tstreete, nice to see you are still checking in...I remember you were one of the first to get a car kit. In the landscape view, my unit does not rattle, but in the vertical position it rattles a lot and I often keep it like this to charge the phone or listen to music, etc when I'm not using the nav app. I'm going to exchange it and see how I fair while waiting to see what the word on the Magellan kit is. Thanks for your help.
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Apple Begins Shipping TomTom Car Kit in U.S.
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tstreete, nice to see you are still checking in...I remember you were one of the first to get a car kit. In the landscape view, my unit does not rattle, but in the vertical position it rattles a lot and I often keep it like this to charge the phone or listen to music, etc when I'm not using the nav app. I'm going to exchange it and see how I fair while waiting to see what the word on the Magellan kit is. Thanks for your help.
after a week of experimenting ...
no rattle
good bluetooth connection
landscape position is delicate, but holding fine - no movement on bumps (i've tested center position on back and shifted toward bottom in landscape; both work well)
GPS lock is interesting ... 1. definitely takes mount GPS 20-30 seconds from cold start; 2. fast lock is no doubt iPhone assisted GPS initially; 3. there is a moment 30 seconds from cold start when it switches over to mount GPS once lock is achieved (a noticable lag moment - but gotta be watching close)
while i don't have complete facts, i do think the satnavs use the mount most of the time, except from cold start when GPS lock is a bit slower then phone's assisted GPS
speaker works fine - although i'd like to be able to change the inital volume (too loud) w/in the free app
no use of AUX
one add'l thing i've found is that phone boots the mount bluetooth for ear piece - no multi connect option as far as i can tell (iPhone 'feature'?)
otherwise, enjoying the integrated features of the mount so far ...
no rattle
good bluetooth connection
landscape position is delicate, but holding fine - no movement on bumps (i've tested center position on back and shifted toward bottom in landscape; both work well)
GPS lock is interesting ... 1. definitely takes mount GPS 20-30 seconds from cold start; 2. fast lock is no doubt iPhone assisted GPS initially; 3. there is a moment 30 seconds from cold start when it switches over to mount GPS once lock is achieved (a noticable lag moment - but gotta be watching close)
while i don't have complete facts, i do think the satnavs use the mount most of the time, except from cold start when GPS lock is a bit slower then phone's assisted GPS
speaker works fine - although i'd like to be able to change the inital volume (too loud) w/in the free app
no use of AUX
one add'l thing i've found is that phone boots the mount bluetooth for ear piece - no multi connect option as far as i can tell (iPhone 'feature'?)
otherwise, enjoying the integrated features of the mount so far ...
I tested my replacement dock this morning with no issues. I actually love this thing when it is working properly. It makes the whole "iPhone in the car" experience so much cleaner. I hop in the car, pop the iPhone into the mount, and it's ready for both music and nav. I also like how the TomTom app pauses the music during its voice instructions. Some people had complained about it being too abrupt, but it doesn't bother me at all. To be honest, I don't talk on the phone very much while driving, so I've only had one phone call using the bluetooth. That call was fine, but I don't have enough experience with it for a proper review.
Guys & Gals, I'm thinking of having BLT ship me this, if and when they get it in, after seeing this video!!
Magellan Car Kit for iPhone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIb1RmcpTNk
Magellan Car Kit for iPhone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIb1RmcpTNk
it definitely is a strong consideration with a few add'l features for $10 more ... including that it works w/ both iphone and ipod touch, works w/ cases/skins, rotation notches seem firmer, and bluetooth works while off mount ... if you can get over the overall cost, the extra $10 is probably worth it.
i received the TT car kit as a gift ... and enjoying it every day
i received the TT car kit as a gift ... and enjoying it every day
it definitely is a strong consideration with a few add'l features for $10 more ... including that it works w/ both iphone and ipod touch, works w/ cases/skins, rotation notches seem firmer, and bluetooth works while off mount ... if you can get over the overall cost, the extra $10 is probably worth it.
i received the TT car kit as a gift ... and enjoying it every day
Yeah, the cost is not a huge issue for me as with either car kit, I get a permanent dock that I can pop my phone into and get enhanced gps service, charging, bluetooth speakerphone, and line out to my stereo system. It's pretty good from one unit. Glad yours is working out for you!
Little problem with my TT car kit. My iPhone no longer automatically pairs with the car kit when I plug it in. I use to be able to turn BT on and plug it in the TT kit and it would pair in a few seconds. Now I have to manually pair the two by going into the BT settings on the iPhone.
Anyone else with this problem?
Anyone else with this problem?
I get that beep too, but after I MANUALLY pair the phone to the dock. I'm going to try to erase the TomTom Kit from the iPhone's BT paired devices and start from scratch.
Still happy with TT kit. No rattling noise and both landscape and portrait hold in position well. Only issue I have is using aux for music through the car stereo. I continute to get a slight hissing noise which is annoying. If music is loud and heavy base, then I don't hear any distracting noise--but slow or soft music does have the noise. This seems to be the case whether I go from car jack to iphone or from tt kit to iphone to car jack. bummer.
