Pioneer Stereo Info needed

[Rolex]

I just bought this unit.

The keys that came with it would not release the Pioneer CD player that I already had so I had to go back to the store. After releasing it with OTHER keys I find out that Pioneer had also changed the wiring harness. Maybe that was because of additional gadgets, I don't know, but it was not plug and play as I expected. With tax it was an additional $71 for the install. Whatever, it's done.
This is my 3rd Pioneer and naturally I'm very impressed with the unit and its features, just need a little info about a few things.

Can I plug a laptop into the USB input to play my iTunes library on long trips?
Does music on the thumb drive have to be from a disk or again, can I load iTunes on it?
In the menu, what is meant by "Short Playback"? That's in the MIXTRAX menu. I have a choice of 1.0 Min, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and random.
The manual tells me how to change it but it gives absolutely no explanation of what it's for.

I'll add additional questions after spending another couple of hours setting things.

 

[SchrodeMode]

It looks like MixTrax is a feature that adds special effects to the transition time between songs, it basically become a virtual DJ for your car. The short playback lets you choose how long it'll play a song before transitioning into a new one.

That's how I'm understanding the manual.

 

[hamz9561]

No, you can't connect a laptop via USB. iTunes isn't necessary. As long as the music tracks are in the correct format (.mp3, .wma) you'll be alright just dragging and dropping the files on the thumb drive.

If your laptop has Bluetooth, it can be bound like a phone to stream music to the head unit. Unfortunately, you can't use the phone over the head unit then. I usually put my music on a 32GB thumb drive and play it that way, although i have also used one of my iPods plugged into the USB port as well.

 

[Nitro4910]

I dropped all my music (format .mp3, .wma) onto a 32GB micro thumb, it plays either in order or has a random mode that skips all over the thumb DR.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-cruzer-fit-32gb-usb-flash-drive/5597704.p?id=1218669147154&skuId=5597704&st=categoryid$abcat0504010&cp=1&lp=4

 

[savage24x]

I do competitions and swear by the DEH-80prs. But, I have an X700bt in the truck. It has Mixtrax. The intervals are how long a song will play until it switches to the next one.

You cannot connect a laptop to the USB port.

 

[Rolex]

That's why I couldn't figure it out. Why would you want songs to quit after one minute or whatever, without playing to the end?
I've put music on a thumb drive and that's working fine. iPod is also working. I still have to set up the bluetooth for the phone.