I can't really say it loses connection after a few minutes. It seems to vary-sometimes after just a couple of songs and then sometimes I can get through a whole album before I lose connection. I have to unplug/replug the ipod and then usually it will play again-not always right away though. It drives me crazy! There is no reason for this type of technology to not work flawlessly in a Prius!
Interesting. Tonight I am trying two more USB drives that I bought today. If neither of them work, I will ask them to swap it out. Hope that works.
Well, neither of my two new USB flashdrives are recognized. That's three different ones from three different companies, so I think this indicates my kit may be bad.
Well toyota decided that my USB interface kit must be broken so metrotpn.com send me a new kit with a USB return label and box for my old kit. I just put it all in and it works the same, my phone will keep a connection for several minutes then disconnect. Since I have now tried two different iphones, a 3G and a 2G, and now two kits, and it works for some people on this forum, I can only assume it is my car.
I have an LG9700 (Dare) and have no problems with the connection or calling features. It's a whole different story with my new 64GB Ipod Touch. It automatically connects via BT when I turn on the car, but nothing but "playing" appears on the nav screen. The nav manual says" some titles may not be displayed depending on the type of portable player." (pg 179) I would say that MP3 files on an ipod would be pretty universal. What other type of files are used on an ipod? Does anyone have any experience getting their ipod to show content information on the nav screen?
If you have it try pairing your Ipod Touch through the Bluetooth connection - can be done in < 1 min. Connects as soon as you enter the car and the sound is the same as when playing the same song on CD - I have confirmed this, although my ears are not what they were when I was in my teens. No need to fiddle with wires or have a Toyota tech screw up your cars wiring.
I like the USB connection which shows up on the audio menu when I plug in my iPod or iPhone 3GS. I use the AUX jack for my TV for when I play iTunes videos at lunch time. The scrolling is a hassle. But I notice that when I plug in the iPod on a podcast, it picks right up where I left off while in the office. Then the podcast starts and stops right where you left off when you make a stop at a store.
I like an idiot purchased it hoping it might work in my 2011 III - and same as quoted is happening with mine. What a JOKE - Toyota is clueless in the audio department. This is the worst stereo I have ever had in a car. I come from 7 VW's and all of them where superior to the HUGE amount $$ I spent on Nav with the "special" JBL stereo which far far from quality.
I agree this is the worst audio. I ordered my 08 with the JBL and was immediately disappointed. I now have a 2010 with the same JBL and it actually sounds worse. My hubbies cheap cobalt had a better system. The Japanese obviously don't care about music. And how about some more wheel choices. Why do they insist on putting those lame plastic covers over the real wheels. But I do love the mpg. I can't imagine how bad the stock audio is
I've been posting on a couple of other threads about this. I have a brand new Prius III with the full solar/nav package. The USB player is a POS. It resets books and podcasts back to the start every time you plug it in or take it out. The car is filled with the most sophisticated computer systems on the planet and they couldn't get this right!?
I tried using the USB cord that came with my 2013 Prius 3 today and it didn't work. The songs would show up on the screen but I would get nothing but static and very short bursts of songs. Then I used my old phone cord that I had used with my old car to connect to my iPod and it worked fine (albeit with terrible sound b/c of the speakers.) Anyone else have this problem? Can't tell if it is the USB cord or the iPod, which is a few years old.
My advice is to skip the iPod/USB interface altogether. Use Bluetooth instead. Much better experience, with the iPhone at least.
I may have miss something, but dont you have to scroll on a ipod too? The interface will only at best replicate what the device is using. You cant expect the HU to create its own interface with items that are not built into the music storage device. My ipod plugs in to the factory USB, it works fine, yes i can only scroll 5-6 lines at a time, but if I had my ipond in the my hand it would be the same.
Bathala, yes I sort of fixed the problem. But when I use my old cable I can't operate it on the screen. All I can do is just use the iPod device itself. Which is probably for the best because the interface seems pretty crappy. Still, would be nice if the cord the car came with actually worked.