Car dock

[Europa]

I've been looking around tonight for a car dock for my 3G, but haven't really found what I'm looking for. I was kind of hoping for an all-in-one dock/charger/aux input only set up, but I guess that doesn't exist.

I have an aux input on my car stereo. I also have an aux cable and an iPhone car charger. So I guess all I need is the actual dock to attach to the dash or vent.

I was just looking at the Griffin Auto pilot, which seems popular, and I think I'm a little confused. Is there any more to it than an aux cable and iPhone car charger? If not, why is it so popular (assuming most people already have a car charger)? Does it come with an actual dock (it's not in the pic)?

What dock do you guy recommend for attaching to the dash board?

Also, when I answer an incoming call while listening to music through the car speakers, is it possible for callers voice come through my car speakers (or do you just have to hit speaker phone on the phone)?

[DavidT]

See my post here about pro clip. They have what you want
www.proclipusa.com

[Europa]

I decided I'm going to go the integrated route and upgrade to an iPod ready car stereo. That's the way to go for the best possible audio (better than aux input from headphone jack of iPhone) and charging while playing with only one cord attached. I'm not sure yet if I'll go with the USB on the face plate or the built in iPod connector. Does anyone know if the USB input will charge the iPhone? Also, what will happen when a call comes in (does it automatically go to speaker mode on the phone)?

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-VfBzG8jof6w/p_158GT820IP/Sony-CDX-GT820IP.html
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8958924&st=car+audio&lp=6&type=product&cp=1&id=1216424781227

[Mavery003]

If your receiver is somewhat outdated, and you're going to be spending $50-60 on some kind of aux holder/charger anyways, I think its a good call to just upgrade to an ipod ready deck. I'm almost positive those will charge it as well. I'm in the same position you are only I have a way to hold my iphone just below the deck (horizontally) and I have aux in that I ran from the back of the deck. I'm just looking for a way to listen/charge it with one chord and I don't think it exists. I'd rather have a low battery than 2-3 chords flying everywhere looking like garbage haha.

Good luck with the search make sure to post what you end up going with too!

[iCafe]

See my post here about pro clip. They have what you want
www.proclipusa.com

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/columnists/jimbaumbach/blog/2007-08-02Spam.jpg

[iCafe]

wait for 3.0

[DavidT]

You should check it out before you talk. I do not work for them or at this time any one else. I have been using thier prodict for several years. since I lease a car, and have to return it I do not want to leave any holes and or marks on it. Proclip (really brodit) mounts are both model (GPS and or phone) specif as well as car specific. Here in the north east we now have people running around looking at the tell tale ring on the windshield and then breakinging into cars ans taking the GPS and or phones left there. By using thier mounts and mounting plates (yes two or three items on one mount) you can secure your item when driving and and when leaving.

[Europa]

I got a new deck with a USB input today. Now it will charge while playing, has the best possible sound quality, and I can control the music on the deck instead of the iPhone :)

http://www.infowest.com/personal/m/mindi/dock.jpg

[mittenman]

I got a new deck with a USB input today. Now it will charge while playing, has the best possible sound quality, and I can control the music on the deck instead of the iPhone :)

http://www.infowest.com/personal/m/mindi/dock.jpg

Daaymn, you gots the nawz?!?!

[acosmichippo]

I did the same thng recently.

What mount are you using?

[Europa]

It's a combination of a Bracketron satellite radio dash mount and a vent clip/iPod holder. The GPS holder on the satellite dash mount didn't grip the phone tight enough, so I attached the gripper portion iPod vent clip to the satellite mount.
Best Buy only charged me for one of them :)

I can't find a short iPod cable like this http://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=367 in the USA though, oh well.

[Mavery003]

That's pretty sweet. So that will play slacker/pandora radio apps from the usb too? I use slacker more than my actual ipod.

Another thing you might want to check out is www.itubelist.com You can pick any number of videos and have them play consecutively...be careful though, you'll probably have girls running up to your car in amazement.

[acosmichippo]

Pandora works great through USB on my head unit (Pioneer)... it's similar to Europa's, so i assume hers works the same way.

[Europa]

Hers ;)

Yeah, I just checked and Pandora works with it.

[acosmichippo]

my apologies.

[Europa]

No problem. Are you just using a regular iPhone USB charger cord to connect to your dock? I really wish I could find a shorter one.

[acosmichippo]

yeah, but mine doesn't connect in the front like yours. it has the attachment in the back, and an extension cord is run to the glove box (or wherever else you'd like). So for me it's possible to hide extra cord in the glove box. I need to get this mounting situation worked out first, though...

[Europa]

Yeah, tucking it away in the glovebox would be really nice for an iPod, but too inaccessible for a phone. You can get one of the mounts online and then you unscrew one of the dash panels to install it. They're are quite a few to choose from, but I recommend one that is tilted toward the driver seat. Some of the vent clip mounts allow you to rotate the phone from portrait to landscape view but you can't angle them towards you.

