Alpine ships car stereo interface adapter for iPod
updated 10:40 am EDT, Tue September 28, 2004
Alpine interface for iPod
Alpine Electronics today began shipping its interface adapter that enables consumers to control and enjoy their iPod or iPod mini music library from their in-vehicle sound system. The (model KCA-420i) enables users to experience superior sound and control of their iPod music using any of Alpine's 2004 Ai-NET in-dash head units. The KCA-420i is now available from authorized Alpine dealers for $100.
Alpine's Interface Adapter for iPod enables the in-dash receiver's exclusive Bass Engine technologies to be used to experience optimized sound quality and control of digital music files in the car. The solution allows users to control iPod playback using the head unit's front panel buttons or remote; view song information (artist, album and/or song name) on the display; and easily search for songs through the receiver's Quick Search interface. Alpine's exclusive MediaXpander technology restores lost detail to compressed digital media.
The Alpine Interface Adapter for iPod is a hide-away design and can be
installed anywhere in the vehicle -- under a seat, in the glove box or behind
the dash. A single cable connects the adapter to the Alpine head unit, while
a second cable connects the adapter to the iPod through the iPod dock
connector. When the vehicle is on, the Interface Adapter also charges the
iPod's internal battery.
Review here
09/28, 11:12am reply
http://playlistmag.com/reviews/2004/09/alpineipod/index.php/?lsrc=mcrss-0904
Sounds disappointing, actually. The description of the interface makes it sound like yet another hack... especially the part about the lack of "variable speed" when scrolling through thousands of titles. Perhaps I'll wait for the new 2005 head units.
JoshFofer
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
when?
09/28, 12:17pm reply
I swear I just read that exact post on the TiVoCommunity forum! ;-)
Any idea when the 2005 head units will be released? Are we talking about a couple months or longer?
canonelan2
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2002
Went to the alpine site
09/28, 12:40pm reply
and played with their demo. I think it uses the same "play list" = CD metaphore used in the BMW adapter. But it actually allow for track/album/artist searches and more significantly it displays the track info on the head unit so the iPod can really be left in the glove box.
Definately a move in the right direction. I think people expecting a feature for feature of the iPod interface on the head unit are going to be upset for a long time.
msconvert
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2002
too bad you can't
09/28, 02:57pm reply
"take the iPod for a drive" from MacOSX 10.3.5 (incl the latest Java-update) and Safari (in fact not even IE!!!). Those MS-centric SOB webmasters at Alpine can't hack a site that is platform-independent or adheres to basic rules. Pisses me off big time!
groucho
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 1999
I'll take it
09/29, 06:59am reply
ANYTHING to help us blind folks. I cannot use my iPod while driving or w/o glasses so this head unit/adapter sounds like a hot tip to me. God, you guys like to b****!
bluejam
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
BEWARE!! Compat Issues!!!
10/09, 12:58pm reply
I just got one of the first Alpine iPod adpters to ship from the nice folks at Crutchfield.
It doesn't work!
After contacting tech support at Crutchfield, they informed me that they got a late notice form Alpine that this POS does not work on any iPod that was not manufactured after 4/28/04.
I bought a new radio and this new adapter which I have beend waiting for for months strictly for the iPod interface. Both on my iPods are less that 10 months old, and they do not work!!!
I am horribly dissappointed, and I wasted a lot of time on the installation only to find this out. The folks at Crutchefield have been great, and they have offered me a return on both items. I can'y say enough about how pleased I am with Crutchfield, but as for Alpine... they must be insane!!! What freaking good is this thing? Do you know how many 3G iPods there are out there?
They now say at Crutchfield's web site that this adpater only works with "click wheel" iPods. They only became aware of this on 10/5.
Nice going Alpine!
KAH
KaHeintzelman
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2004