Which Parrot Bluetooth to choose?

You've done a little research into bluetooth kits and come to the conclusion that your probably going to choose parrot. They have the brand name and reputation for producing good reliable products. The problem is which parrot bluetooth kit to choose? With more than six integrated solutions on the market, which product will be the most suitable for you?

An iPhone kit is for Life not just for Xmas.

Its the time of year again when people are thinking about purchasing products ready for surprising their family and friends over the festive season. Its also time for business's to go into marketing overdrive to entice customer to find the perfect present for the special loved one.

Is the Itrip FM Transmitter the best on the market?

Griffin, generally speaking hold a large majority of the market for FM Transmitters for iPods and other MP3 players. Over the past 5 years they have built up a good reputation for producing some of the best iPod accessories on the market. Griffin products range from iPod cases, protective screens & additional wiring, however its the iPod car kit market where griffin have made their name. Specifically the griffin iTrip.

What should you look for in iPhone to car integration?

So you've just purchased your shiny new iPhone, you've probably already downloaded more app's than your ever going to use. As well as visiting multiple sites looking for the latest accessories to work with your new social status symbol. Not that anything is wrong with doing this. Its exciting getting a new toy to play with, especially if you haven't used an iPhone before.

New Car Stereo Systems to make Application Integration Easier.

Web 2.0 isn't just making the internet a better more useful place to surf. Its also helped develop the day to day sites applications being used on a hourly basis (for most people), on devices such as the iPhone, iPad and other tablet pc's & android phones. You know sites such as Facebook, Twitter and a variety of other sites on the social scene. The surge in interest of the social media wave has also made an impression on the traditional none-web business's. Now its becoming more important to at least think about introducing ways of integrating App's or using App's on the devices created by companies.

Are the New Bluetooth Integration systems the next generation of Bluetooth car kits

Bluetooth Integration is becoming big business for many manufacturers, Partly due to government regulations introduced in the early 2000's and secondly due to the increasing emphasis on safety. The recent surge in bluetooth car kit sales has allowed manufacturers to develop new systems designed to make these systems much more use-able and integrate into the vehicles stereo & entertainment systems too provide greater control.

Dispelling the Myth of Ipod Fm Transmitters

You either love them or hate them, or your not too bothered either way. However there is a myth about iPod fm transmitters that isn't always the case. The reports of poor quality and constant feedback & interference are not always 100% accurate.

After-market V Factory Standard iPod Car Kit

A lot of vehicles are now being produced with iPod car kits pre-installed, or the option to buy one from the dealership as part of a package deal. The problem is there are many different variations of an iPod car kit. So what is the better option. Factory standard or After-market?

I one heard a customer say they were sold an iPod kit when they purchased a new car from a dealership. It was suggested to him that it was the best option available for his car & nothing else was comparable. To be fair he was fairly happy with it. It did what he wanted it to do. However the customer was looking around & decided to check to see if anything else was available, just out of interest. He came along to iPod Car Kit Direct and displayed his kit, He was shocked when we told him his iPod kit was a simple AUX input. Not that there's anything wrong with a AUX input, Its like listening through the headphones. However we told him we sold them for £5 he was annoyed.

The system he purchased from factory cost him over £150 for the ”kit” and installation, and when we showed him how & where the kit installs into the car he felt rather ripped off.

This is problem when purchasing iPod kits from manufacturers, you may not know what you are getting and how much its costing you in comparison to a competitive product. We know of a lot of dealerships who charge upwards of £3000 for an integrated system. Not a problem if their customers are willing to pay that. However competitive and better products are available for much less.

So how do we define what is the better system?

Well its very difficult, each vehicle and model for that matter have different compatibility depending on what's installed in it. With compatibility so varied its difficult to a) offer a comparative product, and b) suggest what features it should have.

However what I can do is tell you about what types of product do what and what you should expect from them.

There are three or four types of product to connect your iPod / iPhone into your car.

Firstly an AUX in, this is a 3.5mm plug into your vehicle. This will not be compatible with all vehicles as a physical AUX input is required into the stereo its self. (Usually available on after-market stereos but not usually on factory standard) The benefit of the AUX in is that its cheap, costing around £5 for the lead. This solution will basically allow you to listen to your music as you would through the headphones, You cant control your iPod just listen.

Secondly you get FM Transmitters, these connect to your stereo wirelessly through a preselected FM frequency. The benefits are that every stereo is compatible so it doesn't matter what car you drive. However if you live in built up area's you may struggle to receive a good signal as other frequencies may be picked up at the same time.

Thirdly you can get FM Modulators, They work on a similar principle to the transmitters with one exception. They are physically hard wired into the stereo. So you receive a much better signal & you can charge you iPod. However all music selections must be made from the iPod. Again these kits are universal but you may need an aerial adapter dependant on the type of aerial in your vehicle. Some Volvo's use antennas inside the windows so these aren't compatible.

Fourthly are the integrated kits, These are vehicle specific. The connect into your stereo and allow you to control the iPod / iPhone through the stereo or steering wheel controls. They also offer iPod charge and most offer text display on the cluster screen or stereo, however this depends on the electronic system used in the vehicle. Most new vehicles use CAN bus or MOST if this is the case you should receive text in the car. Needles to say the Integrated kits offer the best iPod functionality by far.

So which is best Factory or After-market equipment, there are so many different kits out that offer different features its too difficult to say. However it is worth saying where the after-market leads the factory spec follows. So make sure you get all the facts from the dealership compare to other products available on the market and make your mind up from there.

If you need more advice on iPod car kits or want to see what the best option is for you contact iPod car kit direct. They are Europe's largest retailer and have extensive knowledge in the area. Ipod integration is what they do!

Don't forget to take your iPod with you.

There are lots of attractions to owning an iPod. Most of them are obvious. However there are a few little benefits of owning an iPod that you may not of thought of. Aside from housing your music collection new iPods have a full lists of applications that can help in your every day life. These can range from location apps to function apps, financial apps & games (as so much more).

10 reasons to not phone when driving.

There are a lot more than 10 reasons why not to use a mobile phone when driving, however i'll keep it short and snappy. After all i'm sure you will all agree with most of what i'm about to say, and if you only take just one point away with you. Think about it, think about why your thinking about it. Then do something about it.

Reason number One: Points on your licence.

Quite a shallow reason to start with but a valid one non the less. Nobody wants points because it ultimately results in a ban. You get points because its considered dangerous driving. Think About it.

Reason number Two: Penalty Fine.

Again a fairly shallow reason, however who enjoys getting a fine? I don't know anybody. The fine can be especially difficult to swallow as many handsfree kits cost half the amount of the fine given. It doesn't take a genius to realise what people should be doing.

Reason number Three: Suspended Licence.

