Given the fact that so many car manufacturers have plans to open their otherwise closed factory soundsystems to iPods, wouldn't it be just great if the Empeg were able to emulate an iPod?

How hard would that be? How much is known about the iPod interface?

Pim

This is a great idea, it actually looks doable. This page describes the serial protocol of the 3G iPod (author says 4G should be the same) and it looks like it could possibly be run from the Empeg's serial port.at 19200 baud.

Not a bad idea at all. Most of the stuff in this protocol is already supported by the empeg serial port and would merely need to be translated. In addition to the play/pause/etc functionality, it also lists this:

receive time information of the current song
receive status information Play, Pause, Stop
receive the number of songs in the current playlist
receive the index of the current played song in the current playlist
get artistname
get albumname
get songname
jump to a specific song in the playlist
jump to the mainplaylist

All of that except for the "jump to a specific song" is supported in the serial data with notify=1.

This is not a bad idea at all...

You guys have the "controlling the empeg as if it were an ipod" part spec'ed out, but how about audio out to these supposed factory units? Do they just have a 1/8 mini jack that plugs into the ipod, or is there some proprietary plug? I'm not an ipod person, so forgive my ignorance here.

Pretty sure that the iPod interfaces just have the audio output on that proprietory Apple connector along with the control interface.

Ah, so, even if we did all the software stuff, we'd be on the hook to make an ipod plug -> serial/RCA adaptor?

Looks like this connector diagram just shows right, left and ground like a standard 1/8th inch jack would have. No reason it would have to be more complicated than that (like aux-in adapters for OEM stereo CD changers), especially if the "thing" on the other end of the cable talked exactly like an iPod.

...or you could let me get them made up locally by my cable guy - he's doing new sled harnesses for me.

He's got a supply of the iPod docking plugs? I didn't think they were an off the shelf part.

He could find them.

Quote:
He's got a supply of the iPod docking plugs?

Wouldn't we need the reverse? We don't need something that plugs into an iPod; the car manufacturer will sort that out. We need something that plugs into an iPod cable, and that will probably be harder to find.

Pim

Oh, and this is what I was referring to when I made my original post. And of course, there's the Dension ice>Link and Alpine's solution.

Pim

Uh yeah. The socket I mean

Ferrari? That's pretty un-exotic of them... Besides, who ever listens to the radio in one of those? The engine and exhaust have always been enough for me!

What a GREAT idea !!

The way I see it, this would solve several of our problems, and breathe life into the Empeg for many years to come !!

Because :
* Emulating an iPod would make it compatible with all those ICE>link adapters, and those are available for almost every factory HU model.
* The standard steering-wheel controls in cars would work with the Empeg ! (ok, vol up/down and track prev/next probably nothing more but that's already plenty...), because these steering wheel controls are connected to the standard HU. (and this HU can -through the ICE>link- control the iPod/Empeg)
* Since the ICE>Link also shows the ID tag info of the tracks (on the iPod) on the screen of the factory HU, this would mean that we would have no more need for an external Empeg screen. All the info we would need would be on the display of the factory headunit !

This would also mean that we would then be able to build the Empeg into the glove compartment eg., and still be able to control it !!! (ok, we would maybe have to use an IR extender, but that's a very small problem and easy to tackle)

I REALLY hope that somebody who has the necessary skills to tackle this problem will be persuaded to make such an emulator. it would be SO useful for all Empeg owners, seeing it's becoming increasingly difficult to install an Empeg in new cars. (most don't even come with a DIN slot anymore...

OK, now that we all agree that it's a good idea, and figure it's doable, the next step would be to actually do it. If noone else steps ahead it will probably have to be me. But, not owning an iPod or anyhing that can control it remotely, I wouldn't know where to start.

I could probably order the ice>Link ahead of my car, but I don't suppose it will do anything standalone. And if I wait for my car, I will probably have no Empeg for a month or so.

Could anyone recommend something for the purpose of simulation?

Thanks,
Pim

A quick search did not turn up any software that controls the iPod from your computer - that would have been the best way. I guess you could get the ice>Link and a compatible head unit first to get the basics down.

I see original headunits for the Alfa 147/GT being offered at eBay for EUR 50-60.
This might actually solve two problems at once:

1) I'll be able to create a test environment
2) I may actually need to buy an older headunit, as it looks newer ones don't work with the ice>Link. See this thread.

Pim

Good luck! The project interests me because I do see more and more cars where the HU is non-removable, plus more and more cars have larger displays that are able to show more data (like the Prius). Right now I am fine with my install, but I can see two years from now I might be in the position to by a non-Empeg friendly car - and exploit the iPod's popularity by using this hack to have my beloved Empeg!

I'm pretty sure we're not the only ones thinking of iPod emulation. As the iPod control is becoming a defacto standard, and since it doesn't require a display on the iPod (or its Ersatz), I predict we'll see phatbox-like solutions that use the iPod protocol pretty soon.

Pim

You're right, I think we will see other devices emulate an iPod, but you were the first one on this board!

I would LOVE to see such an emulator, for reasons I've already stated above. It seems like a very cool project to do !
I wish I could be of any help. Unfortunately, I can't code to save my life.

FYI There are also ipod to car adapters here

I meant it isn't possible with the ice>Link in an Alfa, because of limitations in the particular CD changer protocol. But now you are making me unsure.

I remember having read there's limited functionality when used in an Alfa, but I can't recall where I read it. Maybe on the now closed Dension forums.

Pim