Thanks for the info.  I just bought an iPhone 5 which shipped with iOS6.1 so I'll need to wait.

My installer was complaining about the iPhone not connecting to the unit today (X950BH).  I hope he had ordered the CD-IH202 but I'm not too sure at this point.  He said he's ordering another cable.  I can understand AppRadio mode not working because of the firmware but not connecting at all?  Picking up the car in the morning so it seems I have a lot to sort out.  Hopefully a simple mistake.  Anyway, thanks again for the insight on all this!

It will "connect" as in "charge" if you use the CD-IH202 before the firmware update is installed, but that is all.

If you try to play music via cable, AppRadio, Aha, or Pandora it wont work UNLESS you do away with the CD-IH202, plug in an old USB to 30 pin apple cable to the Pioneer USB cable (not the power only USB on the back of the unit), then use a 30 pin to lightning adapter. At that point the AppRadio button will light up on the x950 , but still wont WORK (no video transmission on 30 pin adapter to lightning. Appradio with actual screen video requires the CD-IH202 and the yet to be released firmware for iPhone 5) though it will enable Aha Radio and Pandora on the radio.

It will "connect" as in "charge" if you use the CD-IH202 before the firmware update is installed, but that is all.

If you try to play music via cable, AppRadio, Aha, or Pandora it wont work UNLESS you do away with the CD-IH202, plug in an old USB to 30 pin apple cable to the Pioneer USB cable (not the power only USB on the back of the unit), then use a 30 pin to lightning adapter. At that point the AppRadio button will light up on the x950 , but still wont WORK (no video transmission on 30 pin adapter to lightning. Appradio with actual screen video requires the CD-IH202 and the yet to be released firmware for iPhone 5) though it will enable Aha Radio and Pandora on the radio.

I'm so glad you posted this today.  The timing could not have been more perfect.  My installer called me today indicating that the X950BH could not communicate with the iPhone 5 (only bluetooth audio streaming).  It was my impression that the iPod functions and Pandora worked minus the AppRadio features.  He said he was talking to his Pioneer tech that supports the authorized dealers only and they said all hardware functions (CD-IH202) requires the firmware upgrade.  I was fighting him on it thinking that part of it should work.  Anyway, I hope this release comes out soon as I just spent a boat load of money on this along with some radar equipment too!

Get the Apple 30 pin to lightning adapter and it will work for audio. Just be advised there will be no charging of the phone with this adapter. Once the firmware is release you exchange the 30 pin adapter for the lightning to digital av adapter.

After 2 hours on phone with Pioneer tech. He confirmed firmware will be released april 18th to resolve all issues with HDMI receivers.

 

gotta wait another week i guess..

Here we are, April 18th... and no firmware :/ granted the day isnt over yet...

Here we are, April 18th... and no firmware :/ granted the day isnt over yet...

I was thinking the same thing today.  Hopefully soon.

I knew this would not be released today, yet another false promise. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes a couple of months more if ever.

Get the Apple 30 pin to lightning adapter and it will work for audio. Just be advised there will be no charging of the phone with this adapter. Once the firmware is release you exchange the 30 pin adapter for the lightning to digital av adapter.

I've got the 30 pin to lightning adapter with the x950 and it definitely charges...  No app radio, but i have ipod control, pandora, and aha radio through the regular source menu.

Interestingly, I noticed you can't have a bluetooth audio connection (to an entirely different phone, for example) while an "app radio device" (like an iphone) is plugged in (even if app radio doesn't work).  I don't really understand why that would be...unless somehow the iphone is using bluetooth (stealthily) in conjunction with the 30-pin to lighting adapter perhaps making up for all the "missing" pins?  As in, in sends power and does control via the pins, but actually sends the audio via bluetooth...?  And does that all behind the scenes?

Yes, that sounds crazy...but why else would that limitation exist?

Yea bad info on the firmware. I can't even reach pioneer now.

I'm having no luck with the lightning to 30pin

When I plug in. Pandora and aha show up as well as iPod source. But I get no audio at all.

Is there something I'm missing?

I've got the 30 pin to lightning adapter with the x950 and it definitely charges...  No app radio, but i have ipod control, pandora, and aha radio through the regular source menu.

 

Interestingly, I noticed you can't have a bluetooth audio connection (to an entirely different phone, for example) while an "app radio device" (like an iphone) is plugged in (even if app radio doesn't work).  I don't really understand why that would be...unless somehow the iphone is using bluetooth (stealthily) in conjunction with the 30-pin to lighting adapter perhaps making up for all the "missing" pins?  As in, in sends power and does control via the pins, but actually sends the audio via bluetooth...?  And does that all behind the scenes?

 

Yes, that sounds crazy...but why else would that limitation exist?

App radio uses the HDMI to display whats on the iPhone/Android screen to the x950.

It uses the usb cable to carry audio from your iPhone/Android to the x950.

It uses bluetooth to register touches on the x950 to the iPhone/Android screen (or at least this is how they did it with the base AppRadio2 units).

It does not use USB to carry audio. It uses the HDMI for all media.

It does not use USB to carry audio. It uses the HDMI for all media.

Only if that's the setup you're using. It definitely carries audio over USB (via an interface cable) as I can hear things, and I don't have HDMI plugged in!

