Location: Missouri until I get the heck out of the midwest ;)
I'm wondering if this part is made by Peripheral Electronics. They produce OEM solutions for the iPod and within the last month had announced new GM integration. I'll let you guys google the company if interested in more information. They've had a solution for the Solstice for a while but it didn't work properly and as mentioned, released an updated GM module. Coincidence?
My mother said to me, "If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope." Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso. ~Pablo Picasso
I'm wondering if this part is made by Peripheral Electronics. They produce OEM solutions for the iPod and within the last month had announced new GM integration. I'll let you guys google the company if interested in more information. They've had a solution for the Solstice for a while but it didn't work properly and as mentioned, released an updated GM module. Coincidence?
I've thought about this as well, but all the Peripheral documentation that is out there is referencing the old style radios with the individual buttons for presets, not our newer global radio style.
Seeing as you can order the GM version from online sources cheaper than I can find the Peripheral solution, I'm leaning towards the GM setup at this time... especially since we know it works with our cars.
Installed mine this morning, took just over an hour to complete.
Sadly my camera batteries died during the dash removal (wife left the camera on over night ), so I didn't get hardly any pictures.
The install is very simple.
Follow AztekzRpurty's thread w/ pictures to see how to pull the dash out. Then follow the instructions that come with the PAL to complete the install.
Like I said, I finished the install in about 75 minutes. Then took it to the dealer to run the Tech 2 programing since I have XM, and that took about another 15 minutes.
If anyone wants, I can scan and upload the instructions from work on Monday. But really, there isn't much too it beyond the removal of the dash, and the referenced thread above covers that very well.
In regards to the performance of the unit, I am very pleased with it. The sound quality is excellent (though using the aux-in wasn't bad before) and once you get familiar with how the interface works, it is easy to use.
__________________ 2007 'Cool' GXP
Personal Audio Link
Custom/Homemade A-Pillar Pod w/ Boost/Vac Gauge
Dejon IC Pipes & CAI
Wastegate Rod Mod
Solo Street Race
Debaged
Installed mine this morning, took just over an hour to complete.
Sadly my camera batteries died during the dash removal (wife left the camera on over night ), so I didn't get hardly any pictures.
The install is very simple.
Follow AztekzRpurty's thread w/ pictures to see how to pull the dash out. Then follow the instructions that come with the PAL to complete the install.
Like I said, I finished the install in about 75 minutes. Then took it to the dealer to run the Tech 2 programing since I have XM, and that took about another 15 minutes.
If anyone wants, I can scan and upload the instructions from work on Monday. But really, there isn't much too it beyond the removal of the dash, and the referenced thread above covers that very well.
In regards to the performance of the unit, I am very pleased with it. The sound quality is excellent (though using the aux-in wasn't bad before) and once you get familiar with how the interface works, it is easy to use.
Good to hear. Now I just have to bite the bullet and buy an iPod (I have a Creative MP3 player right now) and this PAL unit.
Is the $131 price a decent price, or is the way you got yours open to all? Having to dump all this money to replace my MP3 to get something to work better with the car isn't my top priority right now. I'd rather save the money and put it towards the car in other ways... but it's dangerous looking at my players screen and driving!
$131 is a good price, your probably not likely to do better unless you know someone that works at the dealership and gives you an employee discount. Doing the install yourself should also save a chunk of change.
It is a bit to spend on the audio (particularly if you have to buy the ipod), but like you said, fiddling with the mp3 player while driving probably isn't the best idea, and I didn't like mine sliding around all over the car. Much nicer to have it sitting in the glovebox charging.
__________________ 2007 'Cool' GXP
Personal Audio Link
Custom/Homemade A-Pillar Pod w/ Boost/Vac Gauge
Dejon IC Pipes & CAI
Wastegate Rod Mod
Solo Street Race
Debaged
Location: Missouri until I get the heck out of the midwest ;)
Two questions...
Can you detail how the controls work? Is it anything like the iPod? I was sort of hoping the big volume dial acted like the scroll wheel but probably not.
Do you have access to an iPhone so you can see if it's supported? That's one thing I was interested in with the Peripheral Electronics one to see if it supported the iPhone as well as the bluetooth adapter so you could integrate the phone into the car instead of using a BT headset.
