Griffin ships iPod / iPhone-compatible iTrip AutoPilot

It's been a hot minute since Griffin Technology loosed a new iTrip, but the newest member of the family is one we can't help but high-five. The iTrip AutoPilot not only charges and transmits iPod audio to your FM stereo, but it also does the same with Apple's iPhone. As expected, the device plugs into one's cigarette adapter on one end while sliding into a Dock Connector on the other; the SmartScan technology will do its best to locate the clearest frequency for transmitting on, and it will then display said station so you can dial in with your radio. Not a half bad piece for $99.99 -- 'tis a shame FM transmitters are all but worthless in even modestly large cities.

[Via Macworld]

[Gingerbread Man @ May 29th 2008 9:19AM]

Yay, is there one that doesnt have static yet??

[hopenglish @ May 29th 2008 9:39AM]

Honestly, the fact that they keep trying with the FM transmitters is like car companies trying to economize their gas-guzzlers. It's a dead horse.

I would like to see more efforts made into alternate forms of wirelessly transmitting audio waves from media devices into car stereos. Having said that, I understand some progress is being made in the field of in-car internet which I would imagine would eventually allow for functionality somewhat similar to airfoil/airport express-like technology. I think I just speak for many who desire innovation over impractical improvement.

[hopenglish @ May 29th 2008 9:40AM]

Off topic, but what's the size requirement on avatars for this site?

[phrogg @ May 29th 2008 10:50AM]

So what's your recommendation? That they switch to AM transmitters? Unfortunately, most of us poor schmucks are stuck with the choice of AM or FM to connect with our car stereos, so that kind of limits the choices the developers have to reach the mass market.

Some of us might have an AUX-In, but unless you were able to afford all the bells and whistles on your car, you likely don't have a bluetooth interface or 802.11 built into your dashboard.

[phrogg @ May 29th 2008 10:51AM]

Of course, now that i think of it, if you still have a tape deck, you can use one of those tape-deck adapters like i used to use with my cd player...but those are becoming rare, too, with the prosperity of CD's.

[John V. @ May 29th 2008 11:43AM]

I got an iTrip and, yes, it does suck here in DC. When I'm out in the boonies, it works OK. That said, the features on this one seem pretty cool, if you live somewhere where it would work. I think the different success people have with in-car FM transmitters must have something to do with the quality and/or placement of antennas on the cars as well, since different people in the same metropolitan areas have the different experiences with the same product.

OTOH, for the people who say that FM doesn't work at all, I love the transmitter I got for my house:
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=FM25B
but I did have to sign a release that said that it wasn't the manufacturer's fault if I get in trouble with the FCC. Find me another way that I can store all my music on one computer and listen to it on any OR ALL devices in my house or yard that have an FM tuner for less than $200 total. Also, I love music, but I am not an audiophile, thank god.

For my car, however, I got a Sony CD/MP3-CD/FM/AM deck that has a 1/8" audio-in jack for $100 installed. It works great, is plenty loud enough for me, and I never have to find an open frequency. It would be nice to be able to control the iPod with the buttons on the car stereo, but I don't miss that feature much, and the price was right.

[hopenglish @ May 29th 2008 12:17PM]

It may be that I've had issues with FM transmitters and that the tape conversion solution gets a bit frustrating at times. I'm trying to look ahead and I failed to realize the importance of low-tech solutions (though I think FM transmitters are a beautiful idea for its time), especially since I also do not have the iPod hookup solution built into my car.

From watching the Surface demo from the D:6 conference (though this idea has been shown elsewhere as well), it got me thinking about wireless iPod solutions for inside a car. For instance, a person could place an iPod within the proximity of a car and the car's "computer" recognizes it. The user could then marry the iPod to the car and voila, the iPod library is displayed on the computer screen. The audio is then streamed or even, *gasp*, ripped onto the car's computer.

I like looking ahead and I should probably easy on Griffin's improvement on the more present-day solution.

[dave @ May 29th 2008 9:51AM]

I live in Chicago and have been VERY happy with DLO transpod. The only FM transmitter I've found that works...only get static maybe once a month.

[darkstar @ May 29th 2008 10:45AM]

i agree DLO is the best so far...

[bloodythespians @ May 29th 2008 9:58AM]

Am i wrong in thinking that this is what the FM Transmitter for the zune has been doing for a long while??

[connorcam @ May 29th 2008 10:08AM]

Um, the iTrip has been out for years, way before the Zune was out.

[Darren @ May 29th 2008 11:49AM]

There's an FM Transmitter available for the Zune? That's terrific.

[bloodythespians @ May 29th 2008 12:30PM]

I meant about it being able to scan for the best available FM frequency to transmit at. Doesn't really seem to be a new technology.

[jon @ May 29th 2008 10:00AM]

good thing there are a zillion stereo head units with aux inputs for around the same price.

