ipod adaptor

[Jamie Garside]

My Mobridge is still in the box on my desk and really need to get it fitted before Le Mans.

Was planning to try and take some time to get up to JZM to fit as they have experience with it. Camtune who are more local to me wanted 3 hours labour for a first instal when JZ can do it in an hour.

Anyone had one installed, specifically MoBridge in Surrey, I am in the Epsom area. PS - I don't have a CD Changer so not a simple one for self-install.

 

[oceancarrera]

ORIGINAL: Jamie Garside

My Mobridge is still in the box on my desk and really need to get it fitted before Le Mans.

Was planning to try and take some time to get up to JZM to fit as they have experience with it. Camtune who are more local to me wanted 3 hours labour for a first instal when JZ can do it in an hour.

Anyone had one installed, specifically MoBridge in Surrey, I am in the Epsom area. PS - I don't have a CD Changer so not a simple one for self-install.

Hi Jamie,
You could also try Road Radio in Redhill if you don't want to bring it to Camtune or JZM.
If you're in West London, there is also Auto Audio in Acton who have fitted mObridges before.
Any half decent car audio installer will be able to do the install as a straightforward install.
Cheers -

 

[berty987]

Interesting ..I was informed that the mobridge did not support USB devices only I pods ? Is this the case ?

 

[oceancarrera]

ORIGINAL: berty987

Interesting ..I was informed that the mobridge did not support USB devices only I pods ? Is this the case ?

Yes - the mObridge supports iPods/iTouches/iPhones at present.

(is there any other MP3 device out there really worth getting other than the defacto standard given the proliferation and ease of use of iTunes etc?)

 

[berty987]

So the answer is no...none of the items you mention are connected to the mobridge by USB , they are blue tooth or I pod units. My point is that using a USB pen drive is a much cheaper and more convenient method of having a music collection in your car . There are no issues of remembering to take your i pod with you on a journey , or take it out from the car at the end. I would also be uneasy with an i pod about leaving it in the car that could be stolen. Unlike yourself , I have no vested interest in either device , I am speaking from my experience of making a decision based on flexibility , following a comparison of both units. For some , undoubtedly the mobridge will be a better unit , especially if they carry an i phone or ipod with all their music with them most of the time. For those without an i pod or that wish to keep their i pod and car music separate , the USB compatability of the Dension makes better sense. There is no clear winner in my opinion, just suitability based on what hardware you currently own and use. If mobridge were able to extend the flexibility of their units to include USB , there may be a clearer advantage over dension.

 

[oceancarrera]

If your Porsche was stolen, I think the iPod would be the least of your worries!

The USP of each unit is in their ability to ensure compatible connectivity with their target devices.

For a consumer, the decision is quite easy:

1) if you use a generic USB MP3 device, then get the Dension

2) if you use an iPod, iTouch, or iPhone, then get the mObridge

There is a negligible number of iPod owner users who use generic USB MP3 devices, and as such, the need for mixed compatibility (aka 'flexibility') is virtually negligible in real terms.

As an asides... In terms of music devices, the iPod is still the best all round MP3 player. The iPod is arguably the best designed, highest quality, and best supported MP3 music player in the market. And this is true by an overwhelming margin. Consumers choice of music player is generally not dictated by what connectivity kit is available for their car - they choose the music player first, and then they choose the connectivity kit to suit their player and car.

My gripe with the Dension GW500 is that there are a number of known issues when using it in operation with iPods. IF Dension provided better (ie, more reliable) compatibility with the iPod, then I think the choice between Dension and mObridge would be more difficult.


===
note to admin: why am I listed as a non-member? I'm member 45716.

 

[berty987]

When I referred to the item being stolen , I meant being stolen from rather than with the vehicle, in much the same way as portable navigation units are targeted by opportunist thieves. Agreed , the mobridge is the way to go if you own an apple device , but I do not agree it's the best MP3 or only MP3 device for consideration , particularly for vehicle applications. Without wishing to get drawn into a discussion on the merits of apple devices versus other MP3 players , I think there are many people that use devices other than apple for Mp3 music.
Faced with a blank sheet , as I was , I couldn't justify 300 pounds for a mobridge / dension and then another 300 for an ipod , primarily for in car use. For that money I could buy a new head unit with capability built in.

Dension also seem to be releasing new firmware to update these issues you mention which can be applied to existing customer's units.

My point is that there are cheaper alternatives to i pod hardware for comparable quality audio playback of large data libraries of MP3 music via the PCM / CDR porsche units.

Ultimately each prospective buyer will make a decision based on their current MP3 hardware and use of equipment. I do not mean to knock the mobridge device , only make others aware that alternatives exist to i pods for hi quality MP3 playback and control in Porsche vehicles.

 

[oceancarrera]

Berty, I think you miss the point:

Theft as per your analogy of portable sat nav units is irrelevant in both the Dension and mObridge applications: the iPod is kept hidden out of site and there is nothing to show it is present in the car.

I refer to 'MP3' as a generic term (following on from your use of it). iPods and other 'MP3' devices allow you to rip digital music in any number of formats including lossless forms which have better resolution than MP3. eg, AAC, Apple Lossless, etc.

I frequently get enquiries about non-Apple USB music devices from people, and I always advise them that Dension is a definite option for them and that mObridge is not a viable option for them.

I have never said that there are no alternatives, and I plainly state that if you are using a non-Apple device, then the mObridge is not suitable. In fact, my previous post says - go get a Dension. I have recommended the Dension units to many people (some on this forum) where the mObridge is inappropriate for them.

