Pioneer CD-UB100 USB Adapter Set with cable Review

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(More customer reviews)So, I just installed this and spent the last couple hours reading through the manual (again) and playing with the interface.
The Good:
I gotta say, besides the interface (which I'll get to), it actually works pretty well. Install is as easy as every other IP-BUS device and so far it hasn't frozen or caused any side effects. It's been able to find every mp3 buried on my thumb-drive and play them back clearly and cleanly. All the basic functions are there: Track Skip, folder skip, Fast forward, rewind, repeat (3 modes), and [b]limited[/b] ID3 display (no shuffle, sorry). Despite its shortcomings, I can already see that it'll be perfect for what I bought it to do: to quickly and easily grab a few MP3's from my office or a friend's computer and play them in my car without having to sync an iPod or burn a cd.The Bad:
The interface
Good god, why hasn't Pioneer fixed this yet. Thanks to a few reviews I read, I'd already abandoned my expectations for the interface. What you see on screen (when connected to the AVIC-Z2) is clearly a raw interface designed to work with any IP-bus enabled device. Instead of recognizing that the CD-UB100 is connected and properly displaying and relabeling only the functions used by that device, you're shown a generic interface allowing you to send raw IP-bus commands to the unit like "function 1" or "band." In the case of "function 1," sending the command pauses playback and changes the 8-character display to "paused." Awkward, having to go into a menu to pause, but it works and should be seldom needed. In the case of "band" however, sending the signal does nothing. HUH? It took a great deal of trial and error to even figure out how to skip tracks and/or fast-forward, but since the the functions are so few it's not too difficult to get used to. 'Short-but-steep learning curve' as they say.
Shuttle controls
Speaking of fast-forward and rewind, get this. The button on the Z2 (and the left and right on-screen arrow buttons) either skip tracks OR fast-forward/rewind -- they do not do both simply by pressing or holding as we're all used to -- depending on which mode they're in (denoted by "AUTO" or "MANUAL" showing at the top of the screen).
-To fast forward, the "shuttle mode" must be set to "MANUAL."
-To skip tracks, it must be set to "AUTO."
That means, to Fast forward, you have to go into the function menu and toggle the AUTO/MANUAL mode. Then, When you want to switch tracks again, you have to go back into the function menu and toggle the AUTO/MANUAL mode again. WTF?! At least you can do both; if not it'd be useless.
Information Display
Speaking of useless, let's talk about the information display. Eight non-scrolling characters? Why even bother having 8 different display modes including the ability to read ID3 tags if you're only going to show the first few characters in the title? if you've got more than a few folders on your drive, expect to get lost. If you think you'll be able to hook up your 120gb USB hard drive and mount your massive collection of illegally downloaded MP3's, forget it. With no means of searching or browsing (besides skipping to the next folder), this is NOT a viable means for anything other than playing a few mp3's off your thumb-drive or disc-enabled usb mp3 player.
For those who might be curious, I've mapped out the different functions below.
Band - No function
UP/Down - Folder up/down
Left/Right - Depends on mode:
--Manual = Fast-forward / Rewind
--Auto = Track skip
1-6 - NO function
Function - Enter Function menu:
--Function 1 - Pause (toggle)
--Function 2 - Display Cycle:
----Folder
----Filename
----Artist
----Title
----Album
----"USB F006"
----USBTrack#
----Track progress [HMMSS]
--Function 3 - Scan (toggle)
--Function 4 - Repeat
----All
----Track
----Folder
--Auto/Manual - Seek mode for "TRK" & buttons
----Auto = Change tracks
----Manual= FastForward / Rewind

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Pioneer CD-UB100 USB Adapter Set with cable

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