14 DAY TRIAL // A growing number of reports signaling iOS 4.1 issues with audio quality on built-in car systems should prompt Apple to include yet more tweaks in the next iOS software update about to ship next month.
According to a report by Macnn, iOS 4.1 seems to be directly responsible for quality problems with built-in car audio systems.
It cites affected customers, saying they describe the audio issues as "scratchy, crackly" and bringing periodic micro-dropouts.
Evidently, these customers’ first shoulder-to-cry-on is the Apple Discussions forum, which shows that the problem may be widespread.
One user wrote:
“Hey guys. Play music through my iPhone via USB in my Prius. Music has always been fine, but when i updated to 4.1, then started to play music in my car, i noticed a crackling noise during music playback.”
“I thought maybe the speakers were blown, but there is no such sound when i play music CDs or pandora or anything other than the Mp3s. Is anyone having music playback issues after the 4.1 update???”
Many replied with a similar story. A person identified on the forum as “Shodan1984” said:
“I´ve got a similar Problem on my Hifi-Dockstation iDecco. On 4.02 everything was fine, directly after installing 4.1 the Music Stucks a few times during Playback, and only on my iOs 4.1 Devices.”
As noted by Macnn, only iPhones and iPods connected by a dock and running iOS 4.1 seem to be affected.
One theory has this issue tied to Bluetooth activity which, somehow, affects the USB audio.
The scenario stems from users reporting that turning Bluetooth off or switching to Airplane mode alleviated the problem, the report adds.
However, the workaround may only reduces interference-related noise, rather than eliminate the issue. Switching to Bluetooth or headphone-jack based output is, indeed, a workaround, the report says.
If confirmed as widespread, Apple will undoubtedly address these problems in the upcoming iOS 4.2 software update scheduled to ship next month.