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.

Are those the features you’ve been waiting for?

[Via Engadget Mobile]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TomTom’s Car Kit Gets FCC Approval

What to get for that annoying iPhone owner who knows has everything? For that new iPhone user who’s just getting started? For that last minute drop in you never expected but suddenly have to render iSpeechless?

TiPb’s got you covered! Here’s our 2008 Gift Guide, jammed packed with iPhone goodness just in time for the holidays, after the jump!

Rene Recommends

Gift Certificates! Be they for the iPhone 3G itself, for anything at the Apple Store, or for iTunes and its App Store. Take the first two with you to the Apple Store for specialist, even Genius help, or shop in the comfort of your own iTunes with the last one, Apple’s made it easy to give the least assumptive gift of the season.

Dieter Recommends

• BodyGuardz Protective Skin is a scratch-proof transparent film for your iPhone 3G. Designed to custom fit each particular device, these protectors are made from the same material that is used to protect the front of automobiles from stones and other abrasive elements. Tough and durable, you can be assured that your device is protected by BodyGuardz.
• Motorola H15 Bluetooth Headset lets you enjoy pure sound quality on both ends of the conversation with CrystalTalk. The flip design is easy to use – open to talk and close to save battery.
• Griffin PowerDuo combines the redesigned PowerBlock AC charger and PowerJolt auto charger in one convenient bundle.

Brian Recommends

• Seidio Innocase II, which features their unique soft touch “rubberized” surface and is less than 1mm thick but provides a strong layer of protection and excellent grip for youriPhone 3G .
• The New Jawbone is the next step in the integration of best in class noise elimination technology with personal design that is both humanistic and minimal.
• Inno.dock junior desktop cradle from Seidio, which is powered through your computers USB port with the use of the included cable and the charging connector lets you adjust the docking position of your phone.

Casey Recommends

• Case-Mate Vroom, which Kicks it into high gear with a new tire-tread pattern iPhone 3G case. Made from 100% rubber, this sporty form-fit iPhone 3G case will protect your phone in style.
• Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset is your essential conversation piece, blending an elegantly simple design with crisp sound quality and lightweight comfort.
• Marware Sportsuit Convertible is the most versatile sport armband case for the iPhone 3G. The Convertible is really three cases in one: it transforms into an easily adjustable armband case, a clip-on case for a belt or shoulder strap, or a slim-profile sleeve for an extra layer of protection in a pocket, gym bag, backpack or purse.

Chad Recommends

• Apple iPhone Bluetooth Headset let’s you answer iPhone calls wirelessly with a compact and lightweight Bluetooth Headset. You also get an iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable for convenient syncing and charging.
• Griffin PowerDuo can’t be recommended enough. I am very pleased with the quality and versatility of this accessory, and I can proudly say I use it every day.
• Case-Mate Naked Case with full touch-through access to your screen via an electrostatic membrane that will also protect your iPhone 3G screen from scratches, fingerprints and other mishaps.

Jeremy Recommends

• Case-Mate The Hipster a durable leather pouch that keeps your 3G iPhone safely and stylishly by your side at all times. With it’s fixed belt clip and a magnetic snap, your iPhone 3G will be protected against the elements wherever you go.
• Griffin PowerDuo includes a charge/sync cable for iPhone 3G, iPhone, iPod touch, or iPod Touch 2G with full-sized dock connector.
• The New Jawbone is a miracle of miniaturization and 50% smaller than the original Jawbone.

Your Recommendations?

What did we miss? Any killer apps? Must-have accessories? What does your secret gift’er need to wrap up for you this year? What are you telling Papa Jobs you really want left under your iPhone? We only started this list; didn’t even check it twice! Drop some ideas in the comments, would ya? Make sure we get this right!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb’s 2008 iPhone Holiday Helper Gift Guide

Is there a difference between a high-end Bluetooth Headset compared to a normal one? With so many hands-free driving laws being passed these days, the question is obviously on many consumer’s minds. The BlueAnt Z9i ($74.95) is one of those high-end headsets that manages to combine a small and sleek form factor and with a powerful piece of technology, Digital Signal Processor (DSP). On paper, it is everything you want in a Bluetooth headset. How does it test? Does it accomplish everything it sets out to do?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Z9i’s design is extremely sleek and admirably compact. Whereas many headsets of comparable size focus on their notable lack of size over middling specs, the Z9i manages to pack strong, top-of-the-line technology in a very tight package.

The glossy black of the body is accentuated by chrome lining—it matches incredibly well with the black iPhone 3G. There are dedicated volume buttons on the top side of the headset and a multifunction button (power up/down, answer/end calls, and alternate between standard and max noise cancellation) on the headset’s body. Also, the Z9i includes two microphones which are dedicated to canceling noise.