You don't have to do it all the time, Its only takes one second for it to happen. If a police officer spots you it and you already have points could mean the end of your driving licence for 12 months. What does that mean for you? No transport, social life or job? Think, is it worth it?

Reason number Four: Reduced awareness.

If you text when driving its the equivalent of being three times over the alcohol limit. We don't tolerate drink drivers so why texters?

Reason number Five: Reduced ability.

If you don't have a bluetooth car kit you have to physically hold the phone to talk. If you do this you break contact with the vehicles controls reducing the ability to drive it. Even an idiot can see the potential consequences of these actions. If you are an idiot and can't work it out, Its DEATH.

Reason number Six: Concentration.

Its easy to loose concentration when talking or texting, especially if its something your passionate about. Combine it with point 4 & 5 and you have a recipe for disaster.

Reason number Seven: Prison sentence.

If your convicted of dangerous driving you could get jail time, especially if you cause a major accident. Just think 12 months in jail for one text or call that could be sent in 10 minutes time?

Reason number Eight: Your Family.

Its strange that most of us don't think about what were doing when we drive & how dangerous it actually is. I mean, we drive a 3 tonne lump of metal around at 70mph and higher relatively close to somebody in front and behind, and people coming in the opposite direction. Do you really need an excuse to not drive responsibly? Just think of your family before the inevitable happens.

Reason number Nine: Somebody else's family.

If your serial texter who doesn't use a bluetooth car kit when doing so. Think the next time you do it, it might be your last. Or the family driving towards you. Could you live with that on your conscience? I doubt it.

Reason number Ten: Time.

I seriously doubt that a text or call is so important that you have to answer it immediately. I mean, what is that important? With the possible exception of your wife going into labour i'm fresh out of ideas. You have all the time in the world to call or text back later.

There you go, ten reasons not to use your phone when driving. The other exception to all the above points is to use a bluetooth car kit. Fair enough it wont guarantee all the above will not happen, but if at least you do choose to phone and drive you will be much safer doing so with bluetooth car kits.

Does Parrots Dominance result in better quality?

When you think of bluetooth car kits you automatically think of parrot bluetooth. Parrot have a dominance over the market in terms of brand recognition and selling power, however does this mean they produce the better products?

How to install a bluetooth kit. Do things the easy way.

There are two ways bluetooth car kits can be installed, one is the difficult way, the other is easier (however can still be fairly difficult dependant on vehicle). The problem is, Bluetooth kits are made with ISO connections as standard. ISO is an older industry standard which determins the locations of various wires (which perform different functions) For example, the front left and right speakers, back left and right, power, mute and ignition. If your vehicle is ISO, then the kits will install fairly easily.

The problem is, the ISO standard is now fairly old. More modern vehicles utilise systems such as CAN bus & fibre Optic MOST systems which do not use conventional wires. If this is the case you will either need to splice into the wires (where possible) or use a mute cable, ISO2CAR, Drive&Mute or Audio2Car. They all perform the same task, however each has a slightly different compatibility. For example Audio2Car work particularly well with amplified systems.

The only other difficult task when installing the bluetooth kit is to route the microphone into position. This routes from the back of the bluetooth unit. Usually installed behind the car stereo. From here its usually best to route the opposite direction from the driver. Remove the glovebox where ever possible (Different for each vehicle, but usually fairly pain free when the screws are found).

Remove the fascia from the A pillar in the vehicle, they usually un-clip, however sometimes they are screwed in, if so you should be able to pull out the airbag clip plate (a little plastic clip showing where the air bag is) a screw is usually found beneath this. There may be a couple more hidden screws to remove before the fascia can be removed. A little pull on the rear-view mirror fascia should allow you to install and route wire through the lining of the roof. (Dont pull too hard as you may pull the mirror off, and they can be a pain to reinstall) a metal coat hanger will do nicely when pushing it through. From here wire down the A pillar, avoid the air bags at all costs and do not tangle the wire around them. And route behind the glove box to the bluetooth unit.

After this do done double check you have the Power, Ground (when required) & Ignition wires are active. The Ignition is a must to check, the kits will not work with out it. In fact thid is the number one cause for people thinking they have a faulty unit. If your harness doesn't have an ignition (not all do) the best point is either the fusebox, or the Cigarette lighter wire. A simple way of testing is by turning the ignition on when the wires are connected. The unit should power up.

Assuming the kit is working tidy up behind the stereo and re connect the dashboard & fascias and position the microphone to exactly where you want it near the mirror (make sure is doesn't obstruct it). Pair your phone using the manufacturers instructions and you will have a fully working Bluetooth car kit at your disposal. (If you choose well, you'll wonder how you ever lived with out one).

All in all the job shouldn't take longer than an hour of your time, unless you have a particulatly difficult vehicle such as a BMW X5 (Due to the location of the unit) or most Porsche's (Because of the firewall).

Bluetooth Car Kits are known to improve driver safety when using the mobile phone, if you dont have one installed in your vehicle. Don't use your phone.

Growing number of Drivers Using the Phone Illegally. Who are the morons are doing it?

If you are unsure of what Bluetooth car kits are you probably will be soon. Penalties are getting much stronger for using a mobile phone when driving, in fact the punishment has doubled in the previous few years. The point of which is to impose a greater awareness and the consequences of doing so. If you are caught using your phone or another hand held device you run the risk of incurring a 6 point penalty and £60 fine, which is more than a slap on the wrists for most people.

However this is very lenient compared to the burden weighing on thousands of people's shoulders who have to live with the knowledge they caused an accident and harmed another person or family carelessly & needlessly.

What type of person knowingly puts another persons life at risk? Well the answer is most of us. Most of the road users in the UK knowingly and openly use their mobile phone illegally when driving. In fact after reading this article, make a mental note of how many you see doing so the next time you drive. I'd be very surprised if its less than 10 every half an hour driving.

If were all honest with ourselves we'll probably admit doing it too, the fact is its too easy & tempting to to just pick it up and chat for a few seconds. What harm can that do? We all have driving experience and can multi-task right? Wrong. Its a combination of factors that make it dangerous including reducing the physical contact with the car operating controls.

The point is that the majority of accidents where a mobile phone is the cause are avoidable, simply by not answering or making the call, however if it is a necessity the use of bluetooth car kits offer a much greater and safer and more convenient option regardless of what kit you are using. The worst bluetooth kit on the market is still safer than not using one.

This is why a lot of vehicle manufacturers are adding bluetooth as an option when purchasing the vehicle, I know Ford are offering it as a free upgrade at this point in time (in the UK). Possibly more as a selling tool rather than a moral decision, however the option is still there.

So do us all a favour, either use bluetooth car kits when you drive or don't use your phone. Can you live with somebodies death on your conscience? I know I couldn't.   

Do Bluetooth Handsfree kits improve road safety?

