Looking for car stereo recommendation

I would like to buy a new car stereo (budget $200) to connect to my iPod. I will use my existing speakers.
My #1 priority is ease of use.
My #2 priority is display of full info (track name, artist, and, less importantly, album).
Does anyone have any recommendations?
I thought I would ask here because I'm assuming folks that hang out here are more likely to be sympathetic to the need for ease of use (as opposed to feature lists, power, etc.).

I have pretty much the same question as the OP, so I'll bump this thread.
Two specifics that I want:
1. For ease of use, I want to be able to manually adjust radio station (90.1->90.3->90.5, etc). Many of the stereos I see now only seem to have presets and scan.
2. I normally pick a playlist on my iPod and have it play in shuffle mode. I understand that some car stereos don't support this. I would like one that does.
Double DIN would be cool--direct replacement for what I've got. But they aren't as common as single DIN, and they seem to cost more.

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Export to SD card for car stereo - use lower bitrate?

Okay, so my fancy new car stereo has an SD card slot, and the stereo reads a file structure so I can have folders for each Artist, and in that a flofer for each album, with MP3 files inside. I can see tha ther easiest way to populate an SD card is to copy the artist folders directly from the itunes music folder in Finder.
But... all my MP3s in iTunes are ripped at 192kbs, and to fit more on an SD card I'd like to use smaller versions.
Can't work out a way to do this easily. I can create lower bitrate verions using "create new version" but there are then stored in the same folders so I get two copies of each song. Can anyone sugegst a way of exporting a whole batch of songs (several thousand) to a new folder at a reduced bitrate?
Or converting a batch?
Or suggest some other idea to create a reduced bitrate SD card without having to look at each MP3 file idividually (which all the solutions I've considered so far seem to need).

Still not quite achieving what I'm aiming at. I've found scripts to batch-convert an export, but the newly created files are then just 'loose' in folders and not nested as artists and albums. I've found other scripts to export with the file strucure intact. But not both.

Enabling Disk Use For Car Stereo

Hi there,
I'm wanting to connect my iPod via my Car Stereo's USB port, and control the ipod still so I can choose which songs to play.
I was told if I enabled disk use AND manually manage songs, it would allow me to do this, but so far, after a few seconds of reading the ipod, songs are played in a random order through my car stereo and I have no control from the iPod.
Please explain what I need to do.
Message was edited by: slippydrew

slippydrew wrote:
I was told if I enabled disk use AND manually manage songs, it would allow me to do this,
I don't think so. Disk use allows you to use the iPod as a storage device - as far as I know you cannot play music while it's in Disk mode, nor can you take audio from the USB port on the iPod. (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!). Manually managing songs is the method for adding or removing content from the iPod, not a means of controlling it from a head unit.
Whether you can connect your iPod to your car and how it will work depends upon the car, model and year of manufacture. I used a Dension adaptor that plugs from the Dock connector on the iPod to the back of the stereo in my Mazda 3. I can choose any album, genre or playlist but usually I set the ipod to "shuffle all songs" mode and then plug it into the adaptor. Once connected, I can control track skip and track back from the steering column but I cannot see track information on the car's display. The iPod turns off and back on with the car ignition.
However, my sister-in-law has a Mazda MX-5, but her (Bose) stereo will only play from the first five playlists and that's it! Quite who thought that was a good idea, I cannot imagine! I believe this issue has been corrected on newer models.
So you see, two models from the same company give different results. Oh, and by the way, when I had the adaptor fitted, my supplier tried to sell me an FM transmitter type adaptor and I recall having a very heated discussion with them about this as they had already fitted the wired adaptor I wanted to a friend's Mazda 3.
My advice is that you see a car audio specialist who can then advise you (properly, I hope) on what options are available to you and your car. Look up Dension though, but treat with caution their claim about using USB. I've noticed that you and Kenichi have exchanged a few more comments while I'm writing this, so I now know you have a Sony head unit. It may not be able to display the iPod screens, but I'm sure Sony make iPod adaptors for their head units..
I still think you need to consult a car audio specialist, who knows what they are talking about. I think even your local Halfords may be able to help. It can't help to try them.
Phil.

