GPS/iPhone/Bluetooth Question

[eckerj]

Hello,

I'm having a hard time formulating my question!

Currently, I have an iPhone 3GS connected to the USB port on
my 2LT. I have the car's bluetooth paired with my iPhone.

With this setup, I can tuck away my iphone into the armrest and
do things like:

- Browse music library on the iPhone
- Have the music muted slightly while using the OnStar turn-by-turn
navigation prompts for turns
- Use the car's audio system as a hands-free for my iPhone
- Place calls using my iPhone by hitting the steering wheel controls
- Answer incoming iPhone calls

This is a great setup and am pretty happy with it.....

.... However

I want to buy a real GPS nav unit (like the Garmin 765T) and keep the
same hands-free functionality that I have now.

I'd love to have the voice prompting from the Garmin sound out on the
car's audio system, while at the same time keeping the access to my
iPhone's music library.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

Thanks for any ideas/advice,

-Joe

[glambert1]

I believe some of the better nav systems allow you to put all your music on them also so it may be you will access your music that way

[jolusk]

Unless there is some reason you want to always have it in the center console Tom Tom makes an iphone app that is actually pretty good and I have heard rumors of Garmin developing one. All the maps are loaded locally so it works even when you don't have good coverage. I have the app and it works as well as any of their other units that I have seen plus you can navigate to adresses for contacts you have in your iphone. You can also play music while the app is running and it only interrupts when telling you to turn. If a call comes in you can answer the call and it goes right back to the app. I don't have my car yet but I use it with my current vehicle through the radio with an ipod dock and a bluetooth headset.

[eckerj]

The only reason I'm considering an external unit is because I find
the iPhone's GPS a bit unreliable with respect to locking onto
satellites. Especially if the phone is near the armrest... Plus
the heat generated from having google maps and the gps
active is quite high... Afraid I'll fry my battery if I keep using
it like that.

Joe

[RMGee]

I want to use my 3GS as a nav system... would I have to buy a mega long usb cable to reach the dashboard to mount it there?

[jolusk]

Originally Posted by RMGee

I want to use my 3GS as a nav system... would I have to buy a mega long usb cable to reach the dashboard to mount it there?

It really depends on how much you plan to use the GPS and how accurate you really need it to be. I do not have my camaro yet so I currently use it in my chevy blazer. I have a mount that suctions to the window and will hold the iphone and rotates to take advantage of the accelerometer which rotates the map. I bought a $40 charging cable that plugs into the cigarette lighter but will also reach the dash. The problem with using that in the camaro is that it will probably hang right in front of the radio if I plug it into the socket in front of the shifter. I still have not figured out exactly what I am going to do in the future but for short trips as long as my phone has a decent charge the GPS will last for a little while. I know that TomTom plans to release their own mounting unit which will hold and charge the phone sometime in October but I have not seen one yet so I don't know what the power will be like and if it could be hidden.