I do not use an ipod, but this seems promising.
From Griffin:

SmartDeck
Intelligent Cassette Adapter for iPod

SmartDeck allows you to control your iPod using the built in controls of your cassette player. Using patent-pending sensing technology, the SmartDeck determines which commands the cassette player sends to the iPod.

SmartDeck is more than just a cassette adapter for iPod; it achieves truly seamless integration between iPod and cassette deck. Use the cassette deck's forward and rewind buttons to advance to the next or prior songs in the iPod playlist. Pause and stop buttons do what pause and stop buttons are expected to do. Hit the cassette deck's Eject button or switch from Cassette to Radio, and Griffin's SmartPlay technology automatically pauses the iPod.

SmartDeck Features and Benefits

* Control iPod navigation through the car stereo
* Intelligent level control for optimal cassette player input levels
* Features highest-quality cassete tape head for crystal clear quality
* Sets optimal volume on the iPod for best audio quality
* Seamless integration between iPod and car stereo

Clear, high-quailty audio and iPod control together in one brainy cassette adapter. What more could you ask for?

 

is this on the market? or was it just an announcement at CES? do you know when it will be released?

 

Now if griffen wanted to make some money off us TLr's they should make this system bluetooth not wired, combine thier previously mentioned technology with this one. Drop the Bluetooth cassette into the player then place some sort of dongle on top of the ipod. Bam! Most of our concerns are met. Nobody sees the ugly wires hanging out on the center console and contol of the ipod is possible.


If anyone thinks this is a good solution maybe we should start inundating Griffen with emails.

 

i'd pay a lot for that baby. i'm sure it's technologically feasible now!

 

Jamiecer,

Only problem with that is, where would the "Bluetooth Cassette" get power?

 

It's not going to ship for a while. I ordered one.

Joe

 

Only problem with that is, where would the "Bluetooth Cassette" get power?

I imagine that the bluetooth would use very little power. Couldn't the spinning hub in the "Bluetooth Cassete" provide enough power. Or what about putting a rechargable cel phone battery in it. Those are just my first two ideas.

 

Is anyone not upset that these types of add ons are not available for other players ( Zen Touch, Dell DJ, Carbon etc)?

 

The interface I'm building for my car is a generic one so it would support any player. It doesn't, however, allow you to control the unit from the steering wheel. It just gives you an AUXiliary in to the head unit with standard phono jacks.

 

I wish it was black to match virtually every head unit out there instead of white to match the iPod, which will likely be hidden away anyway.

 

bluetooth uses gobs of power

 

Is the SmartDeck ever coming out?

 

I emailed them asking about the release of the SmartDeck (which was slated for Q2) and they said it'll ship in Q3 now.

 

you could use the spinning motion of the spinning thingies to move a magnet through a coil to produce voltage but i send how size would be a major factor i dont thing you could get that much jucie doing it that way

 

well at least they responded to you, I have emailed about the release date and about a technical issue with the USB AirClick and have NEVER gotten a response. The delay has been a major disapointment.

 

Is this thing EVER coming out?

 

For anybody who's interested, Griffin now shows a "Buy It Now" for the Smartdeck.

 

I posted here before but that Astroboy locked my post.
=T not sure why he did that.

 

Of course the ideal player (to me at least) that wld come with the car (OEM) would be a removable HD. You would just load it up with yr MP3's via usb or firewire and stick it in a slot in the dash or even in the glove compartment and presto MP3's with an on screen (navi especially) interface with music and artist data.

Now for the retrofitters with tape decks (our TL's) I don't understand why some electronic company doesn't just build an MP3 player in the format of a cassette tape. HD's and electronics are small enough and this company Griffin seems to know how to use the cassette deck commands to run the MP3 player (in this case the ipod). I guess the only major drawback would be the need to remove it ocasionally to charge the batteries or perhaps even a charge it via the cigarrette lighter (but again we have clunky wires)

Dumont

 

I just received the SmartDeck after waiting forever. I ordered it in March and it came yesterday. At no surprise, I hook it up in my 04 TL and it doesn't even work. My tape deck tries to spin the tape wheels for 5 seconds and then ejects the tape. No music from the IPOD at all. Anyone else get theirs yet? I have used other tape apdapters without a problem. I will try the smartdeck in another car and see if that works, but I'm thinking I waited a long time for something that won't even work correctly in the stock Acura tape system.

 

I also have a SmartDeck. It works in my 04 TL.

 

What generation iPod do you have? If you have a 3G iPod, how does the play / pause work?

 

I'm interested in this if it works. I don't want the hassle of buying, trying, returning etc.

Dennis

 

I have the iPod Photo 30G

Dennis
2005 TL 6MT Navi

 

There IS one already

 

Here's the rest of the review - http://www.dansdata.com/dah220.htm

I was looking at this myself but decided to stick with my Griffin iTrip until a better solution was available. Its not optimal but the iTrip works well enough.