There are more cars on the road now than ever before. Combine this with new technology & the need to be in contact with everybody every minute of the day, and it could spell disaster for 1000's of road users daily.

Some new statistics state that more than 50% of road users in the UK have illegally used their mobile phone when driving more than once in the last week, and a figure around 85% have used their phones while driving in there life time.

Ipod FM Transmitters Improve with the times. New changes to suit iPhone

Technology is continually improving, The design of the iPhone 4 is a perfect example of this. Although it has a few teething problems the improvements in terms of hardware is much greater that the previous iPhone 3GS. It was only a matter of time before manufacturers of iPod car kits & Fm Transmitters developed better ways of offering more from their products.

Problems with Legitimate Parrot products in the UK.

Its a well know problem that parrot have major supply issues of parrot bluetooth goods in the UK, The genuine stock is readily available and ready to distribute through the correct channels. However this side of the business is not the problem. The problem is there is so much grey stock in the UK at the minute it is very difficult to recognise genuine items from the Grey stock which is generally priced extremely low online.

So why does this matter?

Well if you purchase Grey stock the UK warranty is void & you don't have technical support from parrot. This is obviously a big issue if you run into any problems with the installation or further down the line with the product. Maybe this is not a big issue for some of those willing to take the risk. But consider this, over 50% of the Grey stock is being purchased from channels with Europe who deal with faulty and returned products then import to the UK when fixed, and a considerable amount is imported from china when its debatable whether its genuine parrot stock at all. As you can see the odds are not in your favour if and when you buy them.

The Performance of the Grey stock is the same as genuine Parrot stock (assuming it is a working unit). You get the same features and functions, In fact you wouldn't necessarily know if you have purchased Grey until its too late.

Genuine Vs Grey Parrot Kits

Both parrots kits are technically the same, one a new product manufactured and distributed to the UK through reliable sources. The other you could be getting a second hand product which has been re-flashed with software. You could get the grey stock up to £30 cheaper than the genuine product online however without warranties.

Parrot are aware of the problem of illegal importation of their products and have launched an new initiative to reduce the fraudulent products entering the UK market place. This consists of a unique serial number containing the number “55” added to the exterior packaging on the box. From now, If your parrot product does not have 55 in the serial number I would be worried about the quality and return to the retailer as soon as possible.

With this system the Supply of Genuine parrot bluetooth stock is improving, however keep when ordering the parrot online the cheapest is not necessarily the best deal. You don't want to be stung by an immoral retailer.

Parrot are leading the field, but are they the best?

If you want a bluetooth car kit most people automatically think of the brand Parrot, it has the brand awareness that most companies would die for. Almost on the same level as google. You've heard of the phrase “Google it” haven't you. Well most people contact us think parrot is bluetooth, and are unaware that other brands are available. Even though there is a competitive market for bluetooth car kits. Brands such as bury, motorola, nokia and many others are readily available most people only relate to parrot.

For all there dominance, do parrot produce the best bluetooth products especially over competitor brands that offer a very similar version?

From our experience parrot do offer very competitive kits, each kit providing something different to the other variations of parrot kits. For example the new parrot range the MKI, has three versions. The MKI9000, MKI9100 and the MKI9200. Each offers the same bluetooth and additional functions such as iPod. However each of the upgrades offer a better screen, which allows for better integration of bluetooth phone book, ipod music library and other functions. However there are other extremely good kits that offer the same level of integration and functions.

The Bury cc9060 provides excellent voice recognition software which in our opinion is second too none. Simply select voice on the screen and speak the commands you want it to perform. Its such a simple feature that really improves the functionality of the kit and adds additional safety features and value for money.

Parrot MKI range do also have this feature, although we find it a little more difficult to use.

The parrot does have some negatives, firstly the systems are difficult to use unless you purchase one with the screen & there is a lot of grey stock sold online without UK warranties. Be sure to check the parrot is genuine before hand and return it immediately if you purchase one that isn't.

We find the Parrot brand best for several reasons including style & integration, functions & features and easy of installation. The ease of use is on par with other products but generally speaking you will be happy if you purchase parrot bluetooth  

Does Fusion Car Audio offer Good Value for Money ?

The Fusion Car Audio brand in the UK is strong, A Good combination of advertising and product quality has established Fusion as one of the more significant brands amongst a large competitor base. Fusion products are immediately recognisable, probably more so than any other brand on the market which helps with the popularity and sale of Fusion products.

To ask a question Is fusion good value for money? First we have to consider other products available, what quality they are and where fusion sits against the competition. Secondly if the value for money is good, does this make them any more desirable?

To start with quality, Fusion isn't leading the market. The Fusion products offer a decent quality overall, however most of the products fall into the entry level category. Basically meaning the audio equipment is at good standard but can't and wont compete against other products designed for competition (Digital Designs, RE Audio, Focal, Diamond etc) However this generally wont effect people looking to purchase Fusion (or any equivalent products) as they aren't looking to purchase competition spec equipment. Fusion do offer products into a higher quality bracket. The Fusion PowerPlant range for example pushes toward the middle product range.

Knowing where Fusion sits in comparison with other products is important to determine value for money and what the product offers in addition over other products. Generally speaking Fusions main competitors are Vibe, Fli and a few others.

When you buy Fusion you get a product with a strong identity, strong design and offers quality at least level with its main competitors. People who are interested in car audio instantly recognise fusion and can relate to its performance.

You can purchase Car audio equipment cheaper than fusion, however I wouldn't recommend it. In my opinion Fusion audio offers the best value for money of all the entry level equipment available on the market as they combine style & performance with a good price tag. If you do decide to go with fusion car audio your onto a winner.  

Do iPod FM Transmitters offer good value for Car Audio?

There are a lot of different types of transmitters available to purchase, each differs in performance and quality. As with everything else in life you get the good and the bad. The problem with transmitters is that the bad are very bad and give the other products a poor reputation on the back of theirs.

FM Transmitters by nature are designed with a slight fault, in that they are prone to interference from other signal frequencies. This can manifest in two ways either the transmitter signal is blocked because the other signal is stronger or interference is received over either audio playback, resulting in echo, buzz or both.

The actual quality of the audio being played through the transmitter is generally quite good. Most genuine products such as Griffin iPod fm transmitters , dexim and or logic3 offer audio equivalent to a good radio station (radio 1 for example) however its generally expected if you use a frequency close to a powerful local or national station you will receive a little interference at some point during connection.

The solution to this problem however is simple. Firstly select a signal which is clear of any radio stations, this will reduce the amount of interference heard, secondly if your frequency picks up any in the future simple change frequency. The Griffin iTrip Fm Transmitter for example has 3 pre-set frequency's to change to if you do happen to receive quality issues with the current settings.

