I thought it didn't work correctly earlier.

As long as I use the USB Y cable, the iphone 4 charges and everything works. My ipod shows up and I can use my sirius XM.

The only caveat is the car needs to be running first.

Other than that... it works like a charm.

Go figure....


Mark

 

Good to know! Now if only they'd show up north of the 49th like.. yesterday..

 

Are you sure because....coincidentally I mistakingly thought the same thing this morning.....

Decided to try my USB connection for the first time in about a year on my new iPhone 4 plugged it in and didn't get the blue screen accessory warning. Was so excited I almost jumped through my sunroof. However something smelled fishy so I keep thinking what am I missing.....awe no charging icon. Yes the battery indicator was still reading percentage and didn't change to the charging icon. So still hopeful I cut on Navigon and heeded for my long run trail. I just used maps on the way and it dropped 1%. On the way home I used navigation with voice and it dropped 2%. So unfortunately it's not charging and unlike previous iPhones' it seems totally indifferent to the the iPhone 4.


EDIT: I may need to apologize and eat some crow. I have an extension cable (so I can use a Craven Speed Mount) and when I plugged directly into the MINI cable I went into charge mode. Oddly when I use the extension it goes into charge mode for <1 second and then back to like it's unplugged. I may need to get another extension plug.

 

I'm pretty sure it works... when I plugged my phone it, it was at 92%, by the time I got home, it was at 100%.

I'll doublecheck to make sure I had it plugged into the USB on the car and the not the USB on the lighter.

Mark

 

Guess it doesn't make much difference.

I'm taking the iphone 4 back and getting my 3GS back. I could deal with the fact I had to buy a case so I wouldn't touch the "antenna band" but I can't deal with the crappy reception.

We've got 4 iphones in this household and every single time, they'll have 4-5 bars and I'll have none or 1-2.

So, guess I'll stick with what works.


Mark

 

Hey Mark, is the reception really that craptacular??

Any other comments on it?

 

At home, where I have a marginal signal, I can make the "death grip" thing happen when touching the phone in the right place. I'll go from 3-4 bars gradually down to nothing. But at my office, with a strong signal, the same fondling won't move the needle at all - rock-solid 5 bars never wavers. I think the issue is overblown. Allegedly we're going to see a 4.0.1 update this week that may alleviate some of this, though how that's possible via a software fix is beyond me.

 

Did you read my EDIT? (now in bold)
Just be patient wait and let's see what 4.01 does. I could very well totally take care of the problem and be as early as first of the week. When the 3G came out it had similar reception problems (as well as others like iPod crashing and losing it place in a Play List) that were 100% corrected on the first update.

The iPhone 4 is a great piece of engineering marvel, it's so fast and does so many things so well (I know, reminds me of a cell phone AD years ago when the sales man was telling the customer all the wonderful things it could do and the customer says...."but will it make phone calls?")

 

The reception issue really is that craptacular and as a result I'm going to be returning my phone as well (unless there is some miracle fixed announced tomorrow).

It does charge and play music with the Y-cable quite well though.

 

I understand that a software update will resolve the signal strength issue. Don't dump the phone yet!

 

LOL, sure saw it now....

That may be an issue for you. I say that because I have an extension cable to play my iPhone on a stereo unit on my nightstand and it will charge but not play music. I guess if the extension cable doesn't have all the correct wires, it won't work.

As far as the iPhone 4, I took it back. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see a fix for the reception issue with a software update. I think it's a hardware issue and apples's "fix" by using a bumper band isn't going to help.

Guess we'll see soon enough.

Mark

 

IMO, a phone like that shouldn't be without a case incase its dropped. My wife's Iphone4 has a case and no major reception issues.

 

That's why I still bought the iPhone anyways. I use my phone for work (about 5-6k minutes per month) and using it that much, the probability of it getting dropped are that much more.

Btw, here's what apple says about the supposed fix.

The fix is expected to address a issue in iOS 4 related to radio frequency calibration of the baseband. Readers who saw the original forum discussions say that the issue is believed to occur when switching frequencies; because the lag is allegedly not calibrated correctly, it results in the device reporting “no service” rather than switching to the frequency with the best signal to noise ratio.

iOS 4 introduced some enhancements to how the baseband selects which frequencies to use, so it makes sense that the error may have crept into those changes. Additionally, this explains why iOS 4 has also caused similar problems for iPhone 3GS users.

Mark

 

I have a case on mine (Cheap $3 Ebay case) My reception is way better than my old 3gs and I have never dropped a call

Very happy with this phone

oh and the Bluetooth paired with the Mini works much better now

 

Is the BT louder? Since I had the JCW tuning kit installed I can't hear over about 40MPH with my old 3G. Haven't tried the 4 yet

Also I don't think we are getting the full charge but just a trickle. I had the Navigon on and plugged directly in and it still lost a percent so it seems to be using faster than it's getting it.

 

Bluetooth is much louder and clearer on my car with the i4 , Bluetooth range is much longer as well.

I have not tried to charge , I keep a usb stick in my Mini and charge via the cig.

 

Got my Y-cable today (picked up the Mini yesterday, wasn't in the glove box like it was supposed to be) and it works fine with the iPhone 4, EXCEPT it doesn't work with the bumper case on. If you're having problems and use a case, try taking the case off. MOST of the old cables don't work right because the fitting at the bottom of the case isn't quite big enough. I'm going to look into modding my case or my cable for fit.