Any in-panel MP3 players like this?

While shooting the breeze with the avionics techs today, I started to
sketch out the perfect aircraft music system.

Basically, we came up with an in-dash MP3 player that looks very much
like my daughter's portable MP3 player. It would consist of a little
display (to tell you what's playing), a volume control, a "skip to next
song" button, and a standard USB port...

....that you can stick any "thumb-drive" into. (They were selling 1 GB
flash drives at Staples last week for $12 bucks.) The whole thing
could fit into a standard 3" hole, weigh just a few ounces, have no
moving parts, and costs less than a hundred bucks.

Is anyone marketing anything like this for aircraft? Build this
thing into an intercom, and, wow, you'd have everything you need.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
The whole thing
could fit into a standard 3" hole, weigh just a few ounces, have no
moving parts, and costs less than a hundred bucks.

Thats pretty funny.

Have you ever seen *anything* put in the panel of a plane (especially a
non-experimental) that actually costs less than a hundred bucks?

Now maybe it *should* cost less than a hundred bucks, but thats besides
the point.

--
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B "Hula Girl"
Hood River, OR

Now maybe it *should* cost less than a hundred bucks, but thats besides
the point.

Point taken.

So, let's say it costs $700 -- a memory-stick-driven, in-panel MP3
player would still be a vastly superior, more flexible system than a CD
player.

Combine it with XM radio, and you could sell these things as fast as
you could make 'em.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...
Now maybe it *should* cost less than a hundred bucks, but thats besides
the point.

Point taken.

So, let's say it costs $700 -- a memory-stick-driven, in-panel MP3
player would still be a vastly superior, more flexible system than a CD
player.

Combine it with XM radio, and you could sell these things as fast as
you could make 'em.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Does your CD player play MP3 CDs?

Kinda kills two formats with one install...

Jay B

Does your CD player play MP3 CDs?

Nope. I've got the older model that doesn't play MP3s.

But I'd like to eliminate the CD player altogether, and go straight
from the digital format. The weight savings and durability (no moving
parts!) would make it a very attractive alternative.

Actually, I see that AirGizmo (the folks who make the panel dock I had
installed for the 496) makes a similar dock for the IPod. Close to
what I'm suggesting, but not quite.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay,

Basically, we came up with an in-dash MP3 player that looks very much
like my daughter's portable MP3 player.


What'S wrong with a little plug you hook any portable MP3 player up to?
What 's the advantage compared to hooking up a USB stick to the
built-in player?

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Basically, we came up with an in-dash MP3 player that looks very much
like my daughter's portable MP3 player.

What'S wrong with a little plug you hook any portable MP3 player up to?
What 's the advantage compared to hooking up a USB stick to the
built-in player?

It would have the same advantages (and disadvantages) that any in-panel
device would have over its portable cousin.

I personally hate hauling stuff to and from the hangar. A single
memory stick (that lives on my keychain) could replace the 20 CDs
(times ten) we've got stuffed into the visor-holders, and the small
size of an MP3 player would free up a lot of panel space that is
currently occupied by our CD player.

I think the key to success would be to built the player into an
intercom/XM radio receiver that fits into a 3" hole.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

I personally hate hauling stuff to and from the hangar. A single
memory stick (that lives on my keychain) could replace the 20 CDs
(times ten) we've got stuffed into the visor-holders, and the small
size of an MP3 player would free up a lot of panel space that is
currently occupied by our CD player.

The current crop of MP3 players are no larger than a memory stick.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jay Honeck ]
Posted At: Friday, December 01, 2006 7:02 AM
Posted To: rec.aviation.owning
Conversation: Any in-panel MP3 players like this?
Subject: Any in-panel MP3 players like this?

....

I think the key to success would be to built the player into an
intercom/XM radio receiver that fits into a 3" hole.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay, I think you are absolutely correct except for one point. There is
no reason that this should have to take up a 3" panel opening. Even
considering operator controls and the USB jack it should be able to fit
in one of the smaller openings (2 1/4" or so).

For that matter, it could use the portable memory stick and read the
tunes directly from that location. You wouldn't need the additional
memory in the unit and it should be a nice enhancement to an intercom as
you suggested.

You've got a good point Jim, infact, I wouldn't want it to be round at all.
I'm pretty stingy with my pre-cut round panel openings. I'd much prefer a
small rectangular format that could be either vertically or horizontally
orientted such as PS's intercom only products. Most panels have such a
space available, say 1" x 3".

Avionics Innovations seems to be mixing and matching several entertainment
sources into different products. www.avionicsinnovations.com

Jim