| j-hill |
I'm picking up my 2007 Tech/Ent MDX tomorrow and I have had the dealer install the iPod MusicLink accessory. I want to make sure I understand what exactly doesn't work so that when I'm reviewing it with the dealer, I can point out the issues and address them (or get a refund) while I'm there.
My understanding from the acura.com site is that the MusicLink will:
- "Use the audio system's controls to search for and play music from your iPod"
- "Use the steering wheel-mounted audio control buttons to search for and play music from your iPod"
I did a search on the forum archives and found several references to the fact that the MusicLink doesn't work as advertised but I didn't find a specific description of what's not working. |
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| stoke2 |
It works, but it's basically useless. Here's why:
The Ipod gets hooked onto a cable in the glove box and all controls become null so you can't access it. If the music link were practical, this wouldn't be a problem, because you would theoretically be able to truly navigate the Ipod. Easy breezy. The problem is that you really can't navigate the Ipod easliy.
The reason you can't navigate is because all controls are housed within the CD changer. You are dealing with numbers and plus/minus signs. You can't see any names of artists, you can't see playlists, you can't see names of albums, etc. Acura has written some POS software that creates a TEXT to VOICE translation that "talks" you through these lists. Here's what the experience is like:
• You plug your iPod into the cable
•_You press one of the six disc numbers on your CD player to "navigate" through lists
• Once you press the number, you hear a computerized voice recite the alphabet and numbers for you. When you get to the letter you want, you hit a button and the comptuer tells the iPod to start playing the "list" within the corresponding letter.
• For example, if you are searching by Album, you press the button and listen to this voice recite the alphabet. When they get to "E", the iPod will start playing that album (the first in the list alphabetically), let's say "Earth Wind and Fire" for example. You can then select the next song in the list of the album, or you can randomly play songs from that album.
• The TEXT to SPEECH function will learn all the names of artists and albums as best it can, so you can try to search for these more effectively, but really, it's kind of bullsh@t. It should JUST WORK WITHIN THE NAVIGATION MENU. IT CAN'T BE THAT HARD. IT'S ONLY SOFTWARE.
The inherent problem with the current soution is that if you have a lot of music on your iPod (I have 10,000 songs in mine, how am i supposed to navigate that easliy?), you want to QUICKLY get to the artist or album that you want. This system is tedious at best and has a pretty STEEP learning curve. I'm very techno savvy and going through this was painful.
The other negative to this is that in order for the TEXT to SPEECH system to communicate with the car correctly, it has to change all playlist titles within your Ipod into technobabble. When you navigate your Ipod playlists after the conversion is finished, they show up as "ZZWWW091001" How the f#ck are you supposed to know what the playlist is?
When I first got the X, I would simply hook my Ipod up to the AUX cable and operate it while it sat next to me, or set up a playlist and let it go. It was MUCH simpler than this craziness that they have come up with.
They are taking my MusicLink out today and giving me a refund.
Hope that was helpful. |
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| SuperTech |
The upcoming '08 Cadillac CTS will offer a built in iPod/mp3 player link with a built in USB port. If you hook up an iPod, not only do you get to control it with the steering wheel buttons like the Acura Musiclink, but all the songs can be viewed and played with the touchscren navigation display.
Now THAT is how it should work! |
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| stoke2 |
| Hey Super Tech, where does something like this go wrong at Acura? It can't be THAT hard to write software for this can it? Unless Apple wont' make the code available, I can't see how this would be all that difficult. Any clues? I mean, this interface is TERRIBLE. I'd be embarassed to release it! |
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| SuperTech |
What a service advisor would say:
Generally speaking, if something isn't developed "in-house" things are going to get lost in translation. The Acura Musiclink is an example of this. Apple isn't too generous when it comes to sharing the wealth and kinda resent other companies selling accessories they could have been selling, so I guess we're lucky we have something that even works at all.
What a mechanic would say:
Hell if I know pal. I didn't build the frigging thing! |
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| pahuja |
Can someone clearly explain to me how to connect to the AUX (I am assuming its in the center facing the rear passengers) and what to push in the my center console (under navigation screen) to hear music?
I connected using a 3.5mm to dual rca cable with the port in the back console, and couldn't hear anything - maybe i wasn't selecting the correct input. Please also note what should be the settings for rear power, rear source etc.
Thanks a lot. Feel free to PM me.
Cheers!
(2007 MDX, Sports+Ent Package) |
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| gestes |
quote:
Originally posted by pahuja
Can someone clearly explain to me how to connect to the AUX (I am assuming its in the center facing the rear passengers) and what to push in the my center console (under navigation screen) to hear music?
I connected using a 3.5mm to dual rca cable with the port in the back console, and couldn't hear anything - maybe i wasn't selecting the correct input. Please also note what should be the settings for rear power, rear source etc.
Thanks a lot. Feel free to PM me.
Cheers!
(2007 MDX, Sports+Ent Package)
Acutally, the AUX is in the back of the center console. There are three RCA jacks, two for audio L/R and one for video. You would use this if you wanted to hook up an xbox or the like. If you just want audio get an RCA to mini-f type adapter cable from radio shack, this can be plugged into the headphone jack of most any audio device. Press the AUX input button on your radio and you're good to go. |
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| pahuja |
Thanks, I figured it out the same day - i think my problem was the volume was set too low on the head unit - and i may have been pushing rear control, rear source buttons when I didn't need to :)
Cheers!! |
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