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TOSLINK is only dead to those who aren't the ones to ask.

Yeah, whatever. Alpine will soon be releasing a head unit that supports Apple CarPlay. That's what I'm waiting for. In fact, I haven't been this excited in aftermarket car audio in well over 20 years. =)

Stop buying crap....

http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ina-w910

Hands down the EASIEST to use head unit for a car made. it's integration with the iphoneipod is stellar . It uses real Bluetooth for hands free from BlueParrot instead of the low grade crap that Kenwood uses. and you can get an audio DSP that will make your Daewoo sound better than a BMW premium sound system.

  I used to listen to Last.fm on it daily until they started to charge for it, so now I listen to Sirius instead ($6.99 a month alacarte subscription and it does not need 3G so it works outside of town unlike last.fm)

Eclipse is crap, Kenwood is Crap, Panny is low grade dog-food. They have not put any attention into the UI cince 1987... This one once I demoed on I was blown away. they at least put a lot of effort into the UI and Audio subsystems.

Well, if you look at the trends, you'll see it.

    Exhausts got louder, as they've increased the pipes to reduce airflow restriction. Obviously "economy" cars don't get this (and usually don't need it). The coffee can exhaust is not a performance modification, it's a noise maker. Larger displacement engines do very well with reduced exhaust restrictions, which has shown up on late model muscle cars.

    Animal print interiors ... well, I doubt that'll happen, but it could. More customized interiors with added colors have shown up in production vehicles. This may not be in the price range of the average Slashdot user, but the 2006 Lamborghini Murcielago Alpine Edition that could give you a headache (or burn your eyes out). Most manufacturers have stuck with one or two colors. Factory vehicles have definitely been upgraded with finer leather interiors, real wood, carbon fiber, or brushed aluminum dash inlays. This was pretty much unheard of 30 years ago.

    Louder stereos are almost standard equipment now, compared to the earlier ones that had one speaker in the middle of the dash or possibly two. My '00 car has a 8 speaker system built in, which only gets turned up to 25% on the highway at 85mph with the windows down. My moms late model "grandmother" style car has a factory sound system that is far superior to anything built in the 80's or earlier. Some cars come with somewhat serious subwoofers that'll rattle the windows of other cars at a stop light. In some areas, that's follow up by gunfire which sometimes resolves the problem.

    Fluorescent paint job really depends on the beholder. The factory colors change on a fairly regular basis. Is the Hemi Orange too bright for you? How about the Ford Mystic? How about Honda Helios Yellow Pearl? They're all a long way from Henry Fords available colors, or as he said, "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black"

    So, compare a 1980's car to a 2010 car, and you'll see how things have changed. Expect similar changes to continue. People don't like to trade in their old car unless they're getting something "better" which is frequently more "bling" and less performance.

Or this radio made and sold in Japan (its a bit older, but it illustrates the point):

http://japan-auto-sound.com/images/206-0606_IMG.jpg

Checkout some of these radios sold in the west.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/Source/CD-Players/Pioneer/FH-P8000BT
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=IVA-W505
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=IVA-D106

Check out the dash of the Nissan GT-R:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cars/nissans-gt+r-data+dense-dashboard-explained-324672.php

Compare the GT-R dash with the dash of the Corvette ZR-1:

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/chevrolet/0802_2009_chevrolet_corvette_zr1/photo_03.html

Here - check out some western dashboards

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2008/a/2008-Audi-R8-V12-TDI-Dashboard-1280x960.jpg

http://supercarspecs.com/images/porsche/2008porsche911gt2/images/2008-Porsche-911-GT2-Dashboard-1280x960.jpg
http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/y/5/1/bw_08reventon_dash2.jpg
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2008/klm/2008-Lamborghini-Gallardo-LP560-4-Dashboard-1920x1440.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/g4/68/763068/2/91636989.LEA7wlE4.jpg

Or this radio made and sold in Japan (its a bit older, but it illustrates the point):

http://japan-auto-sound.com/images/206-0606_IMG.jpg

Checkout some of these radios sold in the west.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/Source/CD-Players/Pioneer/FH-P8000BT
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=IVA-W505
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=IVA-D106

Check out the dash of the Nissan GT-R:

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cars/nissans-gt+r-data+dense-dashboard-explained-324672.php

Compare the GT-R dash with the dash of the Corvette ZR-1:

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/chevrolet/0802_2009_chevrolet_corvette_zr1/photo_03.html

Here - check out some western dashboards

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2008/a/2008-Audi-R8-V12-TDI-Dashboard-1280x960.jpg

http://supercarspecs.com/images/porsche/2008porsche911gt2/images/2008-Porsche-911-GT2-Dashboard-1280x960.jpg
http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/y/5/1/bw_08reventon_dash2.jpg
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2008/klm/2008-Lamborghini-Gallardo-LP560-4-Dashboard-1920x1440.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/g4/68/763068/2/91636989.LEA7wlE4.jpg

