Group Buy / EOI new generation DNS head units (RNS-510 alternative)

[alexc2005]

Ummm so Android mirror is now a costed additional module...?

This was one of my main motivations for getting this head unit.. I would be extremely annoyed to find that it is an extra cost.

When are you finalising who is getting them early or not? and then, when are the two likely delivery dates?

[DkN]

right now I think I can live with the bugs. Just as long as they do get fixed in the near future. I just really want to get my car back together as I've been driving without trim pieces for months now. I also would like this for my up coming road trip lol. I do like the idea of a temporary discount on the unit and then paying for the final update. you I did pay in full months back, hmmm lol

If I remember correctly, you drive a Golf 5? You could put the trim pieces back without any of the screws. This more than halves the time required to take it apart later. If you've done it as many times as I have, without screws everything would be off in less than two minutes.

[DkN]

Ummm so Android mirror is now a costed additional module...?

This was one of my main motivations for getting this head unit.. I would be extremely annoyed to find that it is an extra cost.

When are you finalising who is getting them early or not? and then, when are the two likely delivery dates?

Yes it looks like it will be, I mentioned this a few weeks ago. I'm sorry this is how it turned out, at the time no mention was made to me that mirroring was going to require an additional module. There is very little I can do - you are of course free to cancel your order if it's a deal-breaker for you, though the group buy price right now is $100 off retail (and then some, with the current AUD to USD rate).

I have sent a PM to all those with a confirmed order regarding the dates for the first batch of units vs final release.

[wanxu]

How does the original RNS510 the ID3Tag function? I think that the problem is that AS doesn't want to just load the ID3Tag from every file once it's playing (like RNS510), you want to have a library like an iPod, right? It would be awesome. Other than manual updating, the unit could check in the USB/SD every time if there are new files (saving the most recent filedate) and if so rebuild the library (or some other method faster than that). What about the iPod function?

For me it's an important thing. All the chinese units have ugly explorer mp3 players, and DNS810 promises a stock-like interface, and that, along with the new CPU and controls, is what's convincing me.

One more question, you say the audio quality is better than OEM. I had 2 chinese units and the audio is worse than the original in both of them. They even have some noise. Is it clean audio with the DNS?

Does the Bluetooth has to rebuild the contacts library every time or something like that?

Thanks DkN!

[swong]

For those who have paid the deposit, when would full payment be required to be made if we choose to get in on the early batch? How about the final batch?

And any rough idea of the additonal cost if we want Android mirroring, DAB support, etc?

Just need to plan my finances!

[moda]

Thanks for the update Sandy. RE your PM, i'll have to mull it over and try and decide what's best. I've got a deadline (end of November), before I leave for work down south, so i'll need it by then.

Anyways, a couple of quick questions:

1) Has the hardware been finalised? IE, if I decide to go in for the prerelease version, there will be *no* difference in hardware compared to the final mass production run, correct?

2) is iPod functionality complete? That's really the only important thing for me, I don't listen to anything on a USB/SD (although that may change if you say it now supports lossless codecs? That's mighty impressive!) or the Radio, only via iPod/iPhone.

3) RE the question from a few days ago, you say the unit is A2DP, not AVRCP, is that something that can be changed in software, or a function of the bluetooth module? My understanding is AVRCP is a subset of the A2DP profile, but i'm not sure if it's hardware or not.

Thanks

[Tobes_WIR35]

Hi Sandy,

I appreciate what you're saying about the retention idea not working in this scenario. I get what you're saying, but it's all about leverage. If the customer has a retention, they have some leverage with the manufacturer to make sure they deliver what they say they'll deliver. If they pay in full, then there is no incentive for the manufacturer to finish the job.
That being said, I'm happy to get the unit early as long as there's a guarantee from them that the bugs will be fixed in a timely manner.
I think they at least owe us that much.

[MountainBikeMike]

Hey everyone.

Just hoping someone with an ANS could swing me the right way between the ANS and DNS, as Im not sure wether It would be worth my while saving $150 and putting that to use elsewhere on the car. And Sandy, if you could give me your opinion to:

-In terms of snappiness and lag, I see in the videos that the loading times are faster on the DNS, but both are reasonable. Choosing songs is a few milliseconds slower.. Is this likely to worsen at all as the ANS ages?
-Im driving an Octavia RS pre-facelift (2008 ) and this is the dash:


Just wanted to make sure the standard ANS/DNS-810 model fits this shape

-With this model I'm not sure if I can make the OBD functions work, sorry I'm not very good understanding this function... I don't need climate control on the screen but it would be nice to have all that engine info such as temps, boost, volts, yadda yadda. Could you please repeat briefly what the ANS can do as I'm finding it hard to bring up.
-With either of these units, will the music volume dim when reversing?
-The better anti-glare looks pretty good on the DNS. Is the ANS unit's glare better at least than $400 chinese crap??
-In terms of simply music playing and gps, Will I see a drastic difference in the experience for the extra $150

[NewGuy]

Yes it looks like it will be, I mentioned this a few weeks ago. I'm sorry this is how it turned out, at the time no mention was made to me that mirroring was going to require an additional module. There is very little I can do - you are of course free to cancel your order if it's a deal-breaker for you, though the group buy price right now is $100 off retail (and then some, with the current AUD to USD rate).

I have sent a PM to all those with a confirmed order regarding the dates for the first batch of units vs final release.

Hi mate,

I PM'd you in regards to this and still have not received a replay? I would like to get in before the group buy closes. I would be willing to take the unit with bugs as long as it's fixed eventually.

[fmflex]

There's been no concrete information on Android mirroring in its originally intended form (i.e. with full controls via the DNS unit). I am a bit reluctant to give unconfirmed information at this stage for reasons I think you would be able to appreciate, but for the sake of giving people an update, the latest news I have is this: they will first release a module that works for both Android and iPhones, BUT it will not have the ability to be controlled via the DNS i.e. video mirroring only. The original solution which they are having trouble with works with Android only but can be controlled via the DNS.

Hi Sandy

Do you have any more information on the original solution mentioned here? Will they be continuing with it? I don't know an iphone or anything Apple and if the original solutions works reasonably well I'd be more inclined to take that option.