New feature in iOS 6.1 + iTunes Match + Car systems

Question

New feature in iOS 6.1 + iTunes Match + Car systems

I'm happy to see some great new features with iOS6.1 with iTunes Match when connected to my Audi MMI (music system).

Previously if you were a subscriber to Apple's iTunes Match offering, you were able to only see the music tracks that you had manually downloaded to your connected device - all the tracks that were available in the cloud (but not downloaded) were not visible via the Audi MMI.

With iOS 6.1, the MMI now displays ALL tracks in the cloud and you are able to select and play any of them via the MMI. This is a very welcome addition because now, you have your entire music library accessible while you drive.

Another surprising addition, is that you can also browse the tracks ON your device (which was previously blocked with an 'Accessory Connected' blocking screen.

This is a great new feature of iOS that makes an iPhone even more appealing when connected to your car system.

This most likely will work with the connected car systems in VW, BMW and other car manufactuerers. Please weigh in if you have a different car and you see this new feature.

iPhone 5, iOS 6.1

Posted on Jan 30, 2013 6:14 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 30, 2013 7:36 AM in response to John Fischetti1

I wonder if this will fix the problem of seeing track information on the screen when steaming from Pandora. This stopped working when I upgraded to IOS 6.

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Answer 2

Jan 30, 2013 8:23 AM in response to dbthompson

i just checked Pandora and the track listings are showing up for me -- Spotify and Last.fm too.

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Answer 3

Feb 1, 2013 9:52 AM in response to John Fischetti1

The ability to access all cloud music whilst plugged into the car is a handy addition, I would not have noticed straight away if it weren't for this post, why don't apple explain all this instead of just saying bug fixes, etc.

Loving Match again!!

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Answer 4

Feb 18, 2013 2:33 PM in response to John Fischetti1

In a FIAT 500 2012 it is working like the descritopn of the original post. You can do it using Blue&Me (although you can use bluetooth for phone calls - but not for playing music). Music must be played through USB.

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Answer 5

Sdigre

Level 1

15 points

Mar 27, 2013 2:02 PM in response to John Fischetti1

So does this mean that Match 'in the cloud, not locally downloaded' has been exposed through API so systems like Sonos can access these items?

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Answer 6

Mar 27, 2013 3:25 PM in response to Sdigre

It could be. I know that Last.fm recently released an iOS app that allowed you to play all your iTunes Match music from their app and it would scrobble the plays to thier service.

My Audi reads my iTunes Match library and will stream any song thru the car system. I'm sure since Sonos can see what's on an iDevice locally and play that music, and Last.fm can see all iTunes match music that Sonos should be able to read the larger library and stream whats requested to play - only time will tell.

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