Do Bluetooth Handsfree Kits Improve Road Safety

There are more cars on the road now than ever before. Combine this with new technology & the need to be in contact with everybody every minute of the day, and it could spell disaster for 1000's of road users daily. Some new statistics state that more than 50% of road users in the UK have illegally used their mobile phone when driving more than once in the last week, and a figure around 85% have used their phones while driving in there life time. To decide whether handsfree kits offer improved safety, we first have to discuss how using a mobile phone is dangerous. There is no doubt amongst the experts that it is. Using a mobile phone is dangerous for two reasons. Firstly when talking on your phone whilst driving you have to break contact with the wheel & car controls to do so, and by breaking contact from the vehicle you also reduce your reaction time by up to 4x. Secondly concentration is lost when talking to other people, less attention is paid to the road and more on the conversation taking place. This is a natural occurrence & no matter how much we feel we can over compensate for doing so we cant, again this reduces reaction time. Combining both together when driving can result at the very least dangerous driving. We now come to the title question, Do bluetooth handsfree kits improve driver safety? Well there are arguments for both sides of the debate. The opposition mainly concentrating on the second point made earlier, that concentration is lost when making a phone call & to be honest the use of a handsfree car kit doesn't really improve this. However do we only hold conversations over the phone or do we also have them with the passengers we carry? I don't know anybody who carries passengers and doesn't talk to them at some point during the commute. Who defines whether this is more or less acceptable than doing so over the phone? The problem is there are so many distractions when we drive already which are equal to talking over the phone, and not necessarily from inside the car. These distractions occur every minute where driving & its up to us whether or not to take notice (most of the time we don't). However this is where the counter argument comes from. Distractions are a common occurrence, and talking on the phone is no more of a distraction than say reading an advertising board, playing the number plate game or even singing along with the radio. The point is, if we outlaw the use of phone kits where do we stop, do we make it illegal to do anything other than drive. Were not allowed to take our eyes of the road & our hands from the steering wheel, no talking, listening to music or anything other than driving? Would this be more dangerous due to boredom? Phone Kits are considered to improve safety due to the fact you no longer have to hold the phone to have a conversation. Your hands remain on the steering wheel & eyes on the road. In fact the process is the same as talking to somebody next to you. Using phone kits aren't illegal, however if a police officer thinks you are driving dangerously due to using a phone kit or changing the stereo or CD or even talking to a passenger you can be prosecuted. It is the drivers responsibility to gauge whether they are capable or doing so safely. One thing is for sure, using a bluetooth car kit does improve ease of making or receiving a call & allows the driver to concentrate on driving properly. Its certainly a better option than not using one. Parrot Bluetooth is a good place to start when considering a car kit.

Griffin iPhone3gipod Touch Car Mount

Griffin IPhone3GiPod Touch Car Mount

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3 In 1 iPod Car Kit Review

3 In 1 IPod Car Kit Review

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Tunebase Fm Transmitter For iPhone And iPod Review

