(The WordPress app added some artifacts to some of the images.)

I’ve been using a now-custom TomTom 910 in my gold Lexus SC400. I installed it so that it functions as much as a stock GPS, but much more of course. But it’s been damaged and I’ve repaired it, but it keeps messin’ up and all this junk. So right now I’ve called it… it’s beyond repair.

I’ll say that it’s always better having an actual separate GPS navigation device rather than use something like a smartphone, because if you get a phone call or wanna’ browse the web or check an email, you can’t do that while seeing what street to turn next.

Ok, now that’s outra’ the way… Since the GPS isn’t working and I need to use the Neocell 3GS both for audio (Pandora) and for GPS navigation (Navigon MyRegion East), I decided to install an iPhone 3G / 3GS dock on top of the AC / radio control housing area of the interior.

I did have the dock installed into the center console, hidden away. But if I’m gonna’ use the Neocell as GPS navigation for for a few months, there are two things that are required; being able to see and touch the screen while driving, and the Neocell needs to be directly under the sky for GPS to give an accurate signal (and no, I’m not interested in Tomtom’s crazy expensive GPS iPhone mount kit).

I was using a windshield mount, a really good one. Stylish and everything. In fact, one of the best mounts I’ve ever seen for an iPhone. Ever. But it was still ugly in the Lexus. Two wires running up to it. I had snap the Neocell into the mount, connect the power cable and then the audio cable.

Using a mount is so inconvenient. If I received a call, I had to unplug the audio, the power and unsnap from the dock and then talk. Then, once I’m off the phone, I have to reverse the process. ‘Freak that. A lot of times, I’d just not even answer it’s that much of a pain.

So installing an iPhone dock into the interior would solve the problem of not only the ugliness of a windshield mount, the problem of GPS signal reception, easily connecting and disconnecting, keeping it stock looking and also creating a much better way to dock an iPhone into the Lexus (for things like Pandora) even after I get a permanent GPS installed again. It looks almost like the car came with it it. Almost.

There is one tiny problem, but that fixes a big problem. One reason I do NOT want to use the Neocell as a GPS (or any lithium ion battery device) is that heat damages the life of your battery. Even though I’d never leave my iPhone in the car when I’m not there, when we’re talking about hours of possible exposure to the Florida sun during the summer, magnified by the windshield while driving, that heat can take it’s toll. It’s not the sun itself that damages the battery, but the heat.

So the tiny problem with the placement of the dock? It blocks about 10% the center AC’s vents. The good news is, that 10% of the AC that goes directly at the Neocell. That means it keeps it completely cool (almost cold). That now makes me feel completely comfortable with having any iPhone up there for long periods.

Now, what about stability? Is it stable? Does it ever fall out of the dock or lose its connection with the dock by moving slightly? Not at all. I got the dock secured rock solid and the iPhone is also rock solid in the dock (thank you Apple design team). I tried running over speed bumps at like 25 miles an hour and it wasn’t movin’. I did a doughnut (sports car after all) and it rock steady.

So this is a great, tight, awesome solution. Don’t know why I didn’t think about it before. Well I did, but I wasn’t how I was gonna’ mount it. But I found a great solution without having to modify or damage the interior at all. And painting the dock the tan color (I had to make sure the connector, speaker holes, and back connectors were completely covered before painting) really makes it look like it matches the interior. I was really concerned that the paint would scratch off each time an iPhone would dock in and out (or stain an iPhone), but it doesn’t to my surprise.

In closing… I’m lovin’ it.

Peace, JbB

Last night I finally got around to installing a dock for the Neocell into my Lexus’s center console. Here’s what and why I did it…

I have a stereo that has an LCD screen built in that can play DVD videos and can also play DVD’s of MP3 audio (as well as doin’ other things). But, I never use it for anything other than playing videos or for the radio. That’s because my GPS has a 20 gig hard drive (12 gigs free for media), so I use my GPS to play my entire MP3 collection. The audio out is connected into the stereo. In a nut shell, music plays from the GPS into the stereo and everything is controlled via the GPS’s touch screen (besides volume, muting, EQ, ect).

But there’s times when I’ll wanna’ listen to a pod cast I’ve got on the Neocell, or listen to net radio or whatever… I’d of course like to listen to it hooked up into the Lexus, but I have the audio dedicated to the GPS’s MP3′s and I don’t wanna’ have to unhook the audio from the GPS and plug it into my iPhone and then back when I’m done…

And then I don’t wanna’ run down the power even further when doin’ this, so I’ll wanna’ connect power also. Gotta’ go through the hassle of unhooking / hooking up audio and plugging in power… which is what I was doin’. Big *** pain.

The best thing to do is just to install a normal dock into the center console and hook up power and audio to the dock. That way, all you’ve gotta’ do is place the iPhone down and power and audio is connected. That way, you’ve got something that’ll hold your phone up and keep it from knockin’ around or sliding around getting scratched. It also allows you to connect and reconnect real simple.

Of course I had to create a custom switch to switch between audio from the GPS to the iPhone. And that’s exactly what I did last night. Took apart the interior to install the wiring so that everything is hidden. I simply open the center console and there’s a little switch box and dock sitting neatly there. And it works great. On a drive home, listening to a podcast, and I pull into a gas station to fill up or get a drink… I need to take the Neocell in with me so I can use the Balance app when I use my card. No prob, I just lift the Neocell up and walk into the store and do my thing… makes it all so much better.

Peace, J

You know one thing that’s not right after installing OS 3.0, at least for me? Fifty percent of the time I dock the Neocell into it’s dock at my bed side, system sounds stop playing. Music will play, the alarm will go off, the ringer will work and all app sounds work… but the system sounds, like the keyboard clicks or “new mail” sounds don’t work. They won’t work until a few minutes, or until I go into the system sound settings and turn the ringer volume down, then up.

I’ve searched online and haven’t noticed anyone else having this problem. I wonder if this is something unique for me, or if it has something to do with the custom system sounds I have installed manually installed.

See, I have an iPhone dock next to my bed. It’s got the USB cable hooked up to it, for power, and it’s also got the line out connected to a really nice small stereo sitting next to it. When I set the Neocell down into the dock, it automatically is connected to power and all sound then automatically plays through the stereo. Ring tones, alarms, new mail notifications, music, you name it, it all plays through the speakers sitting under the table. It’s really ******’ tight to be able to hear your phone ring from the kitchen.

Well, from what I assume, because of the Neocell detecting it’s connected to a dock with a lineout connected, when I undock, it must get a little confused and doesn’t realize “Hey, you need to start playing sound from the internal speaker again”… so when I undock, no sounds. The only way’ta fix it is either to wait a few minutes, or, go into the system settings, turn down the ringer, then turn it back up… which then fixes it. This didn’t start until after OS 3.0.

Kinda’ annoying… but because it looks like I’m the only one havin’ this problem, it’s not gonna’ be something that’ll get fixed. That kinda’ sucks. Any of you havin’ this problem?

Peace, J