 

we are behind in the tl forum. check out this
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...0&page=8&pp=25

 

I also got a Smartdeck, not the dock connector version, and it doesn't work either. It spins and does nothing. I can see the iPod going from play to pause to play, etc. I have an iPod Photo 30GB. I sent an email to Griffin, but have yet to hear back.

Joe

 

I just got off the phone with Griffin tech support. They stated that the SmartDeck adapter does not work in the Acura 04 TL. I have a 40gig 3rd gen and I bought this adapter and had no success with it in my 04 TL. Tech support told me there is a known issue and would refund the money. Divxz, I'm not sure how come yours works as posted earlier, but feel lucky

 

I just got mine today and its works in my 05 TL. When I pust channel + on the steering wheel column, you can hear the deck spin, but then after a second or two it stops and it fowards to the next song. When I push channel - its a different story. I has worked half the time in going to the previous song but not 100% of the time. Most of the time it just restarts the song over. I tried switching from both modes on the cassette adapter and have not seen a difference.

BTW. There was one instance when I hit channel + and it fast fowarded the cassette adapter and did not stop. I just hit the channel + button again it then it stopped and played the next track.

So the adapter works, but not flawlessly. I'm just happy it turns my ipod on when I start my car. And puts it into pause when I turn off my car. Can't tell you how many times I have forgotten to turn off my ipod when I leave my car. Another thing it does is that it pauses the ipod when its interuppted. For example, when I get calls from HFL, the ipod will pause and then resume when the call is ended.

 

any other success stories, before i get one as well. I have an 05 TL.

Only reason i am a bit concerned is, WHY it did not work in 04 TL. Its not like that 04 -> 05 was an amazing triumph over tape player technology.

INOCHI, dude I totally feel you on the pause on HFL and car shut off. I have sucked the life out of my ipod many a times just cos of that.

 

i wonder if the ipod generation makes a difference. I'm using a 4th gen

 

I bought this at Staples and tried it briefly on my '05 TL Navi

The cassette is noisier than my Sony cassette adapter.

When I push chan+, it fast fowards the cassette until I press chan+ again and then we get to the next song.

When I push chan-, it goes to the beginning of the current song after rewinding the cassette, etc. as when I do chan+.

I think the SmartDeck makes the music play louder and doesn't seem to do any real volume adjustment. I have to manually turn the volume down on the iPod to avoid distortion, etc.

The SmartDeck is slow (4-5 seconds to get to next song) and too loud (both mechanically and volume) for my taste; it doesn't seem to do volume adjustment as advertised.

I just don't care for SmartDeck so far; I shall not waste anymore time to try the other features. I'm going back to my Sony tape adapter and I also bought an Airclick remote for the iPod (which works well); I'll just mount it to the steering wheel and use that to go to next song, scan song, turn iPod on/off, and adjust volume on iPod.

I'm glad I didn't wait too long for this SmartDeck -- kind of disappointing. Perhaps the '05 TL is not a supported car and perhaps SmartDeck works on other cars -- at this point, I neither know nor care.

Dennis

 

Thanks, after reading the review and seeing that this one only has upto 512mb of memory I guess it's not worthwhile. I still don't know why Acura didn't just add a simple regular headphone size auxiliary input.

Dumont
http://www.pbase.com/dumont

 

Hi Guys.

For all you IPod devotees....

I just was informed that the 2004 forward TL's will able to be outfitted with OEM ports.

We are to receive our kits here at the Dealership mid December.


Can't imagine how many owners we will be seeing fro Christmas installs!

 

AcuraInternet,

That's GREAT news. Does it specify anywhere that both Navi and non-Navi TLs will work?

 

Both configurations will work. I notice you are in Montreal - we might need to be careful with foreigners.

I just spoke with my Parts Mgr. We will know about inventory amounts once they begin to arrive.

Group purchase anyone?? I'm in!

The new 2006 TSX integrates fully to the Voice Command system if you have the Navi - I am checking for the TL retrofits.

Eli

 

Is this the Acura Music Link adaptor that Apple/Acura discussed a release of? I'm assuming (and hoping) that the retrofit OEM parts will work on the 04,05 TLs for voice commands. Hopefully it will be a Merry Christmas. Keep us posted on your findings for the retrofit kits!

 

Well, there is a difference between the US head unit and the Canadian one... the US head unit has XM radio whereas the Canadian doesn't. I'm hoping that doesn't cause an issue. I guess we'll have to wait and see!

 

Hi guys....

I don't think we will get a definitive answer on the retro fit regarding the Voice Command integration until we do the first one. All indicators say "yes"...but we know how that goes!

I will ask about the Canadian console. I don't believe XM should be the problem.
Luckily we have a rare breed at our dealership in the form of a Master Certified Tech and I use him heavily for questions. I just can't abuse that priviledge too often!

Is there anywhere that I should go to let others know about the IPod?

Newbie here on AZ.

Eli