Despite the fact that the iPhone has been out for almost a year now, FM transmitters designed for the iPhone have been slow to arrive on the market, though there have been a few non-approved ones that unofficially work with the iPhone. Belkin’s new TuneBase FM is one of the first FM transmitters to be officially iPhone compatible, as well as compatible with other current gen iPods. The package comes with a big selection of adapters to fit different ipod models including the 4G and 5G iPod, the iPod classic, all three generation Nanos, and the iPod touch. The device plugs in to your car’s charger and also conveniently works as a power source for your iPod / iPhone. Set-up was simple, we docked our iPhone on the TuneBase FM - the adapter for the iPhone was already set up out of the box, but it’s easy enough to detach it and put on one of the iPod adapters. We then plugged the TuneBase FM in to the car’s lighter. The TuneBase FM features ClearScan technology which promises to automatically find a clear FM station. The ClearScan technology worked really, really well. It managed to find several clear stations, which is no small feat when you are in New York City where the radio waves are flooded. The stations it discovered were not completely clear- if you turned off the TuneBase FM we could hear some broadcasts coming through, however with the TuneBase turned on, it worked to cancel out the broadcasts on that station so that the music on our iPhone could came through loud and clear. How does it do that? We don’t know but we were amazed, especially at how well it worked in Manhattan. Granted we did hear some static here and there, but by experimenting at repositioning the Tunebase a little bit at different angles, we were able to eliminate most of the static. Our experience with other FM transmitters in New York City has not been very great, most of them have a hard time struggling to find and work on a clear frequency because the airwaves are so crowded, however the TuneBase excels. The front of the TuneBase also features a bright display for scanning through stations. Beneath the display is the ClearScan button for automatically scanning for free / clear stations. On the left of the device there are 1 and 2 buttons for setting presets to good frequencies you’ll want to reuse. The + and - buttons located on the right side let you manually search through different stations. On the right there is also the Pro button which turns on the PRO setting which can work to improve the audio performance of the TuneBase FM by adding dynamic compression to your iPod’s audio. There are three different Pro settings, as well as just a normal setting which works well for most types of audio. Pressing the Pro button allows you to cycle through the different pro settings. Pro 1 increases the average volume of the audio, Pro 2 increases the volume even more and tends to be suited for quieter music, and the final pro settings is optimized for audio files like podcasts and audiobooks and as a result it transmits in mono instead of stereo. The TuneBase FM also has a flexible steel “neck” so that it can rotate your iPod for landscape viewing. This is of course great for the iPhone with it’s neat landscape view for album art and videos. Also, it could also be used let’s say as a stand to hold your iPhone for a passenger to watch a movie. Another unique feature of the TuneBase FM is that it has a line-out feature which lets you connect it to car stereo inputs or cassette adapters. So in other words, if you’re having a hard time finding a clear FM station to use, you can connect the 3.5mm audio-out jack in the Tunebase FM to your car’s stereo or a cassette adapter. Off hand, we don’t know of any other FM transmitter that has an audio-out jack, and really they all should. Unfortunately an audio-out cable isn’t included but those are cheap enough to come by. Conclusion: Overall, we are really pleased with the TuneBase FM. We dare say that it’s the best FM Transmitter we’ve tried yet in terms of sound quality and success with finding clear stations and playing tunes through them. The device is also easy to use and we appreciate the thoughtful design which sports a flexible neck for landscape viewing. Finally, the fact that it also sports car stereo inputs is icing on the cake and makes it the FM transmitter to beat. The TuneBase FM retails for $89.99 The Good: ClearScan technology does a great job of finding clear stations, works great even in cities, flexible steel neck is convenient for landscape viewing, and car stereo inputs are a great bonus The Bad: This product, and every other FM transmitter, will NOT allow the iPhone to play without frequency feedback, unless the Airplane Mode is activated. Of course once that happens, then the iPhone is nothing more than an iPod; you can’t receive phone calls. As the owner of at least 6 different brands and versions of these for my iPhone, I found it ridiculous to rate these FM transmitters anything more than less than average due to this annoying issue of speaker distortion from phone frequency. Reviews from purchasers at electronic sites such as Best Buy, Amazon, CNET show this to still be a major problem w/ this product as well as minor to major static.

Instalacion Parrot Mki 9200 En Mini

Instalacion Parrot Mki 9200 En Mini

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Slk Itronic Install

SLK ITronic Install

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Advanced Bluetooth Car Kits Functions And Features

