Ok, here's a status update for the startup issue: He's making progress, but it's going slowly because it happens so rarely. It is his priority! I'm still shooting for around the end of the month. Thankfully this is the only issue we're seeing for Honda and it is rare.

I :heart: you guys so I wanna make it perfect for all of you.

 

will we ever be fully classic compatible???

 

If you mean will it be unlocked like previous iPod's, it's doubtful. This is Apple's intention, and they fixed the long-existing security hole that we exploited.

 

If it's rare, can a replacement unit just be sent? If it's a design/communication issue with Honda stereos, I wouldn't expect it to be so rare.

 

First let me start off by telling nick i hope you are feeling better after the surgery... hopefully it wasnt major

Second i have 2 Questions that i would like if possible answered
1) When you say that ipod will be locked what does that mean exactly?
e.g. What features will we not be able to do?

2) Which generation is not locked or is there an update that locks all the ipods?

Thanks in Advance
Eddie

 

Not so much. Car computers don't always behave the same. You could put 2 brand new TSX's right next to one another, install the same accessory and one have trouble and one could not. Another part is build quality of the car's computer - Honda's are more reliable and stable compared to Toyota for instance.
The trick to the programming is to get the timing right for all cars. Already, it's very very close. That's why is only happens in a small percentage of cars and rarely in those.

 

WELL - When a accessory demands data or advanced remote control, (Like car intergration kits, desktop intergration kits, etc etc) an iPod is designed to lock itself. All generations of iPods do this, this is because for both safety and software stability. Safety meaning you can't be distracted by the iPod when you're changing music, in theory anyway.

Like I said, all iPods do this. in the 3rd gen iPods til recently there was a flaw that we exploited, and we were pretty much the only ones who knew how to so you could retain advanced control and keep it unlocked. Apple finally fixed this flaw with the current generation. So, when you plug in the iPod into a intergration kit, the iPod becomes disabled and you'll be forced to use the controls the kit wants you to use. In DICE's case this means your steering wheel and headunit controls.

3rd, 4th, 5th gen iPods can be unlocked. Both gen of Mini's & the 1st and 2nd gen Nano's are unlocked as well. It's the current gen's are locked meaning the 6th gen iPod, the 3rd gen Nano, the iTouch and the iPhone. I don't forsee Apple releasing any patches for the older iPods for anything.

 

Oh yea, as for the surgery - it wasn't terrible, it just has a long recovery time. You should see me type - if I'm not capitalizing anything I'm using one hand. If I'm writing anything long (like right now) I sit on my knees so my slinged arm is level with the desk and I can use both hands to type :p

 

Thank you for that detailed response... im sure it took you a while to type it and i appreciate it..i wont ask too many more questions if you have to go through all that trouble to type... im happy the surgery went well for you... i guess now just get some R&R while you wait for your body to repair itself...
Eddie

 

Update is done! We will be mailing out beta's on monday. If you have a DICE kit and it's bugging out on you, PM me with your contact and mailing info.

 

OH NO!

 

???

 

I couldn't think of anything else to say. Too much excitement on this fine Friday eve!

 

Are you going to SEMA?

 

Damn dude. I wish. This is my 10th year missing SEMA. I AM GOING NEXT YEAR!!

I'm a single dad with a 7 year old daughter. It's conference week during SEMA this year. I would love to come and hang out and drink many beers on DICE's tab. Just not this year. So sad.

 

Nick,

I can't do PMs yet. Is there an e-mail address I could send my contact info to? Thanks.

 

Holy cow hurry and ship em out and test them GOGOGOGOGOGGO!!!!
I hope your arm is feeling better Nick...
Eddie

 

nick at

www.diceelectronics.com


Get rid of the www. naturally.

 

PM sent!

 

Could you PM me with your phone number and email address as well please?

 

I guess I'm the oly one lucky enough to unlock the new Classic with the Dice controller. I just rebooted the Ipod with it connected 6 or 8 times and it acted like it wanted to unlock a few times. I then changed the Dice to XM mode and played around it for a while and then switched the Dice back to the CD mode and low and behold it's been unlocked ever since.

 

Have you unplugged it and let the iPod turn itself off?

Most likely you just interrupted the INIT cycle. That will indeed work, but it is very difficult to reproduce reliability.

 

please take the time to make a video.. or carefully record your steps!!! im interested in what u did............

 

Here are the steps...

1. Turn you iPod on and start playing any song from Bjork

2. Point the screen of the iPod EAST and give it a wee shimmy

3. Spread a thin coat of chunky peanut butter on the buttons. Buttons ONLY!

4. Whack it with a 3 lb steel hammer right on the seam

5. Perform you best Kansas City shuffle

Bam! Unlocked!

 

Why in the world do i keep getting an email that tells me someone posted something new yet there are no new post in here...this is very odd...
Anyways.. how are the beta testers out there doing?.. did it fix the problem?
Thanks in Advance
Eddie

 

Usually people only post when there is a problem. I'm doing a swap in a 2007 TL-S today around noon. Donc is one of the lucky 4 AZ members that have had the start-up issue. I'll let you know of my victory.

 

I installed the replacement Dice unit last night.. Seemed to be working fine but when I went to go get lunch today at work the unit did not activate.

has anyone with the new units experienced problems?

 

I finally got fed up with the power up issue and called for a replacement unit a few weeks ago--right after I did this Nick posted that betas were being sent out, so I'm not sure if my new unit is a beta or not. It definitely behaves differently than my previous unit, that's for sure. Not once has it had the startup issue where it doesn't power on when the car is started, so problem solved. However, sometimes it will say "paused" when I start the car until I press next track--not a big deal, but strange, since my old unit only _very_ rarely did that (I think I saw it like 3 times or something). This doesn't bother me at all, though.

 

You don't have a 3rd gen iPod, do you?

Give the iPod a quick reset and see if that cleans it up.

 

Actually it may be the 3rd gen that I have in the car. I purposely got an old cheap iPod for the car since I never need to touch it with my hands now that I have the DICE unit. Will this cause the PAUSE? I'll try the reset today on the drive home. Thanks!

 

Yea. The 3rd gen's do not behave very well. They don't support alot of the commands, including the Resume command. That's why it's pausing. Apple didn't finish the job until they released the 4th gen.

 

3rd Gen iPod's usually have quite a few more issues than the newer models.

 

Is the 3rd gen the one with the 4 buttons separate from the wheel? Mine just has the wheel.

 

Ok so as of right now you guys are recommending getting a 4th gen ipod?
Where can i get those and about how much do they cost?

Thanks in Advance
Eddie

 

Now that you ask, I'm taking a second look. My customers with 3rd gen iPods have the most issues. I've had about 5 customers that have problems with the 4th gen iPod. With the 4th gen it's usually a matter of either resetting the iPod or updating the software. The iPod with the least bugs is the 5th gen and 5.5 gen. I've got customers asking me for these 5.5 gen iPods everyday since the new "restricted" iPods have been released.

 

Ebay is your best chance of getting an older iPod. Expect to spend around $200 plus shipping. Also, be sure to ask if the seller actually has the iPod in hand and ready to ship. Many of the sellers are using a "drop shipper" and are often selling products that they can't provide and don't have to sell in the first place.

 

.

 

!

 

Any news when the latest version will be available? And will it work well with an old school (1st gen) mini?

 

The new release is currently shipping. Many people are already using it. It is a huge improvement from the previous version.

The mini will work but needs firmware version 1.4.1

Please send me a PM or email if you'd like more info.