TomTom's Car Kit for iPhone hits the FCC
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 28th 2009 12:19PM
posted August 28th 2009 12:19PM
posted August 28th 2009 12:19PM
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DantheMan--From working with them, your best option is sending a message to TomTom - this is their U.S. twitter account: http://twitter.com/ClubTomTom
So far TomTom has said "We will reveal more specifications and pricing of the car kit as soon as it becomes available." but once it ships, it would be worth asking them the holster rotation question.
I'm hoping the dock comes bundled with the software for a reasonable price. If it costs $150 for the dock, then another $99 for the app, then that's just way too much, even for iPhone users.
Hey ChillyCat, might want to read that article better. It says it will still support the mobile market in NA at the Chicago office. They want to expand that area of the business.
My only concern is how Case compatible this dock will be... don't wan't to take my phone out of it's case everytime to use the dock!
I have a great idea for a new product - an iPhone dock that:
- has built-in GPS and Bluetooth
- has its own LCD...and processor...and input
- has on-board memory for navigation software
- has its own battery
This device alone could cost almost $79!!
But attach it to an iPhone, and have it certified by Apple...oh, and remove most of the functionality above so that it requires your smartphone to work....
Now it's a $200 "app"!
Genius.
Your parody of this iPhone integration is wrong and you know it. This is something that you can just quickly pop into place when you get into your car, and grab and go when you park. You don't need to carry around another device, and that's the appeal.
Everything is integrated into one device, and it's a device that you carry around with you anyway.
"You don't need to carry around another device, and that's the appeal. "
This IS another device!! If "everything is integrated into one device," then why does the holster have a GPS receiver as well as Bluetooth? You're deluding yourself. You're paying for half of a PND for twice the cost, for the privilege of watching the navigation on your iPhone.
Here's some actual material costs for you:
SiRFstar GPS receiver: $10-15
Bluetooth (assuming CSR 04 or other high end brand): $10
Plastic housing: $2
Charging components: $2-3
Why do you think you can get a TomTom for $79? Buy a real PND instead of this half-breed contraption, and leave it in the car. You'll even get longer battery life, and you won't get lost when you get a phone call.
I didn't read your reply.
How does that make you feel?
The thing is something like this you don't have to carry around. You can leave it in your car. I had 2 tomtom units because I lost one due do car heat in Arizona. We are stupid to leave anything with an LCD in your car here. This is something I can just sit there and not have to carry around multiple devices. My working tomtom rarely gets used because lugging it around everywhere is a pain.
And I hate it when people justify the price of something my adding up component prices. Lots more goes into just the parts. They pay for manufacturing which is always above and beyond the component worth. And manufacturing costs more depending on manufacturing complexity. They also recoup marketing cost. Also they analyze demand. If demand is not as high manufacturing is ALWAYS more expensive because it is cheaper to manufacture in bulk if you can move the product. Things like this are always cheaper later because as demand goes up so does manufacturing and the price to produce units en mass goes down.
You can't simply compare component prices. For a hobbyist project where you are making a few units for people in your area I can see that, but doing that for something like this is stupid.
Components are Always the cheap. Manufacturing and research costs way more than buying the parts. You are completely disregarding the most expensive aspect of production by making the statement. That's like saying the leather to make my shoes only costs $2 but I paid over $30 why? I guess all the people that put your shoes together work for free huh? And the money and research spent researching and engineering the design is something they do for free. It's just a hobby project for the r&d and they get paid peanuts and backrubs?
I have just one question: will the USB port on the side of the dock support full-data USB, or is it power-only? If it supports data, then I can hook this into my car stereo and control the music a little better.
The TomTom app is really bad. My iPhone goes to sleep while driving (and plugged in, of course), voice instructions pops without a nice music fading, no copy and paste. Overall a very poor implementation on the iPhone.
Will the external GPS Chip work with any App? Or just TomTom? Does the External GPS need some sort of controller built into the app, or will the iPhone (3GS) automatically recognize it and route the GPS info? I read the manual and it did not appear to mention it. I assume this is the first external GPS for the iPhone or are there others?
There is a very small plug-in available already that works on iPod Touch and first gen iPhone's as well. Just google for "iGPS360".
Yes it will work with any app, adding any external GPS receiver will seem seamless to apps already using the internal GPS.
Does the TomTom app have lane assist?
can this be used without internet data?
iLuvBass - no lane assist... but who knows what might be in a future update!
di_ako_cute - works fine without Internet - the map data is downloaded when you download and install the app.
yes !!!! thank you....ill be getting one then since i dont have a standalone gps. especially, i travel alot.
The SiRF Star III is a pretty bad GPS chip. I am working (with a few other people) to come up with a Navigation app and Accessory- it will be more accurate than the TomTom Dock, and the software will be better. (it wont be windshield mount, have a speaker, a mic or bluetooth... but it wont cost $200)
Nah I don't read the iphone stories, I just comment, I'm not an idiot you know :D
Plus I already corrected myself so that was covered already.
Misplaced comment commenting on my original comment's comments.
I wonder if that USB port on the dock has a data connection so I can connect my iphone to my car stereo... my car stereo is iphone compaitible via standard iphone usb cable, it would suck if you could only use it via the 3.5mm stereo jack...
This is the only solution I've been able to find... Lord knows if it works though.
http://cablejive.com/universal-dock-converter
yeah Andrew I am holding my breath for that too. My JVC car stereo has a usb port on the front that plays the music on my iphone, so hopefully that little guy on the side of the dock is not for power only.
Now if they make the software not suck (no text-to-speech or traffic? REALLY!?!?), and price the whole package reasonably, I might buy this.