Comments on: VW iPod adapter: Why won’t it just work the way I want it to? http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/ Insights into the user experience Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:59:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Carl http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/#comment-101 Carl Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:48:30 +0000 http://digsmarter.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-101 Same here guys! Just leased my new 2009 GTI and the iPod adapter is ****. The car I test drove had an auxiliary input jack and that's what I planned on using with my iPhone. The car I actually leased, include the iPod adapter which was a non-issue. However, when I got home and realized VW yanks out the auxiliary input in exchange for the iPod adapter option, which they charge you for, I though, "What the ****!" I bought also bought an extension cable, thinking I could use my phone, while connected to the adapter. Crap, crap, crap! Why did they remove the auxiliary input jack? That's all I wanted in the first place! Same here guys! Just leased my new 2009 GTI and the iPod adapter is ****. The car I test drove had an auxiliary input jack and that’s what I planned on using with my iPhone. The car I actually leased, include the iPod adapter which was a non-issue. However, when I got home and realized VW yanks out the auxiliary input in exchange for the iPod adapter option, which they charge you for, I though, “What the ****!” I bought also bought an extension cable, thinking I could use my phone, while connected to the adapter. Crap, crap, crap! Why did they remove the auxiliary input jack? That’s all I wanted in the first place!

]]> By: Mikko http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/#comment-96 Mikko Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:33:41 +0000 http://digsmarter.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-96 Same story here as well. Happy to have a brand new Golf Variant but every time I enter a car I feel frustrated due to crappy iPod adapter. In Finland model year '09 has AUX-IN as a standard but despite of that I wanted to have iPod adapter to ensure seamless and more safe option to manage my music library while driving. How wrong I was. Now I have a very expensive power adapter/aux-in cable and no real integration in place. Somebody in Germany should be really ashamed... Same story here as well. Happy to have a brand new Golf Variant but every time I enter a car I feel frustrated due to crappy iPod adapter. In Finland model year ‘09 has AUX-IN as a standard but despite of that I wanted to have iPod adapter to ensure seamless and more safe option to manage my music library while driving. How wrong I was. Now I have a very expensive power adapter/aux-in cable and no real integration in place. Somebody in Germany should be really ashamed…

]]> By: Asgeir http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/#comment-87 Asgeir Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:54:31 +0000 http://digsmarter.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-87 Finally I decided to search the web about this problem- and I am pleased AND disappointed to see it is not just me with those worries. I live in Norway -and nearly 1 year ago I bought a new VW GT- and ordered it specially with an iPod input - which I thought sounded like a good Idea. At that time I did not own an iPod - but was planning to, since I'm a music lover. Believe my frustration - I experienced all the earlier comments in this link, and I think it is wrong from the VW dealer to sell this accsessorie- it is simply a bluff-I think I might call it swindle since they take extra money for it. Nevertheless- I hoped someone had found a way to hack their way into the software, because I believe it has to be a software issue - since many brands makes it work. Bad deal VW / Apple ? Finally I decided to search the web about this problem- and I am pleased AND disappointed to see it is not just me with those worries. I live in Norway -and nearly 1 year ago I bought a new VW GT- and ordered it specially with an iPod input - which I thought sounded like a good Idea. At that time I did not own an iPod - but was planning to, since I’m a music lover. Believe my frustration - I experienced all the earlier comments in this link, and I think it is wrong from the VW dealer to sell this accsessorie- it is simply a bluff-I think I might call it swindle since they take extra money for it.
Nevertheless- I hoped someone had found a way to hack their way into the software, because I believe it has to be a software issue - since many brands makes it work. Bad deal VW / Apple ?

]]> By: mike belles http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/#comment-86 mike belles Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:01:11 +0000 http://digsmarter.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-86 well I'm glad I'mm not the only one. Just got my 09 Sportvagon last sunday and couldn't wait to see how this ipod thing will work. It's now wednesday, and the dealer still can't tell me why the damn thing won't work. He says it won't work with the nano(3rd gen). Is that true? I'm starting to hate my jetta. well I’m glad I’mm not the only one.
Just got my 09 Sportvagon last sunday and couldn’t wait to see how this ipod thing will work.
It’s now wednesday, and the dealer still can’t tell me why the damn thing won’t work. He says it won’t work with the nano(3rd gen). Is that true?
I’m starting to hate my jetta.

]]> By: David Kozatch http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/#comment-43 David Kozatch Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:37:38 +0000 http://digsmarter.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-43 Warren No worries. Just ... 1) Set your ipod to shuffle song mode (playing your entire song list) 2) Start playing the first song - you can even press >> to make sure that the next song is on shuffle mode 3) Plug the ipod into the VW adapter 4) Choose CD selector #6 (you have to do this quickly or you'll lose it) It should stay on shuffle song mode after the first song as long as you don't remove the ipod. It won't shuffle between playlists (even Apple won't let you do that) but at least you can shuffle your entire ipod. Warren

No worries. Just …
1) Set your ipod to shuffle song mode (playing your entire song list)
2) Start playing the first song - you can even press >> to make sure that the next song is on shuffle mode
3) Plug the ipod into the VW adapter
4) Choose CD selector #6 (you have to do this quickly or you’ll lose it)

It should stay on shuffle song mode after the first song as long as you don’t remove the ipod. It won’t shuffle between playlists (even Apple won’t let you do that) but at least you can shuffle your entire ipod.

