calling for problems with iPod interface

tshrey · 04-02-2008, 09:04 AM

I have a conversation going with SOA Customer Service about how bad the iPod interface works (not the design, it barely works in my case). I'd like to collect data from other on this since the first pass at the response is that they think it works fine and it must be my iPod.

Here is the problem part of my original email:

I purchased the ipod interface for my non-nav stereo in my new 08 STI shortly after I bought the car six weeks ago. I finally bought an iPod to try it with, a 5th gen video unit. This interface is completely horrible and for the most part useless. It only turns off my iPod when the car turns off about half of the time. 1 in 3 times when turning the car on the display will say 'Attached' but be unable to communicate with the iPod. When the unit does 'function', it is necessary to push the Category button muliple times to get it to respond. If the iPod is removed from the vehicle it winds up freezing and requires a reset. Since I expect to receive my iPod Touch for preordering I borrowed a friends Touch and found that they suffer from the same problems when hooked up to this interface.

If any of you have the same problems I would greatly appreciate a reponse to this thread. Please indicate your problems as well as the model iPod you have and the firmware version.

Thanks

Brand · 04-02-2008, 09:07 AM

I haven't tried mine yet, but I will test it out tomorrow with my brother's iPod Touch as well as the 4th gen that he is giving me to use in the car and report back with my results.

waktasz · 04-02-2008, 09:17 AM

Yea, the interface and navigation menus suck horribly. I find that if I put the ipod in after the car is turned on I sometimes have to turn the car off to get it to recognize the ipod.

tekdave · 04-02-2008, 09:27 AM

I can back you on everything except for the freezing, haven't had that happen yet. Being an Apple person and a iPod fan, I can tell you this is one of the worse (if not, the worse) implementation of ipod support and interface I have ever come across..

I would like to add in, the the connector is way too thick and will not lock in correctly if there is any sleeve or protector on the iPod and I don't know if it is just me, but I have the arm rest on my 08 STI and with it flipped up I can't grab the Cable (too short) to hold it to connect the iPod with out racking my elbow against the arm rest in the up right position, it needs to flip all the way back! Add My name to the list!

Dave

GilMikalian · 04-02-2008, 09:32 AM

Well, SOA refunded me $175 because I complained about the fact that my iPod did not turn off and so the unit did not work as promised. I asked for either a refund of the amount for the interface or for an older gen iPod. SOA is to refund me $175.

The interface is horrible. Even when it works perfectly, having to push the damn arrow up/down button to scroll through albums/artists is a joke when you've got the right-side knob right there. Very obvious this was NOT done to make the customer happy, just another feature they can print in the brochure.

Oh yeah, the cable is so short, I need to lose about 20 pounds to be able to contort my body to connect/disconnect my iPod. Genius!

subielife · 04-02-2008, 10:06 AM

put me on the list also. trying to use it while driving is very dangerous. i have never been so annoyed by something electronic. i just leave it on shuffle.

Brand · 04-02-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GilMikalian

Well, SOA refunded me $175 because I complained about the fact that my iPod did not turn off and so the unit did not work as promised. I asked for either a refund of the amount for the interface or for an older gen iPod. SOA is to refund me $175.

The interface is horrible. Even when it works perfectly, having to push the damn arrow up/down button to scroll through albums/artists is a joke when you've got the right-side knob right there. Very obvious this was NOT done to make the customer happy, just another feature they can print in the brochure.

Oh yeah, the cable is so short, I need to lose about 20 pounds to be able to contort my body to connect/disconnect my iPod. Genius!

Good info Gil! Did you contact SOA directly or go through the dealership? I agree with the placement, it's incredibly stupid. IMO the ipod cable and aux input should be under the vents, in the lit storage space above the STI logo - I may reroute them when I pull the console to do my short shifter. My mp3 player (no iPod atm) usually ends up there anyway, with the cable running back to the console.

GilMikalian · 04-02-2008, 10:33 AM

I contacted SOA directly.

jmswinger · 04-02-2008, 12:52 PM

Why does not sound that strange. I remember reading that Honda took the Ipod Interface option off their list of options becuase they had soo many problems with it working correctly. Could it be that Apple has made a bad interface for the car guys to use. I don't know all i know is that I was going to look at a non-nav and get the Ipod option and now maybe not.

