Does ipod work differently than a usb stick?

janus77 · 07-13-2009, 11:46 PM

So i've got the business nav package, i put a bunch of music on a memory stick the other day, but half of it doesn't play as it's in aac or something like that. I guess if i buy an ipod it will decode the codecs, so no biggy there.

Just wondering as far as the visual's go on the screen, will the ipod be any easier to nagivate on the nav screen?

Bit annoying/time wasting is that if i leave the the playlist/album etc to go to nav or telephone, then it will not automatically go back to the menu on the USB card that's playing the music when i go to entertainment, so i have to go back through entertainment-->aux-->usb-->artist-->album.. would be good if the menu was somewhat programmeable so you could have it go automatically to the song it's playing if you hit entertainment, then work back through the menu instead.

Any ideas?

dawogfather · 07-13-2009, 11:47 PM

i'd also be interested to know tha above and also if you can play ipod/iphone video on screen using the BMW cables?

janus77 · 07-13-2009, 11:54 PM

the business nav doesn't have any video or TV capability, so i'm sure it wouldn't.. not sure about the professional nav, does it have TV? Might work in that case.

dawogfather · 07-14-2009, 12:27 AM

i was told no new one series comes with tv... cant even get it as an option...

apparently does play dvds whilst stationary though...

be interested to know if pro nav can play ipod video whilst stationary

CT135 · 07-14-2009, 12:39 AM

When using an iPod you get the iPod menus - Genre/Artist/Album/Song and it is really easy to navigate (on Pro nav anyway - don't know about business nav). It remembers where you are too if switching back and forth to radio. From what I have heard (and read on these forums!) it is much quicker to access as well - the car scans the content of the USB stick every time you start the car whereas with the iPod it doesn't have to do that.
Haven't tried playing iPod videos ... don't think it works, but will give it a go!

d3syd · 07-14-2009, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT135

From what I have heard (and read on these forums!) it is much quicker to access as well - the car scans the content of the USB stick every time you start the car whereas with the iPod it doesn't have to do that.

I have Pro Nav and use a USB stick and it works just fine. The car scans the stick only once when you first plug it in, then it remembers what's there from then on. It sorts out the songs automatically to Artist/Album/Genre as well. Can't see the advantage of buying an iPod if you haven't already got one for the sake of using in your car as opposed to a USB stick worth a few dollars.

janus77 · 07-14-2009, 01:13 AM

the USB doesn't work the same on the business nav as there's no memory.. I think the pro nav has memory, so it probably saves some info off the usb stick?

Anyway, might just plug someone else's in and see how it goes before committing to buy.

CT135 · 07-14-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d3syd

I have Pro Nav and use a USB stick and it works just fine. The car scans the stick only once when you first plug it in, then it remembers what's there from then on. It sorts out the songs automatically to Artist/Album/Genre as well. Can't see the advantage of buying an iPod if you haven't already got one for the sake of using in your car as opposed to a USB stick worth a few dollars.

fair point!

dflatos · 07-14-2009, 01:16 AM

Janus 77, I also have a 125i - I found the driver & front passenger seat does not fully recline. It stops at about 15 degrees from the vertical when I lean back on it while pulling on the side lever as instructed in the manual. Does yours recline to the back seat? I am trying to find out from other 125 owners.

janus77 · 07-14-2009, 01:39 AM

No idea on the seat, i wasn't aware they were meant to fully recline..

janus77 · 07-14-2009, 01:40 AM

just went out to the carpark and tested a girl from work's ipod in the car. I can't tell much difference on the menu, i'm probably better off just converting all my music files into .mp3 for the USB stick so i can play them in the car.

Seems the only benefit of the ipod is that it decodes a broader range of files?

dawogfather · 07-14-2009, 01:54 AM

you are really upset about that seat reclining issue aren't you?

d3syd · 07-14-2009, 02:12 AM

Haven't tried fully reclining my seat. Have to go check. 15 deg from completely horizontal would be sufficient for a short power nap or whatever else, so it doesn't worry me.

Swift135 · 07-14-2009, 02:25 AM

I haven't got any nav in my 135i and I only use a usb stick, if you drop the albums from the itunes folders on your PC to tthe usb all the functions (artists/albums etc) work fine but if the music is just random Mp3's the grouping/search functions don't always work but they still play fine.

Timbo · 07-14-2009, 02:41 AM

I'm pretty sure you can go back to the song you were playing (Rather than having to click through all the menus) if you press and hold down on the idrive controller... ie rather than just pressing down... works for me anyway with an ipod.

janus77 · 07-14-2009, 06:09 AM

thanks Timbo, will give that a go.

Tj303 · 07-14-2009, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawogfather

you are really upset about that seat reclining issue aren't you?

