CarKit
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Parrot Minikit Neo rolls through the FCC
With roughly a month to go before it hits retail channels, Parrot's Minikit Neo is inching towards being ready for mass consumption. This week the hands-free bluetooth accessory made a run through the FCC and received Uncle Sam's seal of approval. The filing isn't hiding any surprises, and we're not even treated to a nice teardown. Still, its good to know the smartphone-friendly visor clip-on is making progress. Keep an eye out for it to pop up on shelves in September for $100.
Navigon's Galaxy S car kit starts shipping in the US for $45
You know that familiar pattern: release something for the iPhone first, Android phones sold on T-Mobile next. After rolling out a car kit for the iPhone, Navigon has created a similar mount for the Samsung Galaxy S 4G and Samsung Vibrant, both indigenous to T-Mo. The kit, already available in the UK, includes the mount, an attachable suction piece, and 12/24V car charger. T-Mobile customers with wheels can snag one now for $44.95. The rest of you Android users are just chopped liver.
TomTom offers free iPhone 4 adapter for Car Kit
We still maintain that you've got better options than TomTom when it comes to iPhone GPS software, but if you pulled the trigger before giving yourself a moment to consider what you were actually doing, this here news may just interest you. In an effort to maintain compatibility with Apple's latest and greatest iPhone, TomTom is now including a simple adapter for all Car Kit orders going out on September 1st or later. If you ordered one prior to that, you can apply down in the source link for a freebie to be sent your way. Or just hack something up in the garage that looks like the insert above. Your call, vaquero. Update: Full press release after the break. [Thanks, Dan]
HTC EVO 4G car dock lands at Sprint stores
So you've a shiny new Sprint EVO 4G -- upgraded with the Froyo 2.2 update, of course -- and it keeps rattling around your car as you drive. What are you to do? Well, If you've been waiting for the official car dock -- aptly named the Car Upgrade Kit for EVO 4G -- from Sprint, fear not, for it has now landed. For a hefty $59.99 you get the dock that'll attach to your vehicle's window with suction or with the included adhesive pad, to your dash. Of course, nothing's perfect and judging from some posts we've seen, the dock does have its failings: the camera is covered by the plastic, the SD card isn't mountable while in the dock so listening to your stored tunes won't happen -- if you want to plug it into your head unit, for example -- and maybe the biggest foible, no charging cable is included. Of course with the plethora of car docks available on eBay you may want to shop around a bit, and heck, for that $59 you may well be able to pick up one for yourself and everybody else on your street.
Dell Streak car and AV docks now on sale, HDMI may or may not be included (update: included)
Hey England, in need of some retail therapy after an unsatisfying sporting weekend? Dell's got the goods for you with a rich new selection of cables, plugs, adapters, and cases for your new Streak. It looks like the HDMI dock we've been jonesing for has probably become a retail reality, but there's no way to be sure right now -- Dell's only listing an AV dock without going into the TV connectivity options. The fresh offerings also include the kickstand-equipped wallet case that we found intriguing, spare battery and sync cables, and an international travel kit. Of course, every silver lining has a cloud, which in this case is the pricing: nothing here costs less than £24 ($35) and the car- and TV-enabling docks will set you back a cool £55 ($80) each. Jumbo smartphone, jumbo accessory prices. [Thanks, Kingsley] Update: Dell's updated catalog now reflects HDMI connectivity on the AV dock. Phew!
hacksugar: Make your own iPad car kit
If you're going on a car trip and want to bring your new iPad along for the kids as you ride, you might want to consider putting together a super simple presentation system that fits easily onto any existing seat back or can be slung between the two front seats. Behold the iBag, which TUAW discussed briefly back in a March post about cheap accessories. A few enhancements will transform your iBag into the perfect iPad presentation system; it's a veritable iPad car kit!
Flying Finn Juha Kankkunen demonstrates Nokia's Car Kit CK-200 (video)
More and more cars offer integrated Bluetooth from the factory, but absolutely none offer an integrated Juha Kankkunen. The four-time World Rally Champion isn't even an option at any manufacturer that we know of, but regardless of make and model you can add a little Bluetooth integration with Nokia's CarKit CK-200. It's a display that sits on your dashboard and connects to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, and through the wireless controller that clips onto your steering wheel (at right above) you can navigate contacts, make calls, and even scroll through text messages. We're not so sure about the texting part, but it should be a great way to enable hands-free calling from one device and Bluetooth music streaming from another at the same time, if that's your thing. Not sold? The video after the break of Kankkunen doing his thing in a rally-prepped VW while taking calls will make you a convert. You know what they say: if it's good enough for Juha, it's good enough for you-a.
iPhone OS 4.0 paving way for Apple-branded car kit?
