Comments on: OhGizmo! Review – Alpine iDA-X305 http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/ Deliciously Geeky... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:56:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: shahinK http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/comment-page-1/#comment-405249 shahinK Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:45:57 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=32357#comment-405249 I have the original version of this unit and for the most part like it very much. I think it is the IDX-100 or something like that. It is worth mentioning that with an optional bluetooth box from alpine , this unit can also connect with your iPhone (or any bluetooth device), and allow you to place calls directly from the unit. If a call comes in, the LCD display will show you caller ID and will even lower the volume. If you choose to answer, you simply press the button with the phone icon and you can the call is pumped through the car stereo (you will need an external microphone installed in the car to talk back). It also can sync with your phone and download the address book, so you can also place calls from the unit which is pretty handy for hands-free operation. You search for the contact the same way you would search thru your music collection. Just select the contact and press enter and call is placed.<br><br>My unit lacked one seemingly minor thing that drove me crazy (which based on your review they have fixed). When scrolling through your music, there was no way to jump ahead! So in my case with over 10000 songs, it was simply impossible to effectively search through any sort of long list. At least it forced me to create a lot of playlists! I am tempted to upgrade to this unit simply based on that feature alone!<br><br>I am very confused by your finding that you can not assign presets!! Mine can do that. Seems very odd that they would have taken that feature away. What I do not like about the presets on mine is that there is no way to label them. At least not in the XM radio section. It just reads Preset 1, 2, 3, etc. It seems like it would be a simple thing to grab the metadata from the station and display it based on name or at least station number.<br><br>Anyway, I can only assume this is a nice upgrade to my 4 year old unit and as such I would be interested in it. I have the original version of this unit and for the most part like it very much. I think it is the IDX-100 or something like that. It is worth mentioning that with an optional bluetooth box from alpine , this unit can also connect with your iPhone (or any bluetooth device), and allow you to place calls directly from the unit. If a call comes in, the LCD display will show you caller ID and will even lower the volume. If you choose to answer, you simply press the button with the phone icon and you can the call is pumped through the car stereo (you will need an external microphone installed in the car to talk back). It also can sync with your phone and download the address book, so you can also place calls from the unit which is pretty handy for hands-free operation. You search for the contact the same way you would search thru your music collection. Just select the contact and press enter and call is placed.

My unit lacked one seemingly minor thing that drove me crazy (which based on your review they have fixed). When scrolling through your music, there was no way to jump ahead! So in my case with over 10000 songs, it was simply impossible to effectively search through any sort of long list. At least it forced me to create a lot of playlists! I am tempted to upgrade to this unit simply based on that feature alone!

I am very confused by your finding that you can not assign presets!! Mine can do that. Seems very odd that they would have taken that feature away. What I do not like about the presets on mine is that there is no way to label them. At least not in the XM radio section. It just reads Preset 1, 2, 3, etc. It seems like it would be a simple thing to grab the metadata from the station and display it based on name or at least station number.

Anyway, I can only assume this is a nice upgrade to my 4 year old unit and as such I would be interested in it.

]]> By: bigdogbruno99 http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/comment-page-1/#comment-405250 bigdogbruno99 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:30:08 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=32357#comment-405250 I just use the Bluetooth function of my car stereo to connect my iPhone. With a cheap $15 car charger and a tiny piece of velcro on the back of my iphone I'm all set!! I attach my iPhone to the top part of the dashboard (via velcro) so I can easily navigate through it while driving. I can play Rhapsody, Pandora, Youtube, iPod, GPS apps and pretty much any app through my car stereo via A2DP stereo bluetooth. And it receives my phone calls without a hitch since it already has the bluetooth function. I bought my stereo for $198 at Fry's. There are many stereos out there that can do this as long as it offers A2DP bluetooth, you're set. No need for a stereo that claims "iPhone" fuctionality. The Bluetooth portion will take care of it for you. I just use the Bluetooth function of my car stereo to connect my iPhone. With a cheap $15 car charger and a tiny piece of velcro on the back of my iphone I'm all set!! I attach my iPhone to the top part of the dashboard (via velcro) so I can easily navigate through it while driving. I can play Rhapsody, Pandora, Youtube, iPod, GPS apps and pretty much any app through my car stereo via A2DP stereo bluetooth. And it receives my phone calls without a hitch since it already has the bluetooth function. I bought my stereo for $198 at Fry's. There are many stereos out there that can do this as long as it offers A2DP bluetooth, you're set. No need for a stereo that claims “iPhone” fuctionality. The Bluetooth portion will take care of it for you.

