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New repurposed 3GS
I'd been using an old 20GB iPod, one with the 4 buttons above the click wheel, in the S2000 for quite some time.
http://km.support.ap...353/HT1353_29.jpg

When I got the iPhone 4S, I decided to rename the 3GS to Car Tunes and put it in the car. It played OK, but wouldn't charge(3GS even put up a warning splash screen about charging not supported with this accessory). Turns out the older iPod/radio interfaces only send 12V down the line, as that's what the firewire based iPods need to charge, while the newer USB based devices want 5V. I contacted Neo Car Audio and they have a replacement cable* for the interface that converts 12V to 5V. It arrived a couple days later and the 3GS is happy.

One of the features I really like is iOS 5 added support for sync via WiFi - so I no longer need to periodically bring the iPod in to update my music collection (I have more music than will fit in the iPod, so it loads my music based on when it was last heard - 5* is always on the iPod, 4* only on if it's not been played in the last year, and so on).

Note: WiFi Sync is not enabled by default. You must dock it to your computer and turn on Sync with WiFi. It's found in iTunes at the bottom of the device's Summary page in the Options section. You'll most likely have to scroll the Summary page down to get to it - I missed it when I first went looking for the setting.

One feature I didn't like is the itty bitty text in the music app. It's very hard to read while driving, especially with the stiff suspension in the S2000. I found a slick app, coincidentally called CarTunes, that I'm now using instead of Apple's music player app. There's a setting to turn off artwork reflections that makes the text even easier to read.
http://evolver.fm/20...lists-to-the-car/
http://itunes.apple..../id415408192?mt=8



* There's also a converter that can be had, for quite a bit less than the cable, but the cramped space around my mount conflicts with adding an extra non-bendable inch at the end of the connector cable.
http://www.amazon.co...ack/dp/B00495JZTY
http://spiceware.org...Vehicles/P1000439
New Neat. Thanks for all the info.
I recently got an Apple-refurb iPod Classic 160 GB in black. I haven't unboxed it yet. Before it gets too cold I need to install the Pro.Fit mount for it - http://www.pro-fit-i...ompatibility2.cfm - and the USA.SPEC VW to iPod adapter (plugs into the CD connection in the back of the receiver) - http://usaspec.com/p...orceShowProduct=1

I jumped on this combination before I was really ready because I read that Apple was rumored to be discontinuing the Classic (which may be true eventually, but doesn't seem to be at the moment), and because it was getting harder to find aftermarket electronics stuff for my 8 year old car.

Here's hoping it's a reasonably painless process!

I've got to get my tunes off my old Archos HD MP3 player - it still runs, but there are some issues with the replacement HD I put in it (too much power?) so it often shuts down when it's used for long times in the car. And I need to relearn how to use LAME with the relevant settings. IIRC, I was using something Greg recommended (320k VBR with some other mojo, I think). What do you use?

Thanks.

Cheers,
Scott.
(Who probably won't be getting an iPod Touch or iPhone until v5 or later.)
New iTunes
That adaptor looks quite similar to mine - it fakes out the radio to make it think a CD changer is plugged in.

I rip my CDs to AAC format with iTunes, using a bit rate of 256. Initial rips were done at 128 due to capacity constraints at the time. I've been reripping the older CDs to 256, but that's a low priority project and isn't very far along.

Did find one thing I miss in CarTunes - can't rate the music. I have a playlist for unrated songs that I like to listen to periodically so I can set their ratings. Once set, the music follows my load/unload rules. The programmer has a facebook page for it, and has posted a screenshot with music ratings. He's planning a new release in a few weeks, hopefully that'll be one of the features in place.
http://www.facebook.com/CarTunesApp

ratings photo
http://www.facebook....2719392465&type=1
New MP3s in the car! Woot!
I had to charge the Archos for a couple of days before it would spin up. And it needed a weird USB cable (large A ends on both ends). But I got the MP3s moved into iTunes on the Mini without incident. I spent a couple of hours, off and on, grabbing album cover art, making the naming convention consistent, etc. About 22 GB of stuff at the moment.

Sunday I installed the iPod interface, and the mount. It wasn't too bad. The interface box wouldn't fit behind the radio, but I was able to push it up behind the glove box under some foamy stuff without incident. Routing the cables was pretty easy.

I spent a few minutes trying to get the iPod to play, but nothing much happened. The display changed, and the head unit knew something was going on, but no sounds. Eventually it locked up and wouldn't turn off even when unplugged. :-(

I did some Googling and found out how to reset the iPod. It fired right up afterward.

This morning I tried it in the car again and it worked perfectly. Woot!

I should have done this long ago...

Cheers,
Scott.
New Thanks for the adaptor link
I have the cable run to the console storage between the seats, so no issue with room for the extra plug. I've been using my old 30G classic for many moons, but also have a touch and the kids have touches...and they complain when it doesn't charge (long trips).

Getting one now.
Sure, understanding today's complex world of the future is a little like having bees live in your head. But...there they are.
New Sweet!
New Now have adaptor and cartunes...very nice.
Now I don't have to worry so much about the death of the old classic. Thanks for the pointers.
Sure, understanding today's complex world of the future is a little like having bees live in your head. But...there they are.
New Glad it's working out well!
and it looks like you got the last adaptor,they're out of stock w/out an ETA!
New phew!
Sure, understanding today's complex world of the future is a little like having bees live in your head. But...there they are.
     repurposed 3GS - (SpiceWare) - (8)
         Neat. Thanks for all the info. - (Another Scott) - (2)
             iTunes - (SpiceWare)
             MP3s in the car! Woot! - (Another Scott)
         Thanks for the adaptor link - (beepster) - (4)
             Sweet! -NT - (SpiceWare) - (3)
                 Now have adaptor and cartunes...very nice. - (beepster) - (2)
                     Glad it's working out well! - (SpiceWare) - (1)
                         phew! -NT - (beepster)

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