[dave @ May 29th 2008 10:07AM]

Granted I have to turn my iphone to airplane mode to get rid of the gsm interference, but ipods work just fine

[Adam @ May 29th 2008 10:12AM]

Worthless? I have been using a somewhat cheap FM transmitter for over two years and im confident that I could count the number of time it has failed me on one hand. It has been put to use everywhere from upstate Pennsylvania out in the middle of know where to Washington D.C., Delaware, Philadelphia, Baltimore and even on the outer banks in N.C. where know one even gets cell phone service. I have used it nearly every minuet I have driven over the past two years and it has seen a 1st gen nano, 30gb video and now occasionally my iPhone. My car has two extra cigaret lighters and I have worn out two and am working on the third because of how much this thing has been used.... but man if only I tested new electronics all day and had money to afford a new car with a 30 prong media import.

[thatkidmattt @ May 29th 2008 5:57PM]

I live in South Philadelphia...

get me a radio frequency that doesn't suck for an FM transmitter and I'll give you 5 dollars.

[TEG @ May 29th 2008 10:17AM]

This is a joke.... I've been using the original iTrip Auto with my iPhone since iPhone firmware 1.01 (when Apple activate the line out for 3rd party products), and I've been quite happy with it. I get very little GSM noise. The only times I do is when passing between at&t coverage and roaming coverage, when passing between Urban and Rural coverage (switching frequencies), when my iPhone auto checks e-mail (about once every 30 minutes), or when I receive a call or use any network functions. It usually goes away by either holding the phone in my hand, or pressing lightly on the lower part of the front of the phone.

This iTrip is only worth the money if it completely eliminates GSM noise, and retains the 12V power (for those iPods that can't charge over USB).

TEG

[thetinguy @ May 29th 2008 10:33AM]

The old itrip also supports the Ipod touch. I use it with mine.

[Imad Khan @ May 29th 2008 11:34AM]

I've used 3 these FM Transmitters (including the Itrip) and in my usual commute between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the static becomes annoying. Also the sound quality is not very impressive either. I rely on what I have always relied on, a Tape/Cassette adapter, its the cheapest and the best if you dont have an AUX IN socket in your car. But I'm satisfied with the little money i spend for a better quality sound. The only thing is the wires hangin' out of the tape deck.. the last cassette adapter broke cuz' the wire got cut while being stuck under my car seat. But its still better investment than installng those $100 to $250 internal adapters just for an ipod or an iphone! FM transmitters need to hold hands with HDDVD's and just fade away!

[Greg @ May 29th 2008 12:03PM]

Why do you idiots pay $100 for this crap? This thing is worth $10...TOPS.

[brownsunz @ May 29th 2008 6:39PM]

I have this unit sans the control module on the lighter plug. So i acutally have to use my touch screen to control what i listen to or watch. This unit is the best i've used. The smart scan does work and in large cities (ie san francisco) this unit works perfect. Griffin has proven to me to be a relatively quality brand as opposed to others *cough* belkin!

[josh @ May 29th 2008 12:13PM]

i know this is off topic but do the palm treo 755 have interchangeable faceplates?

[Andrew Harrison @ May 29th 2008 12:30PM]

uh, guys.. you forgot to mention what is probably the best feature of this particular device [compared to the various other iTrip iterations]:

"RDS technology shows song information on your RDS-enabled car radio display."

[nickertz @ May 29th 2008 1:27PM]

I have a Griffin for my View. I found www.radio-locator.com to be very handy in finding a "empty" spot on the radio dial.

[Ben @ May 30th 2008 1:40AM]

Just wanted to say that I have a 2 year old Griffin iTrip (the one that isn't even supposed to work with the iPhone), live in suburban Chicago, and have virtually no problems with it. 87.9 FM works pefectly 95% of the time.

[Savage Alien @ Jun 1st 2008 3:50AM]

I'm surprised that the articles did not make any effort in pointing out the most important feature added to the new iTrip model: Playback Control from the cigarette power adapter.

While the iPhone compatibility is a big deal, sure. But playback is something that every iPod owner can realate to, and also sets itself apart from the rest of the iTrips which simply charge and do the FM transmitter thing. Finally I can flip through, or pause, songs just as I would my car stereo, not having to fumble with my iPod Touch [not such a safe thing, y'know].

[j13 @ May 30th 2008 3:54AM]

I have been using a Monster icarplay fm transmitter for several years now. I haven't had any problem with losing signal. I live on the West Coast, so I've been through cities like Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and San Diego without problem. I thought $90 was expensive for it when I bought it, but I would do it all over again. The monster website says it will work with the ipod touch, but not the phone.

Also, it trickle charges the battery once it reaches peak, so you don't have to worry about damaging your ipod by having it charge at full power even when it is full.

[ark_v2 @ May 30th 2008 9:26PM]

I can't wait for bluetooth to be standard dashboard equipement; still, I have a sony ericsson and a bluetooth 3.5 mm jack transmitter so it would still be useless for iphone users.