Looking for laser printer recommendations (please read!)

I couldn't find a spot that fit this question and although I may not receive any answers here, this is a very active forum with members who are unafraid of new technology, so here's letting one rip...
OK, I've not had a laser printer in a number of years - when my beloved LaserWriter II NTX gave up the ghost. I find that I am lately, however, printing more and more text-only or text-heavy documents at home and going through black ink cartridges like a hungry lumberman through flapjacks. Although I've not looked into laser technology for years, I am wondering if it may not be more economical to print these pages on a 'personal' laser printer (I know that toner cartridges are not cheap, either, but they are less expensive, from what I've read, than using inkjet to print text-heavy documents) than to continue racking up rebate dollars by selling my soul for black ink cartridges.
So I am looking for a laser printer that can handle about 2,500-4,000 pages a month AND (here's the kicker!) have automatic duplex printing capabilities... I've never had this ability on a laser printer but I understand it's available on some models these days.
I'm not looking for an 'office capable' printer - maybe more like a 'small office'? No real need for Ethernet, yet, if it's a standard feature, I would certainly use it. A small footprint would be nice.
As I wander into the local Office Depot I am overwhelmed by the choices and yet stupefied to find that the 'hang tags' on many of the models don't really give too much information - page one can expect from a cartridge, connectivity options, duplexing capabilities (I seem to find none, yet am certain that I've read of their existence).
So my criteria:
1. monochrome
2. PostScript emulation (unless CUPS supports lasers? It'd difficult to tell by the ad hype yet Apple does seem to have drivers or, at least, Brother and HP laser printers). I don't want to be limited to 72 typefaces...
3. automated duplexing
4. small footprint
5. more economical to operate than an inkjet at 2,500-4000 pages per month
6. networkable, though served through another CPU via USB is fine
7. brand is not important - as long as reliability is high (and, like Brother, for instance, is supported by Apple)
Please leave a message if you should have ANY suggestions or, if you can point me towards a website with a good overview of what's available (and with actual tests would even be better!) I would be very appreciative.

Jamie,
I just wanted to thank you once again for your suggestion of the HP LaserJet 1320. I picked one up last week at Office Depot and, after I receive my $50 mail-in rebate, my total cost will have been $139.99!
The printer itself had an 'instant savings' of $100 off the SRP of $399.99 (and - for those who might be interested - this instant savings continues until June 30 - see the HP website for details.), bring it down to $299.99; I had an $100 Office Depot 'rewards' card plus a $10 'instant off' coupon from the previous week, bringing it down to $189.99 and there was a mail-in rebate for $50 (which, according to the paperwork, I can expect within 6 weeks) so... I was able to get a $400 printer for less than $140 (+ tax, of course).
Still, even with $14 tax, I have to assume that I would have paid at least as much in shipping AND I only had to drive for less than 5 miles, spend 20 minutes explaining why I did not want or need either the extended warranty or the Super Special Laser Printer Official Office Depot Very Special Customer Service Box (a cable, some paper, and a few other doodads for $60) and now I've printed a couple of hundred sheets and love the thing.
Had it not been for your recommendation, I likely would have forgotten the $100 Office Depot card until it expired and would not have sought out the printer there in the first place.
It's such a warm and fuzzy feeling to get such a deal on such a terrific little printer... and, so, I thank you, again.

Ipod adaptor for car stereo with cd player not tape

If my car stereo has just got a front loading cd player does anyone know an adaptor - preferable in apple store - that i can use? The only ones i have seen use the tape player.
Thanks

