Full description not available
H**H
Ninetom Universal Carplay
This 8.8 inch monitor with built in Carplay serves to extend either iPhones (Carplay is an Apple product built in to some cars) or Android phones facilities to the dashboard. The monitor sticks to the dash by way of a suction cup.The objective is useful in theory but the execution is problematic. The device feels clunky and the placing could distract the driver’s eyes from the road. To quote the specification ‘you can only control it with hand touch or your phone’ seems to contradict ‘simply connect to your smartphone via bluetooth so you can access map navigation, take calls, and listen to music while focusing on the road, instead of using your hands all the time…’.The absence of voice control means that many features can only be half used (for example, it does not facilitate dialling out without using your hands and thus does not offer any advantage over a smart phone itself, which would usually enable voice dialling). Sound quality low to poor, the power lead connects to a car’s 12v adapter, usually positioned between the seats and thus means a messy trailing cable.I question the utility of this piece of kit at the rrp. Its functionality is limited in practical terms and I consider it does half the job and in mediocre fashion. More worryingly, I am concerned that the position could constitute a safety risk. Not only as a distraction to the driver’s eyes but the temptation to reach to touch functions and an object that could easily become dislodged in a crash and hit a driver or front/rear seat passenger.There is a sense that the manufacturer has tried hard but has not considered the design and functionality limitations. There are other products that could achieve purpose more effectively. Much of what this item tries to achieve can be accomplished by leaving voice control switched on with a smart phone and asking it to dial a number or give directions.
C**W
Rather large when on the dashboard and it uses the iphone battery up so fast, but it works
Rather large when on the dashboard and it uses the iphone battery up so fast, but it works.Sadly charging and using an iphone at the same time is very bad for the battery life, but you have to to use this.A return journey of three miles took the battery from 100% to 88%This uses some apps on the phone, but only two are useful, Google maps as a sat nave and the ability to phone people handsfree, except there is no voice control, so only good to anser calls.There is an attempt at Whatsapp, but you can only send messages, not see any replies via a blank screen.It will play music, badly as the speakers are not very good, have not broadcast to the car radio as I have very stations alreday on that and they are live of course.Mounting, rather clumsy and the window mount is sticky, not vacuum, so not easy to move to another vehicle.It does stay still in use, but only if you use the sticky pads underneath it.Power cable, it is rather too short, so cannot route it out of sight and it is not a useful USB connection, so cannot change the cable, it is a 12v cigar lighter plug. So the cable dangles down across the dashboard and gets in the way.Caution, this does impair your line of sight when in use and make sure the air bag is no where near the placement, it would be a missile if they deployed otherwise.Shall I keep using it?Probably not, it really impairs forward vision and the TomTom is almost as good, it has re-routing, Google maps does not; but their directions are very good and spoken in a pleasant female voice, which also misses the active speed camera near my house, which Garmin dash cam and the TomTom Satnave do not.
S**N
Great!
Not great sound so connected to your van/car Bluetooth. Good size screen but bulky when on your dash
Trustpilot
2 months ago
1 week ago