First Look: FM Transmitter for iPhone/iPod
updated 06:05 pm EDT, Mon September 22, 2008
FM Transmitter
The iPod has made it easy to take your music wherever you go. While most people listen to their iPod through ear buds, there may be times when you want to broadcast your favorite songs so others can hear it as well. Since carrying extra speakers with your iPod is impractical, try a simpler solution and use the FM Transmitter from USBFever.
Basically, this device broadcasts music from your iPod through any FM frequency so that you can receive and play it through any standard FM radio. This lets you play your iPod songs through a car radio so you can enjoy your music while driving, or through a standard FM radio so you can fill a room with your iPod music.
The frequency ranges from 87.9MHz to 107.9MHz, with intervals of 0.1MHz. The maximum distance you can place this item from an FM radio is approximately 10 meters.
The item plugs into the bottom of any iPod, including the iPhone, and receives power directly from the iPod. (However, this device is not compatible with the iPod Classic (6G) or iPod Video (5G)). Once you’ve plugged this device into the bottom of your iPod, you can specify an unused frequency, choose that same unused frequency on your FM radio, and broadcast and listen to your iPod songs through your radio.
Since this device plugs into the bottom port used to recharge an iPod, this item offers a simple solution -- just plug your iPod’s recharging cable directly into the bottom of this item while it’s plugged into your iPod. This lets you recharge and broadcast your iPod’s songs at the same time.
If you plug this device into an iPhone, it will pause your music the moment you receive a call. As soon as your call ends, your music will resume once more. For added convenience, this unit comes with a remote so you can control your iPod through its own controls or through the remote. That way if you’re driving and broadcasting music through your car radio, you don’t have to fumble for the iPod’s controls.
The audio quality of your music depends heavily on nearby FM stations that may interfere with your iPod’s broadcast and the distance you place this device in relation to your FM radio. Under ideal conditions, you’ll find the audio quality is fine while under less than perfect conditions, you may hear static corrupting the sound or having your music cut off completely altogether.
For $24.99, this FM Transmitter is a bargain, especially compared to other FM transmitters that plug directly into a cigarette lighter. While these cigarette lighter FM transmitters can recharge your iPod while playing it, this particular FM Transmitter device relies on your iPod’s battery, which decreases the battery life in the process.
Other FM transmitters include a cable for allowing you to connect and broadcast music from non-iPod devices. This item only works strictly with iPods and nothing else, so if you have a Zune or other MP3 digital music player, you won't be able to use this product.
Beyond this drawback of relying on your iPod’s battery for power and its reliance on iPod models, this device is still attractive, especially if you need a low-cost, low-weight (17 grams), and small size device for playing your iPod music through an FM radio.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2001
MacPR
Nice press release.