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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 F10 Technical Topics Navigation, iDrive, Audio, Video, Bluetooth, Phone, Coding Is there any reason to really get the cell cradle??
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      05-04-2013, 10:46 PM   #1
ebby422
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Is there any reason to really get the cell cradle??

positives seem so limited. someone prove me wrong.
assuming you have a device less than 6 months old.
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      05-05-2013, 12:34 AM   #2
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I also would like to hear the consensus on this. Seems a bit much to drop half the cost of a phone on a cradle that could be obsolete in a year or two.
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      05-05-2013, 04:19 AM   #3
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I have not considered any cradle since the days of bluetooth and now with usb.........

Why bother...... Especially I have no i-whatever devices....
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      05-05-2013, 07:27 AM   #4
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With USB + BT the only (IMHO) benefits for a phone-specific cradle would be to (1) power the phone (w/o the dangling cord) and (2) connecting to the external antennae for better signal. Since those have never been a problem for me going back to the days I had a BMW Motorola Startac (beam me up Scotty) in my early 740 and phones change form-factor every year I see no advantage.
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      05-05-2013, 08:54 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ebby422
positives seem so limited. someone prove me wrong.
assuming you have a device less than 6 months old.
There is one reason: you get use of the cars antenna. I don't know if this will be true with iPhone 5 since pinouts are limited.

The antenna gives you one extra bar.

Finally, I have two annoyances: (1) iPhone mail only works when you kill the mail process and restart; and, (2) anytime you are using b/t audio and you decide to use the cradle the darn Idrive un-configures itself for b/t audio on that device. What a pita!
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      05-05-2013, 10:26 AM   #6
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The phone to BMW iDrive connection is flawed with or without BMW Apps. The cradle is no exception and I find it more annoying than connecting with the USB cable. Besides, you have to remove any phone cover before connecting and I have seen no improvement in reception - antenna or not. IMO it is a waste of money
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      05-05-2013, 02:00 PM   #7
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This may be a list of ultimately silly reasons, but I bought a snap-in adapter for my iPhone 4 because:
I hate having clutter lying about the cockpit (that's the pilot in me) and the snap-in adapter does away with cables and finding a place to put the phone, and
the phone charges very quickly when placed in the adapter, and
because I got it used at 25% of retail from a forum member, and
the iPhone was a free upgrade from Verizon from a five year old dumb phone so I really had no idea what I would appreciate, or not, about the "smart" phone and I wanted to give it every opportunity to prove its worth.

1HOT BMR's and BMWrules7 observations about the BMW Apps and signal strength and BT are 100% the same as mine. I don't use the BMW apps at all even though I have them installed. My signal strength was great before the snap-in adapter, and is the same after.

Would I do it again? for $50, yes. Just to keep down the clutter. For the asking retail price? Hell no.
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      05-06-2013, 02:17 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MWPos View Post
This may be a list of ultimately silly reasons, but I bought a snap-in adapter for my iPhone 4 because:
I hate having clutter lying about the cockpit (that's the pilot in me) and the snap-in adapter does away with cables and finding a place to put the phone, and
the phone charges very quickly when placed in the adapter, and
because I got it used at 25% of retail from a forum member, and
the iPhone was a free upgrade from Verizon from a five year old dumb phone so I really had no idea what I would appreciate, or not, about the "smart" phone and I wanted to give it every opportunity to prove its worth.

1HOT BMR's and BMWrules7 observations about the BMW Apps and signal strength and BT are 100% the same as mine. I don't use the BMW apps at all even though I have them installed. My signal strength was great before the snap-in adapter, and is the same after.

Would I do it again? for $50, yes. Just to keep down the clutter. For the asking retail price? Hell no.

Actually I found that review pretty helpful.... worth it for 50.00, but not for MSRP. I'm probably going to skip it in that case! Thanks.
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      05-11-2013, 04:13 PM   #9
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I have the cradle and it's great for only a couple reasons. No clutter or cables and it charges the phone. I would say get one from ebay or craigslist.
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