Alpine EX-10 iPod controller and Bluetooth adapter

First...I do not work for Alpine or Crutchfield and I don't sell electronics.

I recently got my new Crutchfield holiday catalog and as I rather slowly flipped the pages in disgust with the over-priced and under-impressive gear available this holiday season, I suddenly came across something with that always exciting "NEW" next to it. It was the Alpine EX-10. I used to be a big car audio junkie in the 90's so I remember Alpine as being top notch stuff. I was quite surprised to read that this really cool looking device would actually be compatible with my iPhone and not just the other “ixxx” devices. AND it would act as a Bluetooth interface with my iPhone. WOW!!! Sounds almost too good to be true. AND at under $200!!! As I read on I got even more excited to see that it would be shipping to the US in November 07. And because it was already late November and soon to be December I thought for sure I could have one at the house and in my car before week’s end. So I immediately dashed to the PC and punched up the website in anticipation of ordering one as quickly as possible. Only to find that the website said “sorry, no product like that here”. So I figure it must be too new or maybe only available by phone…so I hop on the live support chat thing and to my disappointment the rep said that eventhough they had it on the website and in the catalog...the deal with Alpine to sell them and then ship them by November…ooops…Guess not…he said they had to take it off the website because they were unsure of when they would be getting them from the manufacturer now. He had nothing to say about when they may be coming either.

Since then they have put it back on the website as a pre-order item. To ship in early to mid December.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-65QadkUflZ6/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?i=500EX10

Ok. Bottom line. I have gone around the block with everything I can find on this seemingly magnificent device.

I am more curious about what everyone has read or seen or heard about this device so far. Here are the only links I could find that were of any value:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/14/alpine-ex-10-makes-in-car-handsfree-calling-ipod-integration-a/

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/ces-preview-2008/alpine-ex+10-bluetooth-hub-and-ipod-fm-transmitter-for-your-car-322407.php

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/451716/the_alpine_ex10_system_gets_your_automobile.html

Either way this looks to be the first in car fm transmitter/hardwired device that actually might work 100% the way it should for the iPhone that also has some really nice convenience features. I didn’t see anything else on the forum related to this…Just thought I would bring it up.