Expert Article By Richard McKinsey
Though we’ve reviewed hundreds of iPhone-compatible accessories since last June, there has not been a complete, turnkey solution for in-car iPhone integration that average users can go out and purchase with ease.
The reason is simple: though the iPhone is supposed to be Apple’s “best iPod ever,” it actually doesn’t work properly with many of the iPod’s best previous car accessories, and the iPhone accessory development process has proved unusually difficult for even the best engineers out there. Ever since the iPod replaced the walkman and CD player as our means of playing music, the issue of how to play music in the car has never really been solved.
The result has been a form of time-stasis – our cars have more archaic music setups than our grandparents’ houses. Tapes from the late 1990s, the odd CD from a few years ago – we usually resort to listening to the radio.
Virtually all of our music is stored on the iPod or iPhone, and up until now accessing it in a car has been something of a chore. None of the in-car solutions have worked with enough success for us to whole-heartedly recommended them. Tape converters work but sound terrible, while FM transmitters can sound quite good, but rarely work in built-up cities like London. iPod integration is something that the car industry has dabbled with, but hardly got to grips with. Many new stereo systems feature 3.5mm minijack inputs enabling you to plug your iPod directly to your stereo via the headphone socket. This works but is hardly an elegant solution.
Today, the major problem is that there’s no single accessory that charges, mounts, and performs all audio from an iPhone, so unless you want to hand-hold your iPhone while you drive—which is against the law in many places—you can’t just connect one cable and expect to safely use both its music and phone features. This is largely due to Apple-imposed software limitations, but also certain technical hurdles developers need to overcome. So for now, in-car use of an iPhone requires a number of different parts, and we’ve created this Complete Guide to iPhone Car Integration to help you choose the ones that are best for your vehicle and personal needs.
The Budget Solutions
What’s the least expensive way to integrate your iPhone into your car? Unless you’ve recently purchased a new car, it’s this one: the Budget Solution combination of an iPhone mount, a single cable that charges the iPhone and broadcasts its music to your FM radio, and a wired headset. This solution will cost you as little as $90—less if you shop aggressively—but can run up to $325 depending on the parts you select.
Let’s start with the
car mount.
Though you can conceivably toss the iPhone into your lap or a cupholder and skip this part entirely, we’ve found that having the iPhone’s touchscreen handy for dialing and music navigation is a must for safe in-car use. The mount shown here is the best we’ve tested to date, ProClip’s Padded Holder with Tilt Swivel for iPhone, which sells for $65 including the cost of the iPhone holder and a mount that’s made to fit your specific make, model, and year of car. This mount adjusts to your preferred angle, and can even be tilted to let your passenger control the phone or use Cover Flow mode. But many companies offer cheap mounts that use suction cups, vent mounts, or other inexpensive ways to attach your iPhone to your windshield or dashboard; some may not be legal where you live. Our accessory guide includes other iPhone and device-agnostic Car Mount options; one of the cheapest we’ve seen is Griffin’s iSqueez, which sells for $10, and is about to be updated with a new version.
Next, there’s the
Car Charger, which is sold with or without
an integrated FM Transmitter. This part is necessary to keep your iPhone’s battery juiced up on the road, and enable you to hear its audio through most car stereos. The FM transmitter broadcasts whatever music is playing on the iPhone onto a radio station of your choice, but again, it doesn’t do anything with phone call audio.
(If you’re lucky enough to have a car with a line-in/aux-in port on its stereo, you can skip the integrated FM transmitter portion and go with a simple $20 iPhone charger such as XtremeMac’s InCharge Auto or Griffin’s PowerJolt for iPod and iPhone (shown). You’ll also need to connect a $10-20 iPhone-to-car audio cable such as Belkin’s Mini-Stereo Link Cable or Monster’s iCable for Car (iPod/iPhone) to the iPhone’s headphone port for audio, then adjust the volume on both the iPhone and your car.)
So far, there are only two FM transmitter and charger combinations we know to be really iPhone-ready. Belkin’s new version of TuneCast Auto (shown) is set to be the first official “Works With iPhone” FM transmitter and car charger, and sells for $80. For the same price, Griffin’s iTrip Auto with SmartScan (shown) currently lacks the Works With iPhone certification, but still works with the iPhone anyway; a fully iPhone-shielded version is forthcoming early this year.
Worth noting: though Apple’s iPhone certification program tries to prevent cell phone interference from junking up connected accessories, it can’t stop the same interference from leaking into your car’s stereo and speaker systems, so you may notice beeps mid-music no matter what you buy. That said, these cables, and others that are Works With iPhone certified, will do better than most at shielding out those noises.
The final piece in our budget solution is a
wired iPhone headset. This is the least expensive way to take phone calls without holding the phone up to your head, or using speakerphone mode, which has its own issues. We call it a budget item because Apple includes one for free with every iPhone, called the iPhone Stereo Headset (shown) and sells replacements for $29, but there are now iPhone-specific options ranging up to $179, all reviewed here, notably including V-Moda’s Vibe Duo (shown).
iPhone Car Connection Example:iPhone With Belkin’s Auto Kit for iPod/iPhone.
Run a 1/8” mini-plug to your head and be done with it. You’ll still have to use bluetooth for call audio but at least you can make use of the superior line-out audio and charge up at the same time.
This thing has a little amp built in that you don’t want to overdrive your system with (it won’t blow anything up but it’ll sound a little muddy if you crank it too far)
The Auto Kit connects your iPod device to your car's power source and includes an exclusive Belkin cable that charges your iPod from your car's cigarette lighter. The Auto Kit also provides an adjustable amplifier and 3.5mm audio-out jack that lets you play your iPod through your car stereo or other audio equipment when using a Belkin TuneCast Mobile FM Transmitter or Cassette Adapter. You'll know your Auto Kit is properly connected by its illuminated LED indicator. The unit is also engineered with a replaceable safety fuse to protect from potentially damaging spikes or short circuits.
