Belkin shows first iPhone 3.0 accessory, mashes up GPS and FM data to pick the best TuneCast frequency

Belkin shows first iPhone 3.0 accessory, mashes up GPS and FM data to pick the best TuneCast frequency

After your fourth or fifth time ending up in a ditch or a swimming pool or a tree while attempting to find a good FM frequency to push your iPod tunes to your car stereo, you're likely looking for a better way to live. Lucky for you, Belkin has been hard at work over-engineering the problem to death, and has finally emerged with the new TuneCast Auto Live FM Transmitter. The device is 'specifically compatible' with iPhone OS 3.0, and pulls GPS data from the phone to figure out the clearest FM frequency to use based on 'geographical' data and on the recommendations of other local users. It's all controllable from the iPhone interface with the free ClearScan Live app, which reduces device juggling, but the unit also works with the iPod touch, iPod classic and iPod nano. It'll be available early this fall for $80.

(Via Engadget Mobile.)

Scosche TapStick Makes iPod Shuffle 3G Significantly Less Annoying, More Usable [Accessories]

Scosche TapStick Makes iPod Shuffle 3G Significantly Less Annoying, More Usable [Accessories]

Some think the button-less iPod shuffle is just okay, and others see it as near-unusable, impractical and irritating. The Scosche TapStick adds buttons and supports normal headphones, in case you hated the shuffle but for some reason bought it anyway.

The TapStick is a case that moves the awkward headphone-based controls onto the front of the gadget where they belong, which in turn frees up the headphone jack to use any pair of 'phones you choose, not just the ones Apple packages in. In effect, while these features make the shuffle easier to use, they also remove everything that separates it from previous-gen shuffles.

The TapStick also costs $39, half the price of the shuffle itself, and for that combined $120 you've got yourself a player with no screen, incredibly basic controls, the worst sound quality in the iPod family, and you've lost the slick look of the uncased shuffle. You could double your memory and get a far more feature-packed player in the 8GB iPod nano for only $30 more! This might just be a lipstick-on-a-pig situation.
[CNET]

AITALK adapter adds voice control to your iPod nano

AITALK adapter adds voice control to your iPod nano

Voice control accessories for the iPod aren't an entirely new invention, but they've often been more expensive than the iPods themselves. While it's still far from a bargain, this new $85 AITALK adapter for the iPod nano on display at Computex does seem to be one of the more affordable to date, and seemingly just as full-featured as the rest of the options out there. That includes the ability to speak artist and song names in addition to the usual player controls, and support for multiple languages (although it's not clear exactly which ones). Unfortunately, there's no word on a release 'round here just yet, but you can get a closer look at the device courtesy of our pals at Engadget Chinese by hitting up the read link below.

(Via Engadget.)

Belkin Reveals New TuneBases

Belkin Reveals New TuneBases

Belkin unveiled two more TuneBases for Apple devices - the TuneBase Direct and TuneBase FM which are able to route audio from said Apple devices to the vehicle stereo, enabling charging simultaneously thanks to the 12-volt port. The flexible neck comes in handy to place the iPhone in a much more favorable viewingposition, allowing users to make a call with but a single tap. The main difference between the two would be the route of audio transmission - the $70 TuneBase Direct at $70 relies on a 3.5mm port, while the more expensive $80 TuneBase FM will do it through a free FM channel, automatically scanning the frequency with the least interference before making its mark.

(Via UberGizmo, the Gadgets News Blog.)

Tree Trunk iPhone Dock

Tree Trunk iPhone Dock

Check out this nice looking wooden iPhone dock ‘Tree Trunk iPhone Dock’ from Woodtec. The dock is compatible with iPhone 3G and all iPod devices (except the shuffle). If you are interested, the dock is available for purchase for a retail price of $48.

(Via The Apple iPod and MP3 Players Blog.)

iPhone Accessories - GEAR4 ChargeDock

iPhone Accessories - GEAR4 ChargeDock

GEAR4 has announced the launch of the ChargeDock for the iPhone which is designed to be the ultimate docking station for your iPhone.

The GEAR4 ChargeDock can be used to charge and sync your iPhone direct with your PC or Mac via USB or, it can be charged with the additional power cable direct from your power socket.

The ChargeDock will be available for £39.99 about in Europe from GEAR4.

(Via Geeky-Gadgets.)

Case-Mate’s iPhone 3G FUEL battery pack doubles as a protective case

Case-Mate’s iPhone 3G FUEL battery pack doubles as a protective case

Case-Mate has recently unveiled a accessory for all the iPhone 3G owners out there. It’s called iPhone 3G FUEL and it’s both a protective case and an external battery for Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s handset. In that sense and considering how external batteries can be expensive, paying $79.99 for this product doesn’t seem much, especially if you rely on your iPhone on a daily basis. The battery provided will add additional power to your iPhone in the following manner:

• Talk time extended to up to 9 additional hours


• Internet use - up to 7 additional hours


• Video playback - up to 8 additional hours


• Audio playback - up to 24 additional hours


• Stand by time - up to 250 additional hours

In a nutshell, it’s not cheap accessory, but it’s definitely one of the most useful ones. Case-Mate’s website has all additional information you may require.

(Via IntoMobile.)