quake97

Apple annouced today that there will be an official iPod kit for Acuras. The website says it's coming soon, but this is excellent news!

http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipodyourcar/

Joe

d0rk

Nice find. The note at the bottom says 2006 model lines... hopefully it'll be compatible with at least the third generation TL's.

gt1

I don't think that TL adaptor will ever be available. Such an adaptor needs to connect to the head unit via CD changer or some other auxillary input, and TL doesn't have any.
Disconnecting XM module is not an option for many people.

TLover

Unless someone found a way to split the input and switch between XM and the iPod.

gt1

This has been done, but splitting input will not allow to control iPod with steering wheel buttons.

astro

i don't imagine this will be a retrofit for our cars, it will apply to the 06's and beyond tho!

gt1

Or it may work for other Acuras. Or "coming soon" will stay there for years.

gt1

Taking back "will stay for years". Didn't read the press release.

jtow

Nano is teh Win.!

cM3go

Official Press release from Honda/Acura

http://www.hondanews.com/CatID3000?m...54774&mime=asc


I'm going to keep hopes up, from the press release for the 2006 TL, it says nothing new about the sound system, same DVD audio system with XM by ELS. My guess is it may be retrofittable, OR, one of us will figure out how to make it so.

jastor3759

*crosses fingers*

zax123

I think all the 2004-2005 head unit needs is a firmware upgrade to support one more device on the system bus. Once it has that, hopefully it'll support both an AUX device and XM. I don't XM being in Canada and all, but I suspect that's what the "old" models will need in order to upgrade to the 2006 version of the head unit. We'll see in a couple months!

fizzyhawk

Just in case acura is listening, my '05 and I will be first in line at the dealer if this is available for all 3rd gen TL's at any reasonable price.

NFLblitze1

i love the sound of

"The Acura Music Link adaptor provides outstanding sound quality while charging the iPod battery at the same time by a cable conveniently located in the glove compartment. The adaptor will be available starting in mid-December exclusively for purchase and installation at Acura dealers. Suggested retail pricing for the Acura Music Link will be approximately $250 plus dealer installation charge. Acura Music Link is backed by a full Acura factory warranty. Consumers should check with Acura dealers for specific restrictions."

250 sounds good, the acura voice speech thing would be such a nice touch.

TL-CrAzIe-05

This would be great and I hope it will be released soon.

kray17

you don't think this has anything to do with the thread i posted this morning?

https://acurazine.com/forums/technology-16/new-sprint-phone-i-broke-mine-credit-122429/

Thorin78

Click Here if you want to see the pretty advertisements


More iPods to ride in 2006 cars
Published: September 7, 2005, 3:56 PM PDT
By Michael Singer
Staff Writer, CNET News.com


SAN FRANCISCO--Four additional automakers will offer iPod support as an optional feature starting with 2006 models, Apple Computer announced on Wednesday.

At a Apple press event here, Audi, Volkswagen, Honda and its Acura luxury division showed off their yet-to-be-released cars sporting the latest iPod Nano linked to the stereo system and other volume controls on the steering wheel.

When installed by a car manufacturer or the dealer, the iPod is tethered to the stereo behind the dashboard with an access line running either to the glove compartment or a lockable center console.

Fifteen car companies currently support iPod kits, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz USA, Volvo, Scion and Ferrari.

With its additional partners, Apple estimates that more than 5 million cars will ship with iPod support in the United States in the next year.

"By 2006, 30 percent of all cars will come with an option of connecting to an iPod device," Apple CEO Steve Jobs predicted during the press event where the Rokr phone and iPod Nano were also announced.

The deal with automakers differs from iPod integration products Apple endorses with stereo accessory manufacturers such as Alpine, Clarion, Pioneer and Kenwood. Custom kits from those companies range from iPod-ready units to self-install options to professionally installed products.

Honda and Acura said they would augment their iPod connector kits with text-to-speech capabilities, which representatives with the company said can be used to search for playlists and other title information.

