tyrenta

The Inrix app works pretty well for traffic info, but it wasn't adapted very well. It's almost impossible to push the on screen buttons they are smaller than the tip of your pinkie finger and so close to the edge of the screen you can't even get tot hem without some major finger gymnastics I also find the whole unit pretty laggy with any screen input (esp swipes) you'd think for $650 they could have put a better processor in there

It shouldn't be this hard. Between the unnecessary $70 'required' cable and AppRadio issues, 1) Pioneer apparently missed every case study of the past 20 years on how to NOT do something, and 2) seems if you have an i5 you are better off saving your $$. Wish I'd trusted my gut before dropping $700+ on this crap. I do like the radio, but $700 just to have an HD radio that doesn't light up my car with crazy flashing lights?

Got a new x8500 installed this weekend, and I noticed last night that while the screen dims when the headlights come on, the physical buttons do not. I found in the manual the screen dimmer settings can be tweaked, but it doesn't say anything about the buttons. Anyone know if these can be set to dim also? Related question -- my old stock radio used to brighten/dim with the rest of the dash panel based on the car dimmer setting. I don't recall seeing any unused wires on my harness, but I could be wrong. I can see why the screen wouldn't dim with that (which I assume is why there are Sys

Have you tried the iTunes tagging? I don't have mine installed yet. The manual doesn't list the i5 in the list of devices that it works with, but it also doesn't say you can just plug the i5 into the USB port and use the ipod controls so I'm hoping it does.

Another install question -- the x8500 AUX port says it is 4 pole and will take video. I wanted to put a flush port on my dash, and had originally ordered this one, but that is just audio. Has anyone seen a 4 pole extension that would work for this? Maybe this one? Doesn't say video but I don't think that matters? Still would need to figure out how to flush mount it...

Martinex -- I don't think the firmware patch applies to the x8500, the AppRadio should work out of the box w/ an i5 RootBeer -- I think this one will work, I have it ordered I'll post when I get it I'm having trouble with my Toyota Metra harness the package/wires are mislabeled. The package says the Illumination wire is Orange, and the dimmer wire Orange/White. Of course there is no Orange wire on the actual harness. There is an Orange/White wire on the main harness that has Dimmer printed on it, and an Orange/Black wire on the rear speaker harness that has Dimmer Ground printed on it,

I'm having the same issue -- 2000 4Runner. There is no 'illumination' wire on the Metra harness despite what the packaging says. On the Metra harness, there is an orange and black wire, labeled dimmer ground, and and orange and white wire, labeled dimmer. But the same Metra instructions say Dimmer: Orange/white; Illumination: Orange. WTF. There is no Orange, and there is no wire labeled Ilumination, and there is no wires that color match the Pioneer harness I'm trying to install, so which do I use?

You don't need the cd-IH202, any $5 HDMI cable will work; the 17-pin Pioneer cable that comes with that kit doesn't even work with the x8500 it's for other head units. Total false marketing by Pioneer.

re: the 17-pin proprietary USB connection, this Amazon post just clarified a bunch of things. http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-CDIH202-AppRadio-Interface-iPhone/product-reviews/B00BHWWZ2G/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 The X8500 doesn't even have a 17-pin port, that is for one of the other units this cable works with (AppRadio 2, AVIC-Z150BH/X950BH). It ONLY has 2 USB ports. Basically Pioneer is telling you you need this $60 cable set just for the included $3 HDMI cable, and to toss the rest of the set including their proprietary cable in the trash. Scumbags. I'

I was just looking through the manual again and comparing to the back of the unit that VBlue posted above -- the manual makes no reference to the 17-pin propritary USB connection, and I don't see a port for it on the back of the unit anywhere either, yet the CD-IH202 cable clearly has a some square proprietary interface. Where does this cable attach? Anyone know? http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/StaticFiles/PUSA/Images/Product%20Images/Car/CD-IH202_large.jpg Also does the iPhone 4 AppRadio cable (CD-IU201S) use the same port that the optional AVIC-U250 navigation unit? Not that I'd ev