b Various Methods to Connect to a Car Stereo System, or Listen to Your iPod in the Vehicle
b Best:
Direct connection via the dock connector or headphone jack of your iPod, to the mini-jack input (or AUX RCA input jacks) of your car stereo. Not many low/moderate-end cars have this feature yet, but it is becoming more popular. Some aftermarket auto stereo units may have this feature.
There are also some after-market, moderate to fairly expensive direct interfaces, that hook into your existing car stereo to provide a high-quality, direct connection. Most will also power/charge the iPod. Pretty slick, but can be pricey ($80-$300). If money is no object, a clean way to go. Not very portable from car to car if at all.
http://logjamelectronics.com/ipodproducts.html
http://www.myradiostore.us/auxadapters/blitzsafe/blitzsafe-m-link-ipod-interface .html
http://www.theistore.com/ipod2car.html
http://www.mp3yourcar.com/
b Better:
Connect your iPod to a cassette adaptor and play your tunes through your car's cassette player. Some new cars no longer come with a cassette player, so it may not be an option. It will provide even better audio quality if you can run the audio feed out of the dock connector (see the SendStation link below). Can be portable between cars that have a cassette player and also be used in your home cassette system.
b Good:
Attach an FM transmitter to your iPod and play the tunes through an unused FM station. Convenient, but wireless FM transmitter signals are susceptible to static and outside interference, and can vary in strength and quality depending on your location. Some noticeable degradation and distortion, depending on the quality of the transmitter, the sensitivity of your ears and the airwave congestion in your area. Highly portable between cars, and may be used in a home system. FM transmitters that need to be plugged into a DC auto jack may not work in a home environment (without some sort of adaptor).
b Marginal:
Attach an external speaker system to the iPod and play it in the car. Workable, but not too good - unless you spring for a $300+ Bose (or similar) system. But why? Only if your vehicle has no Stereo system, perhaps.
b Brave Techno-Geek:
This site gives some direction on adapting your own car stereo by yourself: http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/ . Risky, but it has been successful: Seanski, "silent track" #2, 11:59pm Jul 15, 2005 CDT
Whichever you choose, power the iPod through your cars DC power -- either from a power adapter, or as part of the combined audio adaptor. Have a method to secure the iPod to the dash/console/etc. See the reviews for all the various accessories at the iLounge
You will also get better audio output if the dock connection plug is used, rather than the headphone jack. See this URL for a novel adaptor: https://www.sendstation.com/us/products/pd_lousb.html. Others types are also available via this site.
I have read positive and negative reviews of each method, and within method there are great variations in performance of different manufacture's systems and peoples opinions of their performance. Some cassette adaptors/FM transmitters work poorly, some better.
FWIW: I have the iTrip Mini & the Newer Technology RoadTrip!+ FM transmitters, a Belkin cassette adaptor (used both with & w/out the PocketDock) and two vehicles with the BlitzSafe direct interface. Using the same song in the same car, I found that the FM transmitters worked, but not as good as the cassette adapter via the headphone jack. Using the PocketDock on the cassette adapter resulted in a significant audio quality improvement. As expected, the Blitzsafe direct connect was exceptionally better than everything else: less tinny, a more warmer/richer sound, and close to true CD quality.

Looking for a case recommendation - special requirements

I just moved up to an i4 from an i3G, and I'm looking for a decent case to protect the entire phone. I really need something for a rugged environment, and it has to have a belt clip. I have a very active job so this isn't going to be a pocket phone or sitting in the center console of a Rolls Royce. I have a Speck Tough Case on my 3G, and besides the extreme shock protection, it completely covers everything on the face except for the display. Spec makes a "Tough Skin" for the i4 but it doesn't cover the upper area of the faceplate like their Tough Case did for the 3G.
Any recommendations?

You should take a look at Fatpaint (http://fatpaint.com) - Free online graphic design and photo editing application, specialised in giving you the tools you need for creating designs and illustrations for iphone cases, ipad cases. The bcase brand is Speck, and is of great quality.
It is possible to paint, draw make pages and see your pictures on products and buy them, such as: iPhone case, iPad cases, t-shirts, sneakers and much more. Checkout the tutorial videos, it is quite interesting ...
http://youtu.be/YkBnf5NGC8Y?hd=1
http://youtu.be/mnP495V9WHw?hd=1
http://youtu.be/GNctuQ5T858?hd=1
Fatpaint's facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/fatpaint
What you guys think of it? I have spent 5 years developing this app. I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks

FM Range for Car Stereo

I am using a Model MA450LL iPod v1.2.1 with a Belkin adapter to tune with my factory-installed stereo in my Cadillac auto. Is there a way to "expand" the range of the FM options in the iPod? A clearly "unused" FM frequency at the low end does not seem to be accessible via the iPod now.

