Dude hardwires Palm Touchstone into BMW, charging ensues

In 2004, it was all about iPodding your BMW, but in 2009, it's all about Palming it. No, not "palming" as in concealing your car in the palm of your hand -- "Palming," you know, as in the act of hardwiring a Touchstone into your center console so that you can charge a Pre on the road with the greatest of ease. Ironically, this modern marvel of technology is mounted right where the iDrive controller would normally go, which means you're stuck making the nearly impossible choice between this hack and BMW's.

[Thanks, Mike]

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 18th 2009 9:18PM]

This is stupid. In addition to the fact that, despite the maddening nature of iDrive, no sane person would just rip it out of their car, I doubt the magnet is strong enough to hold onto the Pre if you hit the breaks or take a sharp curve, which means your Pre will be flying all over the place, unless you drive like grandma.

[TrueEddie Posted Jun 18th 2009 3:48PM]

Would have been cooler if his car was a Dodge CHARGER

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 29th 2009 12:35PM]

would be even cooler if he could use the touchstone to also control iDrive...

[theattack Posted Jun 18th 2009 4:21PM]

could also be useful in a way that you can use Sprint navi handsfee. Maybe up on the dash.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 18th 2009 4:42PM]

Wouldn't this be called "Touching Your Monkey"?

[ShimpCell Posted Jun 18th 2009 5:52PM]

Excellent. This method of charging will surely catch on!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 18th 2009 7:24PM]

more functional than BMW's iDrive - for sure!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2009 2:26AM]

Look at the pics at the Read link, this guys BMW (E93) doesn't have a screen, i.e. no idrive)... so he didn't do much modding here, but it's still pretty cool.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2009 10:33AM]

I've heard that the pre has to be on the charger in a specific way. So the moment you screech to a halt, that thing is going flying. Kind of pointless if you ask me.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 19th 2009 12:14PM]

The magnet on the touchstone holds the phone VERY well. I just tested mine and it will hold the phone upside down and i can jostle it quit a bit before the magnet lets go.

[who Posted Jun 19th 2009 4:31PM]

It looks like the charger was installed backwards. Shouldn't "palm" be facing the other way, so you can actually see the display when driving?