OK, I never flew f-16's, but I did fly C-5's... lots of buttons, switches and MFD's... waaaayyyy too many. As much money as the USAF pays for avionics, my alpine iva-w205 has a tactile feedback on the touchscreen that is way more advanced than what I worked with in FRED... The feedback system is kinda weird and creepy at times... but its basic idea is innovative.. why is this in a car stereo and not on some cool computing devices or lcd based fingerworks touchstream keyboard?
Perhaps some braile-based feedback touchscreen could do it... More fun : apply small electrical shocks to the user's fingers for even better feedback possibilities... but I am not sure that's gonna sell.
JP102235
typed on a fingerworks touchstream keyboard
with no feedback whatsoever!

we now have CDs and afaik they don't make car stereos without CD players any more.

Actually they do. In fact som of the bigger makers of car stereos are phasing out the Old Cd player for digital media.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=iDA-X001&lang=en&tab=F has no CD player, but can control a Cd changer if you really want to play those old-fashoned things.

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=300&i=020FB275BB&search=SD+card&tp=5684 is a sleek nice one at a budget price. it sounds great but is for SD cards only.

and many more are going that way. Lots of new car stereos got the clue-by-four and are putting USB plugs on them so you can play music from a USB stick.

Cd is passe in a car. Having a 80 gig usb hard drive in the glove box that the stereo can play from is where it's at.

It works seamlessly with my car stereo.

If when I purchased this stereo (or even now), there was a better MP3 player that worked, I'd have gone for it.

I run Windows, but hate iTunes.

-- Joe

I'm surprised that both Apple and the $2500 remote manufacturers don't have this feature that Alpine does:

"PulseTouch Display It Touches Back!
With Alpine's exclusive PulseTouch(TM) technology, the screen gives off pulses, vibrations, and sounds when touched. The system emits vibrations and pressures that simulate what it feels like when you push a real button. You get a different feel when tapping a button, holding down a button, or moving a slider. This smart menu layout, together with its tactile response, ensures that you can navigate quickly and easily through music lists and menus. "

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.p hp?model=IVA-W205

This eliminate's the need for physical buttons.

I recently installed an Alpine CDA-9857 into my '94 Camry, along with the Alpine iPod cable. Having tried (and returned) a Belkin FM transmitter, I found that the Alpine + iPod integration works great, with only a few minor complaints.

The only complaints I have about it are that it takes about 1-2 seconds to fetch the information of a song after you press previous or next, and that none of the various display options includes the time left counter, only the time elapsed.

Alpine actually has a very nice video of the unit in iPod operation here http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/product.php? model=CDA-9857

Overall, I love the setup. Now if it only had a text-to-speech system while you navigated the menus...

Alpine has this already for anybody who mods their car audio. Their 2006 head units have full support for most IPods (3rd gen and up). All you need is a compatible head unit and this $30 cable and all controls are through the head unit. Charges the battery as well. I have it, its great. Works just as well, if not better, some of these factory units.

I've been using an Alpine in-dash stereo with the KCA-420i iPod adapter for about a year now. VW's choice certainly has some upsides (supports a wider range of devices, even a USB HDD, I assume), but there are going to be some downsides here.

1) The mention that this deck looks for six folders indicates that it will be more complicated than the Alpine system (which supports any and all folder on an iPod). This will complicate synching for users who aren't used to devices with manual file copying.

2) The KCA-420i system works like the iPod dock. All audio decoding is handled in the iPod, which means the Alpine system will play anything your iPod can play. The VW system uses specially named folders and interfaces through USB, which indicates that decoding is handled in the deck. WMA/AAC/LAC/WAV/etc. files probably won't be playable. That's a bad situation. Additionally, iTunes Music Store/Napster/Rhapsody files will probably not be playable. Yes, DRM sucks, but people do use these services and that's going to be a major irritating factor for them.

3) Can USB deliver enough voltage to charge these players while they're playing? I know the iPod can't be charged over USB while playing, and I suspect that's the same situation for most of these devices. One of the nicest parts of Alpine's system is that, because the iPod was designed around firewire originally, it can effectively keep the iPod playing indefinitely.

4) Cost. The VW device costs $250. It interfaces to (I assume) either the factory stereo or the "premium" audio system. I paid $190 for my Alpine deck and $100 for the iPod adapter. That deck is a lot nicer than any base-model VW stereo is going to be, and the system works a lot better. Assuming we start talking about paying extra for the upgrade system, the Alpine's advantage only increases.

