New A Class options

[Clkrichard]

Does anyone know the cost of the Drive Kit Plus for the Iphone for the new A Class ?
Next question .... would it display the Tom Tom navigation app on my Iphone on the screen and give the voice messages ?
I have scoured the net and have seen mention of Euros 600 which seems pretty steep - what do you actually get for that given that the app is free and there is already a USB socket for the phone ?

 

[SmartMAC]

Does anyone know the cost of the Drive Kit Plus for the Iphone for the new A Class ?
Next question .... would it display the Tom Tom navigation app on my Iphone on the screen and give the voice messages ?
I have scoured the net and have seen mention of Euros 600 which seems pretty steep - what do you actually get for that given that the app is free and there is already a USB socket for the phone ?

I don't quite believe all the fuss with this kind of integration technology. Cars have a life circle of around 8 years while Tech like phones is more like 1-2 years. The car will always be playing catch up so if I were you I would not expend any money on those.

 

[Clkrichard]

SmartMac I dont disagree but Iphone based things like this tend to be supported for a while and I am just pondering the whole value for money aspect.
If its £100 its worth it and if its £500 it probably isnt.
Isn't the Becker satnav over £300 and thats just a satnav ?
SWMBO likes her toys on her car !

 

[gIzzE]

Remember the iPhone 5 has no video out, if you're thinking of upgrading.

I think allowing smart phone integration is a good idea, spend £500 on that rather than £2000 on a system that does it and will date.
At least this way when the phones get new features your car does too.

But I would want to make sure it works with airplay as that is the way Apple is heading.

 

[SmartMAC]

SmartMac I dont disagree but Iphone based things like this tend to be supported for a while and I am just pondering the whole value for money aspect.
If its £100 its worth it and if its £500 it probably isnt.
Isn't the Becker satnav over £300 and thats just a satnav ?
SWMBO likes her toys on her car !

I agree iphone tends to be better supported.
I only got the becker sat nav because the salesman made a mistake and had to through it in as part of the deal (he talked himself into it). I knew the car didn't have one and I was happy not having one. The Becker unit is full of bugs anyway for the reasons mentioned above and mine is already out of date after just 9 months (new 8Gb out and 4Gb not big enough anymore).

 

[Clkrichard]

Thanks gIzze.
I doubt she will go Iphone 5 for a while because she doesnt normally need 4g and internet access while on the move and we have several docks, including 2 Onkyos, which wont accept the new connector on the 5.
Realistically she wants easy access to music in the car plus seeing that on the display screen plus the occasional use of the Tom Tom app.
Now you have me wondering what would happen to music saved to a USB stick and plugged into the car ? That can work on a Fiat 500 but on an A class ?

 

[SmartMAC]

Thanks gIzze.
I doubt she will go Iphone 5 for a while because she doesnt normally need 4g and internet access while on the move and we have several docks, including 2 Onkyos, which wont accept the new connector on the 5.
Realistically she wants easy access to music in the car plus seeing that on the display screen plus the occasional use of the Tom Tom app.
Now you have me wondering what would happen to music saved to a USB stick and plugged into the car ? That can work on a Fiat 500 but on an A class ?

That is the way to go. Proven 'old' tech. I have a 64Gb USB stick on mine and works great. It shows the art work too.

 

[Clkrichard]

SmartMac thats one solution to the music question but I am curious about what will show on the A class screen display with an Iphone plugged in and it still leaves the Tom Tom question open.
As is always the way with these techno geeky threads we seem to have strayed away from my original question about the cost of the thing !

 

[Mr E]

When iPhones are only about 15% of the market, and there is too much fragmentation wrt integration on other platforms, there is unlikely to be any investment on the part of OEMs for further integration into telematic systems.

I'd be very surprised if there are any telematic systems that mimic the display of the phone on the screen.

 

[gIzzE]

TomTom, Navigon etc. all shut off the video out when plugged into anything.

I have a Pioneer App Radio and it is jailbroken to allow video out, but the nav apps still won't show, I get a message on screen.

 

[gIzzE]

You could use FreeNav though, it is pretty good.

Although, doubt the Merc screen would show it still, and if it does show it as video, what will you listen to? You would just have the nav coming through the speakers.

 

[Clkrichard]

Still no one who knows the cost of this from MB ?
(yes I know I could call them but life is too short !)

 

[HumberMart]

It is funny how many people post inaccurate responses through ignorance. The promised iPhone integration has nothing to do with the lack of a vidoe out capability.

We are also currently negotiating on a new A, and am similarly confused by the lack of iPhone integration details on the current pricelist. I am assuming that this may come from the media kit add on. We have this currently in the new B but have yet to try it with my iPod. It works great with usb. Supposedly the A has full iPod integration but looks identicle to the system in the B.

 

[gIzzE]

It is funny how many people post inaccurate responses through ignorance. The promised iPhone integration has nothing to do with the lack of a vidoe out capability.

I presume that was aimed at me?

The current way of displaying nav from an iphone is via video out, screen mirroring, and is done over component, in the analogue domain.
The new iPhone will only send vga and hdmi using a special cable.
I doubt that Mercedes have designed this system since the launch of the iPhone 5, and have taken this into account.



I am replying to his question...

.... would it display the Tom Tom navigation app on my Iphone on the screen and give the voice messages ?

I will stand by my answer, there is a difference between being ignorant and posting for the sake of it and taking an educated guess based on the facts you have.

I have no concerns over the system seeing album art, facebook updates, twitter feeds etc. with the iPhone 5 with the right cable, but it will not show what is on screen on the Mercedes dash display.

Mercedes have never said that their system will allow you to mirror your smart phone, they is no mention of App Mode or Mirror Link, the two formats that have been agreed with all the phone suppliers and system providers.
Without one of those you can pretty much a guarantee that mirroring will not be available.

We are also currently negotiating on a new A, and am similarly confused by the lack of iPhone integration details on the current pricelist. I am assuming that this may come from the media kit add on. We have this currently in the new B but have yet to try it with my iPod. It works great with usb. Supposedly the A has full iPod integration but looks identicle to the system in the B.

It does say that is designed for the iPhone 4s, doesn't even mention the 4, let alone the 5.

Alpine, Pioneer and others are having issues with some of the compatibility of their head units with the new iPhone, so can't see Mercedes having this nailed.

 

[HumberMart]

Sorry about my poor opening line. I had wrongly assumed that you had presumed that the integration was via a video out, which you clearly know is not the case. Unfortunately some members do seem to be too quick to offer responses when a quick google would prove otherwise.

 

[NISFAN]

When iPhones are only about 15% of the market, and there is too much fragmentation wrt integration on other platforms, there is unlikely to be any investment on the part of OEMs for further integration into telematic systems.

I'd be very surprised if there are any telematic systems that mimic the display of the phone on the screen.

Not an OEM solution but getting there

[YOUTUBE]BMW (F30) 320D i-Drive[/YOUTUBE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lMAcGYqcEf4#!

 

[gIzzE]

Sorry about my poor opening line. I had wrongly assumed that you had presumed that the integration was via a video out, which you clearly know is not the case. Unfortunately some members do seem to be too quick to offer responses when a quick google would prove otherwise.

Don't worry, I am ignorant to loads of things, and don't get upset when called it, as many seem to, probably because they ignorant to what ignorant really means?

 

[pos.k]

Don't worry, I am ignorant to loads of things, and don't get upset when called it, as many seem to, probably because they ignorant to what ignorant really means?

I maybe need to look it up - keep getting called it


LOL!