There is an obscenely bright indicator light, which flashes the BlueAnt logo in well, blue (and red). Luckily, there is an option to turn this off because it is quite blinding in a dark room. The earhook design is quite ingenious—where most other headsets have a fixed earloop or one that moves horizontally, the Z9i moves vertically. This offers easier access and greater comfort. The only design quip is that one end of the earhook is strangely visible, an odd decision by the folks at BlueAnt that detracts from the overall sleekness.

In all, the Z9i isn’t exactly adventurous in its design but its execution is top-notch. You would be hard pressed to find a Bluetooth headset that matches great technology with great build quality—those who enjoy a Bluetooth Headset that is small, sleek, and compact will definitely love this headset’s design.

Usability

The Z9i’s packaging includes two earloops (one is transparent), two earbuds, a wall charger (MicroUSB), and a USB cable. The Z9i syncs wonderfully easy with the iPhone and as an added bonus, the Z9i is capable of being simultaneously connected to two different devices, offering seamless transition for those with multiple devices. It offers 200 hours of standby time with 5.5 hours of talk time. Taking advantage of a feature that is lacking in the iPhone, you are able to use voice commands with the headset as well.

I found the Z9i to be really comfortable in the ear. It has a basic earbud design that is really easy on the ears and plus its light weight makes it barely noticeable.

In testing, I found that the incoming calls sounded great, they were clearly audible with no distortion. I had absolutely no trouble hearing the conversation and thought the Z9i was better than most in regards to incoming audio. Though it doesn’t have any technology that adjusts the incoming audio to your background, the easily accessible, dedicated volume buttons do help. 

In quiet situations, the outgoing audio quality is also impressive. Callers didn’t even realize I was using a Bluetooth headset and stated that I sounded perfectly normal with no digitization. The performance in quiet surroundings certainly warrants its high-end price and is impressive due to its dimunitive size.

However, the noise cancellation is not as good as advertised. Though it does block out some background noise and isolates the outgoing audio, it is not the noise assassin that the Jawbone 2 is. When I had the radio on, callers could hear the song fairly clearly.

This might be a philosophical difference between the Z9i vs the Jawbone 2, where the Z9i chooses to accentuate the voice of the speaker and include the background noise while the Jawbone 2 seeks to simply eliminate the background noise. Both work, but if you’re expecting Jawbone-like ability in regards to background noise, you might decide that the Z9i isn’t for you.

Final Thoughts

Let it be clear, that the Z9i is better than nearly every other Bluetooth Headset available and its comfortable fit and long battery life should convince many users that the Z9i is for them. Add the bonus points for multiple device syncing, easy controls, and a small size—it clearly should be considered in every Bluetooth Headset purchase. Though it’s noise cancellation performance is not top notch, callers will definitely hear you a lot easier than other headsets. If you’re seaking a noise cancellation headset, you can do no wrong with the Jawbone 2. If you want something a little more versatile, the Z9i is a great, great headset.

PROS

• Small, Sleek Design
• Comfortable Fit, Easy to Put On
• Sync to Multiple Devices
• Great Incoming Audio Quality, Impressive Outgiong Audio in Quiet Surroundings

CONS

• Not an ‘amazing’ noise cancellation performer
• Odd Earhook Design Exposes chrome

FINAL RATING:

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Review: BlueAnt Z9i Bluetooth Headset

Need a place to keep your hands free when you hit the gym? Looking for the ideal workout case for your iPhone? The Marware Sportsuit Convertible case for iPhone 3G ($34.95) and original iPhone ($34.95) is a workout case that keeps your iPhone always within reach and your hands free to lift weights, use the yoga ball, run faster etc. It also doubles as a slim-profile sleeve case. And even triples for a clip-on case that is attachable via belt clip. How does it all perform? Does it hold up over time?

Read on for the rest of the review!

What Comes In The Box

• Marware Sportsuit Convertible
• Arm Band
• Belt Clip
• Key Pouch

Design & Fit

What’s unique about the Marware Sportsuit Convertible is its versatility. Marware stresses that you are able to use the workout case as an independent case as well. Though it may look unsightly, the case itself offers great protection with padded backing and edges and a full screen protector.

The Marware Sportsuit Convertible leaves room open for all of the iPhone’s sensors, the camera, ear speaker, and headphone jack. The belt clip works as well as any other belt clip. Most of my testing concerns the Marware Sportsuit Convertible Case as a workout Case.