There are a lot of bluetooth car kits on the market at the moment, and with the exception of a few they are all virtually the same product. Not technically, mechanically or visually but in terms of functionality a lot operate in a similar fashion. This is both and advantage and disadvantage to the end user. The main advantage is that the products that you purchase all perform to a certain standard and operate with minimum effort. However the disadvantage is the kits range in price starting in the cheaper end of the market through to the mid-range and its difficult to tell which product is best for you. Especially when you might purchase a kit that is out performed by a cheaper. Choosing a kit can be as easy or as difficult as you make it. There are a lot of brands and products to choose from, and this can be a little daunting at first but its important to remember what you want the kit for. What functions you would like it to have, How it looks and what your prepared to pay for it. Bearing in mind which ever product you choose you will be able to use it for the main function you want it in the first place, to use your phone while driving. Everything else is a secondary function that you will either pay more to have or live without. So what are the more advanced features and are they worth paying more to have? New and improved technology is being developed all the time, and the chances are as you are reading this now some of the current functions and features are already old news. however everything has a starting point and developing these features to form something totally different is a continual process. Take music for example, first vinyl, then tape cassette, then CD and now MP3 (you can fit mini-disc in there somewhere too). Now think of all of the applications created for these different music types and what's been developed from them into something totally different. The most advanced technology in use at the moment is being developed by the likes of Parrot and Bury. Both manufacturers are well know for producing well rounded and functional products at the cutting edge of technology and the new kits being produced now are no exception. Parrot and Bury have aimed to develop slightly different areas within the industry. Parrot main focus has been the integration of external products to work in great harmony with the parrot car kits. The MKI range from parrot is the latest to be produced and hit the shops. The MKI range all have iPod connectivity as standard and the iPod can be controlled via the parrot remote. In the case of the MKI9200 the playlist and artwork appears on the screen making it much easier to control what music you want to play. The MKI range also uses text to voice technology and is capable of reading out text messages to the driver. Bury have mainly focused on the bluetooth hands free side of things and produced a product that will help revolutionise the world (in a small way). The development of the Bury voice command protocol is exceptional. The CC9060 can be controlled by voice commands for just about every option in the Bury and phone menu. Once you are in the car you can fully operate the car kit by you voice alone, further more you dont need to train the kit to learn your accent. Just get in and go. I can explain how impressed i was when i first had a play with the technology. Simple easy to use and excellent quality. At this point in time you have to pay a little extra for newer technology and advanced bluetooth features, but you would expect that in every walk of life. The fact is that a lot of effort has been put into the development of these new advanced bluetooth car kits, and that effort has certainly paid off for the end user.Modern bluetooth kits don't just offer bluetooth functionality, these kits are becoming more like multimedia centre's. You can have your favourite music playing through you stereo, video stored on your iPod playing on the screen, messages read out as soon as received and access to your phone contacts at the touch of a button or in some cases by simply requesting it. The advanced features in the new kits are impressive to use and do make a big difference to the functionally, however its important to remember why we need to use bluetooth car kits rather than engaging in a manual phone conversation while driving. The facts and figures are plain to see, if you use a hand held phone while driving your 4 x more likely to be involved in an accident and your reactions speed is reduced by 50%. In fact a lot of experts now liken the effects of phone-driving to that of drink-driving, and how many of us drink drive??? Put simply for every second you spend operating the phone while you drive you run the risk of killing somebody. Be sensible and safe on our roads, they are already dangerous enough. A Bluetooth Car Kit is a device that provides a safe and convenient way to communicate whilst driving. Your Phone can connect to the Car Bluetooth and ensure you and other road users remain safe.

My First iPod Car Kit The Dension Gateway 500

I was OVERWHELMED! It was a Dension iPod Car kit and it was really cool. Well, that was my very first one, so you can understand that I was quite in love with it. To be honest, originally I was not going to get it. I was expressing my disappointment over having to receive calls every now and then for work to my sister, and it **** me off when I had to use phone while driving. It's not that I can't handle a simple phone call when I am driving. But I fall into the category of those people who really enjoy driving and when I get inside my Saab Convertible, it becomes a whole new world for me. No one, just my car and me... well, that's what I was lamenting to my sister some day and the next day, she bought me this Dension iPod Car piece. But honestly, I just hated the installation process. I was never good at mathematics, and God, I was a technophobe. I just hate the hi-tech stuff that have wires coming out from every side of them. I just get so confused on where the red wire is going or the black wire connects. And I am pretty sure I have many friends, readers here who think the same. They are good with affiliate marketing business, they like being the financial analyst but figuring the wires and chips are never their cup of tea. Here, let me tell you something. My brother helped me a lot when it came to installing the Dension iPod Car kit, but most helpful was that short simple manual guide that we got from the supplier. It was real quality. It told you in step-by-step process, how to dissemble it and then assemble it, all in an simple way a newbie can understand. Well then again, I just love my Dension iPod car kit now. It is sleek and fashionable, and I just boast about it to my friends. It just suits my personality. Style meets style! But apart from that, how can I deny the legal rules that I have to abide by, in US or most countries. You cannot use a mobile phone while driving. No, let me rephrase that. You can use a phone. But you cannot with a phone with your 'hands'. No, you are not supposed to use them with your legs. Okay that was a bad joke. But it sure is dangerous. But after getting that cool Dension iPod Car kit, I not only added some character to my style (that's what I think anyway!), it just made it so easy for me to receive phone calls while driving via the BTA1500 Bluetooth module. It has some cool features. I just have to cycle through the options using the vehicle controls and it will load all of my contacts for me. Recently, I saw there has been some updated products. Perhaps, I will get myself the newest Dension iPod car kit very soon? It would be a nice present if somebody would be so kind! iPod car accessories are useful for long journeys, car accessories for the iPod can range from protective cases, to protect against scratches and more serious damage. Through to fully integrated iPod car kits which provide a digital connection combined with iPod and music control through the stereo / steering wheel adapters and charging facilities.

