In another welcome diversion from the gloom and doom of the automotive market crunch and crushing cash burn rates, I present a few little digital gems that will enhance any Saab lover’s life.
Featured: A cheap dyno/skid-pad program for iPhone and iPod Touch, some great podcasts for your PC and/or mp3 player and an accessory from one of our sponsors.
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The reason for this post — I’ve just purchased my first actual iPod. I was a long-time satisfied user of an iRiver Clix that was either lost or stolen on a trip to New Jersey last summer. Faced with the decision, I decided to buy a factory refurbished 4GB iPod Nano 3rd Generation from the Apple store online. With shipping it was around $85 — a great price if you ask me. I grudgingly admit that this little gadget is a huge upgrade. I still have a fundamental issue with the proprietary Apple compression format, but I must admit that it sounds great and having video in your player is also a huge plus.
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This has my wheels turning in that direction, so here are a few Saab-related revelations that accompanied the iPod-ing of my life. (For a non-Saab related revelation, see here.)
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I’ll start with the great-looking iPod/mp3 add-on kit for your 9-3 available from Elkparts. This setup avoids the compromised sound associated with FM transmitters and other add-on adapters. Using a direct interface, this harness gets you connected the right way. Works for me, except that I don’t own a 9-3!
(Swade has looked at this option in the past, but I’m assuming that since the Viggen is no more that little project went by the way.)
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I love this little software package from Dynolicious for Apple iPhone or Apple iPod Touch. It uses the accelerometer inside the device to measure acceleration in all directions that can be used to translate engine output, 0-60 times, quarter mile time, lateral grip and braking performance. For only US$13, you get a little performance monitor for any car! I’m sure that it’s not very precise, but for $13 I could live with that. It requires no connections to the car and you can download the results to your PC. Very cool.
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If you haven’t checked out the Saabcast site on Saabusa.com, have a look. There are a few great video podcasts there. I found a couple of additional videos from Saab USA on iTunes that I could download free of charge, including this video on “How to change a tire.” Nicely done, and the Dame Edna 9-5 and an attractive actress make it easy on the eyes, for sure.
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GM Europe has a cache of iPod-ready videos for we Saabisti, too. Some very polished stuff such as this video of the Saab 9-X Air concept with Mark Adams.
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Finally, there are a few Canadians out there actually racing Saabs! Swade has featured JL Racing before, but they’ve posted some great information on their website including a few great audio podcasts (click on the podcasts banner on the right column of the front page). They certainly had some late-season success in the Canadian Touring Car series with three wins in late August! I highly recommend all three podcasts for some great Saab techie tidbits.
Its not just an Ipod port. Its an Auxiliary port for any mp3 player. I installed it in my car and listen to my Zune everyday through it. Sorry I loathe ipods.
I hear you, I bought one reluctantly. I really liked the Clix. And, thanks for the correction, I used iPod since that’s where my thoughts are. Thanks, EnG
So…you’re the ONE who purchased the Zune….
(sorry, couldn’t resist)
Just curious — which format do you prefer your music to be in? I quite like AAC (The preferred format of iPod, though many other “MP3″ or more appropriately “DAP” {Digital Audio Players} support this format) but the iPod does MP3 just fine too.
As for purchasing music online…I use the iTunes Music Store when there is an iTunes “Plus” version of the song offered (Meaning no DRM), but if iTunes doesn’t offer a song DRM-free and the Amazon MP3 store does, then Amazon gets my business.
In any case, I’m mostly just curious to what format you despise, since the only formats that don’t work with iPod are like FLAC/OGG (Niche users anyway) and WMA (Which I would say is even worse than AAC).
AAC is the proprietary Apple format (Apple may claim that it’s not proprietary, but they are the only ones using). By the way, not all iPods will work with all formats. The Shuffle (which I own but never use — it was a gift and my wife uses it) requires AAC. I dislike it because it alters music by manipulating compression rates unequally for different portions of the music. As a result, in my opinion many recordings sound somewhat different in AAC vs. other formats. It’s not a huge change, but it’s there.
I’m looking at either the 32 GB Creative Zen XFi or the 120 GB Zune. The apple players are cool though.
-Rogan
Shuffle works with MP3.
