Every week a few of us from team TiPb, bloggers and forum crew alike, will bring you our current favorite, funnest, most useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone (or iPod touch) related, they’re fair game.
So who’s on deck this week and what are our picks? Find out after the break!
Well it’s official, TomTom’s much anticipated iPhone car kit accessory will not make it out this summer like the company initially had planned. Rather, it has been delayed until October according to their website’s FAQ page.
The TomTom car kit availability was originally planned for this summer. But we have decided to take some extra weeks in order to deliver the highest quality on this innovative product. So, the car kit will become available this October on www.tomtom.com.
We suppose it is best to delay the accessory for a few weeks in order to insure you, the consumer, can purchase the very best TomTom has to offer. It could have been worse and the kit could have been delayed until next year, right?
The RexRegina Hamilton Case [$44.95 - TiPb Store link] is hands down one of the finest crafted leather pouches I have used to date. While this particular type of case may only appeal to a certain crowd, I can not recommend it highly enough for those of you who are fans of the pouch case. For the full run-down read on after the break!
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While the wait for TomTom’s iPhone software to hit the App Store has come and gone, most of you are still eagerly awaiting the arrival of TomTom’s iPhone car kit, first shown off at WWDC back in June. Engadget Mobile is now reporting that your wait may be coming to an end as TomTom’s car kit has received its FCC approval. Included in that link, for your viewing pleasure, is the kit’s manual, some images, and a few test reports.
Since it’s announcement TomTom has kept pretty quite about the kits full capabilities. Well, a quick look in the user manual gets us all of the official details.
Your TomTom car kit for iPhone is designed to provide you with the best
possible navigation experience. A built-in GPS receiver enhances your iPhone’s GPS signal, ensuring the most reliable navigation, wherever you are. Using the car kit, you get loud and clear voice instructions, can make hands- free calls, as well as charge your iPhone while you drive. The car kit is a safe and secure dock with the award-winning fold-and-go EasyPort® mount.
The Motorola MOTOROKR S305 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones [$49.95 - TiPb Store link] for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G are great for enjoying your music on the go. Whether you’re on your daily jog or spending some time in the gym, these headphones are the perfect fit that will not hurt your wallet.
TomTom insists on teasing us all with the above video yet there is still no mention of pricing or availability. As you can see, this car kit brings a lot more to the table than a simple window mount for your iPhone. With the following extras, you can count on this being a pricey addition to your accessory collection.
Hands-free dialing
Louder speaker
Enhances GPS signal
Charges iPhone
As impressive as the TomTom car kit looks, we are thinking you possibly may have to dish out up to at least $100 for this tricked out window mount. Are you still interested in making this purchase?
As you might have heard, TomTom’s GPS application hit the App Store late yesterday. The question still remained regarding the much anticipated TomTom car kit and if it would be compatible with the iPod Touch or other GPS applications. Macrumors is now reporting that TomTom public relations manager Yann Lafargue says yes, you will be able to use other GPS applications along with Apple’s iPod Touch with the car kit.
“It will work with the iPod touch and will also work with third-party GPS applications.”
There still is no word on pricing or availability except it will arrive “later this summer”, but keep an eye on the official TomTom Twitter page for the latest “official” information.
How much would you be willing to spend on this accessory?
Would you pay $1000 for a hand-craft, culturally symbolic iPhone case?
Crunchgear says they’re intended “to show how Japanese warlords from the Sengoku period would probably use their iPhones if they lived today”:
The so-called JAPAN TEXTURE [JP] series consists of a total of five cases with different designs. Created under the supervision of a historian, SoftBank says each case is covered with special lacquer and gold dust. It takes three to four weeks to make one, which kind of explains the price.
Given the prices for lacquer bowls, tea sets, and other object d’art, maybe $1000 is no barrier? What say you?
Cali Lewis of Geekbrief.tv rounds up some of the news from last week that TiPb somehow didn’t get to, including the iPhone mirroring a WiiMote, the new UStream 3GS Recorder app [Free - iTunes link] that lets you record and upload video to Ustream (no live streaming though…), and the first signs of life for the TomTom car kit for the iPhone… along with a big UK price tag that makes us think it may land at US$200.
While Cali recently broke her iPhone, and Apple’s App Store shenanigans have encouraged her to look at alternate handsets to replace it with, here’s hoping she stays iCali for a while still and helps all of us help Apple evolve their thinking…
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