]]> By: ChrisScottBarr http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/comment-page-1/#comment-405253 ChrisScottBarr Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:46:43 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=32357#comment-405253 Unfortunately you cannot navigate your music via the iPhone/iPod. The stereo takes over completely and forces you to use its controls. I believe most car stereos function in this manner. (At least all of the ones I've used in the past do anyway.) Unfortunately you cannot navigate your music via the iPhone/iPod. The stereo takes over completely and forces you to use its controls. I believe most car stereos function in this manner. (At least all of the ones I've used in the past do anyway.)

]]> By: Jessicat http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/comment-page-1/#comment-405251 Jessicat Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:26:34 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=32357#comment-405251 I love the design, it looks slick and user friendly. I don't think I'd be updating my car anytime soon. I like my car the way it is. I know my friend upgrades every car he busy. I love the design, it looks slick and user friendly. I don't think I'd be updating my car anytime soon. I like my car the way it is. I know my friend upgrades every car he busy.

]]> By: Nikkita Croix http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/comment-page-1/#comment-405252 Nikkita Croix Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:16:35 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=32357#comment-405252 Are you able to navigate your song list through your Ipod? That seems like it would be easier. <br> <br>I think there is a way you can set your own radio presets, you just need to get the Lessloss Blackbody to block all of those destructive photons from the LCD screen. Are you able to navigate your song list through your Ipod? That seems like it would be easier.

I think there is a way you can set your own radio presets, you just need to get the Lessloss Blackbody to block all of those destructive photons from the LCD screen.

]]> By: shahinK http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/comment-page-1/#comment-400772 shahinK Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:45:57 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=32357#comment-400772 I have the original version of this unit and for the most part like it very much. I think it is the IDX-100 or something like that. It is worth mentioning that with an optional bluetooth box from alpine , this unit can also connect with your iPhone (or any bluetooth device), and allow you to place calls directly from the unit. If a call comes in, the LCD display will show you caller ID and will even lower the volume. If you choose to answer, you simply press the button with the phone icon and you can the call is pumped through the car stereo (you will need an external microphone installed in the car to talk back). It also can sync with your phone and download the address book, so you can also place calls from the unit which is pretty handy for hands-free operation. You search for the contact the same way you would search thru your music collection. Just select the contact and press enter and call is placed.<br><br>My unit lacked one seemingly minor thing that drove me crazy (which based on your review they have fixed). When scrolling through your music, there was no way to jump ahead! So in my case with over 10000 songs, it was simply impossible to effectively search through any sort of long list. At least it forced me to create a lot of playlists! I am tempted to upgrade to this unit simply based on that feature alone!<br><br>I am very confused by your finding that you can not assign presets!! Mine can do that. Seems very odd that they would have taken that feature away. What I do not like about the presets on mine is that there is no way to label them. At least not in the XM radio section. It just reads Preset 1, 2, 3, etc. It seems like it would be a simple thing to grab the metadata from the station and display it based on name or at least station number.<br><br>Anyway, I can only assume this is a nice upgrade to my 4 year old unit and as such I would be interested in it. I have the original version of this unit and for the most part like it very much. I think it is the IDX-100 or something like that. It is worth mentioning that with an optional bluetooth box from alpine , this unit can also connect with your iPhone (or any bluetooth device), and allow you to place calls directly from the unit. If a call comes in, the LCD display will show you caller ID and will even lower the volume. If you choose to answer, you simply press the button with the phone icon and you can the call is pumped through the car stereo (you will need an external microphone installed in the car to talk back). It also can sync with your phone and download the address book, so you can also place calls from the unit which is pretty handy for hands-free operation. You search for the contact the same way you would search thru your music collection. Just select the contact and press enter and call is placed.

