Where is the Bluetooth streaming audio functionality?

[FourRingRider]

Why does the Audi S4 not come with A2DP bluetooth audio streaming?

Even VW has it on all of their current models. So does BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Mazda, and several other car brands. With all of the technology packed into our cars why has this not been enabled yet?

I read a while back that this was in the works, but haven't seen anything yet. I am thinking we should start a petition to get AoA to complete this.


Interview: Audi of America GM of Product Planning Filip Brabec Explains Audi's New 3G MMI

Edited excerpt from the link above:

Brabec: What I do believe you can do is a software update that includes the A2DP - which is an audio protocol that allows you to stream music.

Brabec: There are certain phones that stream MP3 music so for those it is more interesting because there you do not have to seek for something to plug the phone into.

Fourtitude: So if you have paired a A2DP capable phone that contains music like an iPhone can you stream?

Brabec: Yes.

Fourtitude: So if you have an A2DP capable phone…

Brabec: With the patch that can be downloaded on the Website, the 2G MMI will work. You also have to buy a special Audi “dongle”. On the 3G system, the Bluetooth will be capable of doing this without additional hardware, and the functionality will come in near future.




That article was dated from September 2008... so where is this 3G MMI "software update"?!?!

[flynnr]

Lol. I am taking a 1500 mile road trip (just left an hour ago, got pulled over for 78 in 65... written warning!) And I came on here to ask this very same question. Wtf audi!

[Stubek]

I knew this when I bought the car, so I bought the biggest iPod I could. 160 gb of MP3s in the glove box, 10 gb on the HDD, and 64gb in the memory card slots, that is all the music I own. I actually have it broken out so my wife's music is the jukebox, mine is the iPod, then we use the SD slots for random stuff

[Kandiru]

Strictly Verboten in Prestige, the system does not allow A2DP.

Possible win PP without MMI, with the Audi OEM Bluetooth adapter,
comes with a USB card to reflash radio and you lose iPod:



Part number:



Will use it to stream from the Mac Mini carputer (navi, video, and a lot more) project which is coming soon.

[svander]

you lose iPod

Can you please clarify.

[FourRingRider]

Seems we are starting to get off topic - this thread is to discuss the 3rd Generation MMI system that most of us have in our S4, and why we do not yet bluetooth audio streaming capabilities that was promised back in 2008.

It seems every manufacturer has this available NOW, except Audi. I was wondering if anyone has heard any updates about this yet, and if not - gauge the amount of interest so that I can determine if it is worthwhile to create an online petition to coerce AoA to expedite this overdue MMI software update. Seeing as I will be taking delivery of my S4 soon I'd rather not put my iPhone in the glove box every time I get into my car, and remember to remove it before I get out... Plus with integrated bluetooth streaming I can play Pandora. The technology is brilliant, if I receive a phone call it will automatically pause the music and allow me to take the call. After the call is completed it will automatically fade the music back on. Brabec said the hardware is already installed in our cars, and that we just need the software.

That just drives me crazy.



Like it discusses in the link to the interview with AoA's Filip Brabec above, there is already a dongle (factory Audi part) available for purchase that ONLY works for the older 2G MMI units.

Audi Music Interface – Bluetooth Adapter (only for 2G MMI)

Audi 3G MMI + Audi Bluetooth Adapter? It doesn't work.

[Stubek]

Can you please clarify.

If you did that mod with a MMI2G, you lose the connection for iPod and you only get your streaming.
I know streaming would be nice for Pandora etc, but if you just want the music on your phone, an iPod 5th gen should be able to hold most or all of your music and you have 10x the variety of an iPhone. That's why I don't stress about this.

[audifan22]

Pandora is > than IPOD, I'm not looking for specific music tracks I've heard a thousand times, I want random music through pandora. What a joke that the MMI3G can't do this, yet I was in my friends $20k VW jetta and she's playing wirelessly through pandora on her phone to her garbage non nav system.

[Kandiru]

AOR better than all. 35k stations, entire Shoutcast and Icecast library A2DPd from your Droid to the BT adapter.

[Sin_city_Rings]

I read that the updated B8 platform for spring/fall '12 is to have this feature as well as the Google Nav.

HOPEFULLY they do it!

[FourRingRider]

I read that the updated B8 platform for spring/fall '12 is to have this feature as well as the Google Nav.

Please send me a link to where you found this info...

[legbend]

I have it in my 2011 VW Tiguan loaner. Pretty cool feature, but no steering/radio controls kind of sucks.

[Sin_city_Rings]

Inside, we find Audi Connect, a feature first noted on the new A6, which provides in-car Internet connectivity via an integral G3 SIM card. This allows the navigation system to use Google Earth virtual-map overlays on the display, letting the driver see the same landscape he or she is traversing. If the connection fails, the display reverts to conventional mapping.
Audi Connect allows owners to visit the my.audiusa.com Web site at home before the trip and download travel plans direct to the car. -From Autoweek.

