ice>Link: Plus and last-played, play count attributes

[blalor]

Good morning, all. I'm contemplating purchasing a Dension ice>Link: Plus for my MINI. Despite the (apparently deserved) flak they take regarding poor product performance, horrible customer support, and general sleaziness, I'm tempted to try it, anyway. It appears to have the best integration with the factory stereo of the units I've seen, and better than the Alpine unit, in some ways.

The only thing I'm still curious about is whether the play count and last-played time get updated on the iPod (and therefore synced back to iTunes) when songs are played via the ice>Link. Can someone confirm or deny? Some dweeb from Dension support replied to my request stating "I believe it doesn't get updated.". Well, thanks, Zoltar, for the authoritative answer...

If the ice>Link: Plus doesn't do this, are there any other integrated solutions that do? If not, I guess I'll just stick with the AUX input and a Belkin adapter.

[trstephenson]

The last played is updated with the factory BMW adapter. I would assume that the ice link would do so too, since this is an ipod function, not an adapter function.

I'm curious? What's your gripe against Ice Links' performance?

[blalor]

Originally posted by trstephenson
The last played is updated with the factory BMW adapter. I would assume that the ice link would do so too, since this is an ipod function, not an adapter function.


You know this from first-hand experience? That's good to know. The functionality isn't as robust as the Dension unit is purported to be, but it is cheaper... :-)

Originally posted by trstephenson
I'm curious? What's your gripe against Ice Links' performance?

I have no first-hand experience with the ice>Link, but there has been *much* discussion over at MotoringFile (http://motoringfile.com/2005/01/23/dension_ice-link_plus_issues). Dension seems to have built themselves a reputation of over-promising and under-delivering. The hot issue for MINI owners seems to be ID3 text on the factory head-unit; some claim it works, others no. I can't really figure out what the deal is. I frankly don't care about the ID3 text; I care about the last-played date. :-)

[trstephenson]

Yeah, I've heard about that ID3 text issues with that unit. It's sounds like Denison has promised that the Ice Link plus is the end all for all OEM radios. Obviously, it's been a uphill climb for their software department to please everybody. Also it seems like a lot "first adopter whining" going on - sorry, but issues like this are going to happen with new technology.

I don't care about the ID3 text either. My BMW X3 already has the BMW aftermarket interface installed. I'm perfectly happy with this solution. There's no text display, but everything works fine, as promised, and sounds great. I'm not the kind of guy to fuss with the ipod while I'm driving anyways.

I will keep an eye on the BMW/Mini issue to decide if I want to "upgrade" (I use upgrade loosely) to the Ice Link with text display. I'm really concerned about the sound quality, with the exception of a few gripes about ground loops and engine noise, seems to be OK.

I have an Ice Link Plus on back order to interface with my Alpine M-bus HU in my truck and want to know if I should cancel that order. I can't find anyone who has installed an Ice Link in an old (non-AInet) Alpine.

[blalor]

It sounds like Dension promised functionality but didn't deliver. If you buy their product having been promised ID3 text and it doesn't work, then I think you're justified in being ####ed. It's more than "first adopter whining", in my opinion. It'd be one thing if they'd said "we'll support ID3 text on '05 MINI factory head units in the not-too-distant future", but they've said "it works now", when in fact it doesn't. Or at least not reliably.

The reviews I've seen of the original ice>Link product are very favorable, despite the clunky (again, in my opinion) hook-up; you can use 1- and 2-G iPods with both ice>Link versions, however. I think the advantage to the Plus over the original is the support of the dock connector.

The thing I *don't* like about the BMW/MINI interface is that you've gotta plan ahead with your playlists, which just isn't something I do. :-)

Thanks for your feedback on the BMW interface; it's good to know there's a workable alternative that will let me use my steering-wheel buttons!