Volkswagen, Honda and Acura said they would offer iPod support for the majority of their 2006 U.S. lineups. Audi said it would feature its iPod connectors only in its A3, A4 and TT models.

Audi and Volkswagen said they would also offer a separate iPod connector kit to dealers for outfitting its vehicles as old as 1999.

The kits can be purchased separately for as much as $175, not including dealer installation fees, each carmaker said. The kits would be recommended to only the most tech-savvy customers who don't mind spending a couple of hours underneath the dashboard.

Ytsejamr

God, I hope so. I've been waiting and waiting for something like this. IF it is retrofittable, I'm guessing we would need to upgrade the Navigation too, since it sounds like it's going to support more voice commands.

I also wonder if it will show the iPod information on the Navi screen. Man, I'd almost be willing to swap out my '05 radio/nav for an '06 if it's not retrofittable.

crossing fingers . . .

-Brian

BadgerNation

I just called Acura Client Services to ask about the ipod adapter being retrofitted for earlier model TL's (specifically 3rd gen). I was told that as of now, it is for 2006 models only. However they are documenting inquiries such as mine and may make it for earlier models. Of course, no time frame. The more of us that call to ask about earlier models the better the chance may be that they see the dollars to be made and produce a version for our cars.

gt1

Wow, this is a big development. I am thinking about the ways Honda can add an iPod adaptor to TL. So far I identified three ways:
1 New stereo head unit for 2006- we are totally out of luck
2 Enabling switchbox betweeen head unit and XM by using their knowledge of data communication protocol. May be it will switch to iPod when XM button pressed twice or something along these lines.
3 Utilizing some undocumented and not shown on schematics feature of our head unit.

Time will tell...

zax123

gt1,

I really doubt they've got a new head unit for 2006... I would say they've upgraded the firmware on the existing head unit to allow for one more device on the Alpine bus. Then it's just a matter of selecting it. I'm sure each device has its own address and it's just a matter of selecting it. The two devices (XM and iPod) could share the audio-in, but just be selectable on the bus... I guess we'll see. I'm dying to know!

cM3go

ACS doesn't know anything to tell you the truth. I wouldn't take what they say to heart.

zax123

There are a lot of smart people on this forum... we'll figure out a way to back-port it to the 2004-2005 TL.

gt1

zax, I am sure that the system bus is proprietory and very different from Alpine aftermarket bus. And I doubt that firmware iin the existing head unit is field upgradable. They may use a different microprocessor chip, but it will really mean a new model of the head unit. I am afraid that the new head unit is a likley scenario, because they are talking about voice commands for iPod.
BTW, do non-navi models have voice command for the audio system?

bigman606

I agree. Between email, phone calls to your sales rep. Keep bugging them. We want it in our 3rd Gen cars (and probably others), so let Honda and Acura know what their customers want.

Ytsejamr

I tried Googling the guy quoted in the article (Stony Furutani, manager of Acura accessory marketing). I'm guessing he would be the one with the answer. But I didn't come up with anything.

I'm obviously very anxious to know. I've been holding off on getting an adapter for my iPod because none of the current solutions are perfect and/or work with the Navi.

I kind of thought Acura was working on something. I just hope we'll somehow be able to get it for the 3rd Gen cars.

-Brian

ChicagoSteel

I just spoke with owner services and they claim that it is only available on the 06 models. After explaining to them that there are no audio differences between the '05 and '06 TL they said that is all the information they've been given. I then told them that there are plenty of people out there like me that are willing to pay to have it installed.

lindros2

Once again, Acura Client Services is completely useless.

ChicagoSteel

Yes they are.

astro

why not wait until we see what it's comprised of when it's released, then worry about retro-fitting it...

if we on this forum can learn to hack the navigation system, i have no doubt our members will get the ipod integration working in previous years cars too.

Lets continue this discussion here, as it's not TL specific, it relates the whole of Acura's Lineup.