How to: Put an iPad to work, in the car

Make It Loud

One big shortcoming of the iPad is its anemic audio and speakers. Logitech’s $100 Mini Boombox can fix that by filling a car with audio without a wire in sight.

 

The black Boombox is deceptively small and weighs just half a pound, yet it has a pair of speakers that provide rich and full sound regardless of whether I’m listening to the BBC World Service on an Internet radio feed or my pad’s database of music. It’s more than loud enough to drown out the road noise and is static free.

It has a built-in battery that can run the sound system for nearly 8 hours, but I keep it charged by using the Bracketron power adapter in the back of the car. It connects to the iPad wirelessly via Bluetooth using the A2DP protocol and reconnects whenever I use the pad.

A big bonus is that the Mini Boombox can act as a hands-free speaker phone when a call comes in. It, however, lacks one important thing: it doesn’t come with a remote control to adjust the volume.

Brian Nadel

Brian Nadel is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in technology reporting and reviewing. He works out of the suburban New York City area and has covered topics from nuclear power plants and Wi-Fi routers to cars and tablets. The former editor-in-chief of Mobile Computing and Communications, Nadel is the recipient of the TransPacific Writing Award.

  • xxplosiv88
    Goodbye wholesome family roadtrips. BUT, also goodbye to "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?". Something I'm sure I'll appreciate when I have kids
    Reply
  • ...or you can leave the damn thing in the trunk, until you have arrived at your destination.
    Reply
  • Hey its really fantastic idea to carry ipad in cars.
    Reply