Diy iPhone Binder Clip Dock

DIY IPhone Binder Clip Dock

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Hasbro Plans 3d G Oggles For Your iPhone

If you’ve ever wanted to view 3D content on your iPhone or iPod touch, Hasbro has you covered. The toy-maker has just unveiled its newest creation, My3D, a pair of 3D glasses with a slot for an iPhone or iPod touch. It promises to deliver 3D content and 360-degree gaming. The Associated Press reports that the device is expected to retail for $30 and will be available in the spring. As CNET notes, the device has the appearance of a View-Master, but it’s targeted at both kids and adults. The AP reports that Hasbro was “guided by Apple during the development” of the product; 3D devices and add-ons have a lot of potential, but in the home setting, it becomes a question of available and valuable content. According to the AP, Hasbro says it is working with Dreamworks Animation to develop material. Dreamworks Animation has a number of successful 3D animated hits under its belt — including the recently released Megamind. Hasbro also says it will use content from 3D TV networks like the Discovery Channel and other content from Sony and IMAX. Other partnerships include the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, where 3D travel experiences are being created. The appeal for movie and television studios seems pretty clear — this is a way to promote upcoming 3D content in theaters or give users a taste of 3D entertainment at home. The bigger question, however, is if there is enough of a lure for consumers to purchase this sort of content and device — and just as importantly, if this is attractive to app developers. Creating 3D content isn’t inexpensive and that’s one of the hurdles that non-video content creators continue to face. For something like My3D to succeed, there need to be games and content that goes beyond advertisements for feature films. It’ll be interesting to see if Hasbro can pull this off. The $30 price point certainly puts My3D in the “why not?” purchase category. Now let’s just see if it can go beyond mere novelty.

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Bluetooth Stereo Speakers

Computer speakers are important computer components to be analyzed nowadays together with all the other computer components that we all make use of every day and that are very important for the way in which the computer functions and helps us deal with some of our work activities much easier and faster. There are numerous computer speakers presented by various manufacturers nowadays and this is the main reason why when we might be interested in buying new speakers for our computer we should consider the idea of analyzing more than just one offer before making a good decision in this respect. One model of computer speakers that can be analyzed is represented by Bluetooth stereo speakers such as the ones presented by LG: LG MSB-100. The main interesting and important to be mentioned aspect when discussing about Bluetooth computer speakers is the fact that they can be used from another room than the one in which our computer might be and the results are still great ones. The speakers manufactured by LG are portable speakers presenting the Bluetooth technology and their dimensions are the following ones: 4.4”x 1”x 2.6”.Their amplification is active type. Like any other product of this kind this model of Bluetooth stereo speakers also presents both advantages and disadvantages that are all important to be familiar to those interested in deciding whether they might represent a good choice of use in various situations or not. In what concerns their advantages, as they have been considered by some of he computer users who have used them can be said that they were considered to present an attractive compact type of design, that they were appreciated for their easy- to- use type of controls and also for their music player keys. In what concerns the disadvantages presented by this model of Bluetooth stereo speakers can be said that some of the computer users who have used them have complained about the average sound quality presented by them. Certainly, both the advantages and the disadvantages could be regarded differently by other computer users but what is important is that they should become familiar to everyone interested in these computer speakers because this way everyone will be able to decide whether they should purchase them or not. LG MSB-100 Bluetooth stereo speakers do not represent a new model of speakers but they represent the type of speakers that can be more than useful to be used by those who are not interested in great quality sounds and who are more interested in using them for usual type of activities. Its design is considered to be a pretty traditional one, but in a compact and portable type of size that makes them practical and a good choice of use at least in certain situations. This model of Bluetooth stereo speakers represents one of the numerous models of such devices found available on the market and that can be easily analyzed nowadays by everyone interested in them. What is important is for all of us to be very well informed before choosing to buy something new for our computer.

