I hear the new musiclink is out, anyone got it, getting it or getting their old one replaced by it?

 

Mine is in. Will be getting it installed the week after Xmas.

 

Heard anything about it? Do I have to remove the old hardware? or is it a software thing.

 

First I heard of it. Will be getting the one you installed probably sasair.

 

Do you know if the new musiclink gives you audio control or displays more of the track info?

 

I know it does not display any other track info. But I only know that because that is a limitation of the headunit, not the musiclink.

 

What is the advantage of the MusicLink system over the Auxilary Input on the dash? Does the MusicLink allow you to control the iPod with the knob on the navi system?

 

Not positive about this since I installed the USA Spec interface for the iPod but it provides similar control as MusicLink. I believe the only advantages with the old MusicLink over the Aux input are:
1) provides a charge for the iPod
2) stops (pauses?) the iPod when you turn off RDX's audio
3) can advance to the next track with RDX's audio contol if you set up and use a play list, but very limited control
Can someone with MusicLink confirm? Does anyone know of any additional benefits the new Music Link offers over the old one?

 

That is more or less correct. Can advance to the next or previous track regardless of playlists, and also pauses the ipod when switching to another mode or when handsfreelink is activated or when navigation voice commands are being used.

Down side to musiclink is lack of ipod controls as it locks out the ipod when connected. to navigate the ipod using playlists or artists or genre, you have to use TTS software which is horrible. Maybe the new musiclink is better, but I doubt it.

How is the US Spec ipod interface? How does it compare to the Neo that I reviewed earlier? Pretty much the same?

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=686

 

USA Spec behaves the same as you describe above including locking you out of iPod control. However, it doesn't pause when you switch to a new mode or when handsfreelink is activated.

I too hope the new version gives you more control. Wonder if Apple is not giving out info that would allow Acura (or others) to make a better interface?

 

I have to point the finger at Acura/Honda for that. Plenty of other auto manufacturers and third-party companies have put out iPod integration systems that work great. The iceLink in my S2000 works like sasair's Neo kit, and I haven't had any issues with it. I can setup the iceLink to allow navigation with the radio controls, the iPod controls, or a combination of both.

Apple gives out full specs of the dock connection interface for companies who sign on to develop iPod products (I am a registered Apple developer myself).

 

In that case, I'm disappointing with Acura. They really should recognize the potential business in having a clean interface to such a hot selling product as an iPod. Acura could easily make a return on the investment they'd need to perfect the iPod interface with sales on accessories and possibly improved RDX (and other Acura) sales. Anyone on the board have influence with Acura? Maybe a consumer ground swell?

 

Well we still dont know what the new thing is? Maybe they did improve it.
I paid for it and prefer to use the Aux. Acura's pretty clever, I think they'll make good on it in time. Problem is if they make it like after market products, what do they do with all the people who reencoded their Iunes library. Thats what scared me from Musiclink. I really would prefer not to have voice recog on my Ipod. KISS y'know

 

It is very easy to remove all the TTS files from your itunes and the ipod. It doesn't do anything to your library but add files and playlists, and they all start with ZZZ in your library, so you just highlight all the ZZZ files and delete them then sync your ipod.

 

I (along with others on this board) had severe skipping problems with my iPod, as well as the iPod not turning off/pausing when switching modes or turning the car off. After the latest iPod firmware update (ver 1.2 I think), the problem has gone away. I never installed the TTS software, as I had read horror stories about it. At this point, I am happy with the Musiclink, other than the iPod info not displaying on the nav screen. Apparently that will never happen, since the head unit is limited (thanks sasair!).
I'm not sure what the "new" Musiclink has to offer, but if anyone gets it, please enlighten us!

 

I got to the point where I was happy with my musiclink. I never had all those skipping and not pausing problems. I only had a strong dislike for the TTS software, but I got used to setting it on one playlist and just listening to that. But now that I have control over my ipod from the ipod, I find myself changing playlists and artists often as my mood changes, which is how it should be!

 

Yeah its barely adequate. Mine turns off and on good, doesn't skip. But it will only play a playlist in alphabertical order by artist. I cant seem to get it to shuffle. Somewhere theres a Acura engineer driving around with his Ipod, having the same problems, and in time will get it straightened out.

 

That's great to hear that FW 1.2 fixes the problem. I just upgraded my iPod last week but I have not had a chance to try it. I drive only on the weekends and I was out of town last weekend. So it's been two weeks since I last drove the thing.

 

Version 1.2 of the ipod software has been out for a long time. Remember back in october I asked what version you were running and you said that itunes was showing that your ipod was at version 1.2....

 

Mine was still at 1.1 when I had the problems. I hadn't used my iTunes in a while, and did the update to 1.2 and 7.2 iTunes (I think?) about a week ago. Maybe it is coincidence, but I have not had the skipping/pausing problem since. For my needs (I don't really use playlists), the MusicLink is an OK solution for me. Perfect? no way, but just OK.

 

The old TTS software is not compatible with itunes 7. If you go to apples website and upgrade to itunes 7 from itunes 6, your music link would no longer work.

The "new" music link is essentially a software upgrade that has a "new" TTS program that will work with itunes 7.

Long story short, Music Link sucks. It works how an Acura would work if it were designed and engineered by BMW.

 

Hey, at least BMW's iPod link works well!

 

Not true! mine worked fine exactly as advertised with all current versions of software. Been using it on 3 different ipods (nano, 4G, 5G) since the beginning of october.

 

I will have to check. I know I got some new firmware update last week. I will look tonight to see what version was downloaded.

 

I saw the iPod link on the Mercedes and I thought it was better than what Acura/Honda had to offer. My friend, who owns the Mercedes, complained about how long it takes to navigate his music from the steering wheel. I said, at least your can thumb through and see your selection and it's faster then the Acura music link. He then played around with the RDX music link and started laughing. He was even surprised I had to install software on my computer to just navigate it.

 

After checking, the new firmware from last week is 1.2.1. Don't know what it fixes and I don't know if it solves the skipping problem.

 

My update must have been to 1.2.1, as solidstate says. It has eliminated my skipping, so hopefully it will for you as well...

 

Does anyone have any information on the improvements (if any)? We have had the MusicLink for our 06 Civic for about 7 months now, and have been less than satisfied with it. I am leaning towards the Neo adapter, but wanted to see if some of the issues with the MusicLink have been addressed. Thanks!