iPod treat flash key as an iPod?

[guitarking]

Hey guys!
First, I've been reading Mac Rumors for about a year, but this is my first time in the forums.

Anyway, I just installed a new Pioneer deck in my car, and it has an 1/8" and USB cable behind the dash running to the front.
I can plug my iPod cable into the USB cable, and control (and charge) my iPod via the deck or the iPod its self.

So, I was thinking the other day, why don't I just buy a 8GB flash key and use that as an MP3 player, because I can leave it in the car at all times and never worry about it being stolen.

Here is my problem, can you actually manage a flash key via iTunes?
If I update a playlist, would I have to drag all the songs over and replace (or don't replace) them all?
How would this work with the iTunes heierarchy, (playlists/Artist/albums/song)?

is it possible to have iTunes manage a flash drive?
thanks for your help
GK

 

[Darth.Titan]

The simple answer is no.

iTunes cannot make a flash drive into an iPod. There is more to an iPod than just the flash memory and the music files after all.
Your head unit may very well be able to play files off a USB key, but you will have to manage the contents manually or with a program besides iTunes.

 

[guitarking]

ok, so what would a good program be to manage music on a flash key?

 

[miles01110]

To make it play? I don't think I've ever heard of that being done.

 

[JonHimself]

ok, so what would a good program be to manage music on a flash key?

Out of curiosity, what flash drive do you have? Does it have a headphone jack on it? Do you have pictures of it? etc etc.

 

[r.j.s]

You can manage music with iTunes, but you'll have to drag everything over to the flash drive on your desktop.

iTunes cannot sync to a flash drive, and there is no guarantee that your deck will recognize the drive.

Even if the drive does play the music through the deck, chances are your playlists and any protected music will not work, since those are actually controlled/played by the iPod, not the deck.

 

[guitarking]

Out of curiosity, what flash drive do you have? Does it have a headphone jack on it? Do you have pictures of it? etc etc.

well, I just tested it with a 8GB kingston, but I'll just buy another one which will only have car music on it.

You can manage music with iTunes, but you'll have to drag everything over to the flash drive on your desktop.

iTunes cannot sync to a flash drive, and there is no guarantee that your deck will recognize the drive.

Even if the drive does play the music through the deck, chances are your playlists and any protected music will not work, since those are actually controlled/played by the iPod, not the deck.

It had no problem reading folders (playlists) and files. It did not play protected files (as I thought it wouldn't) but everything else worked. Must meta data worked, with the odd exception.

Still, if I use my iPod into the deck (via 1/8" headphone jack) I would get zero meta data on the deck, so some is better then none.

The only reason I don't want to use my iPod (via USB to the deck) is because the deck would always be charging my iPod, which would ruin my battery over time.

I could get a new iPod, and just use my 4GB Nano (2nd gen) as the "car iPod" and leave it on via USB all the time. I guess thats another way of looking at it.

 

[miles01110]

That's kind of neat. Which pioneer deck do you have that does this?

 

[sbking]

The only reason I don't want to use my iPod (via USB to the deck) is because the deck would always be charging my iPod, which would ruin my battery over time.

Is this true? I thought when the iPod is fully charged it would just stop charging not ruin the battery? If it's true my iPod is ****ed..

 

[sbking]

double post, sorry

 

[guitarking]

That's kind of neat. Which pioneer deck do you have that does this?

Pioneer DEH-P6000UB.

I HIGHLY recommend it! love it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBmp4AxoEt8

Is this true? I thought when the iPod is fully charged it would just stop charging not ruin the battery? If it's true my iPod is ****ed..

o really? Hmm, I'll have to check next time I'm in the car to see if it actually has the little "charge" symbol when its fully charged. I'll look into that one some more and let you know.

 

[Ivan P]

Pioneer DEH-P6000UB.

I HIGHLY recommend it! love it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBmp4AxoEt8



o really? Hmm, I'll have to check next time I'm in the car to see if it actually has the little "charge" symbol when its fully charged. I'll look into that one some more and let you know.

The iPod is designed to automatically stop charging once the battery is full, you should not be able to 'overcharge' it.