A little bit of iPod integration info

I was at Macworld (aka iPodWorld) this week and Dice Electronics was showing off their soon-to-be-available PCM/MOST iPod Interface. Unfortunately, the booth folks were clueless as to technical details. They could barely operate the iPod. What I did find out looks somewhat promising. They actually had a PCM system running showing multiple playlists. When you select a song, on the PCM, it seems to control the iPod. When asked about searching for songs, artists, etc. they said it was not possible. Pricewise, they seemed to think it would be about $700. They were not giving any details on availability. They have a website, but there's no information on it. The above info is what I gleaned from the display and the unknowledgeable booth folks. I am sure it's all subject to change, etc.

Interesting. Nice to hear actually. - On a side note, what did you think of the Macbook?

The MacBook Pro seems very fast. The camera is a neat feature and is really small. I'm impressed with it. I'll reserve final judgment until I can compile some code with it.

Thanks hsjb, It is good to know that something is out there in the works. Russ

hsjb- Sounds like you have one on order. So do I.

I forgot to mention that the new power connector is really cool. I would keep my watch away from the side of the MacBook Pro though. It utilizes a strong magnet.

hsjb - The day of the keynote I think Steve jinxed me, because as I was reading the feeds about it, my dog ran to get something I threw (actually it was a toy I call the Devil - oh no, double jinx), which then bounced down some steps to the basement where she couldn't get go, and as I put down my powerbook and went to help her, I caught the cord - and bam the darn thing fell off the coffee table. AHHHHH Anyway, the powerbook was fine - except the stupid latch broke again. Such a pain, so curses to Steve (not really), but praise for the idea of a cord that can get caught but not trash your computer in an instant.

I've never seen the lid's latch break. It's supposed to retract when the lid is open. Do you mean the hinge? This PowerBook I am using right now was dropped on the floor right on the power adapter plug. Now, the damned recepticle has a intermitent short or bad connection. I sure hope the new power port is more sturdy.

Second time on the latch for me, and to be more specific it is the thin metal that holds the lid closed that breaks inside of the bottom edge of the laptop. Actually it's a chronic problem for older powerbooks - and I have replaced the left hinge once also. That's too bad about the receptacle - I suppose that is in the laptop and not the cord connection itself? My, dog just brought me her toy I call DNA, so I guess it is ok to throw that one now

Yep, it's the female part on the laptop. I just have to wiggle the connector sometimes. I could get it fixed likety split, but just can't do without this laptop for even a day.

Just had to get the Devil of out the fireplace for the dog - actually that would be a good final resting place for it - but I was very careful to put down the laptop and step over the cord. I'm like you, in that I can't not have this particular laptop even though I have several others. After the big speed bump of a dual-processor both models of the Macbook seem to be within 10% speed of each other, so I had a hard time deciding. I don't like excess heat, and battery drain and so worry a bit more about the slightly faster model. Which one did you go for? Could you try both at Macworld and tell the difference?

I haven't actually placed an order yet but will probably do so once they are out for a few weeks. Gives Apple a chance to work out manufacturing issues. I would go for the better one because of the larger hard drive, extra memory, more memory on the graphics card. You are correct, the speed bump is inconsequential. There was no opportunity to compare the two MBPs. Actually, I don't remember which one they had on the floor. Edited by - hsjb on 01/15/2006 08:18:48 AM

So about the iPod integration you say it was a PCM system, same as Porsche Cayman uses? They sure don't list Porshe on their website, as you mentioned.

Yes, the system they had was identical to the Porsche PCM system. Aparently, Mercedes Benz uses the MOST system too. I picked up an info card but left that at work. I will try and remember to add some more info here once I head in tomorrow.

my guy in nyc is working on a fiber optic system that will be out by summer, will include all song info on display. right now I am using the fm modulator hardwired into the system, works nicely. Will upgrade once the fiber optic stuff is finished.

Craig: I'm out in the Connecticut 'burbs, and I'll be damned if I can find a 'quit' area for the fm frequency. In the NY market, it seems that just about every frequency has some sort of station, and if you travel more than a few miles, quality goes to hell. Which modulator did you buy? John

That HDradio integration offering from DICE seems interesting too. I personally would rather install one of those than satellite (there's a lot of SF bayarea stations that broadcast in HD already).

Cruising the Becker forum is interesting (the company that makes most Porsche head units). There's a Becker employee who follows up to most questions (his handle is TS), but all he says continually is that people shouldn't bitch at *them* for how hard it is to integrate aftermarket stuff because they build it *exactly* like Porsche asks them to. He seems to imply that they can't release data or build any extra products without Porsche's permission, too (though he doesn't exactly say that). He also seems to have quite an anti-iPod attitude, too...in one of his posts he berates Apple for not having a digital output on the iPod as if to imply that would make this whole thing so much easier or something. While I'm sure it would make it easier (since MOST is a digital only bus, as I understand it), it seems to hardly be the stumbling block for companies attempting to build devices. It appears that you have to spend $1,000USD to get a MOST developers kit, but not all MOST is the same and Becker apparently used some strange methods of moving their music payload down the bus. There is at least one person who appears to have a clue who did buy the dev kit and has had lots of trouble figuring out the final piece. Anyway, Dension's Ice->link or whatever is supposed to be ready the second quarter of this year, though people are saying they've been delaying that the last six months already. What's frustrating to me is that I don't really want an iPod-specific interface. Few of the iPod specific interfaces do a tolerable job of navigating the thing other than playlists anyway. And with the iPod Video and putting the thing close by, navigating it on the unit is fine by me. So just give me an AUX input. Besides, I also have a Garmin 376C with built in XM radio and would like to be able to connec it occasionally. --Donnie

I will ask my installer what FM modulator he used, but this one is hardwired into the head unit, you need to turn it on and then it acts as the antenna for the car. You don't need a free frequency to use a hardwired unit. I think I use 88.5