My mother said to me, "If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope." Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso. ~Pablo Picasso
No Iphone to test, I don't believe this mod ads any sort of bluetooth connectivity. My PPC6800 didn't notice anything.
I'll scan in some pages from the users guide on Monday as well, but here is a basic overview.
There are 6 different ways to search: Artist, Album, Song Title, Playlist, Podcast, Audiobook. I believe category is another option.
Within each search type you select what you want by scrolling through each available option, or you can "quick search" by selected an alphabet character to jump around more quickly. This is done via softkey or the small dial.
The steering wheel controls will adjust volume and cycle through songs.
The display shows: artist, song title, time elapsed & total, number of songs in folder/album/playlist, and a few other items...it will also cycle through these displays.
The PAL charges the Ipod and and will resume where you left off when restarting the vehicle, etc.
There is quite a bit more to it, like I said, that was just a brief summary, I haven't even gone through all the options yet.
__________________ 2007 'Cool' GXP
Personal Audio Link
Custom/Homemade A-Pillar Pod w/ Boost/Vac Gauge
Dejon IC Pipes & CAI
Wastegate Rod Mod
Solo Street Race
Debaged
ok this is getting creepy ... has anyone noticed lately how the advertisement sometimes "follows the topic"...... case in point (see attachment)
__________________ http://www.myspace.com/squirrel_boy1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pontiac is car...
Saturn has rethought it's image...
The time has come for the enthusiasts...
NASSOA
Founding Member # 21
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Location: Missouri until I get the heck out of the midwest ;)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel Boy
ok this is getting creepy ... has anyone noticed lately how the advertisement sometimes "follows the topic"...... case in point (see attachment)
Yeah they are contextual ads most likely through google or another similar service that is constantly being updated based on the keywords found on the page.
My mother said to me, "If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope." Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso. ~Pablo Picasso
$131 is a good price, your probably not likely to do better unless you know someone that works at the dealership and gives you an employee discount. Doing the install yourself should also save a chunk of change.
It is a bit to spend on the audio (particularly if you have to buy the ipod), but like you said, fiddling with the mp3 player while driving probably isn't the best idea, and I didn't like mine sliding around all over the car. Much nicer to have it sitting in the glovebox charging.
Thanks. I have a good friend of mine who works at the GM Tech center, he's going to check on picking it up there for me and what the price would be as well.
Just a warning about the PIE stuff, they are usually ahead of everyone else because they rush to market and don't test anything. I was an early victim on there XM to Sirius conversion kit, affter 3 kits and 2 cables (at my expense) and 2 Sirius recievers (also at my expense). It worked a toatl of a year. I am sure the interface was blowing the Sirius recievers but couldn't prove it. I replaced it all with a much cheaper unit from Sirius made by DEI and have had no issues at all, works as promised for 1/3 the price, and the tech support was awful. What I usually got was "wow never seen that before" then some lame comment about the Hoky Poky, what a bunch of losers. Go with the GM unit I am sure you will be much happier even if it doesn't work with the iPhone.
__________________ Red Bull Drift Team 2008
Solo Mach and High Flow Cat
Dejon Intercooler, Intake Elbow, BOV spring
Wester's Garage RACE tune II
JPM custom shifter.
Barney Juice with Militec-1
GM Auto-dimming mirror with OnStar and maplights
Rhys Millen Racing, RMR Style Bar. Peak RWHP 286.3, Peak Torque 313 ft/lbs.
SSR Type C wheels, Bridgestone Potenza RE-01's
DDM Works PINK Breastplate
Was wondering if you guys were planning on releasing adapters for any of the other mp3 players out there? There's a company called IME making a cable that is supposed to work with 4 of the major players by connecting different ends to it where the device hooks in (iPod, Zune, Zem and Sansa). I want the same functionality but without having to buy an iPod.
What can I say, I'm an Apple hater.
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.
Location: Missouri until I get the heck out of the midwest ;)
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?
My mother said to me, "If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope." Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso. ~Pablo Picasso
), so I didn't get hardly any pictures.
ok this is getting creepy