AND

Touched-up pieces on the inside include a new steering wheel and different finishes on the instrument cluster and center console. Models equipped with the optional MMI navigation system have a simpler layout with four buttons instead of eight. A newly optional Audi Connect system adds Google point-of-interest searches, navigation with Google Earth images and a wireless hotspot. Again, similar to the A6 and A7. -From Cars.com

SO with that, It doesnt directly state Bluetooth connectivity...but with the other features, one can assume?? lol

[phil47]

I have Bluetooth audio streaming in my 2012 Audi Q7. In fact the MMI interphase is much better implemented than in my 2011 S4. Not sure if a simple software update will fix this later. I hope so but seriously doubt it.

[2010S4]

I have Bluetooth audio streaming in my 2012 Audi Q7. In fact the MMI interphase is much better implemented than in my 2011 S4. Not sure if a simple software update will fix this later. I hope so but seriously doubt it.

Hearing this annoys me. I just picked up a new 2011 Q7 and it has the same system as my S4. Now I wish I had ordered a 2012 rather than taking the good deal on the leftover 2011.

[Meehow]

UGH, my rental 2012 Focus has that as a standard option.

[LeadToRome]

For such a good company Audi is pretty stupid sometimes. Why on earth wouldn't they fix this?

[richib86]

Please send me a link to where you found this info...

it's implied. If you look at the new press photos of the new a5. You can see an updated interface on the mmi screen unless it's just bad photoshopping

[NWS4Guy]

Pandora is > than IPOD, I'm not looking for specific music tracks I've heard a thousand times, I want random music through pandora. What a joke that the MMI3G can't do this, yet I was in my friends $20k VW jetta and she's playing wirelessly through pandora on her phone to her garbage non nav system.

Windows Phone + Zune (with monthly subscription) = unlimited music streaming, with "Smart DJ" giving the ability like Pandora to choose artists and genre you like to spin similar music from. Play it through the MMI with the USB connector for the glove compartment, not to mention use headphones and listen on the phone whenever you are out of the car. Not a bad deal with also getting to download 10 songs a month you get to keep on top of the unlimited streaming, and unlimited download (while your subscription is in force) is not a bad deal. Also can stream music to your Xbox 360, and rent or purchase movies and TV shows to watch on the phone or Xbox.

[svander]

I know George Achorn, who interviewed Brabec in 08. I sent him a message asking if he may be able to get an update for us. He's a pretty busy guy but he has a lot of contacts inside Audi of America. I'll post here with his response.

I you guys want to make a similar thread like this on Fourtitude.com he may be able to follow up on it personally.

[FourRingRider]

I know George Achorn, who interviewed Brabec in 08. I sent him a message asking if he may be able to get an update for us. He's a pretty busy guy but he has a lot of contacts inside Audi of America. I'll post here with his response.

I you guys want to make a similar thread like this on Fourtitude.com he may be able to follow up on it personally.

Sounds good... thanks!

[FourRingRider]

I know George Achorn, who interviewed Brabec in 08. I sent him a message asking if he may be able to get an update for us. He's a pretty busy guy but he has a lot of contacts inside Audi of America. I'll post here with his response.

Have you received a response from George?

I emailed Filip Brabec last week and he never responded. However, I did receive a call from AoA Customer Service and they simply stated that they still do not have any idea as to what if and when there will be an software update to add the bluetooth streaming functionality. I asked what department within Audi she rec'd the information from and she vaguely said it came "from the top". They confirmed that it did not come from Brabec though. I asked if I created an online petition requesting for Audi to complete the software update so we can finally have this functionality (and got at least 500 signatures) who could I present the information to she just told me that she will research it and get back with me... stay tuned.

[svander]

Have you received a response from George?

I emailed Filip Brabec last week and he never responded. However, I did receive a call from AoA Customer Service and they simply stated that they still do not have any idea as to what if and when there will be an software update to add the bluetooth streaming functionality. I asked what department within Audi she rec'd the information from and she vaguely said it came "from the top". They confirmed that it did not come from Brabec though. I asked if I created an online petition requesting for Audi to complete the software update so we can finally have this functionality (and got at least 500 signatures) who could I present the information to she just told me that she will research it and get back with me... stay tuned.

No news on my end unfortunately.

How do you know it was the correct email for Brabec? I thought about doing that too.

Maybe if enough of us do it...

[nammers]

No news on my end unfortunately.

How do you know it was the correct email for Brabec? I thought about doing that too.

Maybe if enough of us do it...

Please let us know when you find out; I am interested in finding this out as well, as I just purchased a 2012 a5 and would also like to stream my music! Thanks everyone!

[kausbose]

No news on my end unfortunately.

How do you know it was the correct email for Brabec? I thought about doing that too.