+1
this is about the 4th thread he has hijacked about the same issue

I'm planning to switch to usb stick from ipod also, i hear sound quality is better and i think i'll be able to customise the folder structure a little better to get access to what i want to hear more quickly.

I hate scrolling through my ipod lists with only 3 lines of information viewable on the headunit screen

janus77 · 07-14-2009, 06:25 AM

yeah, on the USB, i've just put all songs directly in the artist foler instead of being subdivided into albums, so it's a bit easier to get to the music.

Weird, I found a program that converts .aac and .m4p files to .mp3, they work fine on my computer, but they still don't work in the car. Agh technology!

dflatos · 07-14-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d3syd

Haven't tried fully reclining my seat. Have to go check. 15 deg from completely horizontal would be sufficient for a short power nap or whatever else, so it doesn't worry me.

Its 15 degress from the vertical not horizontal and this means having a nap sitting up. Would be nice to recline all way back to gaze at stars on a summer night with hood down and gal next to me or on top of me. So can you go and see if your seat reclines all way back and let me know thanks.

dflatos · 07-14-2009, 07:46 AM

[QUOTE=Tj303;5503231]+1
this is about the 4th thread he has hijacked about the same issue

That because no one is giving me any answers and all I wanna know is other 125i owners notice the same and whether I should take the car back for repair.

d3syd · 07-14-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dflatos

Its 15 degress from the vertical not horizontal and this means having a nap sitting up. Would be nice to recline all way back to gaze at stars on a summer night with hood down and gal next to me or on top of me. So can you go and see if your seat reclines all way back and let me know thanks.

Wow 15 deg from vertical. That doesn't sound right! I definitely can recline mine further than that - did it just last week when I needed a power nap on the way home. I have electric seats. Maybe manual seats don't recline as much

Tj303 · 07-14-2009, 08:28 PM

Does anyone know a USB stick can still be used to play gapless albums i.e. eliminate the 2 second gap between tracks like the Ipod can?

A lot of my music are mixed CD's e.g. Ministry of Sound compilations, so i'm not actually sure now whether USB stick would be suitable for me...

