TEG
macrumors 604
I see in the photo that the iTrip is now inline with the charging cord, instead of being directly against the iPod/iPhone. I'm guessing that this is so they could better shield it from the iPhone GSM antennas. Per Apple, in order to say "made for iPhone" on the package, a device that includes an audio component (i.e. dock connected speakers, transmitters, etc.) has to provide proper shielding..
All of the iTrip Autos are that way. Only the Original, 2G, and Dock Connecting iTrip actually touch the iPod. My iTrip's transmitter in fact sits on the floor while the iPhone sits in front of the stereo in a cup holder mount by Belkin.
As for the GSM noise (or beeps) if you turn off the auto-check for your mail and don't use any web features, you should only hear it when changing providers or between some cells. I traveled from Seattle to Flint, MI at the beginning of April with my iPhone operating the whole time playing music through my iTrip Auto. I only heard GSM noise when I; Got a Call, Received a Yahoo! Push E-Mail (which would trigger all my other accounts to check), when passing from an at&t area into an Alltel/roaming area, when using Google Maps to find near by fuel or hotels (while stopped), entering or exiting an urban area (change in GSM frequencies), or when being pinged by Police Radar (happens on my iTrip on my 3G iPod as well). I have found that applying pressure to the lower sections of the iPhone (on either side of the home button) reduces the GSM noise, or increasing the pressure on the dock connector. I don't know why, but I don't think there is a good reason that we should have to put up with this EM interference at all.
TEG