Dual releases car stereo with built-in iPhone/iPod dock

[utwarreng]

I thought this looked pretty sweet, although it sounds like you still have to buy the bluetooth adapter in order to make phone calls through the stereo. Otherwise though, from reviews I'm reading, everything plays straight through the stereo with good sound, and no problems. GPS, streaming audio, etc. Best part: it charges the iPhone at the same time, unlike the standard car stereo iPod cable. I will say it looks a little cheap, but still pretty good innovation that will hopefully spur development from the competition. Also there is no CD player, but if you've got your iPod/iPhone plugged in, who cares? At only $99 this seems like a steal.

http://www.dualav.com/mobileaudio/xml8110.php

Owner's review
http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f133/cool-iphone-headunit-dual-xml8110-79290/index2.html#post1377495

 

[lemonademaker]

once again... you have to take the iphone out of the case!!

now I know that Dual is not "high end audio" but very cool idea and heck for $99 seems you can't beat it. I bet most car owners would never know it was a Dual if you didn't tell them....

I wonder how many people run around without a case compared to with cases..... I haven't checked the specs yet but i wonder if you can use the usb sync cord to hook up to it or do you have to use the dock....

thanks for the heads up....

EDIT: i wonder if the quote: "iplug™ adapter included" is so you can plug it in via a cable instead of using the dock...hmm

 

[sn0warmy]

Hm, it looks to me like the dock might just work with the Contour slim fit case I have on my phone. Assuming that the clamps on either side can be pushed out just a tad further.

 

[utwarreng]

I use the ifrogz Luxe case, and it pops off in about 1/2 a second. Sometimes when I know I need to charge my phone, but will be using the GPS heavily, I just throw the case into my cup holder and plug the charger in. This is probably the same thing I would do in the case of this deck.

While it would be nice if they would make things like this where you didn't have to take it out of the case, since cases vary so much in size, it would be near impossible to make this a possibility.

lemonademaker: I was wondering what they were talking about too with that adapter.

 

[lemonademaker]

another thing i saw was:

"Expansion module slot"

it's a slot to the right and behind the phone on the main deck... can't seem to find out info on that also......