CNET hooks up the iPhone 5 to its biggest accessory, a 2012 Volkswagen Golf R. by Wayne Cunningham November 8, 2012 4:36 PM ...
Volkswagen versus iPhone 5
Volkswagen versus iPhone 5
Volkswagen versus iPhone 5
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CNET hooks up the iPhone 5 to its biggest accessory, a 2012 Volkswagen Golf R.
by Wayne Cunningham
The VW Golf R uses an iPod integration system common to many VW and Audi models.
(Credit:
James Martin/CNET)
When Apple announced the iPhone 5's new Lightning connection, a
replacement for the 30 pin connector of past iPhones, iPads, and iPods,
it also announced an adapter
to maintain compatibility with 30 pin accessories and docks. I tested
the iPhone 5 with its biggest 30 pin accessory, a Volkswagen.
Volkswagen uses the same
iPod integration system as Audi, which it calls the Media Device Interface. This system consists of a proprietary port in the
car
with adapter cables for 30 pin iPod connector, USB, mini-USB, and
auxiliary input. As Volkswagen has not come out with a Lightning cable
for its Media Device Interface, you have to get Apple's 30 pin to
Lightning adapter, and connect it to the car's adapter cable. Not
exactly an elegant solution.
iPhone 5 to Lightning adapter to VW Media Device Interface adapter. What could go wrong?
(Credit:
Wayne Cunningham/CNET)
I previously tested the iPhone 5 in a Chevy and Nissan by plugging its
Lightning cable directly into those cars' USB ports. In each case, the
integration worked perfectly, showing the iPhone 5's music library on
the car's LCDs and having no issues in playing music through the new
digital Lightning connection. Obviously, Apple had made no radical
changes in its music control firmware.
After plugging everything in the Volkswagen together, the result was
positive. I could see the music library on the car's LCD, and use the
stereo's controls to select music. Music from the iPhone 5 played
through the car's speakers.
However, there was one problem more related to the iPhone 5 itself and
not the adapter: Bluetooth audio streaming continually grabbed priority
over the cabled connection.
I had seen a similar problem in past iPhones, but not to this degree.
With an iPhone paired to a car that offers Bluetooth audio streaming as
an audio source, Bluetooth tends to take priority over the cabled
connection. For example, if I first plug the phone into a car, then
start the engine, the subsequent Bluetooth connection made by the car's
stereo takes sole possession of the audio stream from the phone.
Switching to iPod as the audio source, the car shows the music library,
but there is no audio. My work-around has been to let the car establish
its Bluetooth connection to the phone, then plug the phone into the
car's iPod integration port. This method makes the audio stream
available to either connection, and has worked in a wide variety of
cars.
I used this method in the Volkswagen with the iPhone 5, letting it
establish its Bluetooth connection then plugging the phone into the
adapter. But in this case, the car's stereo frequently switched to the
Bluetooth streaming audio connection of its own accord, even as I pushed
the button to choose the Media Device Interface as the audio source. It
was frustrating.
I could find no settings in the iPhone 5 to set an audio priority for
music playback to either Bluetooth or cable, so assume the phone
automatically gives Bluetooth the priority whenever the phone detects a
paired device.
As I happened to be reviewing a 2012 Golf R
for CNET's Car Tech channel, that was the car I used for this test.
However, this Media Device Interface is common in a wide array of models
from both Volkswagen and Audi, and should work in like fashion across
the line.
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