The new iPhone is about an 1/8 of an inch wider that the first one which means the cradle from ProClip is useless.  I was able to get in touch with someone at ProClip who told me they would have a new cradle, but not for a couple of months.  If you know me, you know that I don’t have that kind of patience.  Enter the Dremel tool!  I was able to carve out some plastic and spead it out with some plastic spacers.  Worked excellent, but I will still buy the right one when it comes out.  This works for now.

So, I plugged her into my existing USASpec iPod to Car interface kit.  The iPhone tells me that the device I have plugged it into not only doesn’t support charging, but it also may interfere with my radio and space alien communication (ok, that last part isn’t exactly true).  After a little research on the Apple discussion forums, someone pointed me to a recent MacWorld article that states:

“We learned a while back that iPhone 3G doesn’t support charging “via FireWire.” The thing is, there are lots of devices out there that don’t actually have a FireWire port, but are technically FireWire chargers because they’re sending power on the dock-connector pins that were used for power by the FireWire interface. There are a lot of reasons for this, chief among them the fact that the FireWire spec allows as much a 18 volts, while USB is a 5-volt connection. Since cars provide 12 volts of power, many if not most car-chargers used the FireWire method to send power.

However, in the interests of space and simplicity (i.e., not having to engineer for two separate power paths), Apple has dropped support for FireWire charging with the iPhone 3G. This means that many accessories won’t charge an iPhone 3G. Borchers said that Apple gave accessory developers a strong hint that this was going to happen a while ago, but he said that some companies have continued to implement FireWire-based chargers despite the warning.”

So basically, my old car adapter was using the “old” charging method.  Lucky for me, my USASpec iPod car interface has 2 RCA plugs for auxillary in.  I decided to look for a car adapter that would not only charge my new iPhone, but have an auxillary out.  There is one that I found.  The Kensington LiquidAUX for iPhone.  I ordered it from the online Apple store (local store didn’t have it).  I plugged it in, ran the aux out to the aux in on the USASpec and the angels sang.  Works perfectly…almost.

Ever since I’ve had this USASpec iPod to car interface I get a really annoying whine when I accelerate my car.  I know this is a grounding issue, but I never put much time into investigating it.  Well, it seems to be louder with this new solution, so I did my research.  Apparently I need something called a Ground Loop Isolator.  This basically fixes any humming when there is a ground loop…whatever that is.  I went to my local Radio Shack and picked one up for under $20.  Hooked her up and NO MORE FREAKING BUZZ!  I love it!

Thanks strangers on the Internet!

I recently read a great article by Jeremy Horwitz at iLounge iPhone car integration. He recommended a cradle device by Proclip to hold the iPhone. I went to their web site and found the cradle he spoke of, but they also had another version that will hold your existing iPod cable. Well, since I already have a USASpec iPod interface hooked into my car, this would be perfect! The article also mentions a handsfree Bluetooth speaker plus microphone kit by Bluetrek. The Bluetrek Surfacesound Compact is a flat panel speaker that clips to your visor and has a flip down microphone. So basically, if I have the iPod docked listening to my favorite music or podcast and a call comes in, the iPhone pauses my tunes, rings and I just flip down the microphone from the visor. It connects to the iPhone and I am talking. When I hang up, my music unpauses and I am back in action. I don’t think you realize how much joy this brings to me. I know…freaky.

So to recap…here is my iPhone car integration solution…

1. 1.iPod interface kit ($140) -
   Manufacturer: USASpec
   Retailer: Crutchfield

2. 2.iPhone Cradle and Car Kit ($80) – ProClip

3. 3.Bluetooth Speaker/Microphone ($65) -
   Manufacturer: Bluetrek
   Retailer: Expansys

Ok, so I realize it isn’t a cheap solution ($285), but it makes your commute flow much easier.

UPDATE (2/22/07): After trying the Bluetrek speaker, I have come to the conclusion that it sounds just as crappy in the car as any other Bluetooth speaker. The audio output it decent, but the person I am talking to said it sounds like I am talking down a long static-laden hallway….unacceptable…it is going back.