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So here is a review which I wish was available for me when I went on looking at different iphone car kit-s.
Here are the following thing I was looking for
1. iphone car mount that can take iphone with/without case.
2. iphone car charger (obviously)
3. possibility of playing music directly over cable connected to the dock. (and not another cable running from iphone!)
4. Good quality Bluetooth handsfree phone calls.
I was looking for somthing that combines all the above in one unit so that I just slip in the iphone and everything is all set.
Now here are the contenders that I finally boiled down to.
1. Tomtom iphone car kit
2. Magellan iphone car kit
3. Parrot car kit (includes one with iphone connector)
cheap FM transmitters were out as their quality sucked!!!! If you like quality you will not like these FM transmitter solutions.
Tomtom was out as it doesnt work with case on it!!. I tried other features but it was sort of useless as I had to take out and put back the case on my iphone everytime!!!Parrot has a very nice solution but involves detailed car fitting. It bypasses the car stereo so that it can direct its own audio out to the car speakers. Used for bluetooth phone conversations. Installation is a pain and expensive so this one was out too.
I tried Magellan iphone car kit for a few weeks.
What i liked on this
1. ability to dock iphone with case.
2. reasonably good audio quality on both ends of phone conversation with bluetooth handsfree feature.
3. has a line out that can be connected to car stereo.
4. Improved GPS reception (accuracy improved from 150 ft to 33 ft tested using GPSLite app)
5. Automatically connects to iphone when I start the car.
6. Nice landskape portrait option to turn the iphone.
what I didnt like
1. a little bulky. Didnt need to be that bulky when tomtom and kinsington could make such a compact unit.
2. When iphone plays songs, it goes to its own speakers AND lineout to car stereo.
this is very annoying as when you lower the volume on car stereo, you can still hear songs playing loud on
the cheap speakers. If you turn those speakers volume down then when you get a call, bluetooth uses this
speaker so you cannt hear anything
3. Bluetooth uses the internal speakers for handsfree even when dock is connected using lineout!
4. At times, iphone would disconnect and re-connect for no reason. This would also pause any music playback!!!!!!!!@#$!
This seems to be a bug. Sometime its there and sometimes its not.
5. For iphone Voice control, I had to push a button on the back of the dock, which was ok but not very convinient
while i was driving. When I tried Kinsington Assistone all my critical requirements were met.
Pro
1. This unit uses bluetooth to route voice calls AND all music content as well!!
It does not use line out to connect the audio.
so i dont have to dock the unit if I have to take calls or play music!!! quality is just as good as lineout.
audio does not play on its own cheap speakers when line out is connected.
2. It does support iphone with case and all different varieties of iphone 3GS/4 and is very compact.
The usb charger tht goes to the car cigratte adapter is very compact as well.
It also snaps on landskape and portrait mode when iphone is turned which is nice.
3. When making or receiving phone calls, all audio is directed to lineout port on the dock which then goes to my car stereo.
So I hear other person on my car stereo speakers! with nice loud and clear sound. No echo's and quality is great on
both sides!
iphone bluetooth-----> assistone dock lineout ----> car stereo.
iphone bluetooth
Click Here to see more reviews about: Kensington K39200US AssistOne Handsfree Car Device with Voice for iPhone/iPhone 4
Turn your iPhone into the ultimate travel companion with the Kensington AssistOne Handsfree Car Device with Voice Activation. Much more than just a secure mount for your iPhone, this car device adds handsfree talking, voice activated* controls and amplifies sound for turn-by-turn directions and podcasts-all while charging. So even when you are in the car, your productivity can just keep on rolling. *Voice Controls are limited to iPhone 3GS or later and English only. Audio AUX out port delivers pure sound through your car stereo (auxiliary cable not included). Micro USB port charges iPhone with included charging cable and low profile car charger. Note: Not 3G compatible.
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