iPod Vs USB thumb drive?

[SRGilbert]

I'm still a couple of weeks out on getting mine but I'd like to hear opinions about the difference between connecting an iPod versus just using a USB thumb drive.

How are they different exactly? Is one faster over the other for things like searching tracks? I know the USB drive has a 2500 song limit, but what about the iPod?

When you have an iPod connected, can you still control it from the iPod or are you locked out while it's connected? Does the usb charge it too?

Just trying to decide if it's worth it to pick up a used beat up iPod to keep in there all the time! We have a couple of smaller ones, like a 2 gig and a 6 gig, but I wouldn't mind getting a used 40-80 gig for just the car if it's worth it.

 

[JimmyQ]

You have to control the music from the head unit and it does charge the iPod.

 

[Gimpster]

When iPod/iPhone is plugged into the USB, you can no longer control the iPod functionality from the phone. Thats normal though for any iPod control system though.

Yes, the device will charge via the USB cord.

I use an old beater 30GB iPod that just stays in the car too. Its battery is long gone, and without a usb cord its useless anyway I use my iPhone via BT quite a bit though, and the one advantage of it is voice control. I gotta be honest, controlling the iPod from the head unit is kinda klunky. Goes for USB too really. I wish the screen was just a couple lines taller.

One thing I keep meaning to test is how large of a USB hard drive you can plug into the car. On my cobalt I think it would choke on anything bigger than 120GB. I kept a LARGE amount of music on a 80GB slim USB drive and just kept that in the Cobalts glovebox. As I recall if you kept the songs in folders the limit was really high on it.

I think I only have like 1800 songs on the iPod, so I can't speak for a track limit. I would think that it will use as many tracks as the iPod can hold? I mean its just telling/asking the iPod what to do.

 

[JimmyQ]

Gimpster, how do you set up your iPhone through bt? Mine has voice calling hooked up but I can't get the music to work through it

 

[Gimpster]

Its done seperatly from the OnStar system. Go to the config button on the radio, and scroll around until you see bluetooth. Then on the phone you set it up just like any other BT device.

It will use both at the same time though, so you can hit the key on the steering wheel, say "voice" and then issue iPod commands handsfree you'll notice next to the usual BT symbol on the radio a little music note looking thing after you pair it the second time.

Gimpster, how do you set up your iPhone through bt? Mine has voice calling hooked up but I can't get the music to work through it

 

[JimmyQ]

Thank you can you have them both hooked up at the same time?

 

[Gimpster]

Yep, you sure can!

 

[JimmyQ]

So much nice-er I love it! Thanks!

 

[w[h]o]

when I have my ipod connect, I can't shuffle and I can't use my playlist. So I have to view each song in order(about 200 songs)