I'm just wondering why a cable is necessary when the commands could be done via bluetooth. Instead of alienating 72% of smartphone users, why not use a standard that all smartphones have?

What can be done with BT?

Yeah the new tuner shares the same model number arrangement of the ND-MDT10 MSN tuner so I have a sneaking suspicion that it will share the same bus connection and control protocol of the 110/120/920 units.

Ok folks I just received a vague response from someone I assume is from Pionner that the new TMC tuner will indeed work with all 110/120/920 units once the units are upgraded to the 130/930 software. Keep in mind this software will come with a map upgrade that will cost you money. This likely will not be a free update.

Ok well forget that sh*t. Apparently someone with no credibility chimed in and I took the bait. According to JasonH from the Pioneer engineers the new traffic tuner wont happen on 110/120/920 units.

Well, isn't that some BS! Good luck to them. No reason for people to upgrade their units for software you can update on the Z110BT, just to get the traffic. Especially in this economy.

Well, isn't that some BS! Good luck to them. No reason for people to upgrade their units for software you can update on the Z110BT, just to get the traffic. Especially in this economy.

Yeah way to go Pioneer, way to build customer loyalty. Congratulations, your Z110/Z120 will never have live traffic. I won't be paying for an upgrade.

Ok everybody hold that thought. I may have other info on this. I cant say for now but stay tuned.

I'm in a position where I actually need a double din unit. What would you guys recommend? I'm hearing so much negativity from Pioneer users on here that its making my choices for Kenwood a go. I just don't like the interface, its really block-like and gimmicy too.

I dunno what to do.. I haven't seen much demos of these products this year and I'm worried these are going to be just minor updates and no major changes.

What would you guys recommend? Kenwood? Pioneer? Sony? Other?

I may disagree with my esteemed colleague, VBLUE here...

 

After all, apps like EasyTether allow Android users to use their phones as modems to let their laptops access the internet. The USB and TCPIP transport protocols they had to program for that is probably at LEAST as complicated as anything going on between the iPhone and the AVICs for AVIC Feeds, Pandora Link, Aha, etc.

 

There's nothing in the standard USB 2.0 cabling to all Android phones -- nor anything in Android itself that I'm aware of -- that would prevent Aha from porting their app to Android. And the new AVICs include USB ports, no?

but . . . AVRCP 1.3, the standard Bluetooth protocol (audio video remote control) that SHOULD be included in ALL Bluetooth devices such as Android, is apparently ONLY implemented in iOS 4 (correct me Apple owners). What does that mean? Things like song title, artist, album and album art COULD show up from Pandora on our Pioneer screens IF Android manufacturers just followed the spec, instead, they didn't, and we get a blank screen, a play button and a pause button. Lame

There is no AVRCP in iOS at this time. As far as a remote control protocol Apple is the only mobile provider that I know of that has it to the extent that it is available right now. That remote protocol is the only reason we have the features we have with Apple devices and aftermarket head units. The USB functions of other mobile providers only allow charging and file transfer but no control of the phone features as far as I know. Its up to these mobile providers to catch up to what we currently have with Apple devices. My guess is these mobile providers don't see this as a big demand issue sense the aftermarket head unit market is very small compared to OEM head units. I believe there is some support with Android and Ford Sync systems but at this time no support for aftermarket head units.

Ok I've done some reading about the ND-TMC10 traffic tuner that will be optional for the 930 and it is stated several times that this tuner will be "included" with the Z130. So if this is not a typo, it indicates that it is still an external add on but is included with the unit. If this is the case then this should be the 110/120/920 owners traffic solution once you upgrade to the 130/930 software. Jason, is there anyway you can confirm this with anyone from Pioneer?

The traffic tuner is the same external box (ND-TMC10) for both units, it's just included when you buy a Z130.

Yeah see, my source claims its the same connection as the MSN tuner and will work with the older units just as that tuner did.

Well like you said vblue, the naming scheme does suggest the same port will be used in the back. Since there are no hardware changes AGAIN for the third year in a row, I guess they are going to use the existing port that transmits the same type of data to an existing port that will no longer work since the msn direct tuner has less then one year left to live... I own it and personally think it sucks and is a waste of money. Hopefully we -can- get the 130 update along with this new traffic tuner to replace the Beta-like tuner that never really works all that great.

Also...

On pioneer's page it says " Built-In Traffic Tuner " for the AVIC-Z130BT... rather then "included traffic tuner"..... hopefully we can still use the add on component that comes out for the X930...

Its not built in on the 130. It is add on. And it has already been confirmed we will see a 130 upgrade for 110/120/920 units.

Its not built in on the 130. It is add on. And it has already been confirmed we will see a 130 upgrade for 110/120/920 units.

i'm glad about the 130 upgrade.. pioneer page:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/GPS-Navigation/AVIC-Z130BT

copy and paste from their page:

• Listen to Your Pandora Internet Radio Stations using an iPhone® with Pandora App

• Built-In Traffic Tuner

• Built-In HD Radio™ Tuner

The site is wrong, it's not built in, it's simply included in the box.

Addition of built-in HD tuner looks like a hardware change to me.

There are some hardware changes in the 2011 units and the HD is one of them. The traffic tuner is not however.

There are some hardware changes in the 2011 units and the HD is one of them. The traffic tuner is not however.

Well that's good news for us 110/120 users. I really hope we get to use the new tuner. Just played with the Aha Radio app on my iphone 4 and IMO it SUCKS. I don't feel like listening to some bullshit computer voice mis-pronounce every other word for facebook status updates that gets posted OR the traffic updates which are virtually useless. Anyone else try this App and actually LIKE it???

Ok folks new info on the traffic tuner compatibility with Z110/120/X920 units once they are upgraded with the Z130/X930 software do out this summer. The response from Pioneer is now that they do not officially support the traffic tuner with the previous units but they are not saying it wont work. Just that they don't officially support it on the previous units. So, what that means is that we will see for our selves when the new tuner and software upgrades are released. To me, this is better news.

Vblue42- Are you hearing if if we purchase the ND-TMC10 and 2011 Maps, we will have mapping similar to our old (ND-MDT10) msn direct tuner (overlap) traffic on Z110/Z120 units?

Of course this will not be officially supported by Pioneer.

Yes.