ipod connection

[skes]

I've got my 5d Cee'd early on April this year and even though I'm really excited about the car, the iPod connection didn't work well as I expected.

KIA's iPod connection cable wasn't originally supplied with the car and it's sold here in Greece as an extra, at the surprisingly high price of 160euro!!!
If I'm not wrong, on the website of KIA-Denmark, it's price is the equivalent of about 53euro... (395Danish kroner). Why such a big difference?
(KIA MOTORS - DANMARK: THE POWER TO SURPRISE)

I had to replace my audio unit recently because it had some firmware issues:
it used to hang on occasion and the only way to reset it was turning the engine of the car off and on again. That could be a bit annoying especially when you end up with a non responsive radio on a highway with the volume really loud and there is no place to pull over.

Anyway, regarding that, the dealer here in Xanthi was more than great, and he replaced that audio unit in no time.
I thought that the iPod connection would now be working with iPod's original usb cable but it still has the same behavior:
I have 5th Gen 80GB iPod and when I connect it, after a long "Reading" period, it starts playing the mp3 files stored on it randomly.
Actually this is done only if I enable the "Hard Drive" use on the iPod.
iTunes store the songs randomly on 50 folders named F00...F49 and it also renames them randomly too. It stores on the iPod a database with the real names of the songs and the playlists too but I don't have access to it using the iPod's usb cable.
The cable that KIA provides as I can understand has a microcontroller and it provides an interface to iPod database and controls, but has anyone tried it thoroughly with a recent audio unit (i.e. September this year or newer) to post a reply?
If I'm about to spend more than half the price of the iPod to get only the connection cable, I wouldn't like to know at least what I would be expecting of it before I buy it.

[tim_p]

Unless, like me you are wanting it on principle then I'd spend the money on USB memory sticks or put the money towards a new head unit, one that works.

[steve101]

I have just tried my son's Samsung YP-Z5 mp3 player in my C'eed. Connected using the players own usb lead, it worked just like a usb stick. It changes albums/folders with the folder name displayed and will change tracks. Works very well. Seems to be an ipod problem only.

[no-jag]

Does it play WMAs or just MP3s?

[steve101]

All our files are MP3 so I cannot say for WMA. The handbook says it does support WMA.

[tim_p]

Originally Posted by steve101

I have just tried my son's Samsung YP-Z5 mp3 player in my C'eed. Connected using the players own usb lead, it worked just like a usb stick. It changes albums/folders with the folder name displayed and will change tracks. Works very well. Seems to be an ipod problem only.

So Steve, will it let you cycle through albums then once you've selected an album let you cycle through tracks? I take it different cee'd buttons do the albums and another do the tracks?
What capacity does the Samsung come in?

[asty]

MOst MP3 players will connect as a USB mass storage device and work just like a memory stick. However, the iPod is a whole different ball game hence the custom interface..... which they've buggered up!

[steve101]

Yes, Tim, it will let me cycle thro' albums and then tracks, just like using a usb stick. As asty says, it would appear that only ipods have the problem of not being able to select the album and then the track you want. Also, the album and then track information is displayed correctly with the Samsung. It only has 4gb of memory but behaves exactly as it should. I don't have access to an ipod, so I cannot try it. I was supplied with an ipod cable with the car. I would suggest that one of you is going to have to confront your dealer about this problem. It does clearly say in Kia literature about the C'eed, that it supports full functionality with an ipod.

[Donna-marie Audas]

Where can I get one of these cables?

[clevatreva]

In the UK, these iPod cables have been standard from around end of October 2008. I was surprised to see it after reading this forum when I picked my new Cee'd up last weekend, so I asked how long they had been in the pack.