FM Transmitters are a good solution if you only want a simple iPod input in your car, If for example you don't need an integrated kit that offers full digital quality, iPod control and text display the Transmitter could be the kit for you.

A small saying that my granddad used to say to me “you get what you pay for” generally rings true in all walks of life. If you buy a cheap transmitter you should expect the performance to be poorer than other kits, from our experience the griffin tend to offer the best all round performance in the iPod FM Transmitter world.

Dension Gateway Lite Demonstration Video

Dension Gateway Lite Operation Guide



Visit iPodCarKitDirect.co.uk for the Dension Gateway Lite

Do iPod FM Transmitters offer good value for Car Audio?

Its an interesting question considering the general reputation gathered by FM Transmitters over the past few years. The quality of Fm transmitters are undoubtedly poorer than the hard wired equivalent, but too what extend is the quality sacrificed and how does represent to value for money?

The problem with the question is that it is very general, Which FM Transmitters are we talking about and what indicates “good value”. You can get an fm transmitter from £10 to £20 ranging to £60+, Obviously this has an effect on the quality of the product and subsequently the value for money.

How do we define good value for money?

Personally I would define “value” as representing a similar or better standard than you are currently experiencing. Whether that be Radio 1 Broadcast in the UK, Digital Radio in the US or another quality broadcast signal.

With that in mind, which FM transmitters are best value for money and does that represent value for money in general?

Based on quality there several types of iPod FM Transmitters, Griffin have several available which offer good quality one of which is the Griffin iTrip FM, Dexim again offer's a consistent performance and logic3 offer good performance for the cheaper end of the market. It Is important to remember that you are likely to experience a poorer performance if you live or use the transmitter in an area of high Signal broadcasts E.g Larger cities like London.

Based on our tests the griffin transmitters performed better in built up areas than all the other kits, generally speaking the Griffin option is more a little more expensive. This indicates to me a better value for money when deciding which kit to choose.

Do iPod FM Transmitters offer good value for Car Audio?

In My opinion iPod FM Transmitters do have a place in the market of Car Audio systems. It is correct you can get better quality systems which integrate in to the stereo offering more and performing better. However if you want a simple system providing a decent performance, YES I would seriously look at FM Transmitters as an option for playing music from your iPod in your car

Using an FM Transmitter with the Dension Unimount.

If you don’t want a fully integrated iPod car kit with steering wheel controls and text display, and your not interested in the Dension FM Modulator kit for increased sound quality and charging. Your next best option is the Griffin FM Transmitter range, either the iTrip FM transmitter or the Roadtrip FM Transmitter.

Both are now available with smart-scan mode, which is a device that automatically scans through available frequencies and picks three with the lease interference. This system allows you to pre-set three frequencies in your stereo, so switching between them is easy when or if you hit an area with a high signal in the frequency your using. Push the Next button and select the appropriate button the stereo and you’ll begin on the new channel.

Do People experience Problems with Audio Quality of FM Transmitters?

There is a general consensus that the quality of audio produced by the FM transmitters are poor, this is actually false in most cases. Obviously certain kits do perform worse than others, as the audio played through the stereo depends on the quality being broadcast from the kit and received by the stereo. If the kits broadcasts a poor strength signal or there is another signal with greater strength than the kit, the quality is going to be decreased. The key is to select a frequency with no or minimal other broadcasts and the transmitter will work well.

Previously charging iPod / iPhones from a FM transmitter was very difficult, it required an alternative device to connect in to the Cigarette lighter port which then connected into iPod, meaning the FM transmitter had to work on the AUX (head phones socket). The new griffin products come with the same connection however as its an all in one kit so the iPod / iPhone connects into the griffin via the docking cable.

FM Transmitter with the Dension Unimount.

The advantage of using the Unimount with a transmitter is it holds the device in a usable position when driving. Making selecting albums, artists and tracks much more simple and convenient as you are unable to cycle the tracks from the stereo or steering wheel controls.

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Your iPod Music - Perfect Entertainment for that long drive.

What did we do before the invention of the iPod? Its like Mobile phone, how did we communicate before we had these? Back in the dark ages (10 years ago) we had to play music on tape and had to be at home to make a phone call. Just like most things in these times, we want everything on demand. Instant Music, Instant TV, Instantly contactable. Well the good news is Music is now just that, even in your car with an FM Transmitter

Digital Media Vs Radio, which do you prefer? Your own choice of music, albums and play-lists available for you to browse through at any point or tuning in to a radio broadcast and listening to the DJ. Not always, but usually making an anecdote about a story that really isn't worth listening to, and playing a predetermined play-list dependant on weekly budgets rather than playing good music. Most people choose playing music from their iPod. Or at least have the choice to do so.

Your Music is available on your iPod when ever you want it, and presumably you like all the music tracks you have on there? Otherwise they wouldn't be there right! Well combine the music you love and with the iPod car kit and you have the perfect solution for the long and tedious drives when your usually either reduced to tears or subject to road-rage before the end of the journey. I'm not saying that these are a miracle cure for road-rage but they may help reduce stress a little?

When Wanting Music in your vehicle the most convenient and easiest way of doing so is usually an FM Transmitter. Its a simple process to get music playing, which usually entails taking it out the box, setting a frequency and pressing play on your iPod (The process couldn't be simpler). Music is played through the stereo via an FM frequency, providing the frequency isn't used often you'll receive a good quality audio signal through stereo and subsequently the speakers.

Griffin iTrip FM Transmitter – The Best on the market?

You either love or hate Fm Transmitters, but if you can put up with the occasional bit of interference you’ll find kit worth the investment. The idea behind them is excellent as they provide audio input into your stereo in the most simple form, a radio signal.

 The problem with iPod FM transmitters, is not usually a problem with all FM transmitters. Like most things in life, the poorer versions of something give the other versions a bad name. Its the poorer Fm Transmitters that gathered the reputation all FM transmitters currently have. Poor music playback, loads of interference, poor usability etc.

However the New and improved Griffin transmitters including the Griffin iTrip FM offer a better user interface and connectivity. Ipod charging is also provided in the New Second Gen Griffin by the way of a cigarette lighter connection and transformer to convert to 5V charging for New iPods and iPhones. Although the system is a little untidy when connected in the vehicle, it does provide a excellent option when an integrated system is not wanted or required.

Where does the Griffin Excel?

The griffin FM Transmitters do everything other fm transmitters offer, however its the performance if the griffin where you notice the difference. The consistency of the connectivity and quality of audio reaches a level most other FM kits we’ve tested can’t reach. We also noticed the interference received by the Griffin iTrip and Roadtrip was approximately half the level (across all frequencies) than every other transmitter other than the Dexim when tested in built up areas. Meaning you receive less crackling, buzzing and feedback when listening to your favourite tracks.

