how do I create playlists on a USB stick?

[KevinC]

My car just rolled off the line today (yay!) so I'm anticipating delivery in about a month. I've been reading up on iPod/iPhone functionality, and was horrified to learn about the halfassed solution that BMW/Mini is giving us, with the Y-cable and its clunkyness, and the 3GS charging issues. Even VW's system uses a single dock connector to connect, without having a funky Y connection to the aux port.. but I digress.

So rather than using my iPhone or iPod, I'll just use a USB stick. I've picked up a 16gb Patriot stick and loaded virtually my entire iTunes library on it, which is all DRM-free .m4a files. But I have no idea how to create playlists on the stick that the Mini system (I'll have h/k with nav) will recognize. Is there some way I can manually edit/create playlists and place them on the stick? I'm using a Mac.. no more Windows machine in the household. Thanks for any tips.

[schatzy62]

If you really do have the H/K system you will be one of the first.

Now with that said form the last i have heard they will not even be installing the H/K systems until the December 09 builds so you may not actually have it in your car.

But if you do most of us will not know how the USB actually works until someone has had time to play with one.

As for the play lists you should be able to make play lists from Media Monkey or some other Non iTunes player and have it work as long as the m3u file that is made has relative links rather than static links. I.E. it can not say D:\artist\album\track name. The D:\ will cause the file not to work int he MINI, at least on the standard and HiFi systems are concerned.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by schatzy62

Now with that said form the last i have heard they will not even be installing the H/K systems until the December 09 builds so you may not actually have it in your car.

That info is WAY out of date. They've been building cars with h/k for some time now, h/k got units to them earlier than the December date that was being kicked around at some point. There are already posts from a few owners who have had h/k systems delivered at this point.

[artmem]

I have a Mac, and I use a script called iTuneMyWalkmanto sync my usb drive. It syncs itunes playlists to a usb drive just like it would to an iPod, plus it automatically creates the m3u playlists that the mini needs. It works perfectly with my 8gm Patriot drive.

I had been using an off-brand 16gb drive, but it would take the mini nearly an hour to completely sync with the drive. Patriot drives are pretty fast, though, so maybe you won't have that issue.

[Fire Capt]

I have a 2010 MCC with the H/K system and I have tried both Ipod and memory stick, I find that the memory stick is just too slow to read and it's only 8g.

IMO
Fire

[artmem]

Yes, you have to be sure you have a stick with a fast transfer rate. A lot of the cheaper sticks are pretty slow. I think there are a few threads on here about drive speeds. Spending the extra money for a faster drive is definitely worth it, in my opinion.