Filed under: Gadgets, Euro, Tech
British motorists rejoice! Griffin iTrip legalized in the UK
Many motorists find an iPod as essential a driving companion (for better or worse) as a cup of coffee or loose change. Unfortunately, many drivers in the UK found themselves without a viable solution for marrying auto with iPod thanks to a decades-old law that prevented the use of FM transmitters in cars. The only other options, using a cassette-tape adapter or hard-wiring a connection to the stereo's line-in, were either moot or too expensive.
TUAW, our sister-site, is reporting that Britain has decided to alter the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949 that originally banned these FM transmitters because their use constituted operating radio equipment without a license. A new amendment has been passed that will go into effect on December 8th and allow the use of FM transimitters like the Griffin iTrip, arguably the most popular one of its kind. The new approach was hastened by a British consumer market demanding use of their iPods while driving. While not all FM transmitters will be approved for use in the UK, those that pass the muster will carry a CE mark indicating they're A-OK for sale. We hear Britain, however, is a pretty densely populated place, which means that spare stations on which these transmitters can operate might be hard to come by anyway. Bollocks.
[Source: TUAW]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Barry 7:23PM (11/26/2006)
Awesome, the British government is planning to put blackboxes, tracking devices and GPS into every car and speed cameras and CCTV on every mile of every road and is planning rediculous taxes and fees for motorists...
but they legalize the iTrip... riight, talk about giving an inch and taking a mile.
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dreesemonkey 8:29AM (11/27/2006)
I've had more luck with cassette adapters for my ipod than I ever had with FM transmitters, I don't think I've ever found one that worked well.
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Justin 8:44AM (11/27/2006)
Heck yes #2. Cassette adapters work amazingly well compared to FM adapters...especially for someone like me who has the antennae located in the back window...way too far away from the transmitter located near the front console.
I'm considering buying the Pioneer input unit...but it's rather pricey.
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Sean Hattaway 11:35AM (11/27/2006)
"spare stations might be hard to come by"... why is it that there is always a loophole in every act that's legalized?
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Paul 12:03PM (11/27/2006)
I agree, tape adapters work nicely. I can hardly tell the difference in quality between them and CDs on my stereo. In my opinion, the only advantage of an iTrip is that it's wireless.
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66coronet 6:04AM (11/28/2006)
I bought one and the only way I can use it on any of my hand held radios is to lay it on the antana of the radio. I didn't even try the car radio. I just got the cassette plug in. Plus power adapter.
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