TomTom's iPhone car kit promo video is enticing, but still no mention of price or release date
By Ross Miller 
posted Aug 22nd 2009 3:46AM
posted Aug 22nd 2009 3:46AM
[Thanks, Arthur]
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posted Aug 22nd 2009 3:46AM
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Now I see that, this is much more than a hunk of plastic holding up a GPS enabled iPhone. And now I understand how this could work with the iPod Touch. But now, I am a bit dissapointed in a new iPpod touch possibly having GPS.. this mount not only has it built in, it is an integral piece of the puzzle for the next iPod touch.
I was hoping the next iPod touch would be an iPhone without the phone :) Ah well.
And actually, It would be great if Apple would release an ultra version of the iPod Touch with EVERYTHING but the phone...
EDGE/3G, wiifi, GPS, compass... just no GSM voice. It really would be the perfect solution for those who dont want to get into a full voice contract with ATT, and obviously, if one did not want too.. would not have to activate the EDGE/3G either. One can dream.
What is the point of this? The GPS on the 3gs series phone is superb (better than most GPS only devices). With A2DP its easy to connect the phone's audio output to a car stereo. And a 12v charger nor suction mount isn't exactly revolutionary.
Seems like I already have all these items, and didn't need to spend another 200 clams to get it.
Sorry TomTom, your app is great (though I still want traffic and other features not yet available), but your little accessory is a failure.
I'm just gonna stick with the app
What is the POINT of having an additional GPS on the iphone? and let me ask you this? Can your OG iphone map route you turn by turn? Is it free to have ATT Nav software? Can you take your iphone to Canada, Australia and have your iphone's gps work under any circumstances? and how much would it cost you to have your Iphone running internet to enhance its "superb gps" outside of the country? not to mention you have to buy another pack of map for that country you're travel to?
While the in-phone GPS is functional, this booster could really help acquisition times.
I assume that this TomTom music plays all the time in my car?
Mutlitasking questions: 1) Can the iPhone play music and run TomTom at the same time? The video makes it seem so. 2) TomTom pauses when you're on a call, meaning that you won't get directions (or even see your progress) while you're on the phone in your car. That seems like a dealbreaker, especially for something that's $200+
Intriguing promo video, though.
@Who?
Music can always be played in the background unless the app shuts it off. Lots of apps that use sound will actually pause your music, but it doesn't have to. You actually double tap the home button to bring up music controls ON TOP of the application you are using. The music play runs in the background. In addition, some apps can play music from your iTunes library. I have never used this app so I can't tell you how it works. But yes, music is possible.
When you are on call you can just go back to the tom tom app by a quick tap. I talk to people all the time while using the maps application. So this is a non-issue.
I paid over $200 for my standalone tomtom ... and it can't make a phone call or play music ... period.
Yeah, yeah, but when is someone going to come out with a male+male mini-plug that incorporates the remote button??? (You know, so you can switch songs while playing through your stereo's aux-in.) This is so obvious, but no one's got one that I can find.
Interesting. I have the original iphone (OG) and was wondering if the built-in GPS in the car kit would be compatible with the OG. Any thoughts. If so, how possible would it then be to disconnect the entire or part of the kit to use as a crude GPS set up? HUMMMMM
This unit will be availble by end of sep early oct, follow this link
http://www.fommy.com/accessories.asp?make=Apple&model=iPhone+3G+S&cat=Vehicle+Mounts
No spoken directions (text-to-speech), no passing street names, no traffic, obsolete maps, and over $100... yeah, I'm gonna pass on this one.
Well it's not so cheap and it even gets worse if you add the Tom Tom too, though you can use it for other apps too
that track trails such as Easytrails GPS.