Growing Number Of Drivers Using The Phone Illegally

If you are unsure of what Bluetooth car kits are you probably will be soon. Penalties are getting much stronger for using a mobile phone when driving, in fact the punishment has doubled in the previous few years. The point of which is to impose a greater awareness and the consequences of doing so. If you are caught using your phone or another hand held device you run the risk of incurring a 6 point penalty and $90 fine, which is more than a slap on the wrists for most people. However this is very lenient compared to the burden weighing on thousands of people's shoulders who have to live with the knowledge they caused an accident and harmed another person or family carelessly & needlessly. What type of person knowingly puts another persons life at risk? Well the answer is most of us. Most of the road users in the UK knowingly and openly use their mobile phone illegally when driving. In fact after reading this article, make a mental note of how many you see doing so the next time you drive. I'd be very surprised if its less than 10 every half an hour driving. If were all honest with ourselves we'll probably admit doing it too, the fact is its too easy & tempting to to just pick it up and chat for a few seconds. What harm can that do? We all have driving experience and can multi-task right? Wrong. Its a combination of factors that make it dangerous including reducing the physical contact with the car operating controls. The point is that the majority of accidents where a mobile phone is the cause are avoidable, simply by not answering or making the call, however if it is a necessity the use of bluetooth car kits offer a much greater and safer and more convenient option regardless of what kit you are using. The worst bluetooth kit on the market is still safer than not using one. This is why a lot of vehicle manufacturers are adding bluetooth as an option when purchasing the vehicle, I know Ford are offering it as a free upgrade at this point in time (in the UK). Possibly more as a selling tool rather than a moral decision, however the option is still there. So do us all a favour, either use bluetooth car kits when you drive or don't use your phone. Can you live with somebodies death on your conscience? I know I couldn't.

Audi Offers Drivers iPhone Integration

Audi has taken appropriate steps in making your iPhone a little more easier to use. If you currently own or plan to buy one of the following Audi models, A5, A6, A8, and Q7 cars, then it is possible that you can hook up your iPhone to your car. These Audi models offer the ability to play your stored music as well as hands-free calling to ensure safe driving. Also, they allow you to accept or reject any incoming phone calls, as well as displaying your signal strength and the caller’s name. Along with playing your music, you can easily navigate through the artists, track titles, playlists, and genres. All these new applications and functions available are making the already easy to use iPhone even easier and much more fun, even when on the go.

