Griffin TuneFlex AUX Mount and Charger with SmartClick Remote for iPod and iPhone (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My Griffin TuneFlex AUX with SmartClick replaces a Kensington Liquid AUX Deluxe unit, which my wife accidentally broke while driving my car. I think this sort of accident is much less likely with the Griffin.
The big disadvantage of the Kensington (and the cause of its ultimate demise) were the adjustable arms that clamped on the iPod/iPhone; while it allowed adapting to any model, the clamp and release mechanism were "temperamental". The ratchet mechanism was hard to adjust "just right", and if too tight would rattle loudly as the car moved. It needed to be re-adjusted frequently, as it worked loose gradually. The Griffin in contrast comes with a whole array of plastic "heads" designed to perfectly fit and support various models with no slack or vibration. The heads are unlabeled; you just need to try your iPod or iPhone in each one that vaguely looks like it might fit until you get the right one. If you switch often between various models you'd want to carry the appropriate adapters, and need to switch them out... and the next new model probably won't be covered. (Luckily, I rarely use anything but my iPhone 3G in the car, and it turns out that my daughter's 3rd gen iPod nano can fit the iPhone sleeve. This may however be an issue if, for example, I upgrade to a "next gen iPhone" when such a thing is released, but we'll have to wait and see.)
Like the Kensington, the Griffin has a wireless remote that can velcro onto the steering wheel. I thought this was silly on the Kensington, but found that it quickly became a necessity. The convenience of being able to play, pause, and skip tracks without moving my eyes or taking a hand off the wheel is great. The reliability of the Kensington remote was "inconsistent", however. The Griffin seems to work consistently, but has a very "firm" touch and doesn't always respond when buttons are pressed casually. I do like the button to manually activate the backlight, when it's gone out. The Griffin remote is detachable from a magnetic base, which I find pointless: I see no need to remove it, and several times it's been knocked off accidentally and I need to search for it on the floor.
The flexible neck is stiff and stable, but reasonably easily adjustable; it's longer than the Kensington's neck, and that makes the iPhone more visible and accessible. The AUX cable has jacks on both ends so it can be replaced (unlike the Kensington's). It's much longer than the Kensington's, which might be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your car. (Way more cord than I really need.)
Some glitch in the Kensington occasionally caused my iPhone 3G to complain that the charger wasn't compatible. It still played through the AUX, and charged, but the remote was apparently disabled. Sometimes removing and re-inserting would resolve the problem, and sometimes it wouldn't. I haven't (at least yet) seen that issue with the Griffin, which is a "plus".
Advantages: long stiff neck, easy to adjust; custom fit "heads" for iPod/iPhone models; wireless remote
Disadvantages: custom fit "heads" may mean carrying more than one, and might be a problem for new models down the road; heads aren't labeled so it can be tedious to find the right one; remote is too easily detachable

Click Here to see more reviews about: Griffin TuneFlex AUX Mount and Charger with SmartClick Remote for iPod and iPhone (Black)

TuneFlex AUX is the perfect in-car solution, with a flexible steel stem for your iPod and a steering-wheel-mounted remote control. Position the mount on the steering wheel near your fingers for convenient control that never makes you take your eyes off the road. The remote is held on the mount magnetically, and can be removed for handheld use by anyone in the car. TuneFlex plugs securely into the auto accessory port or cigarette lighter to charge and power your iPod or iPhone. The lighted ring at the base of TuneFlex¿s stem shows charging status at a glance. An included 1/8¿(3.5mm) stereo mini cable connects TuneFlex to AUX-input-equipped stereos for clean, interference-free sound. The package includes a set of snap-on adapters to ensure a secure mount for full-size iPod and iPod nano models. Included cable strap prevents tangles.

Get 45% OFF

Click here for more information about Griffin TuneFlex AUX Mount and Charger with SmartClick Remote for iPod and iPhone (Black)

Griffin Technology 4030-ROAD RoadTrip FM Transmitter & Auto Charger and Cradle for iPod Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've tried three different types of FM Transmitters for IPOD and here are my rankings in order:
1) Griffin Itrip - $30-$50 depending on model
2) Griffin Road Trip - $80.
3) Belkin Tunecast - $40
First let's talk about sound quality. On all of the FM Transmitters, the sound quality isn't that great. It's somewhere in between AM Radio and FM Radio quality, a long ways from CD clarity. However, being able to play your IPod in the car on a roadtrip or at a party is a great convenience. After a short while, you don't notice the lower quality. My friends and I have happily listened to the IPod for hours.
The next important item is battery power. The Belkin Tunecast runs off AAA batteries and does not draw power from the IPod. The Griffin Itrip draws power from the IPod. The Griffin Roadtrip must be plugged into your car's lighter or auto power adapter. Of these three I like the Griffin Itrip the best. I can take the IPod a party and broadcast for a few hours unplugged or use a charger for unlimited play. In the car, I typically have my IPod charging to a separate auto charger. However it's not a requirement so I can also charge my cell phone and still listen to my music.
Tuning the Transmitter to a blank station: The Road Trip and the Tunecast were both easier to change radio frequencies. The Itrip could be tricky to adjust the radio station. This is important because you need to be tuned to a blank station. Reviewers who talk about station interference merely need to tune their Transmitter to a blank station. I've used the Transmitters all over the country including NYC and I've always been able to find a frequency on the dial to use.
The next consideration is usability. I liked how the Itrip attached to my IPod so it handled as one unit. Judging a separate Tunecast component and the IPod was awkward in the card. When using the Griffin Roadtrip, you must take the IPod out of its case and mount it to the cigarette lighter. At that angle it was impossible to read the screen, so if you wanted to make any selections or adjustments, you had to remove IPod and temporarily lose the signal. With the Itrip, you can hold the IPod on your hand and pick out songs while still listening to your music. Depending on the design of your case, you may not need to remove it to use the Belkin Tunecast or Griffin Itrip, which protects the easily scratched IPod.
Finally price - all three items do essentially the same task. The cost of a car chargers for your IPod is approx $30, so if you factor that in that cost, all three device are essentially the same price.
I prefer the Griffin Itrip for the reasons stated, but I know others who prefer to mount their IPod with the Griffin Roadtrip.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Griffin Technology 4030-ROAD RoadTrip FM Transmitter & Auto Charger and Cradle for iPod

Convenient one-piece transmitter and charger module uses any frequency from 87.7 to 107.9Compatible with all docking iPods, including the iPod nano and the new iPod with videoBacklit screen shows which frequency RoadTrip is currently broadcastingTransmitter can be removed and used with a Mac or PC computerPlugs into any auto power outlet or lighter adapter.

Get 22% OFF

Click here for more information about Griffin Technology 4030-ROAD RoadTrip FM Transmitter & Auto Charger and Cradle for iPod