Try use the Auto Kit with the specially designed Belkin Mobile Cassette Adapter or TuneCast Mobile FM Transmitter (not included) for high-quality audio through your car stereo.
iPhone Car Connection Example: iPhone With SendStation PocketDock Line Out USB
The SendStation PocketDock Line Out USB claims to be compatible with the iPhone, though they do not participate in the Apple iPhone certification. If it is indeed compatible, you could combine this with a USB A-B cable and a USB 12V adaptor, and you would have the charger and line-out. It’s a kludge but it should work. The SiK imp may work but it’s hard to tell. PocketDock Line Out USB offers an industry-standard 3.5 mm (1/8") stereo jack
(right next to the USB port) that connects directly to the iPod’s/iPhone's line level circuitry — just like Apple’s Dock, but in a tiny, easy-to-carry package.
This makes the PocketDock with Line Out an good accessory for well sound quality without interference and distortion from the headphone equalizer and amplifier circuitry.
Contents: PocketDock with USB and Audio Line Out sockets, 2pcs. 6ft./180cm ultralight, ultra-compact white audio cables (3.5mm plug - 3.5mm plug / 3.5mm plug - stereo RCA), detachable keyring holder / dock connector cover.
iPhone Car Connection Example: iPhone With Simple Camcorder A/V Cable.
In the line out lack (aux) there is one more chanel for the microphone, is this possible to fit this kind of lack to the iphone and then wire the cables for audio, and connect to the third channel a microphone’ such as normal car kits. For example use this cable - 10-Ft. Gold Series Camcorder A/V Cable) and two end for the speakers, the third to a microphone ...
iPhone Car Connection Example: iPhone With iPhone 3G dock.
iPhone 3G dock costs $29 and free for original iPhone. Use Velcro Tape on the bottom of the dock and attached it to dashboard so you can see and reach it while driving. Have the power cord running to the cigarette adapter (cost $20-$30). Then you use an mini cable from the aux input on the car stereo to the dock. For phone audio, you can actually use the speaker phone function on the iphone but it is hard to hear at highway speeds. You can Using a bluetooth headset to keep charged in the car (jawbone $100).
iPhone Car Connection Example: iPhone With Peripheral iPhone Interface in 2004 Scion xB.
Peripheral iPod Interface with 2004 Scion xB, work with iPods and iPhone. It’s not certified, but have not any interference problems. Simply dismiss the “This device isn’t compatible...” message every time then connect.
The device provides line out sound directly to factory stereo, allows me to change tracks using the dash controls and seems to charge my iPhone just fine. Since you plug it in almost every time you is in the car, you rarely have to worry about my phone’s battery running down.
It sold through Crutchfield (www.crutchfield.com) or through eBay. Installation take about half an hour.
The Obvious Solutions
The next solutions we look at here is called “Obvious” because it’s not the cheapest around, but is extremely common for users of Bluetooth cell phones such as the iPhone. It offers one advantage over the Budget Solution: phone calls come directly into your wireless earpiece without forcing you to keep a wire dangling down to the iPhone’s headphone port. But it also has two consequences: you really need to keep your Bluetooth headset and the iPhone charged.
We’ve reviewed a number of Bluetooth headsets for the iPhone over the last six months, including the $100 Plantronics Voyager 520 and $150 Discovery 665 shown here. They both do well both indoors and outdoors, though a noise-filtering headset such as Aliph’s Jawbone will sound the best to your callers if you’re in noisy environments such as a sportscar or older, less noise-dampened vehicle. Many other headsets we’ve reviewed can be found here.
Pairing a Bluetooth headset with your iPhone is relatively easy. You go into the Settings menu, pick General, then pick Bluetooth. Turn Bluetooth on, then follow the instructions that come with your headset to initiate Bluetooth pairing mode. The iPhone will generally discover the device instantly at that point, and require you to enter a PIN number found in the headset’s manual. Once that’s done, the devices are paired.
If you’ve purchased a Bluetooth 2.0 headset, the iPhone will typically find it immediately when you turn both the headset and iPhone Bluetooth feature on; otherwise you may need to press a button on the headset to let the iPhone know it’s there. But both devices will drain battery power more quickly when Bluetooth is on and being used for calls, so look for a headset with a convenient included charger, and make sure whatever iPhone charger you’re using is guaranteed to fully power the iPhone when Bluetooth and phone features are being used. The picks we’ve mentioned above feature that guarantee; other chargers do not.
The Tape Deck Solutions
The Tape Deck Solution is different from the Obvious Solution in two ways: your iPod is connecting to an in-car tape deck rather than the FM radio, and so you need to supply a cable and/or adapter that will work with the iPhone. This unwieldy connection of parts requires the most work to assemble, but will sound better than an FM transmitter cable in your car when you’re listening to music from your iPhone, and will still enable you to charge the iPhone and take calls wirelessly from a Bluetooth headset. The total cost of the tape adapter and iPhone adapter cable will be under $25.
Our top-rated adapters, Philips PH2050W, and Sony’s CPA-9C still sell for under $15 and are the best around, but neither has an iPhone-compatible headphone port plug.
Monster’s iCarPlay Cassette Adapter has the right plug, but doesn’t sound as good. So you’ll need a headphone port adapter: we’d recommend ifrogz Fitz, which sells for $8.
iPhone Car Linkage With Tape Deck Downside.
iPhone Car Cennection works fine, most of the time. You occasionally may get complaints of an echo when some calls are made but it’s usually because the volume up to high. In the tape mode, calls interrupt the music playing and it resumes after the call is over. If you get an adapter from Radio Shack, you may talks on his phone the same way. To charge you may use a cigarette lighter charger. You can also use bluetooth headset on occasion, when it charged and ready.
The Optimal Solutions
The biggest problem with the solutions above? They require you to connect a lot of cables and create a messin the process. That’s why we’re excited about the Optimal Solution, which is cleaner, simpler, and offers the best phone calling experience, too. It replaces the Bluetooth and wired headset options with a relatively new type of car accessory that mounts on your car’s visor. And it uses a single bottom connection to charge the iPhone and output its music to your car stereo. The only issue? This solution can be expensive.
iPhone Car Connections Examples.