You should expect feedback when listening to a transmitter system however a quick change of frequency should resolve the problem. Of all the kits we tested the Griffin iTrip FM was our favourite purely for the value for money it offers.

Griffin are market leaders in the iPod FM Transmitter market, there kits offer a more advanced interface and improved operations over other kits. The Griffin iTrip FM Modulator is the most popular transmitter on the market today. Find out why here. 

Dension Bluetooth Vs Parrot Bluetooth Kits - Which is Better

After recent news that Dension are due to release a new product entitled the
"Gateway Five" we received our sample models and set about to get
testing just how good it is. Dension promised the item to have a much
better integration than a Parrot MKi 9200 (Parrots Flagship Bluetooth
and iPod car integration kit) and after working with Dension for a few
years - we believe them!

The main big advantage that the Dension
Gateway Five will have over the Parrot alternative is that the Dension
integrates into the stereo's display and controls (either from the
stereo itself, or from the steering controls). This in itself gives it
a better selling point compared to the Parrot but pair this with the
way that the Dension Gateway Five actually takes control of the iPod
and the Phone in comparison to the Parrot MKi 9200 and you really do
have something special. Could this be the product that knocks Parrot
from its perch?

Lets start off by providing  a comparison
chart, showing which kit has which features. After the chart we can
move onto discussing each feature or specification, one by one.

Features & Specifications	Parrot MKi 9200 Range	Dension Gateway Five Range
Full CD Quality Audio	No	Yes
Hard-Wired Digital Connection	No	Yes
Works through ALL speakers	No	Yes
Control Bluetooth from the stereo (Including Missed Calls, Received Calls & Phonebook)	No (but from external display)	Yes
Control iPod from the stereo	No (but from external display)	Yes
Requires External Display	Yes	No
Integrated through the Vehicles Display	No	Yes
Integrated Steering Wheel Controls	No	Yes
Phonebook Displayed on the Stereo/Cluster	No	Yes
Control iPod Playlists from the Stereo	No	Yes
Control iPod Artists from the Stereo	No	Yes
Control iPod Albums from the Stereo	No	Yes
Control iPod Tracks from the Stereo	No	Yes
Control iPod Podcasts/Genres etc from the Stereo	No	Yes
Compatible with most Mobile Phones	Yes	Yes
Charges the iPod/iPhone (Including 5v iPods)	Yes	Yes
Add-Ons (Like Video Outputs)	No	Yes
USB Input (For using USB Flash drives and Hard Drives)	No	Yes
Aux Input (3.5mm Jack)	Yes	Yes
Average Price (Including Vehicle Specific Wiring)	£220	£220

From
the above chart you can sort of get your head around why this product
is so exciting. We will now talk about our findings and go further in
depth for each feature listed above.


1. Full CD Quality Audio
Bluetooth
as a technology doesnt provide enough bandwidth for the music to be
sent to the stereo in perfect audio. Pair this with the fact that the
Parrot DOESN'T use the car stereos amplifier (it uses a pretty poor 15
watt internal amplifier) AND the fact that you can only get sound
through your front speakers (unless your lucky enough to be in the 2%
of people who have a vehicle which can handle a better wiring harness,
all be it for another £80!) mean that the Dension simply wipes the
floor with the Parrot kit here. The Dension kit fully hard-wires into
the car stereo via the CAN-Bus system so the entire connection is
optical digital, quality is just perfection. The only time you will
hear bad quality with the Gateway Five is if the MP3 file on the iPod
is poor quality.
Dension - 1
Parrot - 0

2. Hard Wired Digital Connection
We
have touched on this a little above so there isn't too much need to go
into detail but because the Parrot MKi-9200 transmits the iPods music
via Bluetooth, the quality isn't the best. Compare this with the
Dension's CAN-Bus connection and Dension take the spoils again!
Dension - 2
Parrot - 0

3. Works through ALL speakers
Another
simple response needed. The Dension works through every speaker and
utilises the cars amplification (be it from within the stereo itself or
from any upgrade like a Bose system). Because the Parrot MKI kits use
older SOT lead technology, only the front two speakers work.
Dension - 3
Parrot - 0

4. Control Bluetooth from the stereo (Including Missed Calls, Received Calls & Phonebook)
Obviously
the Parrot comes with an external display which can control the phone
functions. Its not a terrible display but its nowhere near as good as
using the vehicles display. It looks out of place in most vehicles and
just doesnt look "OEM". However, you can search by missed calls and
received calls etc. The Dension does exactly the same thing but through
the cars display and cars controls (steering wheel controls and stereo
controls) instead of fiddling with a little external screen.
Dension - 4
Parrot - 0

5. Control the iPod from the Stereo
Now
this is obviously where Dension excell, they have been at the forefront
of iPod integration since the iPod was first made. Anyone who wishes to
integrate iPod in a car always use Dension systems as the standard but
they can never achieve what Dension have achieved because everytime
anyone gets close, Dension raise the bar. The Dension Gateway Five can
control the iPod fully from the stereo, this includes searching for
artists, albums, track, playlists, podcasts, genres - all using the
stereo controls and the steering wheel controls (control can also be
reverted back to the iPod if needed anyway). The Parrots iPod interface
is pretty simple but not impossible to use. Obviously the control has
to be done from the external display again.
Dension - 5
Parrot - 0

6. Requires external display
Some
like external displays, others think there are numberous issues with
using an external display. One of the main concerns is that theifs know
that there is an aftermarket Bluetooth kit fitted into the vehicle -
making it a target. Other issues are that the displays look fairly ugly
(the ones which dont look too bad tend to be too small to use
accurately). Instead of using an external display, the Dension Gateway
Five uses the vehicles display to tell you everything you need to know.
Dension - 6
Parrot - 0

7. Integrated through the vehicles display
The
same as above really, obviously the Parrot needs the display to be
operated where-as the Dension uses the vehicles displays. This point
isn't a win or a loss for either Dension or Parrot so the scores stay
the same!
Dension - 6
Parrot - 0

8. Integrates though the vehicles display
Again, as above. No conclusion can be drawn from this point other than give the facts.
Dension - 6
Parrot - 0

9. Phonebook displayed on the stereo/cluster
Well another point for Dension here. The Dension Gateway Five allows the phones contacts to be viewed from the cars display.
Dension - 7
Parrot - 0

10. Control iPod Playlists from the stereo
The Dension can, the Parrot cant. Simple.
Dension - 8
Parrot - 0

11. Control iPod Artists from the stereo
As above.
Dension - 9
Parrot - 0

12. Control iPod Albums from the stereo
As above, again.
Dension - 10
Parrot - 0

13. Control iPod Tracks from the stereo
As above, again, again!
Dension - 11
Parrot - 0

14. Control iPod Podcasts/Genres etc from the stereo
And again...
Dension - 12
Parrot - 0

15. Compatible with most mobile phones
Neither
a winner or a loser on this one so both get a point. Both kits work
with nearly every phone around today. The Dension utilises the new Blue
Core Chip which is considedered the new standard in bluetooth
technology. The Parrot uses its original chip - which is by no means
far behind!
Dension - 13
Parrot - 1

