Comments on: iPhone head unit dock http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/ Before you swim you've got to be ok to sink Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:51:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Wattookee http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/comment-page-1/#comment-4763 Wattookee Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:10:45 +0000 http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/#comment-4763 I've been working on something similar, but from the other end. I recently bought a car with NO stereo system (fleet vehicle) and was looking at a way to use the iPhone as my head unit. The problem is that without a head unit you will need an aftermarket amplifier to drive the speakers. Also, the iPhone is sensitive to charging at +12VDC (which is the voltage of a car's electronic system) and it can potentially cause short battery life. So, beyond the mechanical issue of creating the dock, the electronics are probably another $100-$300 (depending on your amplifier.) The voltage has to be regulated to power the iPhone, the audio signal has to be amplified, and then it all has to be integrated via a custom wire harness. Boss makes a digital media receiver with an iPod dock, but I've heard of issues with some iterations of iPods not docking securely, and it's unknown whether the iPhone works with it or not. Older iPods and new iPhones differ in how they charge and which pins in the connectors control audio. I’ve been working on something similar, but from the other end. I recently bought a car with NO stereo system (fleet vehicle) and was looking at a way to use the iPhone as my head unit. The problem is that without a head unit you will need an aftermarket amplifier to drive the speakers. Also, the iPhone is sensitive to charging at +12VDC (which is the voltage of a car’s electronic system) and it can potentially cause short battery life. So, beyond the mechanical issue of creating the dock, the electronics are probably another $100-$300 (depending on your amplifier.) The voltage has to be regulated to power the iPhone, the audio signal has to be amplified, and then it all has to be integrated via a custom wire harness.

Boss makes a digital media receiver with an iPod dock, but I’ve heard of issues with some iterations of iPods not docking securely, and it’s unknown whether the iPhone works with it or not. Older iPods and new iPhones differ in how they charge and which pins in the connectors control audio.

]]> By: Steve http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/comment-page-1/#comment-4701 Steve Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:09:04 +0000 http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/#comment-4701 I need this now. Hurry up. :) I need this now. Hurry up.

:)

]]> By: joe http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/comment-page-1/#comment-4680 joe Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:20:47 +0000 http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/#comment-4680 andy, could you share your design with me? i simply don't have the skills to attempt something like this, but i'm sure i could convince say a machine shop to cut something for me as long as i took them a design. andy, could you share your design with me? i simply don’t have the skills to attempt something like this, but i’m sure i could convince say a machine shop to cut something for me as long as i took them a design.

]]> By: Andy http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/comment-page-1/#comment-4669 Andy Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:41:25 +0000 http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/#comment-4669 Awesome! I've actually been working on exactly this on and off... I recently picked it up again. I'm doing all the designs to within 1/20th of an inch in tolerances in Pro/Engineer. I even came up with a creative way of allowing the use of one's own docking cable that you "tuck" into an opening in the base of the unit, thereby eliminating the need for an expensive Apple dock connecter certification. I do agree though that eventually, a software solution with a secondary screen would be great, but for now, a single / double-din iPhone dock would be great, especially if pairing a single-din iphone dock with a single-din generic motorized lcd monitor that accepts composite inputs. Nice concepts. Awesome!

I’ve actually been working on exactly this on and off… I recently picked it up again.

I’m doing all the designs to within 1/20th of an inch in tolerances in Pro/Engineer. I even came up with a creative way of allowing the use of one’s own docking cable that you “tuck” into an opening in the base of the unit, thereby eliminating the need for an expensive Apple dock connecter certification.

I do agree though that eventually, a software solution with a secondary screen would be great, but for now, a single / double-din iPhone dock would be great, especially if pairing a single-din iphone dock with a single-din generic motorized lcd monitor that accepts composite inputs.

Nice concepts.

]]> By: John http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/comment-page-1/#comment-4667 John Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:40:42 +0000 http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/#comment-4667 Tom, I'm afraid I haven't had the chance to work on this project. Let me know if you need any help, though. As far as working on this myself, I just cAn't find the time, yet Thanks, John Tom,

I’m afraid I haven’t had the chance to work on this project. Let me know if you need any help, though. As far as working on this myself, I just cAn’t find the time, yet

Thanks,
John

]]> By: tom http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/comment-page-1/#comment-4666 tom Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:45:41 +0000 http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/#comment-4666 Hi John, Would you mind posting the model you made so far? I'd like to take a run at this project. I don't really have a fabrication background, but I know people that do. Thanks, Tom Hi John,

Would you mind posting the model you made so far? I’d like to take a run at this project. I don’t really have a fabrication background, but I know people that do.

Thanks,

Tom

]]> By: John http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/comment-page-1/#comment-4661 John Sun, 01 Mar 2009 09:11:36 +0000 http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/#comment-4661 Hi kris, As of now, this project is on hold indefinitely as I am busy with work. I hope someone else picks up the project, though. Thanks, John Hi kris,

As of now, this project is on hold indefinitely as I am busy with work. I hope someone else picks up the project, though.

Thanks,
John

]]> By: kris http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/comment-page-1/#comment-4660 kris Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:08:47 +0000 http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/#comment-4660 just wondering how the progress on the iphone dock is and if anyone knows if there are any other products like this just wondering how the progress on the iphone dock is and if anyone knows if there are any other products like this

]]> By: Dave http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/comment-page-1/#comment-4651 Dave Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:52:33 +0000 http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/#comment-4651 This has been a long time coming. Leave all those lame stereo interfaces behind! This has been a long time coming. Leave all those lame stereo interfaces behind!

]]> By: Jarred http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/comment-page-1/#comment-4649 Jarred Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:57:10 +0000 http://squidball.com/blog/2008/iphone-head-unit-dock/#comment-4649 Just wanted to say that this is a GREAT idea!!!! I would love to see this product available. It is a surprise that it is not already out there go for it. Just wanted to say that this is a GREAT idea!!!! I would love to see this product available. It is a surprise that it is not already out there go for it.

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