…but iTunes converts to AAC before you sync. EnG
It’s scaled down in features (no video) and more equivalent to the iPod shuffle than the iPod Nano, but the Sandisk Sansa Clip is a great player. It reputedly has the best sound of any MP3 player out there as well. If it’s all about the music for you (and you can forgo the video and video games) then this player is for you. My son had the 1GB version (lost on a recent vacation), but they’re soon going to be releasing an 8GB version. With no video 8GB should hold a heck of a lot of music! Thing is tiny as heck (clips onto your clothing), great sound, decent price, and unlike the Shuffle it has a display (and a built-in FM stereo). I’m thinking about picking up a cheap 1GB model for myself just for when portability is at a premium. I need some decent headphones to enjoy the sound though. I’m looking at the 1984 classic KOSS PortaPro headphones so I can look all Tron cool.
Speaking of music in our cars, HD radio is a must. Of course Saab / GM is asleep at the switch (see Wikipedia below for companies that are not). I put an after market $200 receiver in my old Jeep Wrangler and the difference is tremendous. If I can put an after market receiver in for that the cost of adding the capability to the factory system must be very low. Still they don’t do it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_Radio Receivers are becoming less expensive, starting at around US$100. Manufacturers have initially focused on making car stereos. In 2008, Ford Motor Company became the first U.S. automaker to feature HD Radio tuners in its vehicles; and beginning with the 2009 model year, Ford will offer HD Radio tuners as a factory-installed option (Compatible with SYNC). [32] BMW offers Factory-Installed HD Radio on Nearly all 2008+ models. Hyundai offers factory-installed HD Radio on the Genesis 2008+ model year. Mercedes-Benz offers factory-installed HD Radio on the R320, ML320 and GL320 models (2009 model year). MINI offers factory-installed HD Radio on the Cooper, Cooper S (2008+ model year). Scion offers HD Radio on select audio systems. Volvo offers factory-installed HD Radio on the S40 T5, V50 T5, C30, C70, S80, V70, XC70 and XC90 models (2009 model year).
Edags: You’re right about the HD radio. Good stuff.
However, I’m willing to wager that GM has a tie-in with the satellite radio folks that gives them something in return for making satellite the only premium radio option for GM vehicles.
Eggs,
That was my thought as well. Of course signing tie-ins that keep a company from offering the best product that they can is one nice way to limit car sales. Just the same way that they were late to the party with bluetooth (and thereby assured that they would hurt themselves with the segment of the market that feels built in bluetooth is important – i.e. everyone who has used a well done built in bluetooth system) they are now penalizing themselves with the segment of the market for those who really appreciate HD radio. After market systems are fine in 1989 Jeep Wranglers but not in 2009 vehicles where the system won’t match the dash. Some of us buy our cars with the thought of keeping the cars for a number of years. Nearly every station (AM and FM) that I listen to in the NY – Philly – DC corridor ALREADY broadcasts in HD. I don’t want to have to listen to lousy analog broadcasts for the next 6 years or so or look at a crapped up dashboard with an after market system stuffed in it because I was stupid enough to buy from a company with some tie-in (read restraint of trade) with a satellite radio company with a service that I don’t care to have (unless they give it to me for free like HD radio is). It’s just insulting not to even have it as an option especially when it is standard on BMW’s and Volvo’s and even available in low end Fords.
Oh, so the missing aux plug in MY08 9-3 is fixable with this kit? Interesting.
Rune, The ’08 SS should have an input on the face of the Radio. You should have a blank spacer in the center console next to the power outlet.
ALSO, I LOVE MY ZUNE AND WOULD NEVER BUY AN iPOD, for me as a Saab owner, the iPod is just too common.
Funny…generally, Saab and Apple go hand-in hand.
Did I miss something?
Edags: Again, I agree with you, but I really blame the auto OEMs for building cars with dashboards that can’t be retrofit with standard-sized equipment. Let’s face it, audio, navigation and telecommunications technology moves through two or three major changes in the average life of a quality car like a Saab. There should be realistic options like, um, I don’t know, a DIN-sized mounting location? Shoot, every car in the 1980′s had one, now it’s a freakin’ nightmare!
spazzz,
yes I have seen the input, but I do not have the habit of “hanging ‘em high”.
Much nicer to pull the necessary wires so I can have a connector inside the armrest. And yes, the blank spacer I have noticed too.
So my question becomes: Are there still connectors on the back of the entertainment system that allows me to make this modification?