Usability

In my testing, I found the case to be extremely comfortable and usable. I found the case easy to remove from the arm band and most of the iPhone’s buttons easily accessible. There are gray outlines that detail where the buttons on the iPhone are (not like you would forget, but a nice touch). Though the iPhone does lose some touch sensitivity behind the plastic screen protector, it didn’t seem to be a deal breaker for me. Whatever I needed to get done in the gym—changing playlists, increasing volume, make a quick call—the Sportsuit Convertible handled well enough.

The material of the arm band is great and I rarely noticed my iPhone attached to my arm when running. The velcro attaches well and the arm band is always secure. The quality of material that Marware uses in the Sportsuit Convertible was a great choice. As a workout case, the Marware Sportsuit Convertible succeeds.

Final Thoughts

Though it was a complete pain to remove the iPhone from the case, when it was in the case my iPhone felt safe and secure. There was never an issue of looseness and my iPhone was never in danger of falling onto the treadmill (oh the horror!) or getting smashed by some free weights. Obviously, if you were to use this as an everyday case, the plastic screen protector wouldn’t be the most ideal for heavy touch screen usage, but the Sportsuit Convertible is perfect for a trip to the gym and is rugged enough for any physically demanding exercise.

PROS

• Great Build Quality, Neoprene feels soft
• Secure Arm Band
• Useful Key Pouch

• A VERY, VERY tight fit. A little difficult to remove the iPhone
• Not the prettiest design
• Loses some touchscreen sensitivity

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Review: Marware Sportsuit Convertible Case for iPhone

The Seidio Slim Rubberized Hard Case for iPhone is available here at the Phone different Store for $29.95.  With so many choices to protect and stylize your iPhone, how does this case measure up?  Read on for the full review!

Case Design

When choosing a case for your iPhone, there are numerous options out there.  For me, protection and appearance are paramount.  I’ve had cases that protect against impact but, due to a slight amount of movement between the case and phone, scratching occurs (because you and I both know that dust ALWAYS manages to get under the case!).

The Seidio Slim Rubberized Hard Case for iPhone is a hard plastic case with a rubberized paint finish.  The back half of the case is lined with soft velvet, providing a non-scratch cushion between the case and the back of the iPhone.  The case is available in three colors: black, burgundy, and blue.

The case snaps easily together between front and back.  The seam between halves is fairly smooth around the perimeter of the iPhone.  There are cutouts for the ear speaker, Home button, connector port and speaker/mic, camera, headphone jack, power switch, and for the volume rocker and mute switch.  The touchscreen is fully accessible on the front.

Performance

Although I love the design of the iPhone, one of the things I decry is it’s “bar of soap” feel in the hand.  The Seidio Slim Rubberized Hard Case does a fantastic job of protecting the iPhone while the rubberized finish makes it more “grippy” without adding much bulk.

One concern I had about a hard, snap-together case was how well it would hold together — I didn’t want the case coming apart at the slightest bump or twist in my hand.  

Fortunately, I have had no problems with this Seidio case.  Once it snaps together, it takes a little effort to separate the two pieces.  Although I haven’t tried it myself, I suspect a drop on a hard surface will result in separation (and possibly a scratched iPhone), but few cases will protect well against a drop on a hard surface anyway.  You must ultimately sacrifice a bit of protection a leather or nylon case may provide in exchange for the rubberized paint and slender profile of the Seidio case.

I previously mentioned my concern about my iPhone getting scratched by dust and dirt trapped between the iPhone and case.  I’m happy to report that after weeks of use, I have yet to find any scratches on my iPhone as a result of using this case. The rubberized paint has also held up remarkably well with daily use.

Summing It Up

In spite of the stratospheric rise in gas and food prices, I’m happy to report that your money is well-spent on the Seidio Slim Rubberized Hard Case for iPhone, available here at the Phonedifferent store for $29.95.  With full access to the iPhone, “grippy” feel, and minimal added bulk, it’s a great case to complement the sleekness of your iPhone!

Pros

• Full access to iPhone
• “Grippy” rubberized coating
• Once snapped together, it stays put

 

 

 

 

 

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Review: Seidio Slim Rubberized Hard Case for the Original iPhone

Yow.  Accessory-maker EXO [via Engadget] has posted the above image of a sample iPhone 3G case. Engadget seems to think that it’s possible the here-to-for little-known company is just trolling for link and we’re not disinclined to agree. Still, let’s assume that these are relatively legit. That gives us two pieces of news:

The good news: it seems to be in line with the earlier “iPhone 3G case guidelines,” which means that we’re getting closer to confirming the look of the iPhone 3G.

The bad news: it seems to be in line with the earlier “iPhone 3G case guidelines,” which means that this thing looks a little fatty fatty 2 by 4, don’t it?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone 3G: Can’t Fit Through the Kitchen Door?