I figured you just carried in your murse, or if speed walking the mall maybe your fannie pack. In anycase, I postured 'Don't most people' because that is what 'most people' do, ninny. Under the seat. I don't own the unit, how am I going to put it under my seat? If you'd like to contribute to the thead, being an owner of the unit, rather than offer your opinion on your steel plated military grade glovebox, please help out with the unanswered questions: Is there a processor difference b/t the x3500/x5500/x8500? Does the proprietary 17-pin USB cable option in the x8500 provide someth

If I want to carry around a 7" screen with me, i'll buy an ipad. Do you really consider the 'locked' glovie safer than under the seat?

thanks much

They both need a $50 Apple adapter, so that is a wash. The x5500 i5 cable is $100 at crutchfield, and I figured $10 in generic USB/HDMI cables for the x8500, so net $90 difference.

Don't most people just stick the detachable face under the drivers seat? I can't imagine it's much of a deterrent these days. This is how I'm looking at it -- the x3500 is $295, x5500 is $390, and the x8500 $540 (all on Amazon), so $150 (or $245) difference to get the x8500. IF I want the option of using AppRadio w/ an i5 on the x5500/x3500 I need to spend an additional $90 or so over what I would for the x8500, so assuming I want that option in the future the price difference is really $60/$155. $60 basically for removable face and an extra USB port (I don't see why I need an SD slot)? I

Thanks VBlue -- helps a lot. Anyone know why Pioneer chose the 17-pin USB cable option in the x8500? They make it appear required, but if not, what is the purpose? For one I can see it would add a second data port, in addition to USB1 -- that in itself is useful info if true. I can't imagine in the engineering scramble to address apples lightning port 'enhancement' that they decided to add a 17-pin proprietary port simply to be able to charge $50 for it. Does it provide more power than the USB1 port (say to charge an iPad)? Or does it really add nothing except an additional data port?

I did -- it's the first part where I guess I'm being being thick, since it contradicts what ccajay posted before you and he has the unit: "Here you can use the cable that came with your phone and the Apple 30 Pin to Lightning Adapter." My phone didn't come with a 30-pin cable, it came with a lightning cable, so I gues I still am unclear what you mean -- again do you mean I should go purchase an older usb/30-pin cable, and then the 30-pin to lightning adapter that converts that back to the connector that I already have? The USB lightning cable that came with my phone will NOT work? CCaj

I don't have the unit yet which is why I'm asking -- trying to figure out if I should bother with the x8500 or just go with a x3500 or x5500 since the x8500 doesn't seem to really work seamlessly with the i5 anyway so why spend the extra $200-400? I still don't fully get it -- to be clear, you are saying the only way to use the ipod controls (sans video) on the x8500 head unit with an i5, is to buy a 30 pin USB cable for an older iphone, plug that into the USB1 port on the head unit, then buy the 30-pin to lightning adapter so I can plug that older cable into the lightning port on my i5? A

I'm just confused on the 30-pin connector reference. I don't see that listed in the manual for just using ipod control (no video/no appradio). It says to use the lightning USB cable. Are you saying that is incorrect, and I have to use a 30-pin USB cable with an 30-pin to lightning adapter? I know the x5500, AppRadio 2, and X8500 all have different cable requirements for the i5. Is that the cause of my confusion?

VBlue thanks very much for that post that is super helpful. Good to confirm the proprietary USB cable is not needed for the i5 -- did Pioneer do this to keep the two USB ports available for other uses, or really just to get another $50 for $10 worth of cables? Seems with the additional confusion along with the piss poor communication on the whole solution they are really shooting themselves in the foot which is too bad. On the no video/no app option -- can you still use the iPhone USB cable as an audio out? So for example if I were to run an internet radio app, or NFL game stream, etc. on

Hi guys -- thanks for all the info so far on the x8500. I was about to pull the trigger, but now I'm having second thoughts was hoping someone with the unit could help out with a few quesitons -- sorry for the long post: The x8500 instructions (pg 51) say, for an iPhone 5, to use the USB1 port with the head unit supplied USB cable, not the 17-pin cable that comes with the CD-IH202 kit, though I assume that is wrong. Can you use the USB port instead though? Sounds like TexaBama and ccajay were able to. If so, then you don't really need to purchase the CD-IH202 kit and can just use the inclu