What Should You Look For In iPhone To Car Integration

So you've just purchased your shiny new iPhone, you've probably already downloaded more apps than your ever going to use. As well as visiting multiple sites looking for the latest accessories to work with your new social status symbol. Not that anything is wrong with doing this. Its exciting getting a new toy to play with, especially if you haven't used an iPhone before. However, finding a device which is actually useful and combines well with the iPhone (which isn't a gimmick) is fairly rare. But one of the most useful inventions for the iPhone, is the iPhone car kit. There are numerous kits which offer iPhone integration into your vehicle. Each has different strengths and weaknesses, however the general principle is the same. You receive iPod and or Phone through your vehicle stereo. Sounds good right!! Well it is. So what would you expect an iPhone car kit? Let me tell you what is available. Firstly there are devices such the Gateway 100, these offer integration into the vehicle for iPod playback (the iPhone is basically an iPod with a phone built in). You control your music through the stereo or steering wheel and get text info on compatible cars. The kits are fully integrated however don't offer a phone function at all. These kits are excellent if your only interested in music playback, and want more integration than a FM Transmitter can provide. Secondly there are kits like the Parrot MKI range, Traditionally speaking Parrot Bluetooth has always been seen as the market leader. Parrot specialise in Bluetooth Phone functions, which works well with the iPhone. However now Parrot have included iPod into the New MKI products. So you now receive phone integration and well as all your songs. The other major advantage of the parrot kit is that it is universal and fits into the vehicle via ISO connections. Adapters can be purchased if your vehicle doesn't use ISO. There are obviously some negatives to the parrot MKI range, firstly the parrot kits don't actually integrate through the stereo, they use the car speakers to Auto-Mute when a call is made or received. So you cant control the iPod, Phonebook etc through the car's controls. You can control them through the parrot controls which are included with the kit. Secondly the Music played through the MKI range is amplified through the parrot kit, and usually only play through the front speakers. Technological advances in this area have seen a new kit come onto the market. Its not available for all vehicles as of yet, and the integration is very specific. However the Dension Gateway 5 is the next generation of iPhone integration. The kit installs into your stereo and works alongside it to provide Music & Phone functionality inside your car as an all in one solution. You receive Text on the cluster screen and full digital sound quality through all speakers. The other major advantage of this solution over others on the market is that it is controllable through stereo and steering wheel and no separate screen is required. The only dis-advantage of the Dension Gateway 5 is that is is car and stereo specific, in fact it quite often it goes deeper than that. Often the kit requires the presence of steering wheel controls & Cluster screens inside the vehicle. Some vehicle have them, some don't. iPhone car integration is becoming more and more advanced, each year brings out a new method of integration and improved functionality through the car. This time next year I would expect much further integration than we already have now. The iPhone car kit, is one of the best accessories available for the iPhone. If you want more information about the kits or to see which kit is best suited to you visit iPod car kit Direct.

iPod Docking Station For Cars

IPod Docking Station For Cars

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5 Ways To Connect Your iPod To Your Car

There are a lot of different ways to connect your iPod to your cars audio system. Here I am going to look at 5 of the best ways to achieve this on the market today. Auxiliary - Perhaps the most simple of all iPod solutions, the auxiliary lead input is also the cheapest. An auxiliary lead is simply a 3.5mm jack to 3.5mm jack. Manufacturers are now starting to offer this kind of connection as standard in there cars making it one of the most popular solutions. It is the cheapest and easiest method of connection however there are a lot of drawbacks. With an auxiliary lead the audio quality is never quite there, you will get you audio and be able to hear it fine but if you are used to CD's then you will be able to notice the difference. There is also a lack of control with auxiliary leads, all control has to be done through the iPod itself, not ideal whilst driving and certainly something we would never suggest you do. The last and possibly biggest downside to auxiliary connections is the lack of charging, your iPod will only play for as long as the battery lasts meaning after a long road trip your iPod is going to be dead by the time you reach your destination. Transmission - The next level on the ladder of connectivity is an FM-Transmitter. This provides a more universal approach than the auxiliary connection as it simply uses the 12v socket and the radio. The iPod plugs into the transmitter which in turn sends the sound via an FM frequency, you then simply tune into this frequency on you radio. This can provide a very good solution on the cheap and also allows you to transfer the kit between various cars very easily. The biggest down fall of this type of kit is the quality, as with any radio signal, it is only as good as the strength of the reception. It is also susceptible to interference from other radio stations as you travel. In essence a transmitter is a great way of connecting an iPod cheaply but don't expect the best sound quality. Modulation - An improvement from an FM-transmitter is an FM-Modulator. In essence the operation of the two kits is near identical however there is one very major difference. Instead of sending the FM signal through the air it uses a solid connection onto the car aerial input, providing near perfect quality audio and removing 99.9% of interference. With a price tag that is similar to the high end transmitters, modulators are perhaps the most popular of all iPod solutions. One of the biggest market leaders in the iPod field, Dension, produce an Ice Link One. This is perhaps the best value for money solution on the market today. Integrated Kits - OK so you've looked into the kits I've suggested so far but you really want to hide your iPod away rather than clutter your dashboard with cables and brackets. This is where an integrated solution becomes your best option. An integrated kit will allow you in most cases to control your iPod through the standard stereo fitted to your vehicle and keep the iPod safely hidden in the glove box. The majority of the integrated kits use the CD changer connection to send the feed from the iPod into the stereo allowing for perfect sound quality, full charging and also text information to be displayed on any OEM displays. Products like the Gateway 100 are the pinnacle of iPod solutions if you want to keep your standard equipment. Replacement - So you have looked at the options above and want a fully integrated solution however your stereo does not support CD changers or you simply want a change from your boring looking OEM unit. If this is the case then your best bet is to get a brand new stereo with iPod integration as a feature. The choice out there nowadays is huge, there really is an iPod ready stereo to suit everyone's budget. The latest of which is the Sony Tune Tray range. These stereos are at the top of there game allowing you to hide your iPod in the stereo itself and have full control still of the iPod. The Sony DSX-S300BTX is in my opinion the best iPod stereo on the market today. So to recap, no matter what your budget there is a way to connect your iPod to your car stereo and listen to your favourite play list on the move. In terms of iPod connection the more you pay the better quality kit you will receive and the more features will be available to you. If you choose to go down the integration route always connect a reputable company to gain some good advice as compatibility plays a massive part in what kit is available to you. There are alot of options when it comes to fitting an iPod solution to your vehicle. Products like the Ice Link One and the Gateway 100 can provide great solutions using the standard equipment. There are after market products like the Sony DSX-S300BTX that can take features even further.

