I picked up my XD on Saturday from the dealer.

How do people like the integrated ipod controls. I find them kind of annoying to use.
You have to reach to the far right of the stereo to push the **** up and the turn it over and over to get to the artist you want. If it's Wilco or or Yes that's many turns.

Any tips?

 

Set it to random play, use the steering wheel controls to skip the songs you do not want to listen to and treat it like a commercial free radio station ...

 

^^Thats what I do.
I tried ONCE (in vain AND PARKED) and couldn't figure the friggin thing out.
No folder controls on the steering wheel is FTL.
The random kinda forces me into some good songs i otherwise would probably not think of or overlook, so it evens out i guess, I 'll let my passengers try and figure the folder controls out.

 

i never mess with folder controls. i put it on random, and if i here something i dont really care for anymore, i delete it next time i'm in itunes. having the intergrated controls is so much better than my set up in my jeep, had to reach over to passenger seat to flip thru songs on my ipod touch, talk about near misses on the highway......

 

best thing to do is create a few playlists if u want and just go to the playlists option, it doesnt skip from a-b-c, it goes in order of a-z with every song.
i rock with random :p

 

controls are a bit lacking, provided cable is kinda short. but random and non-direct control is just fine.

 

if you read the manual, you can change the control function.

I too was very annoyed with trying to control it up on radio, but you can change that to having the controls still through the iPod. It's basically the exact same thing as using an AUX cable except that you will not be draining battery power of your iPod.

And yes, the stupid cord is too short, but oh well.

 

Random here. The random function is really the heart of the iPod concept. Since you can fit so much on some iPods, it helps you rediscover your music collection. And if you want to hear Winger or sumtin it doesn't take too long to turn the **** to the Ws. As far as stock raidos go I think this one is the best I've seen for Ipod integration.

Although I'll be getting the AVIC F-90bt soon so everything will be voice controlled :D

 

I'm tellin you guys - simple fix, control it via the iPod, not from the dashboard. (read your manuals!)

 

That can be distracting while you're driving though.

Spinning the **** can be too but I consider going through your ipod the same as trying to text while driving. (guilty but will still yell at other drivers for it lol)

But if it works for you it seems like a viable solution.

 

Controlling the iPod is a lot easier and quicker than trying to push that stupid control **** perfectly on center or scrolling through a big artist list by turning a **** repeatedly. Using the iPod, I can find the band I wanna hear in like 6 seconds - compare that to like 30 something seconds struggling with the radio controls. That's a lot of seconds being distracted while driving.

 

I think its easy to control, but that **** is too touchy... if you have your finger on it and hit a bump it won't push directly in the center and cause it to start over. Thats my only complaint. Other than that I find it really easy to use, and find songs.