So I solved my problem. Erased the TomTom kit from the iPhones BT memory and repaired the two devices. Now the iPhone automatically pairs when I dock it in the TomTom kit.
One thing I think the kit can improve on is the voice volume of a call conversation. It could be a bit louder.
One thing I think the kit can improve on is the voice volume of a call conversation. It could be a bit louder.
Yeah, I felt that too, but it was passable in most situations except for on the freeways. Well, I ordered a Magellan car kit so we'll see what that brings. I am looking forward to just being able to pop the phone into the cradle, case and all.
So hear's my initial sense of the Magellan kit. I like it better than the TomTom kit for two simple reasons..first, it is rock solid when I drive around no matter how bumpy the road is. Instead of the tiny clicks on the TT, it has simple detents at 12-3-6-9 and it locks in solid. Second, is the fact that I can just put my iPhone in with the case on makes it far more convenient. I didn't think this would be such a big deal, but in fact I'm in and out of the car a lot so its a significant benefit. The speaker is loud and clear, but I don't think its louder than the TomTom...about the same.
I'll let you know more as I use it for awhile!
I just ran into this review today so I thought I'd add it in for anyone interested...
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/22/review-on-the-road-with-the-magellan-premium-car-kit/
Tomtom Car kit
I am new to this forum, and a true novice with tomtom and car kits. I just downloaded the application onto my iPhone, and then setup the car kit. It works fine. What I have is probably what sounds like the dumbest of questions:
What is the car kit's resistance to cold temperatures? I live in Cleveland, OH and if I live the mount in the car for a whole day during winter, will the chips or anything be damaged?
Do you advice dismounting the kit every time I park for a few hours, and/or for the night? My garage is not heated.
Thanks!
I am new to this forum, and a true novice with tomtom and car kits. I just downloaded the application onto my iPhone, and then setup the car kit. It works fine. What I have is probably what sounds like the dumbest of questions:
What is the car kit's resistance to cold temperatures? I live in Cleveland, OH and if I live the mount in the car for a whole day during winter, will the chips or anything be damaged?
Do you advice dismounting the kit every time I park for a few hours, and/or for the night? My garage is not heated.
Thanks!
I use to live in Minneapolis so I understand these kind of concerns, but I'm really not sure. My instinct is to say take it in overnight, but what a pain! It gets pretty cold where you are, but not bitter cold like in MN. Why not email TomTom and ask them by sending the temperature range for your area?
Thanks WClyffe
I sent an e-mail to Tomtom. We'll see what they say. Funny how this info about temperature range isn't available anywhere, and if it is, I could not find it.
I sent an e-mail to Tomtom. We'll see what they say. Funny how this info about temperature range isn't available anywhere, and if it is, I could not find it.
Ok, so for what it's worth here are my thoughts in using the Magellan Car Kit for a few days. I'll cut to the chase by telling you I'm sending it back. My big complaints are the bluetooth speakerphone is terrible with the volume being so low during phone calls that you have to turn it all the way up, but that's still not high enough. Then when you get Nav directions you have to turn it way down. The mic is very poor and I made about 15-20 calls during, and not during, the Nav software running. The 3.5mm input to connect your stereo system also plays the small bluetooth speaker on the kit at the same time....that is ridiculous, as its a tiny speaker and you cannot drive it like you can your car speakers, plus it does not sound great playing music through it. The good things were in my earlier post...the ability to pop your phone in with the case on, rock solid and better detent positions than the TomTom that do not slip, the Nav chip seems to locate very quickly, and the Nav directions through the speaker are loud and clear. I guess I'm back to waiting for someone to do this right!
I have used the Case-Mate Barley-There and am currently using the Marware MicroShell with the TomTom car kit. They both work fine.
Thanks for your review. I guess I will stick with my TomTom kit for the iPhone. I don't use a case with my phone and the TT kit is smaller and looks sleeker anyways.
Operating temperatures for Tomtom devices
I asked Tomtom support about leaving the iPhone car kit in the car at night in the winter (I live in Ohio). Here is the answer I got.
The operating and storage temperatures for the TomTom devices are as follows:
-4ºF to +140ºF / -20ºC to +60ºC
So it can withstand the extreme temperatures inside the car. The only recommendation we would like to make is to keep the LCD screen of the device away from the direct sunlight, as it might damage the LCD screen.
I asked Tomtom support about leaving the iPhone car kit in the car at night in the winter (I live in Ohio). Here is the answer I got.
The operating and storage temperatures for the TomTom devices are as follows:
-4ºF to +140ºF / -20ºC to +60ºC
So it can withstand the extreme temperatures inside the car. The only recommendation we would like to make is to keep the LCD screen of the device away from the direct sunlight, as it might damage the LCD screen.