However, irrespective of my current marketing of the mObridge, your lack of hands-on experience with mObridge is reflected in your inaccurate posts about the virtues of Dension [over mObridge]. Navigation via PCM of an iPod is inferior with Dension and there are several glitches in Dension's reverse engineering of the Apple interface. As you are a non-Apple user, however, these points are somewhat irrelevant to you, and I can fully understand your choice of a Dension unit. I just wish to clarify the slight inaccuracies.

And with regards to the 'best portable digital music player' on the market, I still stand by the fact that the iPod remains king [] And no I don't market iPods!

By the way, you may find it interesting to know that very few people buy an iPod specifically to put music in their car: virtually all buyers who contact me for advice already have an iPod so their consideration is not to buy an iPod, but to simply buy a connectivity kit.

 

[berty987]

This debate could drag on for years. My POINT is that there are alrernatives for those that wish to seek them. Personally i'd feel uncomfortable leaving another expensive gadget in my car especially something so marketable as an i pod , regardless of whether it was out of sight or not. Rather than using or buying an i pod , other devices can be used for MP3 playback that offer similar hi fi performance at a reduced cost (USB stick being one). The issues you mention with Dension seem to be addressed as ongoing tasks and there have been recent updates to improve connectivity and control. I fully understand that the reverse engineering of the Dension unit will never match the mobridge as the mobridge is designed specifically to work on i pods.
If you wish to split hairs over each others posts , I have also never stated that the dension out performs the mobridge in I pod control , only that it is also capable of controlling an i pod , and has additional connectivity not afforded by the mobrige units. As someone that doesn't have any sales interest in Dension or mobridge I am only trying to put an independent non biased opinion on the forum for other users to consider.
Rather than a long drawn out debate I suggest that a tabulated comparision of the functonality of the available MP3 playback / control devices should be posted (Dension, mobridge , Nav Tv, etc). This would serve better to allow other readers of this post , to make up their own minds as to what makes best sense for them.

 

[oceancarrera]

I'm not sure what there is to debate about: I've been explicit in saying there are alternatives with their pros/cons.

On this particular topic of iPod connectivity, my only objective here is to bring clarity to the benefits and pros/cons of each unit and provide as accurate advice as I am qualified to on the topic of iPod connectivity in a car. I've done my research, speak to the developers and respond to dozens of enquiries on a regular basis.

I don't know who you are Berty and have no idea if we've ever met, but your skepticism of my motives are misplaced: I am a Porsche enthusiast first (I was an ex-RO of London), remain active on several Porsche forums (I am a mod at 911uk.com) and I am happy to provide factual information as required as they come up on a topic I am qualified to discuss - ie, I don't hide and welcome enquiries/questions etc.

Owners of their cars frequently defend their choice of purchase as a means to justify their decision. You might be interested to know that I actually have a Dension product in my own Porsche, not a mObridge, because Dension provides the best way to connect an iPod to pre-2003 Porsches. Just like you, I am also a consumer and seek independent advice.

Certainly people can make up their own minds, but it's important to do so based on the facts of what is good/bad about each unit.

 

[berty987]

Perhaps its time for a back to back comparison and proper report. The last report I saw on the devices available for the PCM 2.1 in a car magazine (Porsche World I beleive) was not particularly thorough. I for one , would have appreciated a proper comparision without the sales hype by an independent assesor. I have no axe to grind with you or mobridge devices , though I have found your posts regarding the dension somewhat dismissive from an i pod standpoint. The irregularities in the Dension or better compatability of the mobridge really need to be put in clearer terms that the end user can understand. For example..will the additional current draw of the Dension over the mobridge , really make any real world difference to a car used every day ? For this reason a test report would help others understand exactly what the true limitations of the available devices are , and decide if there will be an issue in their appication. None of the web sites for the retail of these products are particularly clear in showing or explaining how these devices look and operate. As an independent with knowledge of all devices this would be a worthy and useful assesment that you could carry out for the benefit of Porsche drivers. I would be more than happy to offer assistance and my car with PCM2.1 for you to carry out your assement on for the Dension Gateway unit.

 

[Kaz]

berty987 I'm not quite sure what point you're trying to make now. All your original queries appear to have been more than adequately answered [ previously....] Both the Dension and mObridge units will have their supporters and dissenters and I would imagine that most people who are considering installing any kind of MOST device in their Porsche would undertake a little background investigation to see which unit is suitable given the hardware they currently use for storing music. I am more than happy with the mObridge unit and I know that another member paulstevens, is equally as delighted with his Dension unit, so it's 'horses for courses' really. As for a 'a tabulated comparison', that strikes me as a bit of overkill when the units are relatively congruent and most members here are intelligent enough to glance through two specifications and notice any glaring anomalies - to my mind the only major difference is that the mObridge unit doesn't support USB sticks.

 

[phil993]

Only just noticed this debate but as a Dension Gateway user would mention that the thing is really flakey ie crashes, sometimes doesnt recognise the ipod, sometimes allows switching back to multi cd and sometimes doesn't and generally manages to disrupt and annoy as if it were my wife sitting next to me on a track day!

 

[garyw]

I don't see this thread going much further...[&:]

I and I'm sure many others here would like to see a laymans guide to which unit does what.

I think the input from both Berty and Adrien has been informative and hopefully we just have a few crossed wires n the two products

Karen, I edited your post to remove some firewood...[]


garyw

 

[Jimberland]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a mObridge stockist and fitter in the docklands area.

Thanks,
James

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: Jimberland

Can anyone point me in the direction of a mObridge stockist and fitter in the docklands area.

Thanks,
James

James, well handily... oceancerrera is a UK stockist,
PM him for more details..

garyw