2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid: iPod Fail
November 15, 2010
Turns out SYNC won't play nice with my 2004 vintage click-wheel iPod, at least not using a standard Apple USB/iPod cable. But for $50, I can get one of these cables that apparently allows older Pods that communicate via serial pin to interface with Sync. The product description suggests it actually establishes a data connection, but I'm curious to know if it's not simply audio carried through the Aux cable and power delivered via USB.
That is, can you still control your library through the Sync touchscreen interface?
I admit my third-gen iPod is ancient in mobile device years. It's on its last legs. The click-wheel barely works. The sensors underneath the touchpad seem to have swapped functions. The battery is shot, runs for maybe 10 minutes. But when connected to power and a remote control interface (like iTunes), it performs well enough. Solid 20 GB storage. Pulls double-duty as portable hard-drive.
Fifty beans for a cable? Or fifty beans towards a newer iPod? Eh, let's see what's on Sirius...
Dan Frio, Automotive Editor
