Quote:
Originally Posted by
Greg Papendick
Another question I wondered how long it would take before it was asked. We try not to disclose future product plans so all that I can say is that it works with the iPod because they own such a large majority of the market. There was significant effort required to get this to work with the iPod due to the different variations and interface timing issues. It would take a lot more software effort to get it to work with other devices.
We had a quick look at the iPhone although it was not available to us to test during development (and we had to borrow it to try it). It will not work seemlessly but does have some functionality. The iPhone display says something about not being compatible with the accessory but then allows you to bypass the screen and the functions we tested seemed to work. Before we will advertise compatibility with the iPhone we need to get an iPhone to the Engineers and see if they can either confirm it works the same as the iPod or change the software to correct any issues we see. Not sure how long that might take or even if it will be completed as the Engineers are pretty busy right now. We have a lot of other vehicle owners wanting the PAL for their vehicles too, you were just the first of many.
This is not wireless (no WiFi or BT) and it is not USB because the iPod does not support streaming audio across the USB port. I believe that iPod requires both control and a seperate analog input from the iPod to play through an external device. To use the PAL as a Hands Free Phone system it would require a microphone and pushbutton interface which it does not have.
We don't discuss our suppliers too often either but I can tell you that this was a ground up, completely new design that was specified by GM Engineering and is only available from GM. For an OE product, I think the price is pretty reasonable.
I hope that answers most of the questions since I was last here.
Greg
I personally think it is a very fair price and as you pointed out, iPod holds the vast majority of the DAP marketplace; so much so in fact, I've yet to see any other audio solution for a non-iPod device that is seemless in the way PAL is. For most people with non-iPods, your best bet will be the aux input.
As for the iPhone, it's possible that its merely a line of code with some sort of Apple "key" that bypasses that screen thereby allowing Apple to sell a license to the supplier for an iPhone compatible product, especially considering all functionality seems to be there. I know they are hitting their licensing program big for all iPod/iPhone "certified" compatible devices. If it does turn out to be a relatively small chance, is this something that could be flashed for full compatibility?