Both the iPod and iPhone have line-out capabilities, however, they both depend on accessories to convert the Dock Connector’s pins into an aux/line cable-friendly port. Unfortunately, no accessory currently exists that simultaneously enables line-out functionality and properly charges the iPhone with its required voltage. Plenty do this for the iPod, so Belkin and other companies are working on iPhone-ready versions of those products, as well as new ones.
For all those w/ line-in on their stereos:
iPhone Car Connection With Bluetrek/Contour Design SurfaceSound Compact.
Bluetrek/Contour Design SurfaceSound Compact, adds a Bluetooth 2.0-enabled microphone
and flat panel NXT speaker combination to your car visor. Contour plans to sell it for $100, but stores are already showing a street price for the SurfaceSound Compact through Bluetrek of $65. In our testing, the system does a superb job of utomatically connecting to the iPhone when both are turned on, screening out in-car noise while you’re driving, and enabling both you and your passenger to hear and talk with callers. Pairing works just like the Bluetooth headset instructions above, and SurfaceSound Compact runs for 15 hours of talk time—21 days on standby. It comes with a car charger and cable to let you recharge the battery when you’re on the go. Using SurfaceSound Compact makes the calling part of using an iPhone substantially better in your vehicle.
iPhone Car Mount Via Geeky-Gadgets.
The iPhone Car Mount Here’s a useful accessory for your iPhone, the iPhone Car Mount. Your iPhone clips in securely to the bracket on the front with room to access the dock connector and headphone jack. However, the best feature is the ability to easily rotate your iPhone 90 degrees into portrait or landscape mode. This makes it easy to watch videos on your phone since Apple insists that movies can only play in widescreen orientation…
not that you should be watching movies while driving of course. Unfortunately the iPhone car mount does not work with the new 3G iPhone’s but I am sure they will have a compatible version out soon. The iPhone Car Mount is available to buy online for $12.99 from Think Geek....
iPhone Car Connection with Alpine CDE (9827)
Alpine CDE (9827) have controls iphone menu and playlists from stereo. Alpine cable plugs into bottom jack of ipod/iphone. The other issue is that when you are playing music and a call comes in, if you take the line out of the headphone jack, you can’t hear the caller and vice versa. You would think apple would fix this asap! or at least let a 3rd party fix it. All they need is an adapter with a built in microphone
from the headphone jack to the stereo...kind of like the stock headphones. When a call comes in, the music would fade down and you could take the call while driving. The voice over the car speakers and the microphone picking up your voice.
iPhone Car Connection With DLO VentMount.
The DLO VentMount allows you to position iPhone in your car for hands-free access – especially convenient for drivers with bluetooth headsets. You can easily rotate VentMount vertically or horizontally for quick-glance viewing of coverflow, maps and driving directions.
With models available for iPhone and for iPhone 3G, VentMount's unique car-mounting system is a must-have product for all iPhone users. It features a secure mounting device that is hooked onto the car's AC vent.
Even while mounted, you'll find easy access to the side controls as well as the dock connector – so you can plug in and charge your iPhone without removing it from VentMount. With models available for iPhone and for iPhone 3G, VentMount's unique car-mounting system is a must-have product for all iPhone users. It features a secure mounting device that is hooked onto the car's AC vent. Even while mounted, you'll find easy access to the side controls as well as the dock connector – so you can plug in and charge your iPhone without removing it from VentMount.
iPhone Car Connected to '08 Ford Pilot USASpec Bandwagon.
iPod installed in ‘08 Pilot USASpec bandwagon work well. Installation was easy, everything hides away securely when not in use, and it directly interfaces with stock deck - none of that crappy FM tuner stuff...just pure AUX IN! As a bonus, the thing works perfectly with iPhone. Charges, plays music, fades on incoming calls or SMS.
You can also purchased a hands-free bluetooth speakerphone from Jabra. So, you can keep the bluetooth connection on when iPhone is plugged in (and not lose any charge)
and when a call comes in the music is faded and you can talk.
iPhone Car Integration With The Pioneer AVIC-D3.
The Pioneer AVIC-D3 is a iPod controlling, bluetooth phone working dual-din touchscreen head-unit that can replace your car stereo. This one device works great with the iPod and handles both audio playback and phone functionality.
Its not cheap, but its also a GPS unit too - so if money is not a problem, this is good solution.
iPhone Car Connection With Help Of ‘08 Ford Focus Microsoft SYNC.
iPhone works perfectly with it wrt iPod and Bluetooth phone functionality. SMS text
functionality is not yet supported, but SYNC is user upgradeable, with new features due out this fall. It’ll be a free download from syncmyride.com. The new features, btw are automatic emergency dispatch calling (when airbags are deployed, with a 10 second window to verbally cancel the call and a prerecorded message played to the dispatcher, if you are unable to talk), and automatic maintenance reminders using feedback from the vehicle’s onboard computers.
You will be impressed with the voice recognition, which requires no voice training, is 99.9% accurate and after one month is hard to live without: “Play artist Dave Matthews,” “Call John Doe on cell,” “Play playlist Funky Mix,” or “Call Dad at home,” etc. Each time the iPhone connects to SYNC, SYNC’s iPod index and phonebook index are updated.
And everything, including the emergency dispatch and maintenance reminder upgrade this fall, is free; there’s no monthly subscription.
iPhone Car Connection With Mercedes-Benz iPhone Cradle.
Luxury auto maker Mercedes-Benz has announced its new Apple iPhone Cradle. The cradle, which mounts in the center console, is designed to allow for full integration of the device with the car. It connects to the audio system via the optionally available Media Interface or the retrofittable iPod Interface Kit, and enables the car’s multi-function steering wheel controls to activate both phone and audio features of the iPhone.
Information about phone status and music functions such as the device’s phone book or currently playing track, album title, and artist appears on the vehicle’s display, and the cradle also charges the iPhone while docked, and ensures the best reception possible by connecting it with the vehicle’s own antenna. Compatible with C-Class, E-Class, CLK-Class, CLS-Class, S-Class, CL-Class, SL-Class, M-Class and R-Class vehicles, the Mercedes-Benz Apple iPhone Cradle is now available in Germany for €249.
iPhone Car Connection To VW Passat 06 iPhone/iPod connector.
