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Apple Begins Shipping TomTom Car Kit in U.S.
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It really appears as if TomTom didn't create any real inventory, and waited to see how popular the device would be. Now they are creating inventory based on orders. Not great, but I just don't think the car kit is worth $130 (w/tax) so I'll wait. The longer they wait to deliver it may be a plus for us because maybe we'll get a chance to see and hear reactions to the Magellan car kit.
Magellan is doing something good, they are providing a 20 dollar voucher towards their carkit if the app is bought between 12/4 and 12/8 I believe. Such great marketing. I won the thanksgiving day contest so I may just use that voucher if the tomtom car kit does not ship before Jan 5
Wow, I'm glad I bought mine when I did. Try to find a Mac reseller store near you and not an Apple Store. I bought mine for $99, no tax in Oregon at The Portland Mac Store.
Yeah, that's pretty crazy now. It's clear whatever lead they had in time with the Magellan kit is now lost. It seems we'll get to compare them and then decide.
Well guys, I just called my local Apple store and they have the kit in stock. That, and given the 1 -2 months delivery on apple.com and no news at all from BLT, means that for me at least, it's time to bite the bullet.
I plan to go to the Apple store and buy the kit.
I reveiwed the Magellan kit on Amazon with a preorder and scheduled delivery of 1/5/2010 and think the Tom tom is a better looking accessory that has gotten good reviews from those that were able to get their hands on one.
I was hoping we'd spend the holidays together lamenting the non delivery from BLT--LOL.
I'll give you an update--like man goes balistic in apple store when tom tom car kit is out of stock.
Good luck to you all.
I plan to go to the Apple store and buy the kit.
I reveiwed the Magellan kit on Amazon with a preorder and scheduled delivery of 1/5/2010 and think the Tom tom is a better looking accessory that has gotten good reviews from those that were able to get their hands on one.
I was hoping we'd spend the holidays together lamenting the non delivery from BLT--LOL.
I'll give you an update--like man goes balistic in apple store when tom tom car kit is out of stock.
Good luck to you all.
I've thought about doing the same thing, but I'm traveling most of December and won't be in my car much. Look forward to your thoughts especially about how well the bluetooth speakerphone works while driving around.
Just a quick post that I thought was noteworthy! Here is a Youtube video showing a guy putting an iPhone WITH A CASE ON IT into the Tomtom Car Kit, and its fine. Granted, its not a full case, but I heard you could have no case at all, so at least it offers some protection to the back of the phone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nR46AFeRVU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nR46AFeRVU
Ok I have installed the car kit. It was more difficult than i thought ONLY because while I have a sloping dash board and it's leather, it is NOT smooth leather but rather a grainy textured leather. I could not get the plastic disk to stick to the surface--even if I put it higher up on the dash toward the windshield where it is flat. Thoughts of crazy glue were beginning to run through my mind.
I installed it on the windshield just to see if I'd like it. It was great but a tad too far to see clearly (even with glasses); I didn't like the wires hanging down; and it did draw my eye every time i used the rear view mirror and obstructed my view (but only a bit--could probably get used to it in time).
So I was at the point of wondering if I was going to return it to Apple Store when I found a space that would work that was left of the radio and had a small flat plastic area. The disk is only partially on the plastic but holds incredible firmly. By moving the suction cup to the right edge of the flat disk, I can see the entire screen easily in either portrait or landscape mode without covering the radio or any controls.
AND the unexpected PLUS is that it sits below the dashboard and won't require me to disconnect it to put in the console when away from the car. I was not comforable with the idea of leaving the kit in full view which may or may not invite break-ins. Another plus is very very little cord from kit to lighter area is needed so wires hanging or dangling are at a minimum. The wire from audio to my audio input in the center console is easily accomodated by the 3 foot audio cord. I used the plastic holders that were pictured in previous post so that wires are contained and not obtrusive.
With regards to using Bluetooth for handsfree driving. My car is very quiet and I and my callers had no problem hearing each other. I just hold the main button and do voice dialing. Piece of cake.
LOL I had the audio cord connected to the car kit but was not using audio to play music (aux was not on) and I couldn't figure out why Navigon wasn't taling to me. When I put radio on in Aux mode the instructions came through the car speakers. When I used ipod to play music and had GPS on both come through the car speakers with music volume being lowered when voice directions were being given.
All in all I am very pleased with the kit and the way it performs.
I installed it on the windshield just to see if I'd like it. It was great but a tad too far to see clearly (even with glasses); I didn't like the wires hanging down; and it did draw my eye every time i used the rear view mirror and obstructed my view (but only a bit--could probably get used to it in time).