I took my FM Receiver back to Future Shop and bought the cassette attachment one. You put it into your car casette player and plug in your IPOD and it works just great. I could never get the FM station to give me good reception. This casette was only $25-$30. Just amazing. I have a Lexus and have a casette player but some of the new cars do not have one, so it wouldn't work. The FM receiver was really frustrating for me. Good luck!!!!

Looking for a PSU Recommendation

Hi Folks
All the forum seniors are always looking at my PSU with a suspicious eye, so, after stashing ~£40 i was hoping you all would be able to give me some advice on what PSU to purchase.
I'm a bit of a budget man, as you can imagine, but want the best performance possible!
I'm all ears and waiting.
Thanks
Asmar

Q-Tec just Rock...
Their PSU just works with NO special driver, Windows default driver for the PSU is enough...
Source Q-Tec:
http://www.qtec.info/service/support/drivers.htm?artnr=14348
Like Hans said avoid the Q-Tec... (not because joke above )
Good PSU recommendation:
http://www.pcpower.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=S61EPS&view=techspecs Silencer 610 EPS12V large single rail +12V @ 49A)
Other good & decent choices:
https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=105635.msg783148#msg783148
https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=103299.msg757739#msg757739

IPad took a dive, glass shattered, looking for some repair recommendations

My daughter's iPad 3 landed face down last night and shattered the glass. It still functions properly, so I know it needs only the glass replaced and not the LCD. I found 4 companies which look like reasonable candidates (actually I got them from another ASC thread...)
http://www.repairzoom.com ~$120
http://www.imobilerescue.com ~$166
http://www.i99repair.com ~101
http://www.iheartrepair.com ~$145
Does anybody here have any experience with these places and willing to give a recommendation? A warning? A recommendation of another place?
The most expensive place makes a big deal about how they use OEM glass -- and I would be willing to pay more for that if I heard a strong argument from folks here. The other places claim top quality parts, but not OEM parts. Any thoughts?

If you comfortable using a screen protector and the iPad works fine that way, then that sounds like the least expensive option at this time. Eventually you will want a new iPad anyway.
Be sure to keep an up to date backup of the content, either on your computer or in iCloud...a device with a broken screen can suddenly stop working. Keep it up to date so you don't lose your content.
A third-party, nonApple authorized service may do just as good repair work...but, again, the down side is loss of support from Apple if anything else goes wrong.
If you buy off eBay, be VERY cautious...there have been a number of users lately asking what to do with a purchase they cannot activate...an iOS 7 device with Find My turned on cannot be reset to factory condition without the user's Apple ID and password...not even Apple can help with it. So be absolutely sure you are buying a device that is clean and you can use.
Best of luck to you, and Happy New Year.

Make an MP3 CD for car stereo

In reviewing a number of postings here and elsewhere, I've had no luck in making such a CD. I have a playlist that I'd like to burn to a CD for the car. I've changed Preferences/Import Settings to mp3. I've selected the tracks in the playlist using Cmd-A. From the menu, I selected Advanced/Create MP3 and the mp3 file is located in the same folder as the original. But selecting File/Burn playlist to disk reports most of the files can not be burned to an MP3 CD. I then tried holding down the Option key and selecting Advanced/Convert to MP3. I select a folder and get another error: "none of the selected files could be converted"!
This really shouldn't be this tough. Anyone see what I am missing or doing wrong?
Thanks.

I see what you are doing wrong.
Your steps are not correct.
In case I am missing something obvious, here are the steps I am following:
1. Set Import preferences to mp3
2. Select (highlight) a track in a playlist whose "kind" indicates AAC audio file.
3. With the track highlighted and holding down the option key, select from the menu Advanced/Convert to mp3...
And a dialog box pops up asking you for songs you want to add to iTunes and convert in one single step.
You already have the songs in iTunes.
Don't hold Option.
Just right click > Create MP3 version.
4. Make a new folder to theoretically receive the converted file. Select that folder.
This is incorrect. By holding Option and select Convert to MP3, iTunes is asking you for songs add to iTunes.
It tells you nothing was converted because you did not select any songs in the dialog box.
It does indeed addd an mp3 file to the same folder that the origianl track was in. But the mp3 file is not visible in iTunes. (I am working on an 89 track playlist
These songs will not get added to this playlist (unless it is a smart playlist and the rules will include the new files).
Do this...
Create a playlist with the songs you want to convert.
Select all these songs.
Right click > Create MP3 version.
Now there should be 89 new mp3 files.
Create a new smart playlist.
Match rule;
Kind is MPEG audio file
Sort by Date added.
This will show all MP3 files. The most recent 89 will be the MP3 files (copies from the playlist you made earlier0.