Connect iPhone to the car stereo and a bluetooth adapter for the integrated car phone. So iPhone connects wired to the car stereo and via bluetooth for phoning. You can answer calls by pushing the phone knob on the steering wheel.
Downside is : To make a call you have to take the iPhone in hand to dial.
iPhone Car Linking with GROM Audio Inexpensive Adapter.
For factory stereo (fits inline w/ your headunit) which allows iPod/Touch/iPhone operation via headunit or iPod itself. Very cool, great deal. You can find them on eBay, as well, via the GROM Audio store.
The Grom iPod/iPhone Adapter* is specifically designed to be paired with an Apple iPod/iTouch/iPhone. Installation is relatively easy, equivalent in difficulty to the typical permanent installation of any of the other adapters in this comparison. It can be controlled directly or from the head unit and charges the iPod/iPhone. It does not have an additional input, but should definitely be considered by iPhone users because of its confirmed iPhone compatibility.
- 1. Ease of installation - Relatively Easy
- 2. Will the oem head unit control the device? - Yes
- 3. Does the adapter charge the device? - Yes
- 4. Compatibility with iTouch/iPhone - Both advertised (Not compatible with iPhone 3g)
- 5. Additional Output - No
- 6. Cost - US$75
Summary - Reportedly excellent sound quality, easy to install, and solid in most categories. Best for someone who only wants to connect their iPod and nothing else. Not intended for non-iPod devices. A serious contender for the title of "Best iPod Adapter".
*When ordering the Grom iPod Adapter, DON'T order the M-BUS cable for the NSX. Specify the 8-pin CD changer cable.
iPhone Car Connection with IO Play.
IO Play connects to iphone (or any other bluetooth phone) to car stereo via bluetooth for handsfree, at the same time the ipod function can be enabled with a seperate ipod/iphone plug in that doesnt need any wiring between your ipod/iphone to the car sterero - basicaly a bluetooth solution for all. the only problem is the installation which needs professional job.
DICE iPod/iPhone Integration Kit
iPhone Integration Kit was maked by DICE Electronics, one of the leaders in iPod and HD Radio integration.
On selected radios that support text, you will have full text display of what is playing on your iPhone. You can change songs, playlist, albums and even audiobook chapters from your head unit and steering wheel. With the unique feature of the DICE integration kit you will have unlimited amount of songs and playlists available from your iPhone.
You can still use the phone to make and receive phone calls while listening to music. The kit will pause the music while you are on a call and then resumes when you hang up. Best of all, if you are already a proud user of a DICE iPod integration kit, you can use the iPhone right away, no new hardware is needed! DICE kits are now available for selected models of Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Lexus, Mazda, Mini Cooper, Pontiac, Scion, Toyota and Volkswagen. check out the CarDomain fit guide to find a solution for your ride.
iPhone Car Connection With Griffin RoadTrip.
Griffin RoadTrip have simple and clean designs, and looked to have a relatively high build quality. Griffin's product offering is quite large, so we thought we'd start out with the most common iPod devices for the car: the charger and the wireless FM transmitter.
Our first test drive is the Griffin RoadTrip, a slick-looking iPod charger and wireless FM transmitter combo.
This little guy features a very bright white display, simple design, fully adjustable gooseneck and swivel display, and an audio/video output jack. The RoadTrip is compatible with the iPod Classic (80GB/160GB), Touch, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th generation iPod.
I was fairy impressed with the functionality and simplicity, and the swireless transmitter's sound quality was pretty strong and clear. Check out the full review after the break for detailed product photos, installed photos in a couple different cars, and our thoughts on the functionality and features.
The piano black finish gives the RoadTrip a nice high-quality appearance and the buttons are not too big, not too small, just about perfect for quick fingertip access. The adjustable stalk is beefy enough to resist vibrations and bumps, and we later found it to withstand the numerous potholes around Seattle.
iPhone Car Linkage To 01 Firebird USASpec system with the ProClips Holder.
The USASpec system work perfect with the phone over the cars AUX/CD Changer input and you still keep full steering wheel control (Next/Previous/Mute/Vol +/-).
For is hands free calling and for mentioning use the parrot ck3000.
Just a thing to note, with the new 3g phones charging is no longer supported by the old USASpec dock cables, you will need to purchase a new cable that supports charging when they are released by USASpec.
iPhone Car Connection With Mopar IPod/iPhone Kit.
Worked perfectly with iPod and have great integration with iPhone. The music integration side of things and it will even pause music while calls come in. It doesn’t charge because of the voltage issue and you must use a bluetooth setup for calls but at the moment it’s the best possible scenario without all the wires and cables. We would seriously recommend getting this for any iPhone because when you need to charge your iPhone just switch cables and listen to the radio for a while.
Bluetooth is still crappy with the iPhone no matter what device you have. We was tried about 4 devices after researching a lot and there really is no optimal solution until the cable that can plug in the bottom of the phone does everything and
integrates it with the stereo. C’mon apple get your together.
Note what thru the Mopar kit use only iPhone version lower 1.1.3, unfortunately the Mopar kit doesn’t recognize the iPhone 1.1.3 and higher.
Final Thoughts
As “optimal” as the solution above may be, it’s not “ideal”—we’re still waiting for end-to-end, single-connection accessories that will enable most iPhone users to enjoy music, telephone calls, and charging without having to cobble together parts. For that to happen, Apple will need to give iPhone the power to wirelessly stream both phone calls and music through Bluetooth, or handle phone calls through its Dock Connector, or both. Until then, iPhone car integration will require most users to purchase each of the parts we’ve mentioned above separately, choosing the ones that are best-suited to their existing cars’ needs. We’re continuing to watch for better
iPhone mounting, charging, and audio options, and of course, you’ll see them on iLounge as soon as they arrive.
With the launch of the much awaited iPhone 4 across main markets worldwide we have received a fair amount of questions from iPhone and iPod owners wondering if their current accessories, including their speaker docks, will be compatible with the new iPhone 4 - and the good news is that so far it looks like there is a match in most cases.