How To Connect Your iPod To Your Car

One of the questions we get asked a lot is “How can I connect my iPod to my Car?” – but as each car is different, and each stereo is different, there are a number of ways you can do it. To give you an idea on some of the more popular ways to connect your iPod to your car stereo I’ve written a quick guide that should hopefully give you a better idea on how you can listen to music from your iPod in the car. I’ve tried to cover all different options here, right through from a simple iPod FM Transmitter right through to an iPod Car Kit. If you think I’ve missed anything out or know of another method that’s not been mentioned here, leave us a comment at the end of the post. Method One: 3.5mm FM Transmitter Belkin TuneCast II FM Transmitter Compatibility: - Compatible with iPhone - Compatible with iPod touch - Compatible with iPod classic - Compatible with iPod nano - Compatible with iPod shuffle This was originally one of the only ways to connect your iPod to your car stereo and is an extremely easy way to listen to your music in the car. You plug the FM transmitter into the headphone socket of your iPod, tune your car stereo in to a frequency that isn’t being used by a radio station and then set the transmitter to the same frequency. Your music is then broadcast to your stereo for you to enjoy. The transmitter has programmable memory slots that allow you to save the clearest stations to memory so that your music comes through clearly wherever you go. The FM transmitter runs on batteries and won’t drain your iPod but if you plan on using your iPod in the car, you’ll probably want to consider getting an iPod car charger. As this uses the headphone socket on your iPod, it does mean that it will actually work with any device with a 3.5mm headphone port – laptops, DVD players, portable games consoles etc. Method Two: Dock Connector FM Transmitter Belkin TuneFM3 FM Transmitter for iPod Compatibility: - Compatible with iPhone - Compatible with iPod touch - Compatible with iPod classic - Compatible with iPod nano This type of FM Transmitter is essentially the same as the one above, but instead of connecting to your iPod using the headphone socket, it uses Apple’s Dock Connector. This means that the audio quality is slightly better and you won’t need to keep buying batteries as it draws the small amount of power that it needs from your iPod. Like the one listed above it has memory pre-sets that you can use to store the frequencies of the clearest stations and you can easily switch between them using the buttons on the front of the transmitter and the ‘white on black’ display makes it easy to use at night. Method Three: Powered FM Transmitter Griffin iTrip Auto With SmartScan FM Transmitter for iPod Compatibility: - Compatible with iPhone - Compatible with iPod touch - Compatible with iPod classic - Compatible with iPod nano The only slight downside to the Dock Connector FM transmitters is that because you’re using the Dock connector for the transmitter, you can’t use it to charge your iPod. This shouldn’t really be too much of a problem as the battery life on iPods is great, but there might be times where you find yourself running low on power. That’s where the Griffin iTrip Auto comes in handy, it’s a car charger with an FM transmitter built in to the cable. This allows you to charge your iPhone while listening to your music through your car stereo. Functionality wise it’s the same as the ones listed above. Also Consider: Belkin Tunecast Auto with ClearScan Method Four: Simple Car Kit Venturi Minikit For iPod Compatibility: - Compatible with iPhone - Compatible with iPod touch - Compatible with iPod classic - Compatible with iPod nano - Compatible with iPod shuffle The Venturi Kit is more than just an FM transmitter. It sits in your cigarette lighter socket in the car and has a couple of ways for you to listen to music from your iPod through your car stereo. If you’ve got an iPod Nano, Classic or shuffle you connect it to the Venturi using a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable. The Venturi will then broadcast your music over FM to your car stereo. If you’ve got an iPod touch or iPhone you can use the 3.5mm cable, but you’ve also got the option to stream your music over a Bluetooth connection to the