Thanks for the info that is why I read this forum for great information...

wyattroa1 · 04-02-2008, 12:56 PM

yeah i have had absolutly no luck at all trying to get my iphone to work.. sucks i have that option that i cant use.
robert

GilMikalian · 04-02-2008, 01:20 PM

I think it's just a matter of the manufacturers not keeping up with the technology and not putting enough $$ into the actual UI. It's clear that it is an afterthought when trying to come up with a list of features they think consumers want.

ploney · 04-02-2008, 01:45 PM

In some e-mails to SOA Customer service from myself, they are recomending that you contact customer service and register any complaints/feedback directly.

They also indicated that the IPOD touch will work properly with the kit. We shall see.

On a side note, they have yet to ship any ITouchs to date.

ploney · 04-02-2008, 01:47 PM

I totally agree on the feedbacks above, crappy location for the cable, crappy menu structure(I use shuffle and playlists only) and what is up with it scrambling the music sometimes when I start the car. I have to advance to the next song for it to stop the garbled music. I would rate this option at about a 2 out of 10.

Brand · 04-02-2008, 01:49 PM

I'm personally going to take the GilMikalian route and demand satisfaction from SOA - everyone should do the same!

Gray08 · 04-02-2008, 02:11 PM

The iPod interface is a disaster. I've already pulled mine out of the car (I'm part-way through installing an aftermarket system).

With iPhone, I could only pull up a handful of songs regardless of what combination of buttons I pressed, and even that only worked some of the time.

With 6th Gen iPod (iPod Classic 80GB), it often hangs up when starting up the car, and sometimes the only way to get it back is to unplug the iPod from the cable and plug it back in. Even when it works, the user interface is so cumbersome that I would strongly suggest not trying to operate it while driving. Just put your favorite playlist on random.

I would expect to see an updated audio system for 2009 models - this one just doesn't cut it. Whatever they come up with, I hope they consider having the option to add Satellite, Bluetooth Hands-free, and iPod (simultaneously, not as mutually exclusive items that all plug into the same port). And, of course, the iPod interface needs to work properly.

04-02-2008, 09:04 AM	#1
tshrey Junior STI Driver Car: 08 STI Fav Mod: Removing the window sticker Location: Underground Atom Smasher Posts: 198 Join Date: Feb 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	calling for problems with iPod interface I have a conversation going with SOA Customer Service about how bad the iPod interface works (not the design, it barely works in my case). I'd like to collect data from other on this since the first pass at the response is that they think it works fine and it must be my iPod. Here is the problem part of my original email: I purchased the ipod interface for my non-nav stereo in my new 08 STI shortly after I bought the car six weeks ago. I finally bought an iPod to try it with, a 5th gen video unit. This interface is completely horrible and for the most part useless. It only turns off my iPod when the car turns off about half of the time. 1 in 3 times when turning the car on the display will say 'Attached' but be unable to communicate with the iPod. When the unit does 'function', it is necessary to push the Category button muliple times to get it to respond. If the iPod is removed from the vehicle it winds up freezing and requires a reset. Since I expect to receive my iPod Touch for preordering I borrowed a friends Touch and found that they suffer from the same problems when hooked up to this interface. If any of you have the same problems I would greatly appreciate a reponse to this thread. Please indicate your problems as well as the model iPod you have and the firmware version. Thanks This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

04-02-2008, 09:07 AM	#2
Brand STI Driver Car: DGM 08 STI Fav Mod: cobb AP Location: Denver Posts: 297 Join Date: Jan 2008 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface I haven't tried mine yet, but I will test it out tomorrow with my brother's iPod Touch as well as the 4th gen that he is giving me to use in the car and report back with my results.

04-02-2008, 09:17 AM	#3
waktasz Professional STI Racer Car: 02 Penis Extender Fav Mod: Autotrader.com Location: Philly Posts: 767 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface Yea, the interface and navigation menus suck horribly. I find that if I put the ipod in after the car is turned on I sometimes have to turn the car off to get it to recognize the ipod.

04-02-2008, 09:27 AM	#4
tekdave Lurker Car: Dark Gray 08 WRX STI Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface I can back you on everything except for the freezing, haven't had that happen yet. Being an Apple person and a iPod fan, I can tell you this is one of the worse (if not, the worse) implementation of ipod support and interface I have ever come across.. I would like to add in, the the connector is way too thick and will not lock in correctly if there is any sleeve or protector on the iPod and I don't know if it is just me, but I have the arm rest on my 08 STI and with it flipped up I can't grab the Cable (too short) to hold it to connect the iPod with out racking my elbow against the arm rest in the up right position, it needs to flip all the way back! Add My name to the list! Dave

04-02-2008, 09:32 AM	#5
GilMikalian Silver Member Car: '08 DGM STI w/BBS Fav Mod: Britax Roundabout Location: L.A. Posts: 784 Join Date: Jan 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface Well, SOA refunded me $175 because I complained about the fact that my iPod did not turn off and so the unit did not work as promised. I asked for either a refund of the amount for the interface or for an older gen iPod. SOA is to refund me $175. The interface is horrible. Even when it works perfectly, having to push the damn arrow up/down button to scroll through albums/artists is a joke when you've got the right-side knob right there. Very obvious this was NOT done to make the customer happy, just another feature they can print in the brochure. Oh yeah, the cable is so short, I need to lose about 20 pounds to be able to contort my body to connect/disconnect my iPod. Genius!