If you currently own an iPhone speaker dock or iPhone compatible sound system that works with the iPhone 3G it is very likely that it will work just as well with the new iPhone 4 as well. The safest option is always to look for the compatible with iPhone mark on the docking station/sound system that you want to buy, and make sure that it has GSM shielding if you want to avoid having to put your iPhone in flight mode to avoid disturbance when playing your music.
More and more of the latest iPhone speakers will have GSM shielding, but many of the older models will not so it might be worth checking your current system, and perhaps consider to upgrade if there are any issues.
In our book important factors to consider before buying speakers for iPhone 4 would be:
What will you be using your iPhone 4 speaker dock for and do you already own a sound system?
What type of docking station/sound system you need will depend on what you will use it for. If you are looking for a portable system to take with you to the park or the beach etc. you might struggle to find one with GSM shielding, but there are plenty of cheaper portable speaker docks to consider.
If you are looking for a mid price system to use at home or perhaps at the office, then there are a few to choose from that provide good value for money, including these:
* Vestalife Firefly iPhone speaker dock
* Altec Lansing inMotion MAX
* JBL OnStage IIIP
* iHome IP1
If you are after a more complete sound system to complement your home and your music listening habits, then you might want to go up a price range or two and start looking at some of the high end iPhone compatible sound systems, including these:
* B&W Zeppelin
* Zeppelin Mini
* Bose Sounddock II
See our reviews of iPhone speakers here.
If you already own a sound system, perhaps with separate amplifier units etc. then you might want to consider just getting a docking station for your iPhone 4 that you can easily connect with the rest of your system.
Is GSM shielding important for your iPhone 4 sound system?
GSM shielding will allow you to play music from your iPhone 4 while docked without having to worry about cell network disturbance while still being able to receive phone calls. Speaker docks without GSM shielding can often pick up disturbance that can disrupt your listening pleasure, unless you put your iPhone 4 into flight mode, in which case you will not be able to receive calls or messages.
If you are not too bothered about not being able to receive calls or messages while your iPhone 4 is docked, then you can safely look at a wider range of iPod speaker docks that will also be iPhone compatible. Take a look at our main iPod speakers review page for some ideas.
You usually get what you pay for - read reviews!
We have found that when it comes to iPhone speaker docks you usually get what you pay for (there are always exceptions), especially when it comes to the higher end of the market.
There are many brands operating in the iPhone 4 speaker dock market, and some of them will be more familiar to you than others. A well known brand does not always mean that you get top quality or value for money.
We suggest that once you have come up with a shortlist of speakers for iPhone 4 fulfilling your requirements, read a few independent reviews and make comparisons between the systems to ensure that you get the one that provides you with the best value for money.
We hope you have found this little guide valuable and wish you all the best with the search for your next iPhone 4 speaker dock or sound system.
The Creative Travelsound range is an affordable range of ipod speakers that is fairly low prices but still delivers a good quality sound. To help you make your choice we have reviews some of better ipod speakers in the Creative Travelsound range.
Creative Travelsound I
Let’s you listen to sound from four premium 36mm full range NeoTitanium micro drivers that deliver high fidelity sound while being very portable. Also features dual power, infrared control and wide stereo effect. Docks with all 3rd generation and onwards ipod’s, including nano. Available from Amazon.co.uk for $69.99.
Creative playdock i500
This ipod speaker takes the next step up delivering a strong audio experience from a built in 24watts subwoofer. This unit is also ultra portable and can work on both batteries or external power. This ipod speaker unit is compatible with 3rd generation ipod’s and ipod nano etc. Available from Amazon.co.uk for $129.99
JBL launches two new On Stage iPod/iPhone speaker docking stations, the On Stage IV and On Stage Micro III. These speaker docks play your iPod or iPhone and will charge the docked device. They also connect directly to iTunes on Mac or PC via USB 2.0.
The On Stage IV features four aluminum-domed Odyssey transducers for rich and clear sound while the On Stage Micro III, the successor to the Micro II, is equipped with two Odyssey transducers. They feature OCT (Optimized Compression Topology) a proprietary compression technology, ensuring clean, accurate sound at high output levels; COE (Computer-Optimized Equalization) for proper equalization; and a slipstream port design to optimizes bass output while minimizing distortion.
The On Stage IV and On Stage Micro III can be powered by AC adapter or by six fresh AA batteries and four AAA batteries, respectively, that offer up to 24 continuous hours at normal listening levels. JBL’s On Stage IV are available at Amazon for$149.00 and the On Stage Micro III for$99.
If you’ve got an iPhone you’ve probably got most, if not all, of your digital music is stored on it and you can enjoy it pretty much anywhere you go – as long as you’re wearing your headphones. What about when you’re in the car? It’s not safe to drive with two earphones in and it can get really uncomfortable on long journeys. There is another option. An iPhone FM Transmitter. Since they were made legal in 2006 FM transmitters are a great way to listen to music from your phone through your Hi-Fi or car stereo. They’re easy to set up and don’t require any technical knowledge other than being able to tune in a radio!
There are essentially 3 different types of FM Transmitter available for the iPhone, stand-alone FM transmitters, Charging FM Transmitters and Bluetooth/FM car kits. To give you an overview of what’s available, here are some of the most popular iPhone FM Transmitters.
1. Belkin TuneBase FM With Hands-Free
The TuneBase FM falls into the Charging FM Transmitters category. It plugs into the cigarette lighter in your car and has a flexible, adjustable arm to hold your iPhone or iPod. What makes this kit so great is that the holder can be rotated through 90° making it perfect for using with Sat Nav Apps. The TuneBase FM is one of a few holders that can hold your iPhone with a case fitted.
The FM Transmitter has 4 memory slots that you can use to store frequencies, this allows you to switch to a clear station quickly and easily. The Belkin Tunebase can also be used as a handsfree system in the car, but not in the same way as the Venturi or TrailBlazer further down the page. Instead of connecting your call over a bluetooth connection, the Belkin Tunebase transmits incoming audio through your car stereo and uses your iPhone’s internal microphone. It saves the hassle of pairing your phone to the car kit but works just as well.