Venturi, which will then broadcast to your stereo. This eliminates the need to have wires trailing across the dashboard. It also doubles up as a Bluetooth Handsfree kit in the car. It’s got a USB charger port on the side that you can use to charge your iPod too. Also Consider: KitPerfect In Car FM Transmitter For iPod And iPhone Method Five: Fitted Car Kit Parrot MKi9100 Bluetooth Car Kit Compatibility: - Compatible with iPhone - Compatible with iPod touch - Compatible with iPod classic - Compatible with iPod nano - Compatible with iPod shuffle (iPod Shuffle connects using a 3.5mm audio cable and as a result, music control and displaying song information is not supported) The Audio cable is long enough to be routed to your glove box, centre console or anywhere else in the dashboard that you want to place your iPod. Once connected, the MKi9100 will show you song and artist information on it’s external display and you can control the music from your iPod using the small remote control that attaches to your steering wheel.* As I mentioned previously, this is also a fully functional Bluetooth car Kit too so you can pair it to your mobile for handsfree calling, and can also stream music to the kit from your phone over Bluetooth. Depending on your vehicle, installation can take as little as 15 minutes and can be done yourself quite easily as Parrot car kits use industry standard ISO connectors to hook up to your existing car stereo. Cars that don’t use ISO connections will need extra adapters. Also Consider: Parrot MKi9200 Bluetooth Car Kit Vehicle Dependant Connections Some cars will have some iPod connectivity built in to them already. These tend to be newer cars made in the last 3-4 years. Most manufacturers will offer them as a factory fit option, and your local dealership may be able to retro fit them into your car. There are 2 different connections that you might find in your car – 3.5mm Aux in or USB. 3.5mm Aux-in: You’ll need: Auxiliary Input Lead For iPod/MP3 Car Stereo Compatibility: - Compatible with iPhone - Compatible with iPod touch - Compatible with iPod classic - Compatible with iPod nano - Compatible with iPod shuffle This is the simplest and easiest way to hook your iPod up to your car stereo and it will work with all models of iPod, but not all vehicles have a visible AUX port. Some will have one on the front of the stereo, others in the glove box and others in the centre console (similar to the image above). Chances are that unless you’ve got a car that’s relatively new (made in the last 3-4 years) or have fitted an after-market stereo you won’t have one. The AUX in or ‘Front Aux’ port is becoming a fairly standard feature now and I’ve seen head unit’s with this connection retailing for anything from $69 upwards. If you want to integrate your iPod into your car with the minimum of fuss and installation then the Parrot MKi range of Bluetooth Car Kits are a great way to do it. Although they are primarily Bluetooth Hands Free Car kits for mobile phones, they are also designed to be full car kit’s for iPods and MP3 players too. Each kit has a music cable with a USB port, a 3.5mm line in port and an Apple Dock connector which makes it compatible with just about every iPod and MP3 player on the market. If your car or stereo has one of these AUX in ports, all you’ll need to connect your iPod to it is a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable and possibly a car charger to keep your iPod powered. USB Cable: You’ll need: Apple iPod & iPhone USB Cable This is another really easy way to connect your iPod up to your car stereo but is not that common. Some manufacturers will offer this as a factory fit option, and your local dealership may be able to retro fit it into your car although it could be quite expensive. If you’ve got a USB port in your car already then you just need to use a standard iPod dock cable to connect it to the car. Depending on the set up in the car, you should be able to operate your iPod fully using your steering wheel or stereo controls – but this does vary by manufacturer though so I’d contact your dealer if you’re unsure on anything. After market Head Units with a USB port don’t always work with iPods, so if you’re considering replacing the stereo in the car, check with the retailer to make sure it’s compatible.