Now this is the kind of thing they banned briefly in Victoria not so long ago, so before I start I’ll give the normal credos:  it’s a bad idea to use your cell phone and drive at the same time, I’m not responsible for whatever you do in your car, yadda yadda, in perpetuity throughout the universe.

There.  Now that the lawyers have been sufficiently shot the bird, time to carry on.  Today we’re talking about the TomTom iPhone car kit, that basically allows you to use your iPhone as a kind of GPS by mounting it to your dash.  Now, it doesn’t JUST do that, because then everybody’d be enraged–it also functions as a twelve volt charger and a speakerphone.

None of this is a bad thing, necessarily, but for crying out loud.  A hundred and twenty bucks for what amounts to a car phone cradle?  That’s a bit excessive even with the added bells and whistles.  I don’t look for this one to do any too well.

Tags: GPS, In-Car, iPhone, phone cradle, Speakerphone, TomTom

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When it comes to driving, hands-free kits are your answer when you have to answer a call or even listen to your audio files. Thanks to Belkin, two new products will make that happen. They are the TuneBase FM and TuneBase Direct which allow you to answer an incoming call and enjoy music while on the road.

Newer cars include an auxiliary input jack to connect different audio sources to the car’s stereo. Using a 3.5mm cable, TuneBase Direct connects to your car stereo through the auxiliary input, so you can play the music from your iPhone or iPod while in the car. TuneBase Direct also charges your iPod so the battery doesn’t run out while you’re on the road.

TuneBase FM with Hands-Free (F8Z441) – $89.99

• Features push-button call pickup and speakerphone
• Features ClearScan technology
• Transmits audio wirelessly on multiple FM channels from 88.1MHz–107.9MHz

TuneBase Direct with Hands-Free (F8Z442) – $69.99

• Features push-button call pickup and speakerphone
• 3.5mm cable included

(Source) Press

Tags: 5mm, audio sources, auxiliary input jack, belkin, car stereo, fm channels, hands free kits, incoming call, iPhone, Music, newer cars, Speakerphone, tunebase fm, wirelessly

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We all know that using our mobile phones while driving is strictly prohibited by law these days and apparently the need for cell phone accessories like a hands-free kit can be a big help. Just in case you don’t have one yet, check out this new one from Jabra, the SP200 Speakerphone.

Requiring no installation, the Jabra SP200 easily attaches to a car visor and connects to mobile phones via Bluetooth wireless technology. The speakerphone features one large and easily accessible control button, a volume wheel, and a dedicated on/off switch, allowing users to control calls effortlessly. Sound quality is delivered through a powerful speaker, combining microphone performance and DSP technology to reduce background noise.

The Jabra SP200 is a versatile device that can also be used at home for conference calls and hands-free talking while preparing dinner or making calls with the whole family. The Jabra SP200 is available today and has a suggested retail price of $59.99.

(Source) Press

Tags: Bluetooth, Car, device, Driving, installation, Jabra, Law, speaker, Speakerphone, technology, wheel

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