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iPhone bluetooth car integration
- Thread starter oli2140
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Another T505 user here. My only issue with it is their dumb method of choosing an FM channel to use--I'd much rather be able to type a channel in myself.
Other than that, I'm pleased. Wish I'd found out about it years ago!
Other than that, I'm pleased. Wish I'd found out about it years ago!
still haven't found what I am looking for
I was looking for the same thing. I did not find a solution for me, but I will post my finding in case it helps someone.
I have a "high end" Bose stereo with a in dash cd changer and a cassette player. Long story short, there is no easy way to add a line in ( done my research). The cheaper solution is to get an aftermarket stereo. I don't like most head units out there: they all look really chessy: tiny buttons, plastic, awful led lights. Alpine makes a few that are more of my taste. There other large screen units seems to take a couple of minutes to boot, does navigation as well, but cost $1000 or more. Thieves magnet I think.
I tried FM modulators. None worked for me. And if you search, many people find them to be awful.
I wanted to be able to safely answer a phone call while driving. Bluetooth headset is not the answer because I often forget them or forgot to charge them, and I really don't want to fumble with a wired headset while driving. So I tried a few bluetooth speakerphones. The first one was crap.
Then I got a Blueant ST3 (the current model is ST4). It sounds great. The rechargeable battery lasts about a month for me. It will even voice dial with the iP4. Best of all, it demands no attention until I get a call, then it announces the call name at which point I could either push a button to answer or push another button or do nothing to reject (you also can answer by saying the right word by I never bothered with that). Its voice dial is great. You don't have to train the unit at all yet the accuracy is uncanny.
Even if I got a stereo with hand free option for my phone, I suspect I would still use my Blueant speakerphone. The reasons: I don't want to have to remember to turn on the stereo every time I get into the car just so that it's ready for my incoming calls, the same way I don't automatically turn on the stereo or TV when I get home.
For now I am using a tape adaptor and the sound is great. However, I am looking for nice car mount and charger for the time I use my Navigon GPS program.
I was looking for the same thing. I did not find a solution for me, but I will post my finding in case it helps someone.
I have a "high end" Bose stereo with a in dash cd changer and a cassette player. Long story short, there is no easy way to add a line in ( done my research). The cheaper solution is to get an aftermarket stereo. I don't like most head units out there: they all look really chessy: tiny buttons, plastic, awful led lights. Alpine makes a few that are more of my taste. There other large screen units seems to take a couple of minutes to boot, does navigation as well, but cost $1000 or more. Thieves magnet I think.
I tried FM modulators. None worked for me. And if you search, many people find them to be awful.
I wanted to be able to safely answer a phone call while driving. Bluetooth headset is not the answer because I often forget them or forgot to charge them, and I really don't want to fumble with a wired headset while driving. So I tried a few bluetooth speakerphones. The first one was crap.
Then I got a Blueant ST3 (the current model is ST4). It sounds great. The rechargeable battery lasts about a month for me. It will even voice dial with the iP4. Best of all, it demands no attention until I get a call, then it announces the call name at which point I could either push a button to answer or push another button or do nothing to reject (you also can answer by saying the right word by I never bothered with that). Its voice dial is great. You don't have to train the unit at all yet the accuracy is uncanny.
Even if I got a stereo with hand free option for my phone, I suspect I would still use my Blueant speakerphone. The reasons: I don't want to have to remember to turn on the stereo every time I get into the car just so that it's ready for my incoming calls, the same way I don't automatically turn on the stereo or TV when I get home.
For now I am using a tape adaptor and the sound is great. However, I am looking for nice car mount and charger for the time I use my Navigon GPS program.
I'm not the right person to speak to battery life as my usage is probably well below the norms, so I'll leave that to someone else. But as to your second question: right now, you have to reach to the phone to switch songs, either using the iPod app by touch or starting and using voice control through the iPhone (still requires a button press). HOWEVER--the 4.1 firmware upgrade includes full Bluetooth integration, so at that point you'll be able to advance songs without having to touch the phone.
For my situation, I did not want the phone held down by the stereo where my power source is--I want to be able to see the screen both for iPod functions and for using navigation software. So I went with a vent mount Arkon universal phone mount from Amazon. The vent mount puts the phone at dashboard height, making it much easier to see and use. When my T505 needs charging, I generally take it inside and use a wall charger, though I can always take it down to use with the car charger as well. It still works just fine for me at a lower level.
If you plan to be able to charge away from your car, just be forewarned that the T505 doesn't come with a wall charger standard, only the car charger. I actually use the wall wart that came with the iPhone, and a mini USB cable that came with my Kindle--works just fine. I believe Motorola charges around $20 for theirs.
Also, if you've never used an FM transmitter, get the T505 from somewhere with a no questions asked return policy, if you can. The sound quality is good, but you can get some FM "hiss" between songs. And that quality will be dependent on what empty FM stations are available in your area. It's for this reason that a lot of people aren't satisfied with these devices.
It's a good quality transmitter, but within those limitations.
Also, if you've never used an FM transmitter, get the T505 from somewhere with a no questions asked return policy, if you can. The sound quality is good, but you can get some FM "hiss" between songs. And that quality will be dependent on what empty FM stations are available in your area. It's for this reason that a lot of people aren't satisfied with these devices.
It's a good quality transmitter, but within those limitations.