So I was at the point of wondering if I was going to return it to Apple Store when I found a space that would work that was left of the radio and had a small flat plastic area. The disk is only partially on the plastic but holds incredible firmly. By moving the suction cup to the right edge of the flat disk, I can see the entire screen easily in either portrait or landscape mode without covering the radio or any controls.
AND the unexpected PLUS is that it sits below the dashboard and won't require me to disconnect it to put in the console when away from the car. I was not comforable with the idea of leaving the kit in full view which may or may not invite break-ins. Another plus is very very little cord from kit to lighter area is needed so wires hanging or dangling are at a minimum. The wire from audio to my audio input in the center console is easily accomodated by the 3 foot audio cord. I used the plastic holders that were pictured in previous post so that wires are contained and not obtrusive.
With regards to using Bluetooth for handsfree driving. My car is very quiet and I and my callers had no problem hearing each other. I just hold the main button and do voice dialing. Piece of cake.
LOL I had the audio cord connected to the car kit but was not using audio to play music (aux was not on) and I couldn't figure out why Navigon wasn't taling to me. When I put radio on in Aux mode the instructions came through the car speakers. When I used ipod to play music and had GPS on both come through the car speakers with music volume being lowered when voice directions were being given.
All in all I am very pleased with the kit and the way it performs.
ticman, thanks for all the info!
Question: You obviously used the included disk to mount the car kit to. Does that disk hold onto your dash really securely with the adhesive they supply?
Also, when you are using Voice Control, do you have to reach around the back of the car kit to press the button to activate it, or can you just press the Home button on the iPhone?
Lastly, I have to use an FM transmitter in my car so I was going to plug it into the jack on the car kit and transmit music to my radio. It sounds like the Navigon instructions will come out my radio speakers not the little speaker on the car kit, but when I make a phone call it will use the car kit speaker. Right? Hope so, as I don't really want my phone calls blasted through my speakers.
The included disk is holding very very well to the area i used which was on plastic near the radio. IT WOULD NOT HOLD TO MY DASH AT ALL as the dash had a grainy leather and not a smooth surface.
Voice control is done by pressing the HOME button.
I have MADE a call by using Voice Control and talk was through the iPhone speakers. I have NOT tried using ipod music and navigon and tried making a call but would suspect that again talk would come out of the iphone and not car speakers. What would be interesting is what happens to Navigon directions and volume of ipod music. I'll check that out and leave another post.
Hope that helps.
The only slight issue i have is that when i place the phone in landscape mode I have to do it in such a way that the 2 input cords are on TOP of the iphone dock. It i hit a bump it sometimes cause the iphone to swing down a bit towards Portrait mode. Must be the weight of the two plugs.
While using the Navigon with the TomTom car kit listening to music through the aux, when a direction is announced, the music volume decreases into the background until the voice is through and then the music increases back to the original volume. With the TomTom app, the music pauses until the direction is through and then the music starts again.
LOL I made my decision and am not looking back. Very happy with my setup but I find I am getting a hissing noise when hooked up using car speakers for playing music. It's a new cable and I have no idea if it's the car connection; the car kit; or the cable.
Keep me posted re ETA of BLT dock
Keep me posted re ETA of BLT dock
Hoping to get car kit for Xmas, but i'm not suprised by 'noise' coming through the 'line out' ... when a device cradle has antennae (GPS) / broadcast (bluetooth) electronics near by they can interfere. (my other experience with this is a portable XM radio w/ cradle holder - and could never get line out to not his, had to use fixed mount to car antennae for best transfer of sound).
Hopefully others are not having this problem, and you can exchange as defect.
Good luck, may be joining you in a couple weeks ...
New question ... since the phone is linked via bluetooth to the Car Kit, does the bluetooth engage even if you don't place the phone in the device? ... if it's still in pocket, does a call ring through the speaker of the Car Kit when in the car?
Car Kit Bluetooth
The Bluetooth only works when the iPhone is in the cradle and the ignition is turned on. When you turn off the ignition, the Bluetooth turns off. If you have the iPhone in your pocket the Car Kit Bluetooth will not connect.
The Bluetooth only works when the iPhone is in the cradle and the ignition is turned on. When you turn off the ignition, the Bluetooth turns off. If you have the iPhone in your pocket the Car Kit Bluetooth will not connect.
I guess I see the connection to the ignition, but only activating when there is a phone in cradle seems like a strange use of bluetooth ... why not use hardwire connection to eliminate any potential for interference ... or open up and allow use as speaker phone in car regardless of phone in cradle
I don't believe Magellan uses bluetooth in this way
I found this on the Magellan website. It appears that their Bluetooth is set up differently than the TomTom kit:
Can I undock the iPhone from the Premium Car Kit and keep my Bluetooth® connection?
Yes. After initially connecting your iPhone to the Premium Car Kit, you can easily undock the iPhone without losing your Bluetooth® connection.