2. KitPerfect In Car FM Transmitter For iPod And iPhone
The KitPerfect works in a very similar way to the Belkin TuneBase. It’s an in car holder & FM transmitter that can also be used for calls. It has a flexible neck that allows you to position your iPhone exactly where you want it. It has a clear LED display that shows you the frequency that you need to tune your stereo into and will work with iPhones and iPods.
The KitPerfect will charge your iPhone while it’s docked and has a separate on/off switch so you can turn it off when it’s not needed. The KitPerfect is designed to be used in portrait mode but the flexible goose-neck can be rotated if needed for use with sat nav apps.
3. Griffin iTrip with App Support
When Apple released iPhone OS3.0, one of the big new features was that you could now get apps that can control third party accessories. As excited as the developer community got about this, there are still very few accessories out there that take advantage of this.
The latest version of the Griffin iTrip is one of the first mainstream accessories to take advantage of this, and once you’ve installed the free app, you can adjust the frequency, save stations and scan for a clear frequency all through your phone. The App also allows you to control music playback and will scroll track and podcast information on the screen when the display is sleeping.
4. Belkin TuneCast Auto Live
Another charging solution from Belkin. Like the iTrip above, the TuneCase Auto Live uses an app on your iPhone to establish which is the clearest frequency. It uses GPS data from your iPhone to work out which frequencies are unused where you are and then suggests a frequency for you to tune your stereo in to. If you don’t like the idea of it using your location the Belkin Tunecast Auto with ClearScan doesn’t use an app or GPS – Instead it scans the airwaves to find a clear frequency.
5. Jabra Cruiser
The Jabra Cruiser is a small, slim portable car kit that combines an FM transmitter with a Bluetooth Car Kit. The Jabra Cruiser simply clips to the sun visor of your car and pairs to your iPhone or 2nd generation iPod touch using Bluetooth. The Cruiser supports both the A2DP and AVRCP profiles which means that you can stream your music to it over Bluetooth for playback either through the built in speaker or through your car stereo using it’s built in FM Transmitter.
The iPhone and iPod touch don’t fully support AVRCP, but you can still play/ pause your music using the play controls on the front of the Cruiser. Hopefully the next update from Apple will bring full AVRCP support to both devices. Find out more about A2DP and AVRCP profiles.
The Jabra Cruiser will also play your phone calls through your car stereo speakers for improved clarity. The Cruiser has dual microphones that work together to cut out background noise, making this a perfect choice for any one who spends a lot of time driving on motorways or noisy roads.
6. Belkin TuneFM3 FM Transmitter
The TuneFM3 is about as simple as you can get when it comes to FM transmitters. You just plug it into the dock connector on the bottom of your iPhone and tune your stereo in. Music playback starts automatically, saving you the hassle of having to launch the iPod app and press play. Unlike most FM transmitters that use the Dock Connector, the TuneFM3 has a mini USB port that allows you to charge your iPhone at the same time using a Mini USB Car Charger. The White on Black display makes reading the display effortless, especially at night.
The TuneFM3 was primarily designed for use with iPods, so when you connect it to your iPhone you will see a pop up message saying that “this accessory is not made for iPhone”. This isn’t the case, if you press no it will work just fine. This warning is only displayed as there is no shielding built in to prevent calls and messages interfering with the FM transmission.
7. Bubblegum FM Transmitter iPhone – Black
This is similar in many ways to the transmitter above it, but with a few less features. It doesn’t have a charging port, and the LCD isn’t backlit, so adjusting it at night will require you to pull over and put the interior light on.
8. Griffin iTrip Auto With SmartScan FM Transmitter
As you might have noticed, Griffin and Belkin are the leading manufacturer when it comes to iPhone accessories – particularly FM Transmitters. The iTrip Auto with smart scan charges your iPhone at the same time as broadcasting your music to your stereo.
The SmartScan technology scans the airwaves for the three best frequencies then saves them automatically to 3 programmable presets for easy recall at the touch of a button. You can control your music play back using the buttons on the in-line remote or on your iPhone. The feature that stands out to me with this one is that it broadcasts song information over RDS, so as long as your car stereo supports it, you’ll be able to see song and artist information on the screen of your stereo.
9. Venturi Mini Bluetooth Car Kit
The Venturi Kit is an FM transmitter and Bluetooth Car Kit combined. It sits in your cigarette lighter socket in the car and has a couple of ways for you to listen to music from your iPhone through your car stereo. You can either connect your iPhone to the Venturi using a 3.5mm audio cable, or you can stream your music to it over Bluetooth. The Venturi supports the same Bluetooth Profiles as the Jabra Cruiser, so you can play/pause your music without having to touch your phone.
There is a USB charging port on the side of the kit so you can connect and charge your iPhone using your existing USB cable. As the Venturi is a Bluetooth kit you can use it for handsfree calling too. Any calls that you receive will be broadcast over FM to you car stereo and the callers name and number will be sent to the stereo display using RDS.
10. TrailBlazer Bluetooth Car Kit & FM Transmitter
The Trailblazer is a new arrival to Mobile Fun and like the Venturi above you can connect your iPhone to it using either a 3.5mm cable or Bluetooth. Both calls and music are broadcast over FM to your car stereo and you can answer/end calls and play/pause your music on the Trailblazer.
If you have a cigarette lighter in an awkward position in your car this is a better option than the Venturi. The control unit is on the end of a flexible neck rather than at the base and as a result, the part that goes into your cigarette lighter is no bigger than a standard car charger. The Trailblazer also has a USB port for charging your iPhone.
This isn’t all of the iPhone FM Transmitters, just the ones that I think do a great job with the iPhone, if you want to see what else is available, take a look at our range of iPhone FM Transmitters or iPhone Car Kits.
If you’ve seen an iPhone FM Transmitters that we don’t currently range, let us know using the comments form below
Standard 30-pin dock connector has been around since 2003 on every iPod/iPhone (with the exception of Shuffle models). While I agree that Apple is notorious for changing form factors on a whim (ex. the headphone jack seems to switch sides with every generation of Nano), the physical connection itself has been pretty consistent.
