Mobile Fun Blog » car

Brodit Active Holders Vs Passive Holders

Andy Simpson — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:53:22 +0000

Brodit are the leading manufacturer of in car cradles, making a wide range of holders that are specific to your phone to make sure that it’s held securely in place in your car. You’ll notice from the product listings that there are two types available – Active and Passive, and that there are a couple of mounting options too. This quick guide will explain the difference between the different types of Brodit Holder.

Passive Holders:
Passive Holders are a standard straight forward holder for your phone. They are moulded to the shape of your handset and are secured to your car using the self adhesive pads or by screwing into your dashboard.

Active Holders:
Active Holders are the same as the Passive Holders, but include a car charger or have one built in. The charger type will vary by phone, but the holder will generally have a moulding to hold the charging tip in place. On most phones you can simply slide your phone into the cradle and the charger should connect straight away, others may need you to manually insert the charging tip into the phone (normally where the charging port is on the side).

Tilt Swivel:
Tilt swivel refers to the type of mounting plate fitted to the holder. Brodit holders without the Tilt Swivel will sit flat against the dashboard/ProClip and is not adjustable, so once its in place, its not moving. Tilt Swivel devices give you more flexibilty on how the phone is positioned in the car. They can be rotated through 360 degrees and can be adjusted in all directions to improve visibility and to reduce reflections from bright light. Tilt Swivel mounts are ideal if your phone has a landscape view and is used for Sat Nav & Media playback.

Mobile Phone holders get handled a lot and can become loose over time, especially if they are mounted with the adhesive pads. Although the adhesive pads are quite strong, we’d recommend using a screw fixing to reduce the risk of it falling off your dashboard. If you don’t want to screw into your dashboard, you can purchase a Brodit ProClip.

ProClips:
Brodit ProClips are special brackets that are designed to attach to your dashboard without the need for drilling holes. They normally clip into your dashboard between fascia panels or sit at the side of your stereo. ProClips provide a flat solid surface for you to screw your car holder to and are available for almost all vehicles. We stock a wide range of Brodit ProClips, but if your vehicle isn’t listed, please request it and we’ll order one in for you.

Parrot Introduce New Range of Bluetooth Car Kits

Andy Simpson — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:05:58 +0000

Parrot have just announced a fantastic new range of in-car handsfree kits. The MKi range is a unique Bluetooth hands-free car kit that can be fitted to most vehicles. It combines the latest communication technologies with a full set of services dedicated to music and are fully compatible with all iPod’s. There are three versions of the MKi Kit, all based on the same setup. The Parrot MKi kits connect to your car audio system and deliver hi-quality conversations whatever the conditions are. All versions of the MKi offer self-learning voice recognition, contact search and text-to speech and come with a multi-functional remote that you can use to answer calls, adjust the volume and control your music. Parrot are also due to launch a new, optional MultiCAN accessory that will allow you to use steering-mounted controls to handle calls where applicable.

The Parrot MKi9000 features an external double microphone and new software which eliminates environmental and in-car noises with full-duplex and zero-echo crystal clear conversations. It includes an independent RF remote control which enables you to take complete control at the touch of a button. The MKi system is supplied with a music cable which enables you to connect your music player via USB or using a 3.5mm cable. The MKi9000 also supports streaming music over Bluetooth from any A2DP enabled device.
Order the Parrot MKi9000.

The Parrot MKi9100 has the same specifications as the MKi9000, but with the addition of a blue OLED display screen that lets you see the callers name and number when receiving a call. When you connect your music player to the MKi9100 using USB or Bluetooth and the MKi9100 will display the track title and artist on the screen. The Display screen can be removed easily for added security.
Order the Parrot MKi9100.

The Parrot MKi9200 supports all the features on the MKi9000, with the addition of a 2.4 inch colour screen. With the colour screen you can assign photos to contacts, set a background wallpaper, see playlists and album covers. The display screen also has a built in SDHC Memory Card reader, supporting memory cards upto 32GB – completely eliminating the need for a seperate music player. Simply store all the music you want on your memory card, and play it directly from the MKi9200.
Order the Parrot MKi9200.

If you’re looking at getting a car kit, don’t forget to check out our guide on Car Kit accessories.

A Guide to Nokia Chargers

Andy Simpson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:37:43 +0000

Everybody knows that a Nokia Charger is a general household item and can be found lying around in most homes. Great if you’re often out and about visiting friends or family and running out of power, but as the phones have become more advanced, Nokia have changed and improved their charging connections.

