ok, so it's nothing you probably haven't seen before, but I thought I would share this with you. This is installed in a 2006 Mini Cooper. Currently, I have the AVIC-N3 with back up camera, XM with NavTraffic, and the iPod/iPhone CD-IB100II. I created a custom dock connection for the iPod/iPhone mounted in the bottom of the rear cup holder between the driver and passenger. This is the best location for the iPhone due to the interferance with the radio. Below are some pictures of the install.





Since I cannot get video from my iPhone into my AVIC-N3, I've decided to go with the AppleTV. Besides, I will gain a fully intergrated computer.



Pros:
- More storage (160GB) than iPhone or iPod.
- Front Row with remote (access AV content)
- Hacked to run OSX
- Digital Audio out (AVIC only takes analog)
- HDMI to DVI video out (possibly to Xenarc 7" touch screen), but would prefer to go through AVIC video

Cons:
- Power supply DC-DC converter (http://mikegyver.com/IdeasnProducts/AppleTV/index.html)
- HDMI to DVI to Composite, converters to tap AVIC video (not ideal, but should work)

I'm sure I'm going to run into other hurdles, but it's nothing that cannot be overcome. Thoughts? Input? Suggestions? All appreciated.

Thanks. -m

 

Love it. I was thinking about drilling out the bottom of the passenger-side front cupholder and doing the same thing for the iPhone...but ultimately I just routed it to my glove box and it works there. Not the most convenient, but the least ugly.

 

Hmm... It would indeed be cool, but the only decent component to composite video converter that I can find for use with the Apple TV is fairly expensive at $130:

http://www.svideo.com/appletv2tv.html

Thus, you're looking at $399 for a 160 GB Apple TV and then another $130 just to convert the video signal. A bit too rich for my blood considering you can do basically the same thing with an iPod (which you probably already own) and a DLO HomeDock Deluxe v2 unit (sells for $99 at Best Buy).

 

Although I have not tested this, video can be achieved for much less using the following adapters...

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/DVI-hdmi_adapt.html

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...&nplm=M9267G/A

Again, I have not tested this, but it should work and produce decent quality. Total cost for both adapters $50. No external power needed either.

 

Thanks for the compliment. I wanted to have the ability to just drop it in and pull it out, without holding clips and without setting it up. This is literally plug-n-play. I've tested several iPods and they all work. iPods show the Pioneer logo, while the iPhone shows a generic icon for device connected. As you can see from the previous pics.

Only draw back to having the connection in the rear cup holder is you can't see who's calling (caller ID). I use the Apple BT headset, so it's not necessary for me to have access to the iPhone while it's plugged in. In fact, if you're playing music from the iPhone/iPod and a call comes in, the audio will fade down to '0' and allow you to speak over the BT headset. When you hang up the call, the iPhone/iPod fades back to playing the music where it left off.