My unit lacked one seemingly minor thing that drove me crazy (which based on your review they have fixed). When scrolling through your music, there was no way to jump ahead! So in my case with over 10000 songs, it was simply impossible to effectively search through any sort of long list. At least it forced me to create a lot of playlists! I am tempted to upgrade to this unit simply based on that feature alone!

I am very confused by your finding that you can not assign presets!! Mine can do that. Seems very odd that they would have taken that feature away. What I do not like about the presets on mine is that there is no way to label them. At least not in the XM radio section. It just reads Preset 1, 2, 3, etc. It seems like it would be a simple thing to grab the metadata from the station and display it based on name or at least station number.

Anyway, I can only assume this is a nice upgrade to my 4 year old unit and as such I would be interested in it.

]]> By: bigdogbruno99 http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/comment-page-1/#comment-400765 bigdogbruno99 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:30:08 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=32357#comment-400765 I just use the Bluetooth function of my car stereo to connect my iPhone. With a cheap $15 car charger and a tiny piece of velcro on the back of my iphone I'm all set!! I attach my iPhone to the top part of the dashboard (via velcro) so I can easily navigate through it while driving. I can play Rhapsody, Pandora, Youtube, iPod, GPS apps and pretty much any app through my car stereo via A2DP stereo bluetooth. And it receives my phone calls without a hitch since it already has the bluetooth function. I bought my stereo for $198 at Fry's. There are many stereos out there that can do this as long as it offers A2DP bluetooth, you're set. No need for a stereo that claims "iPhone" fuctionality. The Bluetooth portion will take care of it for you. I just use the Bluetooth function of my car stereo to connect my iPhone. With a cheap $15 car charger and a tiny piece of velcro on the back of my iphone I'm all set!! I attach my iPhone to the top part of the dashboard (via velcro) so I can easily navigate through it while driving. I can play Rhapsody, Pandora, Youtube, iPod, GPS apps and pretty much any app through my car stereo via A2DP stereo bluetooth. And it receives my phone calls without a hitch since it already has the bluetooth function. I bought my stereo for $198 at Fry's. There are many stereos out there that can do this as long as it offers A2DP bluetooth, you're set. No need for a stereo that claims “iPhone” fuctionality. The Bluetooth portion will take care of it for you.

]]> By: ChrisScottBarr http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/comment-page-1/#comment-400761 ChrisScottBarr Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:46:43 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=32357#comment-400761 Unfortunately you cannot navigate your music via the iPhone/iPod. The stereo takes over completely and forces you to use its controls. I believe most car stereos function in this manner. (At least all of the ones I've used in the past do anyway.) Unfortunately you cannot navigate your music via the iPhone/iPod. The stereo takes over completely and forces you to use its controls. I believe most car stereos function in this manner. (At least all of the ones I've used in the past do anyway.)

]]> By: Jessicat http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/comment-page-1/#comment-400757 Jessicat Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:26:34 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=32357#comment-400757 I love the design, it looks slick and user friendly. I don't think I'd be updating my car anytime soon. I like my car the way it is. I know my friend upgrades every car he busy. I love the design, it looks slick and user friendly. I don't think I'd be updating my car anytime soon. I like my car the way it is. I know my friend upgrades every car he busy.

]]> By: Nikkita Croix http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/12/01/ohgizmo-review-alpine-ida-x305/comment-page-1/#comment-400756 Nikkita Croix Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:16:35 +0000 http://www.ohgizmo.com/?p=32357#comment-400756 Are you able to navigate your song list through your Ipod? That seems like it would be easier. <br> <br>I think there is a way you can set your own radio presets, you just need to get the Lessloss Blackbody to block all of those destructive photons from the LCD screen. Are you able to navigate your song list through your Ipod? That seems like it would be easier.

I think there is a way you can set your own radio presets, you just need to get the Lessloss Blackbody to block all of those destructive photons from the LCD screen.

]]>