04-02-2008, 10:06 AM	#6
subielife Amateur STI Driver Car: AW 08 STi Fav Mod: HPDE Location: Archbald PA Posts: 46 Join Date: Jan 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface put me on the list also. trying to use it while driving is very dangerous. i have never been so annoyed by something electronic. i just leave it on shuffle.

04-02-2008, 10:33 AM	#8
GilMikalian Silver Member Car: '08 DGM STI w/BBS Fav Mod: Britax Roundabout Location: L.A. Posts: 784 Join Date: Jan 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface I contacted SOA directly.

04-02-2008, 12:52 PM	#9
jmswinger Junior STI Driver Car: White 08 STi Fav Mod: 08 AW STi Location: Canada Posts: 57 Join Date: Jan 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface Why does not sound that strange. I remember reading that Honda took the Ipod Interface option off their list of options becuase they had soo many problems with it working correctly. Could it be that Apple has made a bad interface for the car guys to use. I don't know all i know is that I was going to look at a non-nav and get the Ipod option and now maybe not. Thanks for the info that is why I read this forum for great information...

04-02-2008, 12:56 PM	#10
wyattroa1 Junior STI Driver Car: 08 OBP sti Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 70 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface yeah i have had absolutly no luck at all trying to get my iphone to work.. sucks i have that option that i cant use. robert

04-02-2008, 01:20 PM	#11
GilMikalian Silver Member Car: '08 DGM STI w/BBS Fav Mod: Britax Roundabout Location: L.A. Posts: 784 Join Date: Jan 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface I think it's just a matter of the manufacturers not keeping up with the technology and not putting enough $$ into the actual UI. It's clear that it is an afterthought when trying to come up with a list of features they think consumers want.

04-02-2008, 01:45 PM	#12
ploney STI Driver Car: White 08 STI Fav Mod: Volk RE30's and 255-35 Dunlop Z1's Location: Redondo Beach Posts: 257 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface In some e-mails to SOA Customer service from myself, they are recomending that you contact customer service and register any complaints/feedback directly. They also indicated that the IPOD touch will work properly with the kit. We shall see. On a side note, they have yet to ship any ITouchs to date.

04-02-2008, 01:47 PM	#13
ploney STI Driver Car: White 08 STI Fav Mod: Volk RE30's and 255-35 Dunlop Z1's Location: Redondo Beach Posts: 257 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface I totally agree on the feedbacks above, crappy location for the cable, crappy menu structure(I use shuffle and playlists only) and what is up with it scrambling the music sometimes when I start the car. I have to advance to the next song for it to stop the garbled music. I would rate this option at about a 2 out of 10.

04-02-2008, 01:49 PM	#14
Brand STI Driver Car: DGM 08 STI Fav Mod: cobb AP Location: Denver Posts: 297 Join Date: Jan 2008 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface I'm personally going to take the GilMikalian route and demand satisfaction from SOA - everyone should do the same!

04-02-2008, 02:11 PM	#15
Gray08 Junior STI Driver Car: 08 DGM STi BBS Fav Mod: Flux Capacitor Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 50 Join Date: Feb 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: calling for problems with iPod interface The iPod interface is a disaster. I've already pulled mine out of the car (I'm part-way through installing an aftermarket system). With iPhone, I could only pull up a handful of songs regardless of what combination of buttons I pressed, and even that only worked some of the time. With 6th Gen iPod (iPod Classic 80GB), it often hangs up when starting up the car, and sometimes the only way to get it back is to unplug the iPod from the cable and plug it back in. Even when it works, the user interface is so cumbersome that I would strongly suggest not trying to operate it while driving. Just put your favorite playlist on random. I would expect to see an updated audio system for 2009 models - this one just doesn't cut it. Whatever they come up with, I hope they consider having the option to add Satellite, Bluetooth Hands-free, and iPod (simultaneously, not as mutually exclusive items that all plug into the same port). And, of course, the iPod interface needs to work properly. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.