Apple dropped iPhone OS 4.0 on us last week in a big way, and we spent plenty of time breaking down and exploring the details. But, there are apparently a few gems left to be discovered, like dedicated support for in-car use -- possibly even with an Apple-branded mount of some sort. When put into this mode the iPhone generates a simple menu that's fed over video output (demonstrated after the break) while the handset becomes a remote control... which may or may not be a good idea as more and more states ban cellphone use of any kind while driving. The developer hooks for such functionality appear to be in the iPhone API and, while it's all rumorsville at this point, Apple would be blind to not try and cash in on the auto integration market -- even if it is a little late to the party.
Magellan Car Kit for iPhone nav apps coming soon to a car near you
After a dearth of car kits for iPhones and accompanying GPS navigation apps, manufacturers are starting to announce new kits on a regular basis. The latest news comes from Magellan, who will soon be introducing a new vehicle mount for the iPhone 3GS, 3G, and the second generation iPod touch. As with the Navigon and TomTom car kits, the US$129.99 Magellan Premium Car Kit includes a built-in GPS receiver for better accuracy. Other features include: Secure vehicle mounting for iPhone or iPod touch Accommodates most silicon skins and hard shell cases Adjustable mount securely rotates iPhone to either portrait or landscape mode for optimal positioning and widescreen route display Recharges battery via the vehicle power outlet Amplified speaker with volume control for loud and clear phone calls and directions Noise canceling microphone for full duplex speakerphone operation Auxiliary audio output (for connection to your car stereo) Bluetooth enables hands-free calling While designed for use with the Magellan RoadMate app [US$79.99 (sale price), iTunes Link], the Premium Car Kit works with any navigation app. I find the ability to accommodate hard shell cases to be one of the most compelling features, as many of the other car kits require a "naked" iPhone or iPod touch. The car kit is currently available for pre-order from Amazon.com, Best Buy, and MagellanGPS.com.
TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review
Boy, TomTom sure has chosen the worst possible time to release its Car Kit for iPhone, and to make matters worse, its decision to not include the iPhone app is now set in stone. That's right, the hardware alone will set you back the cost of a TomTom ONE nowadays, and the $99.95 app works on the iPhone 3G and 3GS without it. So here's the question: is the car kit worth the extra $119.95? To find out, we got hold of a review unit for a sunny road trip around London. Surprisingly, the car kit uses Bluetooth to connect the GPS receiver and the hands-free function to the iPhone, even though there's a dock connector for charging. Bluetooth connectivity does have its advantages: according to TomTom it can work as a generic Bluetooth GPS receiver for any satellite navigation app -- including Google Maps -- on the iPhone, or any smartphones at all for that matter. TomTom even confirmed that the car kit could potentially compensate for the first-generation iPhone's lack of built-in GPS, but since its app won't run on anything but a 3G or 3GS we'll have to wait and see if that's actually useful. Meanwhile, the company is cooking up a compatible app for the original iPhone and the iPod touch, which could make the car kit more worthwhile. [Update: the app has now been updated to work with the iPod Touch and the original iPhone, but you'll need to get a separate (and slightly cheaper) model of the Car Kit for the iPod touch. Thanks, Philippe!] Read on for our hands-on impression and test videos. [Thanks for being our driver, Sam] %Gallery-76686%
TomTom iPhone kit now being sold through US Apple Store
American TomTom loyalists, we know what you've been thinking: how dare those fine folks across the pond get first dibs to pick up the iPhone car kit? Well, steam to yourself no longer, it's now for sale online via Apple's US store for the previously-disclosed price of $119.95. Alas, no software's included, but you've had enough time to cope with that. Also, it's iPhone 3G and 3GS only -- iPod touch need not apply. [Via App Advice]
TomTom iPhone Car Kit returns to UK Apple Store, awaits drama
It's back. After making a horrendous false start with the early promise of iPod touch support and the inclusion of the iPhone App in its £100 price tag, the TomTom Car Kit has returned to the Apple Store. In a big fat disclaimer, TomTom writes: The TomTom app for iPhone is not included with this TomTom Car Kit. The Car Kit dock is compatible with all iPhone models, but the TomTom app only works with iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.We only see it in the UK store at the moment but it's likely to pop on your local store anytime now. Ships in 1-2 weeks.[Thanks, Joe W.]
