MP3 Player Compatibility

[MrBounce]

Since I last bought a head unit (2003 when we got burgled and they nicked my facia), the ice world has gone all super techie and i have no idea what the latest things are or what they do.

My question is this: I am looking to buy a Bora later in the year and will probably be looking to upgrade the ice (a specialist will be doing the install). What I want to know is can I plug my mp3 player into the head unit and control it from there? I guess I'd probably have to get the same make to get it to interface properly? My MP3 is a new Sony NWZ-E436F if that helps.

Thanks in advance 

[troublestarter]

there are no h/u 's that will control anything other than an i pod
the best you are going to get is a h/u with a headphone jack plug aux input to play it through

[Ant]

Does your mp3 player become a file storage device when plugged in on usb?
That might be a way for your mp3's to become usable by some headunits.

[MrBounce]

Does your mp3 player become a file storage device when plugged in on usb?
That might be a way for your mp3's to become usable by some headunits.

Yes it does. I think I'll have a look at the Sony website and see if anything does interface 

[Guy]

there are no h/u 's that will control anything other than an i pod
the best you are going to get is a h/u with a headphone jack plug aux input to play it through

i believe the alpine ida-x001 controls usb mp3 players

http://www.alpine-europe.com/alpinefullspeed/

[Shady Pioneer]

there are no h/u 's that will control anything other than an i pod
the best you are going to get is a h/u with a headphone jack plug aux input to play it through

That is not true at all LOL!

If the MP3 player can be used as like Mass Storage (so if you plug it into a computer and you can select and play songs from folders, without the need for additional software) you should be ok using it through USB on a headunit, and you should be able to control it, going through song, artist, album and folder