Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, Bluetooth, Apple, iPhone, iPod touch
Streaming iPhone via bluetooth in the car
There are, as usual, some catches. I for one was disappointed to hear that this A2DP ability won't work with first-gen iPhones like mine -- you'll need to have a 3G to do something like this. And of course, this will require the iPhone OS 3.0, which isn't technically out yet (though devs in Apple's development program are playing with it right now, which is why you can see it in the video above). And finally, you'll need a car with the Bluetooth capability, which (though I haven't owned or shopped for a car for a few years, so maybe things have changed a bit) is still kind of hard to find.
But hey, even if you're not there yet, here's a look at the future. Where we're going, you won't need wires to get your iPod playing music on the car stereo.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
EGOvoruhk said 8:39PM on 4-02-2009
I've been doing this with my Windows Mobile phone for a bit. Worked great with Pandora, Orb, Shoutcast, etc. If you don't have a bluetooth enabled deck, and you love music, I'd suggest looking into one. Crutchfield is great, free shipping and no tax
Note: Before I get bashed for my "Windows Mobile" comment, I just want to say my comment is about "Yay A2DP", so, lets keep it positive
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Brian said 11:14AM on 4-03-2009
so i just need any bluetooth enabled deck? not a special A2DP bluetooth deck? im in the market for a new one anyways, and there are many bluetooth options now, but they dont say its for streaming music, just phone calls
EGOvoruhk said 7:13PM on 4-03-2009
I'm pretty sure it needs to be A2DP as well. I was looking for something cheap, so I got a Dual XHD7714. It's not the best, but for the money, it's damn good with decent reviews. It also has HD radio, auxiliary in, an USB memory/HDD support
Jason Martin said 8:40PM on 4-02-2009
Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! Now to get my 2004 Kia Rio hooked up with bluetooth...
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shmooopy said 9:02PM on 4-02-2009
It's really cool but the times I've listened to A2DP audio the sound was quite poor. Certainly wireless connection is ideal but how long would you put up with poor sound?
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Louis24x7 said 9:08PM on 4-02-2009
If you've got one of those GPS with bluetooth capability, you can also use that.
No need to buy a new car for it.
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collide007 said 10:16AM on 4-03-2009
Or just a new stereo.
LaughingMan said 12:04PM on 4-03-2009
Perhaps you don't understand what A2DP implies, and why it is different from the headset profile that a lot of cars have today.
The Headset profile is designed for phone calls. It enables the microphone in the car, and is necessarily MONO only. In my car, it only comes out of the left speaker, for example. The quality is also poor... it was designed for a voice conversation, not your MP3s.
The A2DP profile allows or stereo, for higher quality audio, and with a related profile, it allows you to see the music track's name on your car, plus control play/pause and song advance from your car stereo.
There's a big difference between that and the old Headset profile, which this system would support as well.
Bill Safsel said 9:09PM on 4-02-2009
He played an Eddie Vedder song from Into the Wild. The guy has good taste in music
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TheUnknownCommenter said 9:20PM on 4-02-2009
re: "no annoying pairing": If I heard correctly, the guy does mention having paired it previously, so that's why he's able to just select the output device.
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Danny said 9:28PM on 4-02-2009
I tried it on 3.0b1 and it was pretty cool. I have a bluetooth speakerphone with a built in FM transmitter (Motorola T505), but b1 was a little choppy. The audio was breaking up when anything else happened on the phone. I'm sure they'll smooth this out. You do have to pair you phone as with any other device. It's really nice, and the quality is at least as good as FM. I haven't tried b2 yet, but I imagine it can only be better.
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chad said 9:49PM on 4-02-2009
I'm excited as anyone about the possibility of no wires in the car--heck, I'm on my laptop with a wireless mouse and A2DP headphones right now. The only problem I see is battery life. I've actually been using A2DP on iPhone OS 3.0, and while the quality is quite good (and less choppy in b2 than b1), battery life is a concern--especially if you're going to be rocking down the highway for a few hours!
Combine A2DP with turn-by-turn navigation, another feature quasi-announce for 3.0, and you're looking at a serious battery-murderer. And if you're going to be plugging something in to the dock connector anyway, you might as well run pristine line audio to your aux input.
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Luigi193 said 9:56PM on 4-02-2009
I think all GM cars come with bluetooth now...
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Andrew Eller said 8:39AM on 4-03-2009
Just like how the iPhone already has Bluetooth but until this summer cannot do streaming audio, GM autos have Bluetooth but most (if not all) can't receive streaming audio.
Bluetooth for phone calls is one thing, but A2DP is a different profile that enables this type of functionality. Cars with A2DP are rare but slowly starting to be rolled out.
//Unrelated to your post//
The new Nav decks on VWs have A2DP.
Luigi193 said 9:01AM on 4-03-2009
That sucks! Oh well... thanks for informing me!
Stan-O said 10:11PM on 4-02-2009
While it's cool to stream music via A2DP, many car makers have had an option of iPod/iPhone adators for their cars for years (and then you can control the playback from the steering wheel). So yeah, BT is cool but it will drain the battery pretty fast and considering current options I don't see it being used alot.
And while japanese makers are usually years ahead of germans in terms of multimedia and navigation devices, even my old Audi has the iPod/iPhone connected in the glove compartment.
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SubGenius said 11:12AM on 4-03-2009
An integrated dock is the way to go.
I mounted mine on top of the steering column.
Adam said 11:56PM on 4-02-2009
Yea but you are in a car so go buy yourself an D/C adapter and quit whining about battery life already.
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clint Johnson said 1:50AM on 4-03-2009
I agree. You're in your car. Plug it in and quit with the battery drain nonsense. This would work great.
Robb said 12:38PM on 4-03-2009
Yeah, my first thought was, "Cool! No more wires!" Then realized that I'd need to have it plugged anyway for the battery.
Speaking of which, does anyone know of a stereo connector cable that supports the 3G iPhone with audio and power?