Griffin ships iPod / iPhone-friendly TuneFlex AUX with SmartClick remote

Griffin Technology rolled out a gaggle of new accessories at CES 2009, but curiously absent was this fellow. The outfit has announced today that its TuneFlex AUX SmartClick is shipping to those interested, and if you're still attempting to gauge your own level of excitement, let us detail what it does. Essentially, what we've got here is an in-car iPod / iPhone charger (via cigarette adapter) that comes with a wireless remote tailor made for slipping around your steering wheel. Also, there's no messy FM transmitter to bother with; instead, it relies on the much more solid auxiliary input connection. Yeah, $79.99 sounds a tad high to us too, but momma always said you can't put a price on keeping your eyes on the road.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2009 6:45AM]

A2DP.

[Arkenklo Posted Jan 17th 2009 8:16AM]

Black is the new white.

[Tohe Posted Jan 17th 2009 8:36AM]

: )

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2009 8:30AM]

Discount worked great, thanks Klaus.

[xxcorpxx Posted Jan 17th 2009 8:43AM]

I recommend this instead....

http://us.kensington.com/html/14493.html

LiquidAUX™ Deluxe for iPhone and iPod
1. No clicking and feedback like I got from other Griffin models.
2. The clamp style hold better especially if you have a sleeve on your iphone/itouch.

Make sure you look at the Deluxe.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2009 11:29AM]

I tried this unit

http://us.kensington.com/html/14493.html

However, it gives a hissing noise. The noise gets louder as the engine RPM goes up. It is not caused by the iphone's static/GSM noise. Any idea to fix the issue? I wonder if the Griffin unit would do the same. I have IS250 2007. It might have something to do with the car not providing "clean" power???

[xxcorpxx Posted Jan 17th 2009 4:28PM]

I don't get any noise with the LiquidAux. I did get a ton with the Griffin.
09 Mazda CX9

I am using the extended Aux cable, which seems well shielded.
I find that the LiquidAux is extremely easy to pop the iphone in and out of too. The Griffin wouldn't hold my iphone with the silicone sleeve i use either. Also, my iphone would come off the dock when I switched it to horizontal for GPS viewing.

[Alex Bousquet Posted Jan 17th 2009 1:46PM]

I, on the other hand, do NOT recommend Kensington's system. I have just ordered this to replace it. It uses a cheap plastic material covering on the part that wraps around your steering wheel and it has cracked and looks like crap now. Also, in my GTI the only option with it was to have it hang over the right side of the center console a little bit. With it's adjustable side arms, peoples' legs would also bump into it when getting into the car and I would have to push the button on the back to resize it to be able to put my iPhone in.

Also, about half the time it would still show the "not made for iPhone" warning. That's not bad in itself, but whenever it happened the remote wouldn't work, rendering the product next to useless.

[darklighter Posted Jan 17th 2009 4:07PM]

I echo Alex's opinion. The Kensington is crap. Needed a filter on it to stop the hum, and then the strap on the remote broke. Kensington said they would replace it but never did. And then the battery in the remote died, after like three months of use. It's a piece of crap.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2009 10:11PM]

The Kensington adapter drains your battery if you leave you iPod plugged in while the vehicle is off. If the Griffin doesn't, it's a hands down win.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 18th 2009 1:08PM]

@aerohunter: The Lexus IS250/350 has well known ground loop noise issues. Buy one of these for $10; it will solve the problem. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270296437015

[OneLove Posted Jan 18th 2009 5:37PM]

@aerohunter:

Your hissing problem is ground loop noise (like the man said).

Heres another link if you don't like ebay:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_127SNI135/PAC-SNI-1-3-5-Noise-Filter.html?search=sni&tp=2653

[OneLove Posted Jan 18th 2009 5:50PM]

For those of you looking to custom install a ipod connection into your car, JR.com has a special deal on the Kensington (33429) LiquidAux Auxiliary Car Kit with Remote Control:

http://www.jr.com/kensington/pe/KEG_33429/

Only $49.99 (was $79.99)

[avonord Posted Jan 17th 2009 11:29AM]

Can you use it to answer phone call by broadcasting the voice on the car speakers?

[xxcorpxx Posted Jan 17th 2009 11:36AM]

No, which I prefer.
It silences the music and you can use your bluetooth headset or just the iphone speaker phone.
I think is is by design on the iphone itself.

[Scotty1 Posted Jan 17th 2009 12:32PM]

Another option is to get an external mic (Check out the Monster SoniTalk, but Target sells one by Philips for about 1/2 the price) and mount it to your dash. This is what I have done. Unfortunately it hooks up through the headphone port, so the sound quality is a teensy bit less than if I'd hooked it up through the aux-port, but the mic works with phone calls, and has a button that lets me skip tracks. This setup works much much better than trying to use just the iPhone speakerphone in the car, and it was like $10. Add a stand for the iPhone and you've got a miniature touch-screen infotainment center for your car. If I had a newer, nicer car I might do something a little different, but the fact that my 16-year old car now has some functions (Touch-screen music selection with automatic call interruption/phone integration) on level with much newer and much more $$ cars excites me.

[Scotty1 Posted Jan 17th 2009 12:34PM]

and no, this Griffin thing won't let you do phone calls, because phone calls on the iPhone come out via the headphone port or Bluetooth, but not the dock.

If you have a car stereo with Aux-in and Bluetooth, however, you could pair the phone with your stereo. Music would come through the Aux-out, and upon receiving a phone call the iPhone and your car stereo should both switch to Bluetooth.

[editorkid Posted Jan 17th 2009 1:38PM]

I've been looking for a wireless remote for the 1st gen iPod touch to get around its UI limitations -- not for a car as I commute via subway, and I'd like to control the volume without having to take the touch out of my pocket and twisting it every which way. If anyone has any recs I'd appreciate knowing.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2009 4:18PM]

already seen this at best buy for a couple weeks now!
keep up engadget!

[lozanoj83 Posted Jan 17th 2009 4:45PM]

They announced these Macworld, not CES

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 17th 2009 6:38PM]

Does this control the volume?

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 19th 2009 12:09PM]

Wonder if this would work with an Incase Slider case for the 3G. The mount looks a little too tall to just remove the dock portion of the case. Wonder if any other mounts would fit the 3G well enough with case or just taking a dremel tool to the mount and giving it a trim would do. Anyone tried anything like this?

I could just get a mount with a clamp design, but the bendable gooseneck is hard to come by on others.