DLO's TransDock Deluxe FM transmitter: now with RF remote
By Darren Murph 
posted May 28th 2007 5:04AM
posted May 28th 2007 5:04AM
At this year's CES, DLO gave its TransDock device a much-needed refresh, and now that the year's nearly halfway over, it's getting yet another makeover. The TransDock Deluxe maintains the same (admittedly poor) FM transmission, AV output from your iPod to your vehicle's in-car displays, and built-in USB outlet for peripheral charging that we've seen in prior iterations, but the Deluxe setup adds an RF steering wheel remote (detailed after the jump) to handle the tunes without removing your hand. The remote purportedly "controls all TransDock functions such as changing your pre-set frequencies," the the unit itself provides a "choice of three LCD colors," comes with a six-foot AV cable, and sports the obligatory auxiliary input for times when your Pod isn't riding shotgun. Of course, for $129.99, we'd have to look into some other way besides finicky FM to get your iPod jams into your car stereo. 
It would be better if the remote was mounted "inside" the steering instead of "outside". This thing will just fail based on the design.
KC, Just mount it on the right hand side. Then it would be on the inside.
Too much money. If it were something like, $50-60, this would be nice. You could probably just hack this, keep the RF remote and get some audio out through a cable to hook up to your car's stereo.
I don't know why you think the TransDock's reception is poor, it's crystal clear in both of my cars. I had a Griffin iTrip and a Belkin Tunecast II, both had terrible reception. But when I got the TransDock, it was amazingly clear. I use the auxiliary outptut on my new stereo now, but in my other car that doesn't have that option, it's TransDock all the way for me...
You see more and more of these poorly designed products hitting the market.
Virtually all states / countries have banned any attachments to automobile steering wheels (mounted on the inside or out)
They can easily interfere with airbag deployment.
Catch on loose clothing while the wheel is turning.
Let alone the distraction of attempting to "Navigate" your device while trying to turn.
A device like this is a dream come true for lawyers...