Classic Nokia Charger

Classic Nokia Charger
This is the original Nokia Charger connector, the one that everyone will have lying around at home. No longer used on any of their current handsets, this is a 3.5mm connection used on handsets from the original Nokia 5110, right through to the Nokia 6230i.

2mm Nokia Charger

2mm Nokia Charger
This is the current Nokia Charger, used on most of their handsets. With phones getting smaller in size, Nokia reduced the size of the charging pin down to 2mm. If you have the classic Nokia mains or car charger, you can use the Nokia CA-44 Charging Adapter to reduce the size of the charging tip from 3.5mm to 2mm.

Micro USB Nokia Charger

Micro USB Nokia Charger
Starting to appear on the higher end Nokia phones, the Micro USB Charger uses the same port as some handsfree kits and data cables (not at the same time!) These ports provide a faster transfer rate, which is why they can normally be found on the latest Multimedia handsets

Alternative Chargers

Charge Anywhere
Historically you could only ever get chargers to use at home or in the car. Now you can charge your phone just about anywhere. You can now use a USB Charging Cable connected to a spare port on your PC or Laptop, an Emergency Charger that uses a standard AA Battery, a wind-up charger or even Solar power.

How to make the most of your Fitted Car Kit

Andy Simpson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:39:20 +0000

One of the biggest accessory purchases you can make for your mobile phone is to buy and install a fitted Car Kit. While each kit has its own features and benefits, there are a number of extras that you can purchase to help you get the most out of your Car Kit.

Elan Intelli-Mutes

Elan Intelli-Mutes: What are they and why do I need one?

The Intelli-Mute from Elan is designed to install your Car Kit quickly and hassle free. Instead of hardwiring your Car Kit into the vehicle’s power supply, the Intelli-Mute allows your Car Kit to be powered using your car stereo. All call audio is routed through the car stereo speakers, taking away the need to install a separate speaker in the passenger foot well, which can often lead to muffled or distorted sounds – especially at higher speeds. The volume of the call can be adjusted through your stereo controls or steering wheel audio controls (if fitted to your vehicle).

Intelli-Mute wiring Diagram

The Intelli-Mute is a three way lead, one end connects to your existing vehicle wiring, one to the Intelli-Mute control box and the third connects to the back of your car stereo. You will need to make sure that the Intelli-Mute that you order is the correct one for your stereo. If you are not sure what connection type your stereo has, please contact your local car dealership or stereo manufacturer. To complete the installation, you will also need an Accessory Harness specific to your Car Kit.

Elan Accessory Harness

Elan Accessory Harness: What are they and why do I need one?

The Accessory Harness is the lead that connects your Intelli-Mute control box to your Car Kit. As each type of Car Kit is different, they have harnesses specific to each type and have to be ordered separately. They are really simple to fit, one end connects to the Intelli-Mute control box, and the other end to the power and speaker connections of your Car Kit. Depending on your vehicle and the amount of space in your dashboard, the Intelli-Mute and harness are designed to sit behind your car stereo. If there isn’t room, the cables are long enough for you to be able to feed from behind the dashboard where there is more space. All you will need to do then is position the microphone (and display screen if present) and feed the cables through to the Car Kit control box.

What else might I need?

Brodit produce a range of in car accessories to help make using your phone in the car easy and safe.

Brodit ProClips

ProClips are brackets that clip securely to your dashboard, giving you a firm, flat surface that you can screw your chosen phone holder on to. When it comes time to change your car or remove the kit, the bracket can be removed easily, leaving no damage to your dashboard.

Brodit Car Holders

Brodit also make two types of in car holder, Active and Passive. Active holders have a charger built in to them which plugs in to your cigarette lighter. Passive holders will hold your phone securely and allow you to use your own charger. Both holders are normally available with a fixed or tilt/swivel base.

Car Chargers

Using Bluetooth car kits and headsets can sometimes increase the drain on the battery, and as most modern Car Kits don’t have a physical connection to your phone, its always a good idea to have a car charger.

If you don’t want the hassle of installing the Car Kit and all extra accessories, Mobile Fun now offer a fitting service for your car kit. Standard Installation includes a fully trained engineer installing the kit at your home or work address. Premium Installation includes the home visit, but also includes an Intelli-mute and Brodit ProClip for your vehicle (Car kit dependant).