I dont care for this design at all, its a trend away from their decks that had a clean and simple design. Looks like they wanted to take after dual with the godawful big nasty buttons.
Actually I like these designs, they make you feel like your in star wars where theres millions of buttons and levers that you have no idea what they do.
All I need is a back/forward/up/down button, I have no idea why companies add thousands of buttons to all of their products. I think humans are retards and just can't design things properly?
By the way, do I have to plug a bloody iPod into this thing just for it to work? Where is the 8GB of flash so umm.. I dont need things hanging off my stereo just for it to work?
I went over the IDA-100 - the first model - in a store and was a bit underwhelmed. - It was more expensive than the models with CD player AND iPod controls. So why leave out the CD player? Just to have that massive button in the middle? - It didn't work any better than those others, apart from the LCD screen - If you are used to the normal iPod interface, the Apine is close but has annoying problems. For example, you can't navigate on an artist and hit play. You have to go down to the songs...
All in all, using an iPod to control the iPod is a much better experience than using the designed for iPod Alpine unit. Which is weird considering that Alpine had 6 years to just copy the iPod interface - you would think they'd be able to make something at least as good. Good idea, lousy execution.
"- It was more expensive than the models with CD player AND iPod controls. So why leave out the CD player? Just to have that massive button in the middle?"
Since when does cost determine whether a head unit should have a CD transport in it? What makes you think the CD was sacrificed for the "big button"?
"- It didn't work any better than those others, apart from the LCD screen"
Then you've done something wrong. The iPod integration with that model is far better than any other head unit. Perhaps you used the wrong iPod connector (the unit has two with differing functionality).
"- If you are used to the normal iPod interface, the Apine is close but has annoying problems. For example, you can't navigate on an artist and hit play. You have to go down to the songs..."
Yes, there are some annoying problems with the interface that are well documented already online. Even with those problems, no other head unit comes close. It is the only head unit to integrate album art, it is very fast and responsive, and it transfers all audio over USB, completely bypassing the iPod's DAC.
"All in all, using an iPod to control the iPod is a much better experience than using the designed for iPod Alpine unit."
With the Alpine you can use an Alpine remote or steering wheel integration and you can lock the iPod away so it doesn't rattle around or attract thieves. The Alpine solution allows you to keep your eye on the road. While Alpine has made some questionable UI decisions, to say that using the iPod itself is "a much better experience" is either an exaggeration or an outright falsehood depending on your perspective.
"Which is weird considering that Alpine had 6 years to just copy the iPod interface - you would think they'd be able to make something at least as good. Good idea, lousy execution."
Alpine worked with Apple on the design of the product so perhaps you should blame both. Alpine's greatest mistake isn't anything you've mentioned, it's the assignment of the "search" function (arguably unneeded) where the "select" function should go. From a hardware perspective, the device lacks a digital out which I think is pretty unforgivable at it's pricepoint. I also hear the bluetooth sucks.
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I dont care for this design at all, its a trend away from their decks that had a clean and simple design. Looks like they wanted to take after dual with the godawful big nasty buttons.
Actually I like these designs, they make you feel like your in star wars where theres millions of buttons and levers that you have no idea what they do.
All I need is a back/forward/up/down button, I have no idea why companies add thousands of buttons to all of their products. I think humans are retards and just can't design things properly?
By the way, do I have to plug a bloody iPod into this thing just for it to work? Where is the 8GB of flash so umm.. I dont need things hanging off my stereo just for it to work?
What is wrong with the world?
(Was that a bit over the top?)
I went over the IDA-100 - the first model - in a store and was a bit underwhelmed.
- It was more expensive than the models with CD player AND iPod controls. So why leave out the CD player? Just to have that massive button in the middle?
- It didn't work any better than those others, apart from the LCD screen
- If you are used to the normal iPod interface, the Apine is close but has annoying problems. For example, you can't navigate on an artist and hit play. You have to go down to the songs...
All in all, using an iPod to control the iPod is a much better experience than using the designed for iPod Alpine unit. Which is weird considering that Alpine had 6 years to just copy the iPod interface - you would think they'd be able to make something at least as good. Good idea, lousy execution.
Sorry meant to say I went over the XDA-001...
I am a retard... it was the iDA-X100.
"- It was more expensive than the models with CD player AND iPod controls. So why leave out the CD player? Just to have that massive button in the middle?"
Since when does cost determine whether a head unit should have a CD transport in it? What makes you think the CD was sacrificed for the "big button"?
"- It didn't work any better than those others, apart from the LCD screen"
Then you've done something wrong. The iPod integration with that model is far better than any other head unit. Perhaps you used the wrong iPod connector (the unit has two with differing functionality).
"- If you are used to the normal iPod interface, the Apine is close but has annoying problems. For example, you can't navigate on an artist and hit play. You have to go down to the songs..."
Yes, there are some annoying problems with the interface that are well documented already online. Even with those problems, no other head unit comes close. It is the only head unit to integrate album art, it is very fast and responsive, and it transfers all audio over USB, completely bypassing the iPod's DAC.
"All in all, using an iPod to control the iPod is a much better experience than using the designed for iPod Alpine unit."
With the Alpine you can use an Alpine remote or steering wheel integration and you can lock the iPod away so it doesn't rattle around or attract thieves. The Alpine solution allows you to keep your eye on the road. While Alpine has made some questionable UI decisions, to say that using the iPod itself is "a much better experience" is either an exaggeration or an outright falsehood depending on your perspective.
"Which is weird considering that Alpine had 6 years to just copy the iPod interface - you would think they'd be able to make something at least as good. Good idea, lousy execution."
Alpine worked with Apple on the design of the product so perhaps you should blame both. Alpine's greatest mistake isn't anything you've mentioned, it's the assignment of the "search" function (arguably unneeded) where the "select" function should go. From a hardware perspective, the device lacks a digital out which I think is pretty unforgivable at it's pricepoint. I also hear the bluetooth sucks.