Smart Car's Smart Drive Kit for iPhone demonstrated (video)
By Tim Stevens 
posted April 1st 2010 7:54AM
posted April 1st 2010 7:54AM
posted April 1st 2010 7:54AM
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Maybe it's because of the fact that you need to put in PREMIUM gas negates the reason for even buying one of these things.
@Adam Miarka
I'm guessing you failed math.
@Adam Miarka
Yes, putting in Premium fuel is probably the downfall of the Smart in the USA. But there is no diesel option available, so there goes the reason to get a Smart in the first place.
@Adam Miarka
Wow, I didn't realize Smarts in the US ran on petrol rather than diesel. I really love them despite the horrible transmission, but the only reason to buy one is if you live in a really congested city, and have the money to pay the premium for it.
@Adam Miarka
Or maybe Americans started thinking about what would happen if a SMART car got hit by one of the many full-sized pickups on our roads? I just want to know if it would bounce....
My g/f has a Smart ForTwo so I'm definitely going look around for the cradle for her car. Hmm I guess I'll need to get her a 3GS at the same time ...
@Moridin
Do you pay her for sex too?
@Schmerzlichtod
Hey you little pumpkinsquirt, time to go to school, don't forget to tie your shoes.
No thanks, my VW already does all that with the RNS-510.
+ German radio without the iPhone. :P
I love my Smart and my iPhone, but this app and dock don't interest me in the least.
'from which precious materials it has been crafted.'
Unobtainium.
@WP7S
Hehe, yep. Except, when you just decline the call, the iPhone won't quit the current app.
I still don't understand why iPhone OS quits the current app when receiving a call. They should've made the green top bar the standard for receiving calls when an app is active. Meh.
Anyway, that app looks good. They should make a version with offline maps, though. Oh, wait, Navigon has just to become more finger-friendly.
'from which precious materials it has been craft
Unicorn manure obviously.
1 april joke hahaha! the price haha, good joke! :p
Does it send audio from the phone thru the car stereo? I've got audio + video lineout, sync + charge @ IR serial comunication control of my iPhone into my WRX by making a my cable but I havn't been able to find a way to get phone audio out except BT.
@WP7S Wasn't it just the other day you said "what do you need to multitask on a phone? Noone needs multitasking, so its not needed."
Make up your mind mate.
I will never understand the need you Americans have to call it the "Smart Car". The brand is Smart. The model is ForTwo. It's a Smart ForTwo, not a Smart Car, the same way a Ford Fusion is a Ford Fusion and not a "Ford Car". Stop it.
@fsX Because "smart" is an adjective. For example, if "Ford" changed its name to "Fat", people would be inclined to stick the word in front of the name of the car, such as "Fat Explorer".
Wow..the default home screen looks funnily familiar... especially on a iphone.
(windows users...look at the bottom left of your screen.)
Did you say.... the cradle will cost $326???
Thank goodness for Android.
@TareG
I'll bite - how much does the Android cradle for the Smart cost?
@Kelmon
Lol good question? Anyone?
@Kelmon
It costs $29.99
http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile+Phone+Accessories/Car-Accessories/Car-Mounts/DROID-Phone-Holder-US-EN
iPod integration was a really important factor of my recent car purchase. In the end we bought a Mark 6 VW Golf and I absolutely love that I can plug the iPod in, leave it permanently in the car, and control it both through the steering wheel and touch screen navigation system. The solution propose here by Smart looks a bit Mickey Mouse to me but definitely better than the FM transmitter solution that I was using before. A head unit with a "proper" display would be better than using the iPhone directly but if you don't have that then I can see the attraction.
Mind you, the iPhone will not connect with the Golf's Bluetooth system for calling, which is damned annoying.
@WP7S
Of COURSE!
Spend $200+ dollars on a device that will rarely get used, isn't highly portable, and is commonly stolen. Yup. That's the way to go.
/s
The price isn't bad when you compare it to apps like TomTom. The cradle though is ridiculous. I have a smart and I'm definitely getting that app. The cradle? Not if it's $326.
Hm. Can't really be bothered about this.
But http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X-9hclb820&NR=1 I'd like to have.
And driving a smartcar just got even safer!
I'm sure they would consider this illegal here in Honolulu, HI. It's against the law for a driver to use an electric device inside a car.
@WP7S The $300 is probably for the integration features into the car itself. Like getting a premium sound group when buying your car or something. There is most likely a mic in the roof or dash, integration with HUD in the cluster and the actual iPhone connectivity as well.
While this looks interesting (except for the price), I'm thinking of buying a head unit with video for my ForTwo… so I can install a backup camera and rip out the low-hanging, accident-inducing, rearview mirror.
A now for a Snopes moment…
For those concerned about Smart safety, don't trust the e-mail forwards of Smart vs. semi accidents. Check the images carefully. In every photo I've seen, typically a wheel will survive to where I can count all 5 lugs. The Smart only has 3. Stop the FUD.