16. Charges the iPod/iPhone, including 5v charging iPods
The Dension certainly does do this. The Parrot's NEWER models does this.
Dension - 14
Parrot - 2

17. Add-ons (Like Video Output from the iPod into the stereo/nacigation)
Another
point for the Dension. Because it utilises the CAN-Bus system, there is
a possibility of sending so much more information through the system.
Dension - 15
Parrot - 2

18. USB Input for flash drives and hard drives
Yet another point for Dension... They are really destroying the Parrot kits here!
Dension - 16
Parrot - 2

19. Aux Input
Both get a point here.
Dension - 17
Parrot - 3

20. Pricing
Both
are on par. However, its important to remind you that the Parrot kits
DO need an additional part to connect it to the vehicle, the Dension
doesnt. Another point for Dension.
Dension - 18
Parrot - 3

Bluetooth Vehicle Integration Just Got Better. The Dension Gateway 5

Introducing the Dension Gateway 5. iPod and Bluetooth Vehicle integration into factory fitted stereos. Offering everything that the Dension Gateway 300 offers and so much more.

Dension have released the Gateway 5 as direct competition to the new Parrot MKI range. However the integration of the Gateway is far superior. Parrots bluetooth kits use ISO connection as standard, meaning vehicles with amplified systems or upgraded speaker systems are not compatible. In addition the Parrot kits only play music through the front speakers in the vehicle, meaning the sound quality of the audio re-produced from the parrot is generally poorer in quality.

The other advantage of the Dension system over other brands such as parrot is the phone can be controlled via the stereo or steering wheel controls rather than the remote or additional screen required in competitive kits. Phonebook contacts are also displayed when navigated through the gateway menu.

The Dension Gateway 5 opens up the iPod & bluetooth market and will look to overtake the current market leaders, being the first of the next generation of advanced kits combining full iPod / iPhone / USB / AUX and Bluetooth connectivity as standard in one standalone package.

Currently the Gateway five kits are available for VW vehicles with RCD300 or RCD500 stereos, however Dension plan to release the kits for Audi, BMW, Vauxhall and others in the Near Future.

The Dension Gateway 5 iPod and Bluetooth car kits are available on pre-order from http://www.iPodcarkitdirect.co.uk from today and are due to be released towards the end of April

A Little bit of info about Dension & iPod car kits

When you first read the title of this blog, I know what you are thinking. You are probably thinking that I will supply you with a big catelogue with what the new upcoming Dension iPod car kits are, aren’t you? See, I knew it but I WON’T. You can hopefully check the catalogue in the main company site of Dension. So, what is the purpose of listing them down all here? It’s no use at all.

Rather in this post, I will just tell you a bit about what the latest community developments in Dension. By the way, did you know that Dension was founded by the Lukasz brothers? Yes, it was in the year of 2001 in Budapest. The sole motive of Dension Audio Systems Ltd at that time was to provide an easy-to-operate, nearly visible car audio interface by which you could integrate your MP3 player with your car radio. It was all about HDD, whether removable or stand-alone, for car tuning or such, and I daresay, they were gaining over the market slowly and steadily. But I don’t not many people knew of Dension at those initial times. They had a small limited market and they were marketing through their handful number of dealers and distributors in the most profitable centres of the world.

But it took a sudden turn for the better. In the year 2003, the world saw the launch of iPod Touch. And it sent a wave of iPod craze all over the world. And Dension Audio Systems worked on developing one of its kind iPod car audio interfaces, an iPod car kit that people would not only love to use but would recommend to others as well. The breakthrough came with its unique series of Dension ice>Link Plus iPod car kits. To be honest, I worked with a part of a dealership during that time, and I was in the customer service department of the Dension dealer company. So, you can pretty much understand that I had to deal with customers who were the first hand users of Dension iPod car kits, and they were overwhelmed at the superior quality of the products, a complete value for their money. In the meantime, Dension brought out iPod car kits for almost all kinds of car brands out there, starting from Kia to BMW. You name it and you have it with Dension. In fact, most of the customers rendered very positive feedback about the product (and also about the way I support them as an executive…lol).

But you see, with the advancement of technology, Dension had to make some vital changes to its framework as well. At the moment, it is focusing more on Bluetooth and video integration. Have you got the iPhone or a DVD, Dension will help you integrate it with your car radio. Dension says that they like a challenge. Dension wants you to let your imagination run wild and whatever your wish, Dension will fulfill it. Dension wants to let the music be with you always, wherever you go. And no doubt it is proving itself every way.

Are Apple set to inadvertently Conquer another industry?

No Its not a new product from apple, but it is their biggest collective seller. The iPod / iPhone is set to conquer another market, Inadvertently.


There's an old saying “success comes with success” Unless I have just made it up? (But it makes sense anyway) The success of the iPod has increased the power of apple as a brand, obviously with some careful guidance from the company management too. It seems that every man and his dog have some form of an iPod, whether it be a old school 1st Gen Nano a new 3rd Gen iTouch or the iPhone 3GS. A large portion of the market belongs to apple, with loyal customers willing to upgrade when new products become available.


The Size of the iPod market is HUGE and not just for apple, companies are always developing new products or systems to work with or on the back of it. This only strengthens Apple as a company. A New market that has emerged over the past 5 years is the iPod to Car market. It makes sense when you think about it. A lot of us have an iPod, Nearly all of us have vehicles and I'd say 99.9% of all of us love music, which ever music genre your into. Add them together and you see a new area that apple are inadvertently conquering.


Most people don't think of their vehicle as an entertainment system, or having an entertainment system installed in it. But its not a new trend. Not so long ago, the only entertainment option in your vehicle was a radio, often receiving a below standard signal, playing music at the discretion of the producers at the station however it was a great option to have at the time. The Next Big thing was the development CD. Albums and singles from various artists can be played at your leisure (and still are) making longer journeys seem much shorter, or at least more enjoyable. Now its the turn of the iPod.


Ipod car kits are a new wave in vehicle entertainment. We have never had so many options as to how we listen, and what choice of music we listen to in the car. The aftermarket ipod kit market is already strong. Companies like Dension have been producing kits to integrate ipods into the vehicles factory fitted stereos for the last seven years. Growing year on year as the trend becomes more popular. Other aftermarket vehicle entertainment solutions come in the form of stereos such as Alpine, of Sony. Who are now producing iPod / iPhone (and radio) only stereos.


