Griffin Technology Inc. has announced a new version of its SmartDeck intelligent cassette adapter that features a dock connector. The SmartDeck with dock connector will begin shipping in late October for US$29.99.
The SmartDeck lets you play music from your iPod through your vehicle’s cassette deck, using the car’s controls to control your iPod. You can use the stereo’s fast forward and rewind buttons to skip tracks. Using Pause or Stop buttons likewise pauses and stops the iPod. A switch on the SmartDeck lets you either skip or scan tracks when fast forwarding.
The original SmartDeck was first unveiled at CES early in 2005, but just recently began shipping. It featured a connector that plugged into the iPod’s headphone and remote control jacks. This new SmartDeck eschews that interface for the dock connector instead, making it compatible with newer ipod models.
So while the original SmartDeck worked with third and fourth-generation iPods, iPod photos and iPod minis, this new SmartDeck now supports iPod nanos, iPod minis, iPod photos, fourth-generation click wheel iPods, and fifth-generation iPods with video support.
For more on iPod accessories, please visit the Accessories Product Guide.