Apple have used the 30-pin connector since 2003, but many of the accessories that use that 30-pin connection will not function with the current iPods/iPhones. One glaring example is the older Apple Wall Charger will not work with their own current devices. So, if Apple turns its back on their own accessories, we know they won't hesitate to turn it on a third-party accessory.
Since 2003 it has become illegal do use a hand held phone while driving and now carries a $90 fine and 3 penalty points in the UK. Society in general has now realized how dangerous this act is, although it still doesn't seem to concern the majority. Hopefully this will soon change with more and more variations of bluetooth kits becoming available. One of which is the Bluetooth Headset which is also known as Bluetooth Ear Piece.
Bluetooth Headsets have become more popular in recent years. This is for several reasons but mainly due to the awareness of phone driving and the consequences of doing so. There are more bluetooth headsets on the market now than ever before. This growing popularity has had many effects on the current crop of headsets. The design of the ear pieces is more stylish and trendy than ever before, mainly down to the importance of the style and fashion in an image conscious generation. For this reason manufacturers have increased the budget for development of newer products.
As these products are designed to be worn on the ear and on display constantly, small, sleek, smooth and simple kits are seen to be more desirable. The size of these types of kit have reduced over the past few years and a lot are now around the size of a 20p piece and due to this the functionality of them is fairly basic.
So what are Bluetooth Headsets?
Actually more like an ear piece than a headset. The device fits into your ear with most having an arm that loops over your ear to hold in place. The device connects pairs with your phone via bluetooth and allows you to answer and hang up conversations via your mobile phone, but without having to touch the phone. The majority of these devices utilize a one button function method for ease of use, in which one tap will answer the incoming call and the next tap will hang up the conversation. The microphone is usually built in to the ear piece to improve the design and functionality.
This has its obvious advantages, one of which is these devices allow you be contactable while you drive. Just a simple tap of the device button while you're driving connects the conversation through the bluetooth headset. Meaning you can hear and talk to the contact perfectly while you concentrate on driving. Obviously this reduces the chances of an accident significantly assuming you would have previously been fumbling around for the phone, then driving one handed for the duration of the call.
Usually Bluetooth Headsets are easy to use and set up. Almost all units pair to your phone in the same way, you switch the device on, press the button and select the device in the phones bluetooth menu. Once Paired you are good to go, just insert the device in your ear & you can accept all calls coming through your mobile.
The quality of the audio produced by these most of these devices is excellent, because the device fits directly into your ear there's minimal interference outside of the ear piece. Most kits come with a 2 watt speaker which produce a good audio range, so they're neither to tinny or too much bass' when people are speaking on the other end.
The majority of these kits are used by professional drivers, who are on the road more often than not. However Bluetooth headsets are very cost effective and are definitely useful for all drivers as your device may save your life without you being aware of it.
A Bluetooth Car Kit is a device that provides a safe and convenient way to communicate whilst driving.
It’s still early days for the iPhone 4, but that doesn’t mean that there is only a limited range of iPhone 4 accessories. The latest generation of Apple’s iPhone uses the same 30 pin dock connector as previous models and runs on an updated version of the same software. This is great news – especially for those upgrading from an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS, as it means that most iPhone 3G accessories will also work with iPhone 4.
There are a few exceptions – anything that uses a moulded holder, moulded dock or form fitting case won’t fit as the phone is now slimmer and has a square profile.
To help all you early iPhone 4 adopters keep your new device looking it’s best and working to it’s full potential, here are 10 of the best iPhone 4 accessories.
Best iPhone 4 Skin: InvisibleSHIELD Full Body Protector for iPhone 4
Over the coming weeks and months, we’re going to get inundated with skins for iPhone 4, but one of the best ones will always be the InvisibleShield by Zagg. They’re perfect for iPhone 4 as they’re thin, incredibly tough and easy to fit – especially now that the iPhone is flat. The Full Body Shield includes film to cover the front and back of your phone, as well as the antenna band that wraps around the phone.
As the InvisibleShield covers the stainless steel sides of the phone, it prevents you from touching the antenna. This should cure any signal loss that you get as a result of the so called ‘Death Grip’.
Best iPhone 4 Car Charger: Monster In Car Charger 800 for iPhone 4
iPhone 4 has a better battery than my previous iPhone, but it’s still not fantastic. Use your iPhone 4 in the car for Sat Nav and you’re going to be running low on power pretty quickly. A car charger is an obvious solution, but beware – not all car chargers are created equal!
Using GPS on your iPhone drains the battery quickly, so quickly in fact, that some cheap car chargers can’t get the power back into the phone fast enough for the phone to charge. I found this out the hard way after driving to Brighton, my iPhone 3G was plugged into a car charger and I was using Sat Nav and listening to music. I didn’t even make it half way before the phone died.
The solution is a more powerful car charger, and that’s exactly what this is from Monster. It’s powerful enough to charge 2 high drain devices at the same time – an iPhone and any other device that you’ve got a USB charging cable for.
Best iPhone 4 Car Holder: Brodit Holder with Pass Through for iPhone 4
OK, I’m jumping the gun a little on this one as it’s not even been released yet, but if their iPhone 3G version is anything to go by, this is without doubt the best in car holder you can get for your iPhone. They are moulded to fit the phone perfectly and have a soft felt coating to prevent scratches.
The best bit about them is the pass through connection on the bottom. This is basically just a dock connector built into the cradle, so that you can leave your car charger or FM transmitter plugged into it all the time. This way, you only have to slide your phone in and out of the cradle to connect/disconnect your phone – no messing around with cables.
The slight downside is that they’re not cheap and they’re designed to be screwed onto your dash. You can get round this by using a Brodit ProClip, a damage free bracket that clips onto your dashboard.
Best iPhone 4 Armband
If you enjoy working out, cycling or running and like to listen to your tuns or podcasts you’ll know how tricky it can be to find somewhere sensible to put your iPhone.
