can you show me where Phatbox has higher capacity (I'm simply curious).

If Mazda had it's suppliers working on an interface for the iPod instead of the Phatbox, than I would expect that it too would be integrated into the displays and controls. It wouldn't be worth doing if it didn't, so the display/control integration is a moot point.

By preferring a "dedicated DAP module", are you saying that you'd rather have a unit solely for the car, or by that, are you just talking about having something well integrated into the car's system?

By that, I'm referring to the fact that the iPod is completely portable, and can be used anywhere. One can leave it in the car, or take it with them. If one already has an iPod (or any other portable DAP) that they already load with music, it would be easier, quicker, and much more convenient if they only had to configure and load one unit for both car and elsewhere, instead of having to load two devices (and having to load and learn two different software and interface packages to your PC). And another benefit is that a significant number of people already own iPods, or their clones. So while a Phatbox would be less expensive than a new iPod, I would expect that if a person already owned an iPod, an iPod interface would be less expensive than a Phatbox setup.

But my main point was not that iPods are all-perfect and everything else sucks. My point was that an iPod solution would seem to be more desirable to a larger group of people.

Another possible reason for the choice might be that future iPods and iPod software upgrades might not always be compatible with the current interface software. This might make an iPod interface unusable for those who have upgraded their current iPods or gotten new ones. The Phatbox solution would remain pretty much usable, as long as the PC software was compatible with commonly available and supported PC operating systems. We've seen the same thing with accessories for Palm-pilots over the years. Some accessories were not compatible as one upgraded to newer palm-pilots, and sometimes as one simply upgraded to newer software. But there is less reason to upgrade current iPods to newer software versions, than it was for the Palm-pilots. This might change, but more owners should be able to "get away" with keeping their iPods as they are for years to come.

---jps

bobclevenger

Sure, right here in the top paragraph.That makes sense. Whatever DAP that Mazda decides to use will be the easiest to use in the car.I'd rather have a unit that is a part of the car. It should be removable (at least in part, to connect to your home PC for loading and editing music/tags/etc), but I just don't want to take my radio/CD player/tape player etc. along with me when I get out of the car. That's just me and the way I use the entertainment devices in my car; other people will have other preferences.If it's detectable by the OS of your computer as a mass storage device there's no additional software to use. Just bring the hard drive module in to the computer, connect it (via USB, firewire, or a dock), and transfer your music from the computer to the car's HD with a simple drag-and-drop process. As I said earlier, portability of the player is unimportant to me, but not to others (unless it also records uncompressed audio as well!).True enough, but a significant number of people also already own DAPs that are not iPod clones too. I understand that if you want to make money you market to the masses -- that's why nobody else offers a rotary engine. What I would like to see is a MAZDA DAP option just like there is a MAZDA cassette/MD/mp3 disc/CD option that is not tied to anybody else's product. Ideally it would have a slot like the opening in a cassette player that accepts a standard 2.5" laptop HD -- open the door, plug in your HD, close the door and go.I'm sure that you are correct. It's just not what I want. I'd have to buy an iPod to use it, and I already decided that the iPod is not my DAP of choice.

thew

if only.. we will see when it comes out.

StphNieuw

I'm still waiting for the unit to arrive. After I contacted them this is the e-mail that I received:
_______________________________
Stephan,

The product is in stock, but we put a hold on it because they are revising the software in it to make it more efficent. You have the option to

1. Ship the converter (old software)
2. Cancel the order
3. Wait for revisions to the software to be completed.
________________________________

I replied back checking as to when it would be available and also what type of software updates were being made to it. So far has anyone used this?

thew

i bet there not sure if it will work with your HU. just get it. If your HU has the wrong firmware then we can fix it. did you check your Frimeware Ver on the HU ?
push and hold the text button and the also hold down preset 1

StphNieuw

Well I got another reply and they said 3-6 business days. I have 9.55 so I should be ok. So I guess it is just wait and see. But the whole ordering process with them has taken quite a while now. I ordered it two weeks ago. Oh well if it works at the end it is worth it.

thew

or get it here
http://www.logjamelectronics.com

StphNieuw

__________________________________________________ _______________

Well after a long wait, a new RX8 (other one was involved in an accident), a Sirius BlauPunkt SR04 receiver, a Proclip adapter on the way, and this Blitzsafe adapter sitting on my dresser for a many month I was curious if anyone had actually used this. I have the same 9.55 version in my new car and I am fairly certain this is pretty much a pie adapter. It has the following label:

Maz/ALP ITI V.1
Mazda6, MX5-Miata, RX-8, MPV
16 Pin connector behind radio
Alpine m-bus or Aux audio input

So has anyone tried this adapter?
http://www.autotoys.com/x/catalog/MA...ER_p_4497.html ?????

thew

yes i sell them !

mospeed

Did you install it yet?

StphNieuw

Haven't had a chance yet.. Will soon.. just wanted to see if anyone had actually used this adapter. I know thew sells the pie and it has been used many times.

Slammed

just get something like the neo ion www.mp3yourcar.com it does everything you need.

StphNieuw

I have the unit.. Just wanted to see if anyone had installed it before... In anycase I will install it then next time I have some free time.. (after holidays)