[acosmichippo]

i don't mean to tuck the phone itself in the glove box... just the excess cable.

[Europa]

I use my iPhone in my car a lot more now that I got the new deck. I think it looks a lot better now that I have the short black USB cord.

http://www.infowest.com/personal/m/mindi/iphonedeck.jpg

[Europa]

I'm finally happy with my iPhone car integration. I just got my noise cancelling BlueAnt Supertooth 3 bluetooth speakerphone yesterday. The calling is all voice activated and hands free and the music can be controlled through the car stereo deck or through the 3GS voice activation.

[Hawk]

Nice setup Europa. I kinda went the same route, but more in my budget range. I got a DICE dock (which i had to modify slightly to be able to dock my phone with a slider case on it) and the Griffin Auto Pilot.
The Auto Pilot connects to the head unit via AUX connection, and then it connects to the back of my Dice dock. I can control the music either through the screen or the Auto Pilot. (the pilot has play/pause , fwd & rwd)
I made the bracket mount for the dock. If I had the money, I would have gone with the adjustable pass-through mount from ProClipsUSA, but alass, I'm married.
Also, I have a Bose factory head unit, but with no AUX in. It has a tape deck, so I use the tape adapter to plug into the auto pilot. Its the only wires you can see, but it's not too bad. I have a post about it somewhere in here.
I would actually like to get an updated head unit, but because my entire system is Bose, and it covers the entertainment system in the back, as well as the old CD GPS system (which has the AC controls integrated into the screen) there is nothing available as a replacement. I've even gone as far as to call Crutchfield about it. They said that there is nothing they can recommend as a suitable replacement without me losing the AC controls (need those here in GA) and the entertainment systems' sound.

[Hawk]

Found one of the posts: http://www.everythingicafe.com/forum/iphone-modifications/apple-dock-to-car-dock-build-43559.html

The vid is 8 friggin minutes. Can't believe I let it go that long

Here's a blog:

http://www.everythingicafe.com/articles/2009/3/6/my-quest-for-a-dockable-car-mount-for-the-stereo./

and I cannot remember where I posted the pics....

...Found them (the search tool is your friend!)
http://www.everythingicafe.com/forum/iphone-accessories/griffin-auto-pilot-amazon-19-99-a-44111-3.html

[iMerlin]

I have to agree with the proclips recommendation. Best mount Ive seen so far. I also posted about my new head unit, the Sony XPLOD MEXBT2700, streams via A2DP and works like a charm. Now I just need a nice, sleek, charging solution. I can use the FM transmitter I was using before I got the Sony unit but thats a lot of chord just to charge it. I wish I could charge it with Bluetooth!

[Eninety2]

It's a combination of a Bracketron satellite radio dash mount and a vent clip/iPod holder. The GPS holder on the satellite dash mount didn't grip the phone tight enough, so I attached the gripper portion iPod vent clip to the satellite mount.
Best Buy only charged me for one of them :)

I can't find a short iPod cable like this http://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=367 in the USA though, oh well.

i believe cablejive.com has a cable that short.

[PAPER]

It's a combination of a Bracketron satellite radio dash mount and a vent clip/iPod holder. The GPS holder on the satellite dash mount didn't grip the phone tight enough, so I attached the gripper portion iPod vent clip to the satellite mount.
Best Buy only charged me for one of them :)

I can't find a short iPod cable like this http://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=367 in the USA though, oh well.


here is a very short iphone cable , & very cheap @ $1.64

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.25809

[Europa]

i believe cablejive.com has a cable that short.
They do, I already bought one from them. Somebody gave me the link a couple months ago.

[Curko]

Nice setup (Y) looking to save up to get one that intergrates with my stereo - any reccommendations?:2cool:

[Hawk]

Nice setup (Y) looking to save up to get one that intergrates with my stereo - any reccommendations?:2cool:
I suggest you head over to Crutchfield and see what is available for your current head unit. Once you find something, start shopping around online to find the best deal.

[Europa]

The voice activation for song control stopped working with 3.1.2 while connected via USB in my car. Voice activation continued to work fine for phone calls while connected. I had no issues while it wasn't connected in the car.

I found the solution this morning. When the iPhone is connected via USB, the songs are controlled from the head unit, if you open the iPod app, a white screen that says "accessory connected" appears and no playback options are available. However, it has a Passenger Control mode. To activate it, I push and hold the Mode button on the deck for 2 seconds. The music can then be contolled from the iPhone as well as the deck. I put it in passenger mode this morning, and voice control for songs worked fine. :) I was having to unplug the USB whenever I wanted to change songs via voice activation since updating to 3.1.2, and that was annoying.