TiVo... dead again. Or is it?

Since my last post was already too long, I decided to break my TiVo rant into it's own separate entry.

A few weeks before Christmas, my TiVo died again. I suspect it wasn't the hard drive this time, as not only does it not boot, it doesn't show anything on-screen at all when it is powered up. Ugh.

I was still mourning my TiVo, and pondering replacement options when I happened to be at my local Costco warehouse store where I spotted an interesting deal. DirecTV now sells their own TiVo-style DVR, and they're practically giving it away. $98 for the unit, with a $100 rebate (assuming I agree to keep it for a year).

Can't pass that up. I get 'er home, plugged in, and running in a snap. Fits right in where my dead DirecTiVo used to live. All's well, right? Not so fast, skippy. See, one of the joys of the TiVo experience is in it's ease of use. And it's ease of use has everything to do with it's great on-screen interface. Simple, easy to use menus, clear organization, and a remote control that makes sense in just a few minutes of use. The TiVo just has a great UI. The DirecTV DVR... not so much.

Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm biased to the TiVo interface, so this is why I've waited almost three weeks to post about the DirecTV DVR. I wanted to give this thing some time to grow on me, to get used to it. Still hasn't happened. From a confusing remote with too many weird buttons, to an on-screen menuing system that just does not make sense, this freebie makes me want to spend money on a new TiVo.

I'm so recovered.

Two weeks in the semi-frozen tundra of my youth with some particularly spectacular company did the trick. I'm refreshed, relaxed, and back into my usual rhythm.

I would be remiss if my first post of '06 didn't contain references to both iPod and TiVo, so let me start with the iPod. I recently purchased a car (1989 BMW 325i Convertible) that came with a positively shitty Koss brand tape player/stereo. Awhile back I'd heard of Alpine coming out with a new iPod interface add-on to their mid- and high-end head units, and this Koss piece 'o crap gave me the perfect excuse to check out the Alpine gear.

Alpine makes a whole range of head units that are compatible with their iPod interface Unit - the KCA 420i - and also a few high-end head units that don't need the interface. Since I'm driving a 17 year old car, I settled on the CDA-9851. This head unit does require the iPod interface, but I got it for a bit less than $300 and the iPod interface for $89, with installation for $79.

The iPod interface is great. I have an iPod dock connection cable in my glove box, so the iPod doesn't have to bounce around on the passenger seat or the console - I just tuck it all away in the glove box and shut the door. It pulls audio and data through the dock connector, and powers the iPod - no separate cigarette lighter power cord needed.

The head unit is good, but I have a few rants to go with my raves. Let me start with the raves.

It's got a big-ass volume knob. Love it. Big-ass volume knob even has a rubber ring on the outside that makes it super easy to grip, and the knob has detents that make a tiny little click as it turns. Dig it.

It also has a large, easy to read display that doesn't have any flashing graphics or animated crap. The only time the display flashes or changes is when I'm playing a song with a long title - it then slowly scrolls the song name across the display. The faceplate is removable, of course, but it also has a power tilt feature that tilts the display up for a better viewing angle. Nifty.

Sound quality is pretty damn good, especially considering that I'm still pushing the 6 stock BMW speakers through the stock BMW amp. A speaker upgrade is in my future, but due to the f'd up way BMW wires their stereos, it will require a complete re-wire.

And now, the rants.

I wish I could change the color of the display. BMW dashboards are lit red, this thing is bright freakin' neon blue, green, and white.

I wish the iPod navigation was better. My iPod has about 9,800 songs on it, and I've never been very fond of creating playlists - I like to shuffle, or listen by artist. Finding a particular artist or album is a slow, painful process - not something you want to do while driving. I've got to either start doing playlists or just resign myself to shuffle all the time.


Here's what I would love. Give me a head unit that does nothing but basic radio and iPod. Skip the CD with MP3 and WMA and satellite radio and video displays and all that other crap. Make this thing stick out a little from the dash so I can just drop my iPod right in like the Apple iPod Dock. Then, either let me control the songs either directly through the iPod interface, or through a larger dedicated interface set up exactly the same as the iPod's. There's a reason why the iPod wins interface design awards and everyone loves it - it's fucking good, and there's no reason to re-invent it for the car.