New Potato offers TuneLink Auto Bluetooth-to-FM transmitter

November 23, 2010 By Geoff Duncan

Ever wish you could pump tunes from your iPhone to your vehicle audio system using Bluetooth? With New Potato's TuneLink Auto, you can.

New Potato Technologies has announced its TuneLink Auto for iPhone, iPod touch, and the iPad, enabling users of iOS devices to connect to their vehicle’s built-in audio systems via Bluetooth. Users simply pair their iOS device with the TuneLink Auto, and the TuneLink Auto sends the music to the car’s radio via a short-range FM transmitter tuned to an available frequency. Or, if a car already has an auxiliary input, folks can use a wired connection instead.

“In our view, a great car solution should be heard and not seen,” said New Potato CEO Stuart Ross, in a statement. “We have created TuneLink to be small, portable, and stealthy to serve this vision.”

TuneLink includes a “best of class” Bluetooth transceiver and a short-range FM transmitter, and pops into a standard 12V power socket in a car dashboard. Users control the TuneLink via a free application from the iTunes App Store, and the TuneLink is smart enough to switch to a Bluetooth headset if a call comes in—that way users don’t have to muss with setting or cables to take a call while driving. TuneLink also features a sharing function that enables multiple users to share the same TuneLink Bluetooth connection and play music through the car speakers. New Potato also touts the TuneLink’s “Humbuster” noise elimination technology that aims to provide high quality audio. The TuneLink device also features a 2.1 amp fast charge USB port for charging up USB devices on the go.

If there’s a downside to TuneLink, it might have everything to do with where customers live: finding an open FM frequency for an in-car transmitter is simpler in some areas than others.

The TuneLink Auto is available now from New Potato, and should hand at retailers in mid-December for a suggested price of $99.99.

Showing 3 comments

TuneLink at 5:28pm 3rd December 2010 This is much more than an FM transmitter, charger. This device is a wireless Bluetooth transceiver that works with any AD2P equipped Bluetooth enabled phone. It uses a wireless connection between the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to stream your music to your car’s audio system. You can plug it in the center console or even in the trunk! The coolest features are based on custom Bluetooth features that include Auto-Reconnect and TuneLink Share modes. When you get in your car and start it up, the TuneLink automatically reconnects to your device and start the music playing. Even if you phone is in your pocket or your purse. The other revolutionary feature is the Tunelink share mode that allows for more than one player to take turns seamlessly streaming through the Tunelink unit.
1. tunelink at 5:29pm 3rd December 2010 TuneLink does include an advanced FM transmitter with RDS providing best of class audio to your radio. The app provides a single tap SPEED TUNE feature that uses your GPS location to access a database of broadcasting stations to determine the best open FM station to use for your current location. The direct connect output includes a “Humbuster” circuit that eliminates ground loop and engine noise found in about 40% of vehicles when using conventional direct connect inputs while charging. The Bluetooth processing is specially optimized for playback of high bit rate formats, so that your music is flawlessly delivered to the car audio system. TuneLink is a next generation solution that is as portable as a charger and will work wherever you are.
Michael at 4:48pm 23rd November 2010 Potato Technologies are a really great tool. Thanks for an informative article. www.alphadailydeals.com