The simplest and easiest option is an armband. They have velcro fastening for quick and easy removal and are made from a waterproof, breathable material. You can still use your iPhone’s touch screen while it’s in the case and this armband even has a handy storage pocket for your earphones.
Some of the iPhone 3G armbands will work with iPhone 4, but they might be a little on the large side.
Best iPhone 4 FM Transmitter: Belkin TuneCast Auto Live FM Transmitter
One of the most frequently asked questions we get from iPhone users is “how do I listen to my music in the car?” There are a few ways of doing it, but the easiest way, with the least amount of effort or cash is with an FM transmitter. You can get cheap battery operated ones for about a fiver, but they’re a waste of time.
If an FM transmitter is your only way to listen to tunes in the car, it’s worth paying the money for a decent one. The Belkin TuneCast Auto Live is the smartest FM transmitter available. It works in conjunction with a GPS powered app on your phone to determine the clearest frequency for where you are using the phone.
If you move into an area where the frequency you’re using is used by other stations, the transmitter will automatically select another frequency for you – all you need to do then is re-tune your stereo and continue to listen to your tunes.
Best iPhone 4 Speaker Dock: Altec inMotion Max iPod iPhone Speaker
A speaker dock is another wildly popular accessory for iPhone owners. The Altec inMotion Max speaker dock not only fills the room with your music, they also charge your iPhone, have a built in FM Radio and can be connected to any audio device with a 3.5mm headphone socket.
The dock on the front of the speakers uses a similar inlay system to the universal Apple Dock – this means that you can use it with any iPod or iPhone. 4 inlays are included with an iPhone 4 one promised shortly, but just because the insert isn’t included, it doesn’t mean you can’t use it. I always find that the inserts are a bit of a fiddle and prevent you from using several devices with the speakers, so I don’t use them. The dock works just as well without them fitted and means you can switch from an iPod classic to an iPhone 4 without any messing around.
Best iPhone 4 Bluetooth Headphones: Sony Ericsson MW600 Stereo Bluetooth Headset
Like listening to your music, but hate the trademark white headphones that tell the world you’ve got an expensive bit of kit in your pocket? Me too. You can of course change the headphones to black ones, but why not lose the cable connection to your phone completely?
The Sony Ericsson MW600 Stereo Bluetooth Headset works brilliantly with iPhone 4 and is currently my favourite set of Bluetooth Headphones. They’re not completely wireless as there are still cables running from the Bluetooth receiver to the ear pieces, but that’s not a bad thing. The earphones have a standard 3.5mm jack plug on them and can easily be replaced with headphones of your choice.
The Bluetooth receiver is small – about the same size as an AA battery – and for such a small device they’ve crammed a lot into it. As well as being able to play your music in stereo, the MW600 allows you to make and receive calls handsfree and has a built in FM radio – something that some iPhone users have been requesting be added to the phone for years.
It’s multipoint too, so if you wanted, you could use this with your PC/Mac or a second phone at the same time.
Best iPhone 4 Screen Protector: Case-Mate Anti-Glare / Anti-Finger Print Screen Protector – iPhone 4
Apple are saying that the screen on iPhone 4 is almost indestructible. I’m not convinced. Stick it in your pocket or bag with keys & coins and it’ll scratch. You can’t use scratch removal tools to repair scratches on touchscreen phones, so your best bet is to look after your screen by fitting a screen protector.
There are so many screen protectors out there though it can be a bit overwhelming, after all, they are all supposed to do the same job, but they don’t.
Cheaper screen protectors can start to peel or lift at the edges, allowing dust and dirt underneath them. Others are that shiny, they make it almost impossible to see the screen of your phone. The Case Mate protector does neither of these things. It stays attached to your iPhone 4 and has a matte finish that actually improves visibility of the screen in bright light.
Best iPhone 4 Car Kit
When it comes to using your iPhone 4 in the car there are a number of options available to you. Generally speaking these different kits will fall into one of two categories, fully fitted car kits or portable car kits.
Best Portable Car Kit: Jabra SP700 / Jabra Cruiser
I can never decide between these two kits. Both perform really well and have the same basic features. The idea behind them is simple. They clip onto the sun visor in your car and connect to your iPhone using Bluetooth. They can both be used as a loud speaker for handsfree calling and music play back, but what makes these two stand out is that they both have a built in FM Transmitter so that you can play your calls and music through your car stereo for improved audio quality.
What sets the two apart though is the quality of the microphones and music control. The Jabra Cruiser has 2 microphones for noise cancellation and play, pause, rewind and fast forward buttons, where as the SP700 doesn’t.
Dual Microphones is an obvious benefit, but as the iPhone doesn’t fully support remote music control over bluetooth, only the play/pause button will work (at the moment – this could change with the next update from Apple)
If you’re not too fussed on being able to play/pause your music without touching your phone go for the SP700. If you want better audio and music control, go for the Cruiser.
Best Fully Fitted Car Kit: Parrot MKi9000
If you can afford it, and are planning on keeping your car for a while, then getting a fully fitted kit is well worth it. As well as being able to route all audio from your phone through your car stereo, you’ll also be able to charge your phone and the whole kit will be out of sight and hidden behind your dashboard.
I’ve chosen the Parrot MKi9000 as the best fitted car kit for the iPhone 4 as it does everything you’d need a kit to do. If you want a screen on your car kit, you can opt for the MKi9100 or MKi9200, but as the iPhone has a 3.5mm colour display of it’s own, I can’t really see the point of having another one just for the car kit.
The MKi9000 lets you play music from your iPhone through the MKi9000 either by connecting the Apple Dock Connector cable or you can stream your music to it using Bluetooth. The Mki9000 will synchronise with your phone book, and supports voice dialling – although it won’t activate voice control on iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.
The Mki9000 comes with a small remote that you can attach to your dash or steering wheel to fully control your music when your iPhone is connected using the Dock Cable (Play/Pause & volume only when using bluetooth). When you use Sat Nav on your phone, voice instructions come through your car stereo clearly – in fact, audio from any app on your phone will be routed through the car kit and will be heard through your car stereo speakers.