Fiat 500 and Ipod problems, can you help?

[Rapid rental]

Hi

I have tried a search and cannot find the answer to our problem, so i was hoping one of the PH collective would be able to help?

Basically we have a new 500 and an ipod and i was wondering how to make the ipod compatible with the windows plug in device, any pointers on how to do this?

many thanks

[Wombat Rick]

I think it will be the same as the Alfa Blue & Me system in which case you need to convert your tracks to MP3. See here...
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/ice-and-blue-and-me...

[Noger]

Picked mine up on Friday (500 and iPod) and the chap said as long as they were in MP3 format and you had the USB cable, it should work. He had a Nano working on his company Fiat B&M.

[KTiM]

Noger said:

and the chap said as long as they were in MP3 format

Therein lies the problem for many people. Wife and I have iPods with music from a variety of sources - CD, 'net downloads and itunes and thus it is in a variety of formats as Blue and ME will only "do" MP3 it would be a major PITA to have to convert all tracks to MP3.

There is a solution! Fiat now do an iPod lead that plugs in to the back of the head unit (I take it in a CD changer type socket) there is a box that is about 1x1x3 (inches) that the lead plugs in to and then another lead with a proper iPod connector at the other end. 'Pod is then controlled through the stereo controls (or so I'm told as I haven't tried one. Price £60 ish plus an hours fitting.

[Dudd]

Anyone know if this little box will work on the built in stereo in an Alfa 147 I think it has an input for a CD changer.

[Job38]

KTiM said:

Noger said:

and the chap said as long as they were in MP3 format

Therein lies the problem for many people. Wife and I have iPods with music from a variety of sources - CD, 'net downloads and itunes and thus it is in a variety of formats as Blue and ME will only "do" MP3 it would be a major PITA to have to convert all tracks to MP3.

There is a solution! Fiat now do an iPod lead that plugs in to the back of the head unit (I take it in a CD changer type socket) there is a box that is about 1x1x3 (inches) that the lead plugs in to and then another lead with a proper iPod connector at the other end. 'Pod is then controlled through the stereo controls (or so I'm told as I haven't tried one. Price £60 ish plus an hours fitting.

And, behold what happens when you develop a product with Microsoft!
Microsoft may well have 90% of the computer OS market but they know very well that
the vast majority of people who use digital music use an iPod.
The solution - ignore this fact and attempt to stuff an Apple product, shafting Fiat owners in the process.
Fiat should have known better! Especially on a style-based product like the 500 !!!

I'm very interested in this iPod lead...........

[KTiM]

Indeed they should have known better and should be supplying the lead as a free of charge upgrade for all customers, that's what I told the salesman at the Fiat garage who showed me the lead!