I understand that the iPod isn't the only player out there, but it is far and away the best-selling music player, period. The Alpine system could definitely use some improvement, but it's still the best setup available. This is a step in the right direction for VW, but it's definitely flawed compared to what already exists on the market.

I'm sorry you made the assumption that I was even referring to warez (applications or games). I think these punks deserve what they get. There's a big difference between giving thousands of nameless, faceless strangers access to mass quantities of copyright protected works and ripping your own CDs to mp3, or, dare I say, having a few of your real friends check out one of those mp3s. Gasp! That's right. I shared an mp3 with two of my very best friends! HELLFIRE AND DAMNATION AWAIT!

Grandparent was obviously making a blanket statement that essentially said "if you ever make a copy of anything, for any reason, you're a pirate". Sorry, but I don't fucking buy it. Does it directly relate to this particular story? No. It does, however, relate indirectly, for as these software companies push on Congress to protect their "intellectual property", fears of DMCA-esque laws abound - only this time, with mandatory useage of DRM - all the way to the soundcard and the speaker. I'm sorry, but if I want to make a mix CD, or, more likely, an mp3 CD for my car stereo, then I'm going to. I don't think I'm being completely unreasonable here. But, according to grandparent's trite generalization, I am.

Here is Alpine's press release about their iPod ready head units.

This is the second post I've done about this, so I should say that I do not work for Alpine. I just like their products.

• FM modulator such as the iTrip (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/)
• A line-in on the car stereo
• An alpine car stereo that connects through the docking port and the KCA-420i (http://www.alpine-usa.com/products/leading_techno logy/leading_tech_kca-420i.htm)

I think you fail to understand what reasonably priced means in the car audio world.

example?
DVA-7996
is reasonably priced.

Hell, this head unit, is reasonably priced for what you get.

I think you fail to understand what reasonably priced means in the car audio world.

example?
DVA-7996
is reasonably priced.

Hell, this head unit, is reasonably priced for what you get.

Normally I use my iPod without really looking at it: while driving (car or bicycle) or without getting it out of my coat pocket (to avoid getting too much attention of thugs).

There's an iPod Jacket specially designed with controls on the sleeve, so you don't have to pull it out of your jacket to access the controls. And if you use it while driving, well then you can get an Alpine system or a BMW that works with it! Ofcourse, with the money you'd be spending, you could simply hire a live band to follow you around.

I think the advantage of actually having track names displayed on the screen vs just the number of the track in the required specially generated "BMWLIST#1-5" is quite a distinction.

The Alpine unit also allows you to " browse the iPod's entire music library right from the Alpine head unit ".

In short, the Alpine unit is actually a good interface, whereas the BMW unit just acts like a lame CD changer.

yes, and the alpine adapter/head i linked above will display track/album/etc information.

i think this is more of a PR stunt than anything, you can only control 5 user-created playlists and one random playlist

sounds just like it

read about it here

it will allow the same thing this article talks about on alpine receivers. i can't wait for it!

although i pretty much agree with you, there are touch screens now that use a technolgy called PulseTouch(TM), it uses vibrations to simulate the effect of pushing a real button. Here is a link to one model that incorporates the technology.

A link to the press release from CES.

Alpine is coming out with a HU this summer that will allow you to plug your iPod in, and store it in any location (glove box, center console, trunk, etc..) and the HU will display the song info and allow you to control the iPod. Google for more information, here is a quick link to their press release.

What, you mean like the new one from Alpine?

Or something like what I'm working on with my Beetle . I'm integrating the dock into the dashboard ;)

Well, if car audio is your fancy, Alpine has some $3,500 three-way speakers for 'ya. A little beyond my price range though ;) . Of course, you can strike up a healthy debate as to whether or not speakers like this can justify their price.

Here's the one I got. Cost about $500 (with installation and everything), and it plays any kind of MP3 I've got (up to the limit, 320K/sec, including VBR stuff). Handles ID3 tags, sounds fine, and lets me take a few hundred hours' worth of music with me in a little folder full of CDs. Doesn't get too much easier than that...

- A.P.

I *JUST* bought a 7894 on the weekend ... all the alpines are sattelite radio capable, and the 7894 has mp3 playback. It's a really great stereo, and was relatively cheap.

Alpine 7894

It has to be. Check out the size of the Alpine nav system (both their CD and DVD based ones are the same size.. and the Pioneer and kenwood systems are really close in size also). Alpine Nav Also, how does it display the nav? (or even feed the analog signal for that matter? In most cars, this would end up replacing the radio). Also, that's a really broad power range. Most car systems have a tolerance of 9v to 15v. Not 12 to 24. And one other thing, how the hell does it have room for all those ports? It can't. Any system, such as the alpine with the flip out screen, uses a seperate box that everything plugs into. This has to be a Hoax