I'm probably gonna lose a lot of respect here for admitting this...

wildonrio · 08-19-2008, 03:32 PM

I watch movies on my iPhone while I drive. Yes this is bad but before you shun me as the biggest moron to ever own an iPhone, let me explain a little more. I have a really nice car mount that suction cups to my windshield and I've positioned the mount right above my steering wheel like this:

photo.jpg

Now, I'm not an idiot in that I know this is obviously more dangerous to drive but let me tell you why I justify it:

I'm not looking down in my lap but looking straight forward the whole time with the windshield just milimeters above the phone's screen. I can see everything just an inch away from my center of focus.
I don't just watch the movie the whole time by any means. I maybe watch 1 second of movie and then 5 seconds of road, kind of like looking down at the speedometer. If it's quick enough, it's never dangerous. And since the iPhone is actually right by the view of the road, it's an even quicker glance than looking at the speedometer.

And here are some of the great benefits of it!

I have an auxiliary cable so I can run the sound of the movie throughout all the car speakers. Even when I'm not watching I can hear the movie loud and clear.
Red lights are a blast. I no longer dread waiting at them, but get excited that I get to just watch the movie.
iPhone remembers where you left off in the movie. When you get back in the car and start the movie again, it will start off where you left off.
It's like having a mini flat screen tv right in your car. (My next goal is to load up music videos on there and having video along with my car music.)

Let me say that I realize this is not for everyone. I've never been in a moving accident before and I consider myself very aware of everything on the road. While this is obviously more dangerous, I've got it down to an art where I still feel safe. I would bet however that there are many people who wouldn't be able to do this responsibly and would end up getting in a wreck. The key is never watching the movie for more than a second or so without looking forward again. If you think you will go into a trance and just watch the movie without looking up every once in a while, you shouldn't try this. Plus I'm pretty sure this is illegal so you have to remember that too.

If anyone is interested in the car mount, I bought it here. I have iPhone 3G and you need to trim the car mount's plastic clip at the top a little to get it to fit right. Plus, as soon as GPS navigation software comes out, this mount is really gonna come in handy. Here's a YouTube video of the mount:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m2Mg77Vu4s

Alright, let the verbal lashing begin, I'm ready for it...

Steveo 90 · 08-19-2008, 03:36 PM

can you promise you wont drive in s florida and i wont call you an idiot........

please be careful

Eragon · 08-19-2008, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by wildonrio

I watch movies on my iPhone while I drive. Yes this is bad but before you shun me as the biggest moron to ever own an iPhone, let me explain a little more. I have a really nice car mount that suction cups to my windshield and I've positioned the mount right above my steering wheel like this:

Attachment 3528

Now, I'm not an idiot in that I know this is obviously more dangerous to drive but let me tell you why I justify it:

I'm not looking down in my lap but looking straight forward the whole time with the windshield just milimeters above the phone's screen. I can see everything just an inch away from my center of focus.

I don't just watch the movie the whole time by any means. I maybe watch 1 second of movie and then 5 seconds of road, kind of like looking down at the speedometer. If it's quick enough, it's never dangerous. And since the iPhone is actually right by the view of the road, it's an even quicker glance than looking at the speedometer.

And here are some of the great benefits of it!

I have an auxiliary cable so I can run the sound of the movie throughout all the car speakers. Even when I'm not watching I can hear the movie loud and clear.

Red lights are a blast. I no longer dread waiting at them, but get excited that I get to just watch the movie.

iPhone remembers where you left off in the movie. When you get back in the car and start the movie again, it will start off where you left off.

It's like having a mini flat screen tv right in your car. (My next goal is to load up music videos on there and having video along with my car music.)

Let me say that I realize this is not for everyone. I've never been in a moving accident before and I consider myself very aware of everything on the road. While this is obviously more dangerous, I've got it down to an art where I still feel safe. I would bet however that there are many people who wouldn't be able to do this responsibly and would end up getting in a wreck. The key is never watching the movie for more than a second or so without looking forward again. If you think you will go into a trance and just watch the movie without looking up every once in a while, you shouldn't try this.

If anyone is interested in the car mount, I bought it here. I have iPhone 3G and you need to trim the car mount's plastic clip at the top a little to get it to fit right. Plus, as soon as GPS navigation software comes out, this mount is really gonna come in handy. Here's a YouTube video of the mount:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m2Mg77Vu4s

Alright, let the verbal lashing begin, I'm ready for it...

Actually, it makes me wonder about hooking up an iPhone to goggles. Would be nice to swim at the same time I'm watching Jaws.

dcom · 08-19-2008, 03:45 PM

Just tell me where you'll be and I'll make sure to avoid the area like the plague!

I don't care how nice that car mount is, movies are for watching in your house or in a theater, not something moving down the road that could potentially kill someone if the driver isn't paying attention.

I have to deal with idiots yammering on their cell phones, not paying attention but watching a movie??? You really need to reconsider doing that.

Jade · 08-19-2008, 03:46 PM

The idea isn't an "evil" one, and you may be an alert driver, but most other people on the road are not safe drivers. That's where the danger comes knocking on your door.

wildonrio · 08-19-2008, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by dcom

Just tell me where you'll be and I'll make sure to avoid the area like the plague!

I don't care how nice that car mount is, movies are for watching in your house or in a theater, not something moving down the road that could potentially kill someone if the driver isn't paying attention.

I have to deal with idiots yammering on their cell phones, not paying attention but watching a movie??? You really need to reconsider doing that.

Like I said, I'm sure there are lots of idiots who wouldn't know how to do this responsibly. Just like a lot of people are a hazard on their cell phone in the car while others are just fine. But as long as you're only watching a second or so at a time, I don't see how it's any more dangerous than looking down at your speedometer.

Eragon · 08-19-2008, 03:48 PM

That's a good point. My boss was rear-ended last Friday driving home. When the state trooper asked what happened, my boss (possibly joking to me, I hope!) indicated that the driver couldn't remember where the brake pedal was.

tyoung · 08-19-2008, 04:11 PM

I would assume that would be a ticket if you were pulled over, and it doesn't seem like the safest idea. But I have to admit that being stuck in gridlock traffic it would make the time go by a lot more smoothly!

llrickman · 08-19-2008, 04:23 PM

Ive got an email i need to send you. It was a guy in Europe texting as he was driving, Decided rather than watching the road it was better to text his friends ..... Well long story short he hit a semi truck head on

EMS got there and took him out..................IN TWO PIECES if ya wondered his spine stayed connected to his bottom half

I admit i have texted on the road before but it been on desolate highways with no other traffic around

I would reconsider watching a movie as i was driving . And i thought driving with headphones on was bad

wildonrio · 08-19-2008, 04:26 PM

I think that guy is the same type of guy who would just watch the movie for like 10 seconds at a time, some people just aren't cut out for it. Not recommended.