Using mobile phone for MP3's

[xanderjones]

Just having a discussion with my old man RE: using mobiles in the car and raised an intresting question.

I use my phone as a MP3 player through my car stero, so if I touch my phone to change track (a one touch process) am I breaking the law?

[tigger1]

No more than if you're using the radio, so if you're considered to not be in control...

BUT, as it's a mobile, you're more likely to be tugged for it, rousing suspiscion and all that - so I'd tread with care. I'm planning on using my phone in the same way (SE W800).

[combemarshal]

Can't you just put it on random and leave it?
Or make a 'Driving' Play list!
I got my ipod connected to my head unit but the head unit controls the ipod!

[xanderjones]

combemarshal said:

Can't you just put it on random and leave it?
Or make a 'Driving' Play list!
I got my ipod connected to my head unit but the head unit controls the ipod!

I do have a playlist of all my tracks and put it on random, proved very useful in France this year in my mates car. But sometimes I want to bypass some tracks and the phone is located in the cubby under the radio.

Tig, my phone is a W800 with a 1 gig card. I've only got running through a dodgy tape convertor though so quality is "questionable"!

[tigger1]

xanderjones said:

combemarshal said:

Can't you just put it on random and leave it?
Or make a 'Driving' Play list!
I got my ipod connected to my head unit but the head unit controls the ipod!

I do have a playlist of all my tracks and put it on random, proved very useful in France this year in my mates car. But sometimes I want to bypass some tracks and the phone is located in the cubby under the radio.

Tig, my phone is a W800 with a 1 gig card. I've only got running through a dodgy tape convertor though so quality is "questionable"!

That's what I plan to do too! Just bought a poverty spec Ka as a second car - so I'm just about to delve into the loft for 2 carrier bags full of cassettes to bust out my own "megamix" tapes from the mid-90s!!!

[SJobson]

I use my W800i for just this purpose, and with one of those tape adaptors (bought from Maplin for £5). It sounds surprisingly good. 2 gig cards are getting cheaper too (I paid £77 for mine a year ago).

Of course if you do get spotted changing tracks you won't have a leg to stand on because you are using a mobile phone while driving. But on the upside, you've effectively got a hands-free system if you just pick up the microphone when someone calls you.

[Einion Yrth]

IIRC you can push as many buttons as you like so long as you're not holding it. Put it in a cradle and the world's the bivalve of your choice.

[puggit]

SJobson said:

I use my W800i for just this purpose, and with one of those tape adaptors (bought from Maplin for £5). It sounds surprisingly good. 2 gig cards are getting cheaper too (I paid £77 for mine a year ago).

Of course if you do get spotted changing tracks you won't have a leg to stand on because you are using a mobile phone while driving. But on the upside, you've effectively got a hands-free system if you just pick up the microphone when someone calls you.

You still have a tape head?!

[tigger1]

Einion Yrth said:

IIRC you can push as many buttons as you like so long as you're not holding it. Put it in a cradle and the world's the bivalve of your choice.

Anyone know if this is *definitely* true?

[Richard C]

yep it is

[SJobson]

puggit said:

SJobson said:

I use my W800i for just this purpose, and with one of those tape adaptors (bought from Maplin for £5). It sounds surprisingly good. 2 gig cards are getting cheaper too (I paid £77 for mine a year ago).

Of course if you do get spotted changing tracks you won't have a leg to stand on because you are using a mobile phone while driving. But on the upside, you've effectively got a hands-free system if you just pick up the microphone when someone calls you.

You still have a tape head?!

Yes, my 9yr 10month old car has a tape deck. I guess it would be much pricier to make a device to push into your CD slot to connect an MP3 player

It's comforting to know I can legally fiddle around with my phone, pushing it about the centre console tray to press the right button while averting my gaze for long periods from the road, so long as I don't pick it up. If I'm done for without due care, that's not a strict liability offence so I get a chance to prove my innocence.