]]> By: Warren http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/#comment-42 Warren Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:12:22 +0000 http://digsmarter.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-42 Just found this blog posting and wish I had seen it before bothering to obtain an iPod to go with my 2007 GTi. I love the car but the head unit is somewhat retarded. I got rid of Sirius a couple of months ago and got a used iPod Nano from a buddy. The result total crap. The trick of playing in shuffle mode if the iPod is set to shuffle only when plugging in is pretty much the shame as not shuffling at all. I had hoped after reading online how it worked that I could just build 5 genre based playlists and be good to go. Not being able to shuffle those 5 playlists makes the Nano useless in the car. I am ever more jealous my wife's simple aux audio-in in her GLi. At least if I could see the iPod, I could make it do what I wanted. Just found this blog posting and wish I had seen it before bothering to obtain an iPod to go with my 2007 GTi. I love the car but the head unit is somewhat retarded. I got rid of Sirius a couple of months ago and got a used iPod Nano from a buddy. The result total crap. The trick of playing in shuffle mode if the iPod is set to shuffle only when plugging in is pretty much the shame as not shuffling at all.

I had hoped after reading online how it worked that I could just build 5 genre based playlists and be good to go. Not being able to shuffle those 5 playlists makes the Nano useless in the car. I am ever more jealous my wife’s simple aux audio-in in her GLi. At least if I could see the iPod, I could make it do what I wanted.

]]> By: Michael http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/#comment-36 Michael Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:27:01 +0000 http://digsmarter.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-36 I bought a 2005.5 Jetta recently and had them install that damn wire for $300 - big mistake, piece of **** I bought a 2005.5 Jetta recently and had them install that damn wire for $300 - big mistake, piece of ****

]]> By: Kyle http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/#comment-32 Kyle Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:38:21 +0000 http://digsmarter.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-32 I just got an '08 Jetta here in California and had the same response. I mean really. It has Folder and Catagory buttons on the stereo, so I just assumed I was good to go. But no, these are for MP3 cds. Really? MP3 cds? I remember when those were relevant... 10 years ago! Come on VW. I have to imagine a software/firmware update could fix this. I love my new car, but this is a major disappointment. I just got an ‘08 Jetta here in California and had the same response. I mean really. It has Folder and Catagory buttons on the stereo, so I just assumed I was good to go. But no, these are for MP3 cds. Really? MP3 cds? I remember when those were relevant… 10 years ago! Come on VW. I have to imagine a software/firmware update could fix this. I love my new car, but this is a major disappointment.

]]> By: paul n http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/#comment-31 paul n Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:21:53 +0000 http://digsmarter.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-31 well said. The interface is nothing short of a disgrace. Functionally it is actually as bad as they could have made it, and they have the cheek to charge £129 for it. Worse still, im finding that on the option 6 alleged shuffle mode, the shuffle is not the ipod shuffle but some crap attempt at a shuffle, how else do i end up having to listen to the same songs frustatingly often when i have nearly 5000 songs on the ipod. I love my new golf, and i love the functionality of an ipod, but i feel really let down by vw with this. I will probably change cars in around 2 years, and if vw dont upgrade this poor facility in their new cars then my next purchase will be with a competitor that has. well said. The interface is nothing short of a disgrace. Functionally it is actually as bad as they could have made it, and they have the cheek to charge £129 for it. Worse still, im finding that on the option 6 alleged shuffle mode, the shuffle is not the ipod shuffle but some crap attempt at a shuffle, how else do i end up having to listen to the same songs frustatingly often when i have nearly 5000 songs on the ipod. I love my new golf, and i love the functionality of an ipod, but i feel really let down by vw with this. I will probably change cars in around 2 years, and if vw dont upgrade this poor facility in their new cars then my next purchase will be with a competitor that has.

]]> By: David Kozatch http://blog.digsmarter.com/2008/03/31/why-wont-it-just-work-they-i-want-it-to/#comment-30 David Kozatch Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:57:23 +0000 http://digsmarter.wordpress.com/?p=33#comment-30 Gavin, Thanks for the video link. What you are pointing out is one of key problems with automakers: the lead time between "concept car" functionality and reality is way too long or non-existent. Concept cars are created for PR value. It's up to managers with true vision to move innovations into the mainstream. It took automobile manufacturers 5 years after MP3 players became widely available to put a simple AUX input on the front of their factory car audio components. BMW is the exception to the rule: they made real efforts to get wtih Apple's interface years ago and their investment has paid off with first-to-market bragging rights and much higher customer satisfaction in the audio dept. -DK Gavin,

Thanks for the video link. What you are pointing out is one of key problems with automakers: the lead time between “concept car” functionality and reality is way too long or non-existent. Concept cars are created for PR value. It’s up to managers with true vision to move innovations into the mainstream. It took automobile manufacturers 5 years after MP3 players became widely available to put a simple AUX input on the front of their factory car audio components.

BMW is the exception to the rule: they made real efforts to get wtih Apple’s interface years ago and their investment has paid off with first-to-market bragging rights and much higher customer satisfaction in the audio dept.

-DK

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