R60 Apple iOS5 Release
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 723
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
One thing these threads have not fully told me..... Is MINI connected worth it or not? I AM A MAJOR APPLE AND GADGET FREAK! (yes I meant that in caps) so MINI connected has been on my radar since announced but with the CM I am in the process of ordering I just can't decide if it is worth ordering since I am an iphone 4 user who will most likely be an iphone 5 user when it is available. Oh and one complaint I have about this whole connected thing is the armrest connector, what if I want to use my iPad 3g?
Michael
Michael
As of right now, I don't use any of the special features. I have my phone on a gooseneck cigarette lighter charger and run a stereo cable to the AUX jack. I pick music on the phone. It works beautifully, and the phone pauses the music and routes calls through the Bluetooth when I make or receive them.
I like having a screen in my speedo, but as far as functionality, I don't do anything I couldn't do with just the iPod/Bluetooth package.
I keep thinking of good ways to plug to the USB so I can see album art, but then I can't mount the phone where I want it because the provided cable is so short and the parking brake gets in the way anyway. So I'm stuck with a solution that's pretty good but that misses out on the coolest stuff Connected can theoretically do if the phone's in a cradle.
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5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
From: CT
You can easily extend the supplied Y cable as I did with the correct cables. My understanding..and through trial & error is that USB input is just for charging. The RCA is the important plug that provides the album art. I continue to use both…depending if and what I'm in the mood for. As mentioned bluetooth will play but w/o visuals.
Just for reference, the A/V cable needed is a 3.5mm-4 contact plug. Most RCA's will have 2 rings on the male pin..this will have 3..providing the video/album art.
Just for reference, the A/V cable needed is a 3.5mm-4 contact plug. Most RCA's will have 2 rings on the male pin..this will have 3..providing the video/album art.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Keller, TX
Sorry,
I did find the correct posts about connected in other forums
I do want connected pretty badly, but all of the issues cause some concern. Hopefully with the '12's some of that will be taken care of.
I am wondering how much of this is MINI's fault and how much is Apple's fault for changing up some previous iphone standards.
Michael
I did find the correct posts about connected in other forums
I do want connected pretty badly, but all of the issues cause some concern. Hopefully with the '12's some of that will be taken care of. I am wondering how much of this is MINI's fault and how much is Apple's fault for changing up some previous iphone standards.
Michael
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: TruckEE, CA
Didn't think Mini connected would be worth it...
pyrrhusmj - I think whether or not mini connected is worth it is very much up to the individual user. I too am an apple geek, and I love connected. That being said, I rarely use everything that it provides. The facebook and twitter integration is very neat, but I only use it in the rare situation that I'm sitting in the car waiting for someone, like if my wife runs into the store for something. The web radio is very cool, as you can listen to radio stations from around the world in your car. Pandora integration is also very slick and easy to use. But my absolute favorite part of connect, and the whole reason that I wanted it, is that the Connect "Plugin" feature supports iOS's iPod out function, which allows you to access your iPod via an iPod classic-type interface on the screen. I find this much easier to use than the standard iPod interface.
So I guess the best way to answer your question would be to go to the dealer, find a car with connect and hook up your iPhone or iPad and see how you like it. You can download the Connected app for free from the app store. By the way, the car comes with a (proprietary) Y-cable dock adapter that can be used to hook up the iPad.
So I guess the best way to answer your question would be to go to the dealer, find a car with connect and hook up your iPhone or iPad and see how you like it. You can download the Connected app for free from the app store. By the way, the car comes with a (proprietary) Y-cable dock adapter that can be used to hook up the iPad.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Keller, TX
I didn't order it because on my other car, just using an AUX cable allows Pandora [crystal clear] through my stereo. If it didn't, I would then see a point for Mini connected. I am constantly on FB etc [on NAM more now though, haha!], but I still don't really see a point in doing it through the mini, when if I'm waiting for someone, I just pull out my iPhone and go on the FB app there anyways. It seems like something "cool" if it was offered standard, but is it really necessary to pay that much for features you can pretty much do anyways?
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: TruckEE, CA
But with the 500 for the bluetooth [which I got for that reason], can't you do that anyways?
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Keller, TX
I am merely justifying my early adopter/technology fetish Michael
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 723
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
That's pretty much exactly where mine ends up when it's on the gooseneck that mounts in the cigarette lighter. It's a pretty good spot.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 502
Likes: 3
From: NOLA
I got my hands on iOS5 and updated my phone. The cradle might be getting more use now. Plug-in works, video still doesn't, but the plug-in was a big deal for me and the charging while playing is nice. It's pretty obvious that BMW/MINI got told about these improvements well in advanced and decided to stop putting resources toward something Apple was going to fix for them.
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, OH
Y-cable and iOS 5 and MINI Mission Control / MINIMALISM Analyser
BTW, I always thought the snap-in was a bad idea because no one wants to remove their phone from its case every time they get in the car. I added a CableJive dockXtender to my Y-cable and keep the iPhone in the passenger side mesh pocket which is much easier to use than the rail mount phone holder. Plus if I am stopped I can pick up my phone and check messages, etc. as the cord is now longer. This also allows me room to put the sunglass holder under the armrest and I put the phone holder on the back rail for my son to put his iPod touch in.
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 723
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
I can't vouch for your particular extender, but I can confirm that the A/V Y-cable plus iOS 5 works for Mission Control and MINIMALISM (and everything else), even though those things did not work for me under iOS 4 (got the "cradle needed" message).
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, OH
I researched extenders and found that one works with all functions such as video and most MINI Connected features. I would get "cradle needed" though for Mission Control and MINIMALISM with or without the extender, but artwork, videos (when stopped), facebook, twitter, web radio, all work with it. So if you don't like the phone holder they give you, just extend the cable with a CableJive dockXtender and put your phone in the mesh pocket and also still keep it in its case.
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 723
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
Thanks for the dock extender tip.
By the way, everybody, it may not be a good idea to try to upgrade today if you don't have to. Some of my friends are reporting server trouble (probably because of the volume of people trying to update) that's preventing them from upgrading or screwing them up halfway through.
By the way, everybody, it may not be a good idea to try to upgrade today if you don't have to. Some of my friends are reporting server trouble (probably because of the volume of people trying to update) that's preventing them from upgrading or screwing them up halfway through.
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
Pandora
Has anyone been able to get Pandora to work with the new Apple IOS 5. I get a connection error that says I need the latest version of Pandora. But there are no updates for Pandora from iTunes.
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
The problem is when I try to launch Pandora with the iPhone connected to the MINI with MINI connected. That's when I get the error.