Maybe if enough of us do it...

I have searched the world over for hacks that I could possibly do to get A2DP to work on the 3G MMI but there doesn't seem to be a viable option than for begging Audi to push out something to cater to us $60k car owners without the ability to stream over A2DP. Let me know if you guys petition to Brabec. I am in for the mass email.

[tsivas27]

I have searched the world over for hacks that I could possibly do to get A2DP to work on the 3G MMI but there doesn't seem to be a viable option than for begging Audi to push out something to cater to us $60k car owners without the ability to stream over A2DP. Let me know if you guys petition to Brabec. I am in for the mass email.

I have hacked the MMI adapter. Works perfectly. You lose MMI control of your iPod/iphone if you plug one in afterwards but you get full bluetooth streaming instead. Pandora, Slackr, spotify all work. And phone works perfectly.


http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ally-Possible*

[LeadToRome]

I have hacked the MMI adapter...

ha, I was reading this thread thinking, "hey, what about tsivas?"

[svander]

Please let us know when you find out; I am interested in finding this out as well, as I just purchased a 2012 a5 and would also like to stream my music! Thanks everyone!

Nothing.

At this pont I think it's going to be up to all of us to band together and bug someone at Audi about this.

[LeadToRome]

Nothing.

At this pont I think it's going to be up to all of us to band together and bug someone at Audi about this.

Either that or look up two posts and just take care of it yourself.

[apexit1]

I wonder if we can make a splitter work. Have the factory set-up in the glove box and route the other to the center console. I have a dedicated iPod for the glovebox and don't want to lose that. And yes I use SD cards also.

[nammers]

I wonder if we can make a splitter work. Have the factory set-up in the glove box and route the other to the center console. I have a dedicated iPod for the glovebox and don't want to lose that. And yes I use SD cards also.

I haven't tried using the SD functions yet. Are the SD's able to display songs by artist, album, and/or songs? I hear people were having issues with that, any information would be helpful, thanks!

[Stubek]

I haven't tried using the SD functions yet. Are the SD's able to display songs by artist, album, and/or songs? I hear people were having issues with that, any information would be helpful, thanks!

They work fine for me. My wife likes to play different music all the time, so she gets to use the SD slots. I like my music and don't like new stuff too often, so I keep a 160 or 180 gb iPod Classic 5 in the glove box that is my music and if I want new stuff, I then use satellite radio.
SD displays everything same as HD and iPod/iPhone for me.

[kausbose]

I haven't tried using the SD functions yet. Are the SD's able to display songs by artist, album, and/or songs? I hear people were having issues with that, any information would be helpful, thanks!

No the SD card slot cannot do that. Or atleast I don't do it. I organize the folders such that I can use the folder structure to "organize". I don't use the SD to hold LARGE capacities of music. That's what the iPod is for and keep it easily accessible. The SD is for keeping this 'new age' of music with you listen and dispose of. Gone are the days of the cassette tape and CD where you had to buy the entire album and you listen to the entire thing (at least once).

[svander]

Either that or look up two posts and just take care of it yourself.

Not a fan of jimmy-rigged solutions, but eventually may try this. I'd love for an official update that fixes this though.

[kausbose]

Not a fan of jimmy-rigged solutions, but eventually may try this. I'd love for an official update that fixes this though.

+1

[nammers]

Not a fan of jimmy-rigged solutions, but eventually may try this. I'd love for an official update that fixes this though.

+2

Especially for those of us who would still like to keep the functionality of plugging directly into the AMI

[LeadToRome]

Hey I'm not a huge fan of workarounds either but it's pretty obvious Audi isn't going to address this in a timely fashion, isn't it?

[tsivas27]

+2

Especially for those of us who would still like to keep the functionality of plugging directly into the AMI

I have a second cable for that exact function. I mostly use the iPhone bluetooth streaming though. Changing songs is much easier on the actual phone itself rather than going through the MMI anyways. At least for me it is.

[apexit1]

I haven't tried using the SD functions yet. Are the SD's able to display songs by artist, album, and/or songs? I hear people were having issues with that, any information would be helpful, thanks!

How ever you have the music stored on the card is how you will see it in the MMI. You can't do any additional sorting. So it's most convenient when you have smaller playlist so you aren't skipping half of the songs.

I have a second cable for that exact function. I mostly use the iPhone bluetooth streaming though. Changing songs is much easier on the actual phone itself rather than going through the MMI anyways. At least for me it is.

An additional cable would work, I wonder is there's a 6-7 foot cable. You could then route it to the console or wherever you please and connect it at will.

[svander]

I have a second cable for that exact function. I mostly use the iPhone bluetooth streaming though. Changing songs is much easier on the actual phone itself rather than going through the MMI anyways. At least for me it is.

You find it more convenient to switch songs on the iPhone than with your steering wheel controls?