Just for laughs I decided to call Pioneer today to get an ETA on this long awaited firmware release and now they are saying approximately by months end or within the first week of May.  We shall see....

I'm really curious if the non-video AppRadio stuff will work with an iPhone 5 and the 30pin to lightning adapter (like pandora and aha radio work now)...

I'm really curious if the non-video AppRadio stuff will work with an iPhone 5 and the 30pin to lightning adapter (like pandora and aha radio work now)...

It wont.

taken from Pioneer facebook page:

 

To our customers awaiting the iPhone 5 related firmware for our 2013 In-dash DVD receiver and Navigation products:

We sincerely apologize for the delay. As you all are aware, the iPhone 5 has a native screen resolution of 1136 x 640 pixels. Pioneer AppRadio and AppRadio Mode products have a native screen resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. Therefore, each app must correctly resize when displayed on the Pioneer in-dash unit. 

Unfortunately, the current version of one of the most commonly used AppRadio compatible apps is not resizing correctly. This app developer has already made the necessary changes and submitted a new version of their app to the iTunes App Store. We have tested this new version and have confirmed that it is resizing correctly. To ensure the best user experience, Pioneer has made the decision to delay the release of the iPhone 5 related firmware until the new version of this app is available in the iTunes App Store. 

We anticipate and hope for this to be a short delay. Please check back for status updates. Thank you!

It wont.

You were wrong about the charging with the 30 pin adapter, maybe you'll be wrong about this too...

I won't be.

anyone brave enough to try the european firmware?

http://www.pioneer.eu/files/support/AVIC-F50BT/AVIC-Fx50BT_UPDATE_INSTRUCTION_PEE_Ver1.030000.pdf

http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/support/software/AVIC-F950BT/page.html

anyone brave enough to try the european firmware?

 

http://www.pioneer.eu/files/support/AVIC-F50BT/AVIC-Fx50BT_UPDATE_INSTRUCTION_PEE_Ver1.030000.pdf

http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/support/software/AVIC-F950BT/page.html

There was one guy listed on the comments response to the above Pioneer disclaimer about the firmware release on Facebook that tried it and he said it worked fine although I personally would not risk bricking the unit or screwing up something else since it wasn't really intended for my unit but that's just me.

https://www.facebook.com/PioneerNorthAmerica

anyone brave enough to try the european firmware?

 

http://www.pioneer.eu/files/support/AVIC-F50BT/AVIC-Fx50BT_UPDATE_INSTRUCTION_PEE_Ver1.030000.pdf

http://www.pioneer.eu/eur/support/software/AVIC-F950BT/page.html

Brave (possible idiot move) one here, already installed it and it works! AppRadio launches and all the apps i launched worked except : carbrowser, iHeartAuto, and Waze. Any of those three could be enough to cause Pioneer to be shy on release since the last two are heavy hitters and the first one is Opera rebadged. That being said, audio now streams properly over the lightning connector, and Pandora and aHa launch from the headunit in standard mode (why didnt they stick these under appradio too?). Video streams to the screen along with the audio. I was even able to play a few iPhone 5 games in widescreen on the unit. Everything else launches as a tiny app in the center of the screen. It does not show that it was upgraded to 1.03 like the instructions say though, probably because it is a EU firmware on a US device. Hoping, praying, that the US firmware will go one step further or overwrite the firmware I just put on it. That being said, even if this is ALL i got, it would be quite functional in its current state. Mixtrax, aha, pandora, and iPhone audio/video streaming are worth it alone. I havent tried Netflix yet as the facebook commenter did, but I figure that it works as well as other video streams in quite nicely.

Brave (possible idiot move) one here, already installed it and it works! AppRadio launches and all the apps i launched worked except : carbrowser, iHeartAuto, and Waze. Any of those three could be enough to cause Pioneer to be shy on release since the last two are heavy hitters and the first one is Opera rebadged. That being said, audio now streams properly over the lightning connector, and Pandora and aHa launch from the headunit in standard mode (why didnt they stick these under appradio too?). Video streams to the screen along with the audio. I was even able to play a few iPhone 5 games in widescreen on the unit. Everything else launches as a tiny app in the center of the screen. It does not show that it was upgraded to 1.03 like the instructions say though, probably because it is a EU firmware on a US device. Hoping, praying, that the US firmware will go one step further or overwrite the firmware I just put on it. That being said, even if this is ALL i got, it would be quite functional in its current state. Mixtrax, aha, pandora, and iPhone audio/video streaming are worth it alone. I havent tried Netflix yet as the facebook commenter did, but I figure that it works as well as other video streams in quite nicely.

Just out of curiosity, when you hit MODE to delect audio sources do you now get an iPod source?

Just out of curiosity, when you hit MODE to delect audio sources do you now get an iPod source?

No I do not. That part doesnt work, but when I use the mediaplayer app under appradio it works fine... not sure if thats how they want us to use it?

I did the update as well.

i cannot get appradio to work. it shows the same black screen.

any tips on getting that working?

bluetooth audio has been drastically improved though.

If you are getting an active AppRadio button on the home screen of the X950, but the screen goes blank after you press it:

1. Check your HDMI connection

2. Quit and restart your AppRadio app on your iPhone (quit all your AppRadio related apps to be extra sure)

3. Be sure there isnt the annoying "allow application" button showing on your iPhone after you have initiated AppRadio on the x950.