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#252843 - 28/03/2005 12:35 iPod/Karma empeg replacement?
sn00p
addict

Registered: 24/07/2002
Posts: 618
Loc: South London
Apologies if this has already been posted, but I was searching about on the web and ended up with a couple of thoughts....

I've got an iPod and an empeg, it has got to the point now where I really dislike taking the empeg anywhere because it's just a pain to carry about. And the ipod is cool because you just take it out of the car with you when you leave, instant music on the move.

Given that I've already got an amplifier in my car (because of the empeg) I've had an idea that both the ipod & karma already have a decent player built in and that you could just hook them up to the in car amp and get your music.

Now, the iPod has the accessory protocol (serial port on the headphone/dock connector) that allows you control it, access playlists etc. Does the karma possess such an interface?

This got me thinking about a very basic dummy "UI" unit that talked iPod/karma that allowed selecting of tracks, artists, playlists etc and just used the accessory protocol to control the actual player.

The hardware requirements for the UI would be minimal, processor (ARM7 core, easy debug, cheap, easy to buy in 1 offs, feature rich), serial port, possibly an audio switch (DAB module?) and an LCD or VFD. Maybe a buffer & ADC to read the audio output to display some basic visuals.

We've got a whole load of philips LPC & atmel ARM7SAM64S processors at work, I might try to convince my boss to layout a little board to try this out, I reckon he'll probably go for it as he's got an iPod.

In terms of leaving stuff in the car, all you'd be leaving is the amp (which you currently leave anyway) and the dummy unit (could make it face removable), but the dummy unit should be pretty cheap.

Anyway, that's my random thought for the day!

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#252844 - 28/03/2005 14:25 Re: iPod/Karma empeg replacement? [Re: sn00p]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
There are some aftermarket head units that will control an ipod now.

There's currently not anything like that for the Karma, unfortunately.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#252845 - 28/03/2005 19:30 Re: iPod/Karma empeg replacement? [Re: tfabris]
Ezekiel
pooh-bah

Registered: 25/08/2000
Posts: 2413
Loc: NH USA
Quote:
There's currently not anything like that for the Karma, unfortunately.


Nor is there likely to be, with Karma EOL'd.

-Zeke
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WWFSMD?

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#252846 - 29/03/2005 00:36 Re: iPod/Karma empeg replacement? [Re: Ezekiel]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
He's talking about building something himself, I think, but the limitation he'll run into is the fact that the Karma doesn't have anything in its firmware to support remote controlling it. At least, as far as I know it doesn't.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

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#252847 - 29/03/2005 02:33 Re: iPod/Karma empeg replacement? [Re: tfabris]
Ezekiel
pooh-bah

Registered: 25/08/2000
Posts: 2413
Loc: NH USA
Well there's always removing the cover and borg-ing the button switches . You're right tho, I didn't read the parent post in-depth. Mea culpa.

-Zeke
_________________________
WWFSMD?

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#252848 - 29/03/2005 05:31 Re: iPod/Karma empeg replacement? [Re: tfabris]
sn00p
addict

Registered: 24/07/2002
Posts: 618
Loc: South London
Quote:
He's talking about building something himself, I think, but the limitation he'll run into is the fact that the Karma doesn't have anything in its firmware to support remote controlling it. At least, as far as I know it doesn't.


Yes, I only really mentioned the Karma because I knew I'd get a whole heap of abuse if I just mentioned iPod.

I know there are alpine head units that have iPod integration, but they're a head unit first before they're an iPod integrator. Alpine themselves have a limitation on their AI-NET bus which limits the number of tracks to 255 in a playlist.

I'm going to give this ago anyway as for me It'd be a good solution.

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