07-13-2009, 11:46 PM	#1
janus77 Lieutenant 36 Rep 526 Posts Drives: 125i coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	Does ipod work differently than a usb stick? So i've got the business nav package, i put a bunch of music on a memory stick the other day, but half of it doesn't play as it's in aac or something like that. I guess if i buy an ipod it will decode the codecs, so no biggy there. Just wondering as far as the visual's go on the screen, will the ipod be any easier to nagivate on the nav screen? Bit annoying/time wasting is that if i leave the the playlist/album etc to go to nav or telephone, then it will not automatically go back to the menu on the USB card that's playing the music when i go to entertainment, so i have to go back through entertainment-->aux-->usb-->artist-->album.. would be good if the menu was somewhat programmeable so you could have it go automatically to the song it's playing if you hit entertainment, then work back through the menu instead. Any ideas? __________________ 125i, stick shift, M pack w/ 18's, 225/255 Z1's, saphire black, BMW CF rear spoiler, black interior, Midnight tint, business nav, sunroof, Injen intake, H&R sways.
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07-13-2009, 11:47 PM	#2
dawogfather Private 0 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2002 BMW 325i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	i'd also be interested to know tha above and also if you can play ipod/iphone video on screen using the BMW cables? Last edited by dawogfather; 07-13-2009 at 11:51 PM.. Reason: cuz i spell good
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07-13-2009, 11:54 PM	#3
janus77 Lieutenant 36 Rep 526 Posts Drives: 125i coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	the business nav doesn't have any video or TV capability, so i'm sure it wouldn't.. not sure about the professional nav, does it have TV? Might work in that case. __________________ 125i, stick shift, M pack w/ 18's, 225/255 Z1's, saphire black, BMW CF rear spoiler, black interior, Midnight tint, business nav, sunroof, Injen intake, H&R sways.
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07-14-2009, 12:27 AM	#4
dawogfather Private 0 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2002 BMW 325i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	i was told no new one series comes with tv... cant even get it as an option... apparently does play dvds whilst stationary though... be interested to know if pro nav can play ipod video whilst stationary
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07-14-2009, 12:39 AM	#5
CT135 Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 238 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 135i Coupe [0.00]	When using an iPod you get the iPod menus - Genre/Artist/Album/Song and it is really easy to navigate (on Pro nav anyway - don't know about business nav). It remembers where you are too if switching back and forth to radio. From what I have heard (and read on these forums!) it is much quicker to access as well - the car scans the content of the USB stick every time you start the car whereas with the iPod it doesn't have to do that. Haven't tried playing iPod videos ... don't think it works, but will give it a go!
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07-14-2009, 01:13 AM	#7
janus77 Lieutenant 36 Rep 526 Posts Drives: 125i coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	the USB doesn't work the same on the business nav as there's no memory.. I think the pro nav has memory, so it probably saves some info off the usb stick? Anyway, might just plug someone else's in and see how it goes before committing to buy. __________________ 125i, stick shift, M pack w/ 18's, 225/255 Z1's, saphire black, BMW CF rear spoiler, black interior, Midnight tint, business nav, sunroof, Injen intake, H&R sways.
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07-14-2009, 01:16 AM	#9
dflatos Private 6 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 125i convertible Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Melb iTrader: (0)	Janus 77, I also have a 125i - I found the driver & front passenger seat does not fully recline. It stops at about 15 degrees from the vertical when I lean back on it while pulling on the side lever as instructed in the manual. Does yours recline to the back seat? I am trying to find out from other 125 owners.
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07-14-2009, 01:39 AM	#10
janus77 Lieutenant 36 Rep 526 Posts Drives: 125i coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	No idea on the seat, i wasn't aware they were meant to fully recline.. __________________ 125i, stick shift, M pack w/ 18's, 225/255 Z1's, saphire black, BMW CF rear spoiler, black interior, Midnight tint, business nav, sunroof, Injen intake, H&R sways.
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07-14-2009, 01:40 AM	#11
janus77 Lieutenant 36 Rep 526 Posts Drives: 125i coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	just went out to the carpark and tested a girl from work's ipod in the car. I can't tell much difference on the menu, i'm probably better off just converting all my music files into .mp3 for the USB stick so i can play them in the car. Seems the only benefit of the ipod is that it decodes a broader range of files? __________________ 125i, stick shift, M pack w/ 18's, 225/255 Z1's, saphire black, BMW CF rear spoiler, black interior, Midnight tint, business nav, sunroof, Injen intake, H&R sways.
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07-14-2009, 01:54 AM	#12
dawogfather Private 0 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2002 BMW 325i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	you are really upset about that seat reclining issue aren't you?
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07-14-2009, 02:12 AM	#13
d3syd Major 50 Rep 1,474 Posts Drives: 135i MT, LMB, ProNav Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Scamander, Tasmania iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 135i Coupe [0.00]	Haven't tried fully reclining my seat. Have to go check. 15 deg from completely horizontal would be sufficient for a short power nap or whatever else, so it doesn't worry me. __________________ Fun Car: 135i Manual LeMans Blue / Beige Leather / Grey Poplar / pro nav / euro plates. Delivered 24 June 08 Family Car: Land Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 Spare Car: Volvo V70 Sydney Car: MB 420SEL
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07-14-2009, 02:25 AM	#14
Swift135 Lieutenant 23 Rep 453 Posts Drives: 330d, M3 DCT E92 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	I haven't got any nav in my 135i and I only use a usb stick, if you drop the albums from the itunes folders on your PC to tthe usb all the functions (artists/albums etc) work fine but if the music is just random Mp3's the grouping/search functions don't always work but they still play fine. __________________
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07-14-2009, 02:41 AM	#15
Timbo First Lieutenant 4 Rep 302 Posts Drives: BMW 135 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	I'm pretty sure you can go back to the song you were playing (Rather than having to click through all the menus) if you press and hold down on the idrive controller... ie rather than just pressing down... works for me anyway with an ipod.
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07-14-2009, 06:09 AM	#16
janus77 Lieutenant 36 Rep 526 Posts Drives: 125i coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	thanks Timbo, will give that a go. __________________ 125i, stick shift, M pack w/ 18's, 225/255 Z1's, saphire black, BMW CF rear spoiler, black interior, Midnight tint, business nav, sunroof, Injen intake, H&R sways.
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07-14-2009, 06:25 AM	#18
janus77 Lieutenant 36 Rep 526 Posts Drives: 125i coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	yeah, on the USB, i've just put all songs directly in the artist foler instead of being subdivided into albums, so it's a bit easier to get to the music. Weird, I found a program that converts .aac and .m4p files to .mp3, they work fine on my computer, but they still don't work in the car. Agh technology! __________________ 125i, stick shift, M pack w/ 18's, 225/255 Z1's, saphire black, BMW CF rear spoiler, black interior, Midnight tint, business nav, sunroof, Injen intake, H&R sways.
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07-14-2009, 07:46 AM	#20
dflatos Private 6 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 125i convertible Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Melb iTrader: (0)	[QUOTE=Tj303;5503231]+1 this is about the 4th thread he has hijacked about the same issue That because no one is giving me any answers and all I wanna know is other 125i owners notice the same and whether I should take the car back for repair.
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07-14-2009, 08:28 PM	#22
Tj303 Second Lieutenant 14 Rep 259 Posts Drives: 135i Coupe Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	Does anyone know a USB stick can still be used to play gapless albums i.e. eliminate the 2 second gap between tracks like the Ipod can? A lot of my music are mixed CD's e.g. Ministry of Sound compilations, so i'm not actually sure now whether USB stick would be suitable for me... __________________
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