The success of the these companies and the growing trend in general have encouraged vehicle manufacturers to experiment with ipod car kits into their own vehicles, more and more new vehicles are offering these kits as an optional extra on purchase. Specifically used to drive sales for specific vehicle brands. However these kits are usually overpriced and often use the same software / hardware as the Dension equivalent, in fact more often that not it is actually a Dension Kit unbranded.


So being masters of mobile music industry allows Apple to control other areas of business without realising it. So if you never even thought of the idea of playing music in your car from iPod or iPhone or never realised there was a iphone car kit available to do so. You will know all about it soon, in fact I dare say in two or three years time all vehicles will have some form ipod car kit installed for your entertainment.


iPod Car Kits are the next generation in vehicle entertainment. Control charge and play your music and videos at the touch of a button, Or control from the iPhone and use maps and other apps from the comfort of your driving seat. Get your iPhone car kit from ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk

My first iPod Car kit - The Dension Gateway 500

I was OVERWHELMED! It was a Dension iPod Car kit, really cool. Well, that was the very first one. So, you can understand that I was quite in love with it. To be honest, I was not going to get it. I was expressing my disappointment over having to receive calls every now and then for work, to my sister, and it just **** me off, when I had to use phone while driving. It’s not that I can’t handle a simple phone call when I am driving. But I fall into the category of those people who really enjoy driving and when I get inside my Saab Convertible, it becomes a whole new world for me. No one, just my car and me… well, that’s what I was lamenting to my sister some day and the next day, she bought me this Dension iPod Car piece.


But honestly, I just hated the installation process. I was never good at mathematics, and God, I was a technophobe. I just hate those hi-tech stuffs that have wires coming out from every side of them. I just get so confused on where the red wire is going or the black wire connects. And I am pretty sure I have many friends, readers here who think the same. They are good with affiliate marketing business, they like being the financial analyst but figuring the wires and chips are never their cup of tea.


Here, let me tell you something. My brother helped me a lot when it came to installing the Dension iPod Car kit, but most helpful was that short simple manual guide that we got from the supplier. It was real quality. It told you in step-by-step process, how to dissemble it and then assemble it, all in an simple way a newbie can understand.

Well then again, I just love my Dension iPod car kit now. It is sleek and fashionable, and I just boast about it to my friends. It just suits my personality. Style meets style! But apart from that, how can I deny the legal rules that I have to abide by, in US or most countries. You cannot use a mobile phone while driving. No, let me rephrase that. You can use a phone. But you cannot with a phone with your ‘hands’. No, you are not supposed to use them with your legs. Okay that was a bad joke.

But it sure is dangerous. But after getting that cool Dension iPod Car kit, I not only added some character to my style (that’s what I think anyway!), it just made it so easy for me to receive phone calls while driving via the BTA1500 bluetooth module. It has some cool features. I just have to cycle through the options using the vehicle controls and it will load all of my contacts for me.

Recently, I saw there has been some updated products. Perhaps, I will get myself the newest Dension iPod car kit very soon…lol.

iPod car accessories are useful for long journeys, car accessories for the iPod can range from protective cases, to protect against scratches and more serious damage. Through to fully integrated iPod car kits which provide a digital connection combined with iPod and music control through the stereo / steering wheel adapters and charging facilities.

Parrot Bluetooth Car Kit – The ONE out there!

Have you seen a parrot? It’s sweet, innocent, intelligent, aristocratic yet useful – all at the same time! And so are the Parrot Bluetooth car kits. No, they don’t eat chilies but sure they make give you a real warm driving experience.

There are certain things in the world that are NOT just necessary by social norms, but also made obligatory by legal norms as well. And a Bluetooth car kit is one of such unchangeable facts of life. After the passage of the California ordnance in the year 2006 where it was made clear that you should not use a mobile phone with your ‘hands’ while you are driving, most of the American states are taking to the amendment. One of the taxi drivers in London even got pointed and tried in a court just because he received a call for a little over 10 seconds while he was driving a passenger. Is it ridiculous? Perhaps, it is. But then again, it is DANGEROUS to focus on your cell phone while you should rather be focusing on the road, keeping in mind the increasing number of road accidents every year.

Well, that doesn’t matter, does it? You have to get a handsfree and that’s the rule! The only way out is the versatile Bluetooth car kits and so is the importance of Parrot Bluetooth car kits.

Founded in the year 1994 by one Henri Seydoux with only one motto that is, enhancing the quality of lives of people using mobile phones, Parrot has emerged as one of the global leading brands manufacturing wireless Bluetooth devices for all mobile phones.

Apart from the PDAs, iPods or MP3 players, Parrot specializes in the bike and car Bluetooth accessories. The Parrot Bluetooth car kits are one of the foremost selling brands in the market. They provide ultimate solution for –

• 
  
  
  Handling and receiving calls (handsfree)
• 
  
  
  Syncing phonebook with your mobile phone or PDA memory
• 
  
  
  Stream music from your iPhone or iPod

It’s not what I’m saying but people say that what sets Parrot apart is their high product quality, their fashionable design, user-friendly technological system and the reasonable price rates at which they offer their products. Their DSP-3 sound technology software and TFT high-quality picture monitors sure rocks yours driving experience. That’s why Parrot stays at the top!

Most of the Parrot products are geared towards audiovisual multimedia and the Parrot Bluetooth car kits are no different in this case. Such is the popularity of the brand, Parrot Bluetooth car kits sell all worldwide and has a gross sale of 85 percent from overseas market. A little knowledge of the capital market will tell you that Parrot’s listed on ‘NYSE Euronext Paris’ since the year 2006 and has been growing steadily over the years. 

Whatever! With over around 450 people working for them all over the world and many new updated Parrot Bluetooth products in line, Parrot is one of the leading and reliable Bluetooth car kit brands in the world.

Bluetooth Car Kits are designed to make you life easier and safer. By connecting you phone to the car kit you can safely and legaly use you phone while you drive without danger to yourself and other roadusers. For more information on products including Parrot Bluetooth Kits visit Bluetooth Car Kit Direct

Video

Review of the Bury CC9060 Bluetooth car kit, It offers unbeatable handsfree functions and phonebook browsing. The Video shows the 9060 being paired with an iPhone 3GS.

For more information on the Bury CC9060 or other bluetooth car kits visit bluetoothcarkitdirect.co.uk

The Best Bluetooth Car Kit Brands in the Market

DON’T TALK ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE WHILE DRIVING ON ANY ROADWAY'S EVER! You don’t want to get charged a hefty fine by the traffic law enforcement officers or your car, mobile phone impounded, do you? And for this reason, whenever you get in your car, connect your mobile phone to your Bluetooth car kit. Why? It will act as a hands-free, relieving you of the hassle of dabbling with your phone to receive calls or change the music.