Looking for Virus Protection recommendation

Call me quick, but I've just clued in that Virex hasn't been doing very much (as in zero) for me since June of 2006!? I now understand that Apple has dropped support for Virex from .Mac.
Meantime, I'd love to get some recommendations for virus protection - Mac specific.
Any good suggestions??
Thanks!!!

There are no viruses in the wild for OSX yet, but there is Clamxav if you are feeling paranoid (or venture to the dark side).

Looking for printing lab recommendation

Ordering prints from within aperture uses 4x5 dimension which requires too much cropping on my camera. Can anyone recommend a good source for prints of 3x2 dimension ie 12x18 instead of 16x20?

Good luck with that.
I do not believe that you will be able to find a Verizon-provided mobile handset which is compatible with iSync. Several Verizon-provided smartphones can be synchronized with Mac OS X using the appropriate Missing Sync package, but none are available for anything close to $ 100.00, and none are supported at all by iSync except—and not particularly in a robust manner—the Palm OS devices you are not interested in.
I don't believe that you will find a Verizon-provided mobile handset with Bluetooth OBEX file transfer capabilities either: Verizon intentionally has this profile defeated, effectively forcing you to pay 5¢ per transfer using their GetItNow! option.
And, I don't get the iPhone 'service plan through the roof' claim. I am no fan of at&t, but among the four major carriers, at&t iPhone plans are actually some of the most reasonable. Far less expensive, on balance—and, with fewer restrictions—than the data plans offered by Verizon.
I don't think that your observations or expectations could be characterized as reasonable, given all of the evidence to the contrary in the market.

Looking for Car FM Radio Transmitter App, without any additional device.Only Software based.

I was amazed to see my friend play music of his nokia phone over my car radio system with real good sound quality. He didnt have any hardware attached. Its just a app which did the magic. We too should be able to use the radio frequency with a good app. If anyone knows of anything other than iTrip please lemme know.
regards
Beck

It's not physically possible. There is no FM transmitter in the iPhone.

IPod compatibility for a car stereo system

Hello,
I am searching for car stereo system that has ipod compatability for my teacher's birthday. Do you have any auggestions? I'm kinda clueless on this stuff.

You need to be more specific. If you're just looking for some kind of interface to work with a radio he/she already has, then I would need to know what kind of radio it is, or if it is a factory radio, I would need to know Make, model and year of the vehicle to give you some ideas. If you are looking for a new radio, then most of your aftermarket radio manufacturers make iPod compatible radios that simply need to have a cable added and you can plug an iPod directly into the new radio and control it with the radio. This allows text to be shown on the radio display as well as charges the iPod. I currently work with Alpine and Kenwood and both of them offer a full speed interface. Full speed is kind of important as some of the older interfaces were slow and cumbersome to operate.
Give me a little more info. and I'm sure I can help you out.
Windows XP
Windows XP

Looking for Some Recommendations on A Printer for the 15" MPB

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I have a 15" retina display MBP configured in the works. I have only used Cannon printers in the past with my Apple computers and prefer to stay with a Cannon for the new MBP retina dispaly. I am looking for some personal recommendations to look at from people that have a current Cannon printer/scanner and are pleased with the machine.

I got one with my computer that I love. I'm a fan of all-in-ones because I have every function there if I need it. Plus, this one has airprint, so you can have the printer join your wifi network, and instantly print to it from any iOS device or Mac without any setup - it just works.
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/printers_multifunction/photo_all _in_one_inkjet_printers/pixma_mg4120

Looking for car stereo recommendation

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