iPhone accessories can download iPhone apps to your iPhone memory
Among the many minor changes included in the 3.0 release of the iPhone OS was one that would enable those myriad of iPhone accessories to work more closely with software. That is to say, to make the plugging in of one result in in a prompting to download the other. The first such piece of hardware is the latest Griffin iTrip, which, when connected, raises the dialog shown above. You can of course say "No" if you don't feel like playing along, but when it comes to accessories like the TomTom car kit we're thinking you'll probably be missing out if you don't go along with the flow.[Via AppleInsider]
TomTom announces iPhone car kit pricing
The TomTom navigation app [iTunes link] for iPhone has been available since August of this year, but many TUAW readers have told us they're holding off on a purchasing decision until they can see how the announced iPhone car kit enhances the use of the app. The car kit, which includes a secondary GPS receiver and speaker as well as a mount for holding the iPhone, is scheduled to ship in the U.S. in October. TomTom International B.V. has announced the pricing for the mount, which has a suggested retail price of US$119.95 or €99.95. Several GPS blogs are already questioning the pricing, noting that the total price for the kit and app will be US$219.94, more than some much more capable personal navigation devices. On the other hand, the car kit isn't patented, so other companies may come out with less expensive options in short order. [via GPSTracklog]
TomTom clears up iPhone car kit slip: £99.99 for the hardware alone, app sold separately
Oh, brother. TomTom just hit us up with the real details on its iPhone car kit slip this morning, and we've got a feeling you won't like what it has to say. It confessed that the posting was indeed a mistake, and thus, the pricing was also incorrect. If you'll recall (c'mon, it wasn't that long ago), the Apple store listing explained that the £99.99 car kit included the iPhone app, when in reality, that price definitely does not include the app. Jump on past the break for TomTom's official statement, which now curiously states that the "iPhone 2G" will be compatible with the car kit, yet doesn't mention the iPod touch at all.
TomTom's iPhone car kit promo video is enticing, but still no mention of price or release date
Not to knock cellophane tape as a method for in-car iPhone navigation, but if you want to use the new TomTom app in a more proper setting, you'll want the official TomTom car kit. In addition to enhancing the GPS signal and charging your iPhone, it's also got hands-free dialing and a speaker that's (presumably) better than the phone solo for giving directions. At a rumored price of just under $200 with software, it's not a bad deal if you were planning to shell out $100 for the US maps, anyway. We're still on the fence, but the hypnotic soundtrack of the promotion video is admittedly alluring. See for yourself after the break. [Thanks, Arthur]
TomTom for iPhone now available in US
There's been plenty of hype and mystery surrounding the TomTom GPS navigation app for iPhone. Originally announced back in June, the app created by the popular GPS company promised to be the first of its kind... only to have competing apps from Navigon, Telenav from AT&T, iGO and others hit the store ahead of it. Finally, TomTom for iPhone [iTunes Link] has debuted on iTunes in the US today (already up and reviewed in its New Zealand incarnation) and is now available for purchase. Priced at $99.99, the app is a fully featured turn-by-turn GPS system that includes: landscape and portrait modes & pinch to zoom take full advantage of the iPhone interface voice guided directions integrated with your iPhone address book route options including fastest, most direct, etc. ability to find points of interest and call for reservations TomTom is also offering a bundle including the application and a car cradle kit that offers enhanced GPS performance, a charging port and hands-free calling. Having just hit the app store, details are still coming in about the features of the app and news about the car kit's availability. TomTom's iPhone website doesn't seem to be updated often, but it offers a link to subscribe to news updates as they become available.
Sony Ericsson launches AB900 wireless car kit, convertible not included
We've seen Bluetooth car kits come and go -- and Sony Ericsson has sold its fair share -- let's face it, they're often a huge hassle with very little return for your dollars. The SE AB900 may change that as this portable number offers up an RDS feature that finds an empty frequency to broadcast to your car's FM stereo, lets you get at your favorite five numbers and voicemail at the touch of a button, and will even let you stream your tunes from your mobile. But wait, there's more: 26 hour talk time, 40 day standby, no installation required -- we love this bit -- and it even comes in both black and silver. While the press pictures show a winsome couple giggling as they blast through the countryside in a convertible, the jury's still out on if this little number can deliver the kind of joy they're showing us it does. One more pic after the break.
Samsung trots out new Bluetooth headsets and speakerphones
Samsung Mobile's got a fever, and the only cure is more... Bluetooth? Yeah, that's it, Bluetooth. Aside from launching the hilariously named Planet Bluetooth -- an "online guide to Bluetooth technology and Samsung Mobile's Bluetooth accessories" -- the outfit has also rolled out two new BT headsets and a pair of BT speakerphones. The WEP460 headset (pictured) specializes in being ultra-small and utilizing a clear ear hook to make you look even more extraterrestrial; the SBH700 stereo headset obviously caters to music lovers and those with slightly deeper pockets. The HKT450 and HKT400 portable BT speakerphones both do exactly what they say, with neither being particularly noteworthy. The bitter details are fleshed out in the read link below, and so far as we can tell, the whole crew is available now.
Sony Ericsson's MBS-100 Bluetooth speaker might contain spores
If Sony Ericsson was the name for an embarrassing fungal wart then you'd be reaching for a bucket right about now. However, given that SE makes consumer electronics you're actually looking at their new MBS-100 Bluetooth speaker. The crater-pocked sphere features A2DP stereo audio and a rechargeable 5-hour battery for delicious portability. Unfortunately, SE tells us that it "looks as good as it sounds" which doesn't make us too hopeful on the acoustic front. They've also released a 25-hour, HCB-105 Bluetooth car Speakerphone kit. Sure, it looks a bit staid but at least it won't scare the children. No prices given, but the MBS-100 will drop in Q4 while the HCB-105 arrives in Q1.%Gallery-8481%
