iPod and iTunes Starter Kit (2nd Edition)
| Unless you own a 2002 or later BMW, and purchase the BMW iPod adapter for your car, you need to take a look at a few different ways and products to get your iPod to play in your car. Sure, you can always listen to headphones while driving, but safety issues aside, how much fun is that? You want to listen to your music over all those speakers in your car, and here are the different ways to do it! Tip
Sony CPA-9C Car Cassette Adapter
If you have a cassette player in your car, one of the easiest ways to get your iPod music to play over your automobile speakers is a handy cassette adapter. These have been around since the portable CD player was big. From the headphone jack of your iPod (or CD player), you plug in the cable, which connects at the other end to a cassette tape. It is not, actually, a cassette tape, but it acts as a go-between for your iPod and the tape player head in your cassette deck. The Sony CPA-9C is a very nice model. You can find cheaper models from other companies, but I have found the Sony model to be a little superior in reliability. Price: $19.99 www.sony.com The Belkin TuneCast II Mobile FM Transmitter
The name is a dead giveaway for what this does. It broadcasts your music via FM radio wave, which you then dial in on your radio. This works in a car, home stereo, or even portable radio. The sound quality varies, depending on your stereo, antenna type, and distance from the antenna. I have found that antennas on the rear of a car have a harder time picking up the signal than do antennas in the front. The Belkin TuneCast II Mobile FM transmitter broadcasts on any FM frequency, can memorize up to four channels, and runs for up to four hours on two AAA batteries. The unit plugs into your headphone jack on your iPod, rather than a dock. One drawback is that the Belkin unit does not directly attach to your iPod. It works with any iPod model. Price: $39.95 www.belkin.com Tip
Griffin iTrip
The Griffin iTrip for the new iPod plugs into the top of your iPod directly, sitting atop the unit while broadcasting the signal on any FM radio frequency, just like the Belkin unit. The latest iTrip for iPod works with the third generation iPod only, and plugs not only into your headphone jack, but the FireWire port as well. In this way, the iTrip does not use batteries, it uses the iPod itself as a power source. What's more, it autopowers off after 60 seconds of silence, just as your iPod does. The Griffin iTrip for third generation iPods is very stylish, blending in very well with the iPod design and aesthetics. Griffin also makes an iTrip for the iPod Mini, as well as the first two generation of iPods. Price: $35.00 www.griffintechnology.com Monster iCarPlay Wireless
Another FM transmitter, the Monster iCarPlay Wireless plugs into your iPod headphone jack, but pulls its power from your automobile's cigarette lighter. Even better, the Monster iCarPlay Wireless also charges your iPod as it goes, filling up the iPod rapidly then turning into a trickle charge as to optimize performance. The Monster iCarPlay Wireless only works with dock connector iPods (meaning the third generation iPod and the iPod Mini). Like other FM transmitters, you simply select which frequency you want to broadcast your iPod on, tune in your radio, and your iPod is playing over your car stereo. Price: $69.95 www.monstercable.com Auto Chargers
Although it is easy to play your iPod through your car audio system, you might simply want a way to charge your iPod in your car. Here are three products that do just that. XtremeMac Car Charger for New iPods and FireWire Car Charger for Original iPods
They might look different, and plug into each of their respected iPods differently, but the XtremeMac car chargers do the same thing, charge your iPod from your cigarette lighter plug. The all-white design matches your iPod well, unless you have a colorful iPod Mini. Price: $19.95 www.xtrememac.com Griffin PowerPod Auto Charger
Similar to the XtremeMac model, the PowerPod comes with a four-foot extension, so you can pretty much charge your iPod anywhere in the front of the vehicle. It works with all iPod models, and recharges your battery even when it is in use. Price: $24.99 www.griffintechnology.com Belkin iPod Auto Kit
The Belkin unit only works with newer, dock connector iPods (and iPod Mini) but gives the added feature of also being able to power the Belkin TuneCast II FM transmitter. It also features an illuminated indicator so you can tell at a glance if it is connected properly to your cigarette lighter. Price: $49.99 www.belkin.com iPod Automobile Mounting Kits
Although you can easily set your iPod in your lap while driving, it really is not a good idea. Nor is it a good idea to set your iPod on your dashboard; one sharp turn and your iPod might crash to the floor, or even fly out the window if you have a window down, which was the fate of my first portable CD player over a decade ago. Ouch! The best solution is to securely mount your iPod in your car, and the following sections list a number of units that allow you to do that. Tip
Belkin TuneDok Car Holder
If you have a cup holder in your car, truck, or minivan, this is an inexpensive solution for holding your iPod securely. The TuneDok simply fits into your cup holder, and the iPod attaches to the Air Grip mount. It sports a ratcheting neck so that you can position your iPod to fit your reach more easily. There are two different modelsone for the regular iPod and one for the iPod Mini. Price: $29.99 www.belkin.com DLO TransPod FM (New iPods and iPod Mini Only)
This is an all-in-one type of unit. Not only does the DLO TransPod act as a mounting system and battery charger, it is also an FM transmitter. The unit allows for easy mounting of your third generation iPod, or the iPod Mini, in your car, while transmitting the music to your car stereo system. It also sports a very nice LCD display so that you can easily view which FM station the iPod is playing on. This is a nice unit, well worth a look. Price: $99.99 www.netalog.com |