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Looking for another good reason to buy an iPod? If you're in the market for a long-playing car music source, Apple's enormously popular portable music player may be the answer.
Because you can enjoy it any time and everywhere, an iPod is more useful than a CD changer or digital Music Keg that must be permanently installed in your car. But unlike those devices, the iPod wasn't designed with car use foremost in mind. So, what do you need to make the iPod play through your car speakers? And will it be as pleasing to use while driving a car as it is while riding on the subway?
To find out, I loaded up an iPod with a few dozen iTunes, grabbed my keys, and headed for the parking lot — along with a bag full of accessories designed to adapt the iPod to life on the highway. The accessories answer the key questions you should address before using an iPod (or any other portable music player) in your car:
We tend to take for granted how easy it is to operate our vehicle's lights, wipers, climate controls and stereo. We quickly get used to the convenient placement and familiar feel of the various switches, levers, indicators and knobs. To attain that comfort level with an add-on device like an iPod, you need to mount it where you can easily reach it and quickly read the display without taking your eyes off the road for too long.
Think about how you will use the iPod. If you plan to surf your playlists frequently while driving, a mount is a must, since it permits one-handed operation. If you plan to cue up a playlist and let it roll for hours at a stretch, then a mount may not be essential.
Belkin TuneDok
No "universal" mounting system is going to be perfect for every car, but Belkin's $30 TuneDok comes close. If your vehicle has a cupholder, chances are that the TuneDok will work pretty well.
The TuneDok accommodates both original and new-generation 3G iPods. It comes with large and small bases and an adapter cup, so it will fit almost any cupholder. You can even turn the base upside down to use it as a pedestal when you connect your iPod to your home stereo or computer.
The TuneDok's suction cup holds your iPod firmly in place. Its ratcheting neck lets you easily adjust the slant of your iPod. If your cupholders are low in your console, a near-horizontal angle will give you the best view. If your cupholders are high on the dash, like they are in my 1998 Toyota 4Runner, a near vertical angle is best.
 The iPod is quickly becoming a hot item for car use. We'll show you how to maximize your iPod experience on the road. |
Looking for another good reason to buy an iPod? If you're in the market for a long-playing car music source, Apple's enormously popular portable music player may be the answer.
Because you can enjoy it any time and everywhere, an iPod is more useful than a CD changer or digital Music Keg that must be permanently installed in your car. But unlike those devices, the iPod wasn't designed with car use foremost in mind. So, what do you need to make the iPod play through your car speakers? And will it be as pleasing to use while driving a car as it is while riding on the subway?
To find out, I loaded up an iPod with a few dozen iTunes, grabbed my keys, and headed for the parking lot — along with a bag full of accessories designed to adapt the iPod to life on the highway. The accessories answer the key questions you should address before using an iPod (or any other portable music player) in your car:
- Where are you going to put it? Will it lie loose in your console or on the seat beside you? Or will you fasten it to a bracket or pedestal of some sort?
- How will you connect your iPod to your car stereo? Which alternative gives you the best sound?
- How will you provide power to charge your iPod's battery while you are on the road?
We tend to take for granted how easy it is to operate our vehicle's lights, wipers, climate controls and stereo. We quickly get used to the convenient placement and familiar feel of the various switches, levers, indicators and knobs. To attain that comfort level with an add-on device like an iPod, you need to mount it where you can easily reach it and quickly read the display without taking your eyes off the road for too long.
Think about how you will use the iPod. If you plan to surf your playlists frequently while driving, a mount is a must, since it permits one-handed operation. If you plan to cue up a playlist and let it roll for hours at a stretch, then a mount may not be essential.
 The 2003 Mercury Mountaineer's cupholder requires the TuneDok's large cup (left). The 1998 Toyota 4Runner takes the small cup (right). |
Belkin TuneDok
No "universal" mounting system is going to be perfect for every car, but Belkin's $30 TuneDok comes close. If your vehicle has a cupholder, chances are that the TuneDok will work pretty well.
The TuneDok accommodates both original and new-generation 3G iPods. It comes with large and small bases and an adapter cup, so it will fit almost any cupholder. You can even turn the base upside down to use it as a pedestal when you connect your iPod to your home stereo or computer.
The TuneDok's suction cup holds your iPod firmly in place. Its ratcheting neck lets you easily adjust the slant of your iPod. If your cupholders are low in your console, a near-horizontal angle will give you the best view. If your cupholders are high on the dash, like they are in my 1998 Toyota 4Runner, a near vertical angle is best.