A good Bluetooth car kit should be able to:

• 
  
  Synchronization with your mobile phone book.
• 
  
  Voice recognition facility for dialing numbers
• 
  
  TFT LCD monitors for display purposes
• 
  
  Interphone connectivity

Here’s the problem. You just don’t know which Bluetooth car kits manufacturing brand you should go for in the market. There are SO many but are they worth it? You don’t want to shell out a few quid on that. So, how do you find out what you want and what you require? And for that, I’m here.

You see, I did a lot of research on this subject when I was searching for my kind of device. So, during that time, I found out some useful information which you may find helpful in your making the choice. Here’s a list of the most popular Bluetooth car kit manufacturing companies that rule the car audio market.

The TOP 7 of such Bluetooth car kit product brands are as follows:

• 
  
  Bury THD
• 
  
  Contour Design
• 
  
  Iqua
• 
  
  Motorola
• 
  
  Mr. Handsfree
• 
  
  Pama
• 
  
  Parrot

You sure have heard the names of these world-class brands, but the problem is actually acquiring them. Most of them don’t entertain general public and you don’t know where to get them. Some of the authorized dealers turn out to be scams and it’s really hard nowadays to trust on anyone. Just when you are thinking so, I would suggest you to take a look at bluetoothcarkitdirect.co.uk. Complete quality at unreasonably low prices! You will like what you find.

Among these all, I found Parrot and Motorola to be some of the best. They come with excellent technologically up-to-date yet user-friendly features, coupled with high quality of picture and sound. If there is something called high-end functionality with marvelous quality, then these two sure are going to end up before most in the line. With superb pre-sale and post-sale customer service, I MUST say they are two of the best Bluetooth car kits producing companies out there.

If you are still thinking if you should take one or not, let me remind you that after the California enactment of the year 2006, most of the US American states are soon starting to legalize using your cell phone while driving. Recently in UK, a taxi driver was dragged to the court for trial and given points on his driving license because he was talking for over TEN SECONDS on his phone while driving a passenger on the busy London A20.

So, don’t procrastinate a second more and get a cool Bluetooth car kit to go with your mobile phone.

About Parrot Bluetooth Car Kits

Have you ever been stopped by a traffic officer for using your mobile phone while you are driving? Well, I have been…very recently, when I was driving in my Aston Martin to London, I got stopped over by a huge officer on the road. He pulled me over to see if I was using any mobile phone at the time of riding behind the wheels. And YES, I WAS! But I was using my cool Parrot Bluetooth car kit of which I’m so proud.

I have a sleek ‘plug and play’ Parrot Bluetooth car kit interface. It is highly portable and slim, space saving in its design. It’s highly intuitive and can connect with my iPhone on its own. If you have an iPod or MP3 Player, it works with them too. Once it is paired, it becomes so easy to operate the mobile phone. 

The most important facility of my Parrot Bluetooth car kit is that it can update its phonebook memory on its own. I don’t have to fiddle with it every now and then to revise the important numbers in my mobile phone. Apart from that, when you spurt the name of the person you want to call, JUST say the name. That’s it. If there are more than one numbers, go ahead and add some details to it. That’s all you need to do. And the kit recognizes it and calls the number on your behalf. Yes, it has got the cool text-to-speech function. 

Parrot Bluetooth car kits are normally maneuvered for the easy handling of calls, even dual calls, and also listening to music while you are on the road. Most of them are lightweight and compactly built to give the ultimate installation benefits within your car. Apart from that, contact management, voice recognition, LCD touch screen monitor, and DSP-3 sound technology software – all form a part of the features of these excellent series of Parrot Bluetooth car kits. 

Oh, have I told you how long-lasting battery they come with and it’s totally what you should be going for if you are looking forward to some heavy traveling in the upcoming days.

It can be used with almost kinds of smart phones, iPods, MP3 players and iPhones. By now, you must have understood that I am totally spelled over by these marvelous ranges of Parrot Bluetooth car kits. Yes, I intend to buy one more for my motorcycle as well. I’m a hardcore biker you see.

Before you finish, just look at the customer reviews according to the various sites over the internet. If there is one brand name in the field of Bluetooth car kits you can bank upon, it is Parrot Bluetooth car kits. One of the most cost-effective Bluetooth car kit solutions that will enhance your driving experience along with providing a cool complement to your nice phone to flaunt to the opposite sex, Parrot Bluetooth car kit is just what you need when you are thinking of Bluetooth hands-free car kit solution.

Official Parrot Bluetooth car kits are available from bluetooth car kit direct, Drive and Talk safely with a Bluetooth Car Kit installed in your vehicle.

iPhone to Car - The New Media Solution for iPhone integration

The iPhone is one of the most successful phones in recent history. The ability to integrate numerous features makes the phone desirable, the image, design and styling make it more so. The fact its a must have accessory for a large majority of the population speaks volumes about the success Apple have had since the release.

One of the reasons the apple iPhone is so successful is because it brings all types of new digital media to the table. In fact some would say its responsible for a large part of the development of new media. For instance, Would sites like Facebook and Twitter be so popular if they weren't accessible on your mobile phone?

Harnessing this new media is a challenge for all companies wanting involvement in the iPhone revolution, making an add-on that actually improves the features of an iPhone is somewhat difficult. Apps can be created relatively easily depending on the subject and performance targets, and of-course the skill of the development team behind it. However the devices that physically connect to the iPhone face entirely different obstacles. A good example was the power chance from 12v to 9v and 5v charging.

One of the problems when trying to integrate the iPhone with external hardware (None computers) is that the software on the phone is complex, computers can obviously install compatible software to integrate well, however when trying to integrate into something more simple in design i.e a car stereo more problems are encountered. Software is obviously not available to install on car stereos so certain features on the iPhone are not transferable.

The major problem when connecting an iPhone to a device without software is that the iPhone locks out and goes into flight mode. In the case of iPhone car kits, If you wanted to control the iPhone through the stereo or steering wheel controls the kit will lockout the iPhone, basically turning it into an iPod. Which isn't a problem when navigating through your music collection, however you will not be able to make or receive calls or texts.

Dension have created a new iPhone car kit which allows the connection of the iPhone without it going into flight mode, you control the iPhone's music from the phone its self so you still have full phone features combined with the music integration into your car. The iPhone is charged while connected and the stereo retains all of its usual controls, I.e volume controls.

The Gateway Lite is the next generation of iPhone car kits specifically designed for such purpose, have you mobile jukebox in full operation in your car and you phone if required. The Gateway lite is not a phone kit and does not offer any handsfree functions, but is the best solution for integrating your iPhone into your vehicle.

iPod car accessories are useful for long journeys, car accessories for the iPod and iphone can range from protective cases, to protect against scratches and more serious damage, Through to fully integrated iPhone car kits which provide a digital connection combined with iPod and music control through the stereo / steering wheel adapters and charging facilities.