Alpine Announces Release Date of iPod Interface

Terrasque writes "Alpine finally announced the release of the iPod interface for its Ai-NET head units." Previously mentioned a few weeks ago, it charges your iPod, and does control and display of iPod tracks on the head unit.

Comments

It's HHUUUUUGE!

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't figure out why this iPod adapter is 2X the size of the box that my iPod was shipped in. Good lord, where am I going to install that beast?

Before you say it

[the Man in Black]

The first person to say "Blah blah blah why don't they make one for (generic off-brand mp3 player that supports Ogg and 40 people own)! They're just supporting Apple's monopoly!" gets stabbed in the chest.

For the rest of us, this is a wonderful, beautiful thing. I personally don't have the home fab equipment that it takes to custom build an iPod dock and stereo interface, and I LOVE Alpine components. I am a happy camper.

Must buy 2 items

[blackmonday]

Looks like you need the interface box and one of the stereos, so you're buying 2 items, the interface being 100 bucks. Wouldn't it be easier to make the CD player optional by moving it to a changer box in the trunk or whatever, and slide the iPod in just like a cassette? I don't like this glove compartment stuff too much.

Re:Must buy 2 items

[GlobalEcho]

Hold on, it's not like the BMW glovebox interface. They appear to expect the iPod to be mounted near your dashboard -- say with a bracket that clips onto your A/C vents.

I agree with you about the "cassette" receptacle, though. It would be much neater. Perhaps they went with this design because it is less dependent on iPod form factors...future iPods may be smaller, wider, whatever, and the system will presumably continue to work with them.

Re:Must buy 2 items

[cft_128]

I agree with you about the "cassette" receptacle, though. It would be much neater. Perhaps they went with this design because it is less dependent on iPod form factors...future iPods may be smaller, wider, whatever, and the system will presumably continue to work with them.

Another advantage to hiding the iPod away is to make it harder see and therefore less likely to get stolen. Having a normal looking head unit also supports this. As you might have guessed I've had easy to remove items, an iPod and a laptop, stolen from my car - even when they were *very* hard to see. I am much more likely to buy an interface that lets me mount the iPod somewhere that is totally hidden.

$300+

[mothoc]

The Alpine website seems to show that their cheapest Ai-Net head unit (required for this) is $200, and then another $100 for the unit itself. SO to set yourself up with this, it will be at least $300 plus installation, and then you get your iPod sitting in a glovebox, cupholder, or somewhere else as inconvenient. But it'd still be nice to have.

Re:$300+

[Micro$will]

Before anyone else complains about the price, remember, this is an Alpine , not some cheezy no-name brand or over-hyped piece of crap. I've had 2 Alpines over the last 6 years, I've never had any problems with them, and I've only heard them skip once or twice each while on NYC streets. I'd also like to add that those potholes were bad enough to require 2 new tires and a rim straightened.

Full featured, reliable, cheap: pick two. You get what you pay for.

Not What I Hoped

[Euphonious Coward]

It would have helped if the lead story had actually said what this thing is that it was promoting. I had visions of some kind of headset with electromagnetic neurocouplers to bypass my (damaged) ears.

Instead, it's just some damn car accessory, and I don't even have a car (or an iPod, for that matter.)

Restores audio quality?

[cft_128]

From the article:

The great news is that 2004 Alpine Ai-NET head units are equipped with a proprietary technology which enhances sound quality and restores lost detail to compressed digital media.

What magic are they working here? Just some goofy equalizer presets? Use tachyon fields to make out the quantum temporal disturbances to restore previously lost detail?

Better solution than Apple/BMW, but not ideal

[hcdejong]

If you use the Apple/BMW solution, you lose the CD changer, and you get access to only five playlists. The Alpine solution means you can still use a CD changer, and you can use your existing playlists (all of them).
But is it worthwhile? Both solutions mean you replace the iPod's UI with the IMO far worse UI in the headunit. I'd cradle the iPod within easy reach and just use a line-level audio link to the headunit instead.

Try using an iPod in the car, then post!

[parksgm]

I don't think any of you people who recommend using the iPod interface in the car over using an Alpine head unit interface have ever actually tried using an iPod in the car while driving.

It's almost impossible.

Same goes for using the iPod while running, bicycling, or any other activity in which one cannot really take their attention away from the activity. The iPod screen (and especially the iPod mini screen) is small, and hard to read when the user is anything but stationary. Don't believe me? Then why did Apple make a remote to adjust volume and skip tracks to use in lieu of the iPod interface for active people.

The controls on any in dash stereo are much larger and more easily manipulated while driving than the touch sensitive wheel on the iPod...remember, stereo controls are *designed) to be used while driving...the iPod interface is not. Stereo controls remain in relatively the same location while driving...which is not true with an iPod. Finally, the display on the Alpine unit is backlit and large...designed to be read and interpreted from driving distance in direct sunlight and at night, etc., etc.

Most objections to this device should be that it (somewhat) expensive...but really, Alpine (who makes CD changers that they would like to sell) is producing an adapter for 3rd party device integration, and they have to charge something to cover their R&D and/or loss of CD changer sales.
In case you can't tell, I've been waiting for this since the announcement at the beginning of the year, and I'll happily throw my iPod mini in the glove box/console or wherever else I happen to mount the docking cable...
Greg