Nokia CK-300 Car Kit
Guest writer Justin Berkovi reviews the ingenious NOKIA CK 300 CAR KIT.
Some of us are lucky enough to be able to splash out £40k on a BMW X5 or new Audi, complete with full screen OEM navigation, Bluetooth phone prep, and so on. But for the rest of us impoverished gadget heads, we've mainly resorted to the PARROT bluetooth car kits or occasionally the little Nokia CK7W - a tiny buttoned, no-frills device for making and accepting calls whilst on the move. Even more of us don't install car kits but instead use awkward fitting Bluetooth headsets that we forget to charge, fall out of the ears and are sometimes even ripped out the ear in frustration because yet again a call is dropped or audio quality just isn't good enough.
Ok, I'm generalising a lot here but these are all familiar situations. In recent times, due mainly to legal crackdowns on mobile use whilst driving, we've all been pushed into some form of Bluetooth hands free solution. Many of the Parrot kits have been sold on the strength of their external displays - offering caller ID, a jog dial to select contacts from your paired mobile phone and in some cases the displays are in colour, can display wallpaper or even the photo associated with a contact when they call.
Both Parrot and Nokia, as well as newcomer THB Bury, all offer Bluetooth kits with fancy external screens. The THB Bury CC9060 even provides a touch screen. But these manufacturers are in some ways missing a point - not everyone wants to simply hide their mobile in their pocket and use an external screen. Where to fit the thing? Why do I want to drill holes or ruin the dashboard of my lovely new (secondhand) motor? Or add yet another item to an ever growing list of items I have to remove from the car when I park it as I'm worried about theft?
In my case, I've always wanted to see my mobile whilst driving - I want to not only know who's calling but check my emails, messages and, if you're like me and use your Nokia N95 8GB as a navigation unit, why on earth would you leave it in your pocket?
In the past the simple Nokia CK7W would have done the trick - allowing simple but great quality audio and phone functions whilst being able to route calls through the car's own speaker system, mute the radio and hang up/accept calls as well as offering voice dialing by holding down the centre button, waiting for the 'beep' and speaking the name of the caller. Any phone centric functions would have been performed by actually using the phone's own buttons and hardware.
But Nokia released (although to no fanfare whatsoever!) the ingenious CK 300 car kit in April and I've only just been able to source one. I've found it hard to believe there's not been more hype for the CK 300, especially for Nokia Nseries users.
So what's the big deal?
The CK 300 looks simple enough and resembles the CK7W in that the 'kit' consists simply of a jog dial and button-based unit that is subtle enough not to be really noticed in the vehicle whilst the brains of the car kit remain hidden under your dash trim somewhere. The remote control differs from the 7W in that there are five buttons as well as a push/rotating NaviWheel. The buttons are all backlit and the NaviWheel is surrounded by a smart looking white LED circle of light. Just from looking at the control unit you can see that there's a voice dialing button, a mute button, mode button and green and red answer and hangup buttons. It looks and feels very well made.
So what's the point of all these buttons if there's no display?
This is where Nokia has really taken a leap forward and implemented a fantastic piece of software in the CK 300 solution. Called 'Car Menu', it's a piece of software that links directly to the CK 300 control unit and provides handsfree call handling, music features and navigation via Bluetooth - all using the screen of your mobile device! The software runs on S60 3rd Edition or later devices with a QVGA display (two versions are available, for landscape/portrait devices).
In practice, the combination of hardware and software works brilliantly. Crank your car's ignition and the Car Menu software appears on the mobile phone screen - big fonts and a completely customised look and feel are the order of the day here. Upon starting up, the network screen is displayed but press the NaviWheel and a clear and easy to read menu appears with items being easily selected by simply rotating the wheel and clicking. It goes without saying that the most important use of the software will be to make and receive phone calls. This works like a dream - a call can be automatically answered or the NaviWheel can be clicked to answer the call. The menu allows for the usual call register functions so you can easily, with one click, bring up a list of dialled numbers, missed calls and received calls.
Selecting a contact to call is again a piece of cake. If you don't want to use voice tags to dial a number with one push and hold of the respective button, you can scroll through your contacts in a large font list using one letter or a series of letters. The system is fast and intuitive.
Call functions are all present, from call waiting right through to muting the call or even transferring it from the car kit to the mobile phone itself if you wish to have a more intimate conversation or if one of your passengers wants to make a private call.
The CK 300 also effortlessly streams your music selection from the phone via Bluetooth through to the car stereo speakers. There's a special Music Player menu that's accessed with one click of the central MODE button. From there you can search for albums, artists, and tracks, with anything being paused when a call comes through or is initiated.
The NaviWheel and Car Menu software also allow you to scroll through emails or text messages, and to control Nokia Maps - and all of this without actually touching the phone at all. The buttons double up as left and right soft keys for the respective applications on the phone and there's no lag between pressing keys and function execution.
Included in the kit is a 3.5mm jack, allowing you to connect additional audio devices to the car kit and, wait for it, the icing on the cake - Nokia have even provided their 2mm car charging cable so you'll not be without power! And I am not talking about a car cigarette lighter charger but a hard-wired power cable to your vehicle's battery.
After a week of using the CK 300, I have been more than impressed. Nokia seem to have covered everything here - the telephony and hardware is excellent. The NaviWheel is solid and chunky and a joy to use and the software seems remarkably bug-free, fast and responsive. Being able to use Nokia Maps and having the car radio muted when it's reciting directions is a really neat idea.
The CK 300 is a great example of thinking outside the box. Not having to worry about yet another screen or item to remove in your car will be a big bonus to many concerned drivers out there. It also shows how powerful the new Nokia mobile phones are in (literally) being good at 'everything'. With my Nokia N95 8GB and the CK 300, I can scroll through my emails, messages, call lists, voice dial any of my contacts or spin through them with the NaviWheel; I can load up and control Nokia Maps to find my way all over Europe and beyond; I can stream over 7GB of music from the phone through to my car's speakers... and more. All for less than £100! (Not including the phone or fitting, of course).
A remarkable package and something I would certainly recommend, especially for N95 users.
Justin Berkovi, www.predicaments.com
Published by Steve Litchfield at 11:00 BST, June 30th 2008
Categories: Accessories
Platforms: General, S60 3rd Edition
News Discussion
TomJ
Comment: Quick question: has anyone tried using it with an E90's internal screen. Also, for the occasions you do want to leave your phone in your pocket, how good is the voice tag recognition?
auntiewiv
Comment: Genius!! Ordered mine, will be here 2morrow. Can't wait for streaming music so I can get rid of that ugly cable hanging out my stereo! And a charger too, another ugly cable gone.
Bet you don't get this level of intergration with an (spits) iphone! Hee Hee!
Bet you don't get this level of intergration with an (spits) iphone! Hee Hee!
Fat Boy
Comment: Hi...nice review with good pictures - has this guy reviewed anything else as I appreciate the straightforward style ?
oh ...and product sounds really good too
Cheers
Fat Boy
oh ...and product sounds really good too
Cheers
Fat Boy
Unregistered
Comment: What comes in the box? Is the phone holder included? How does it connect to your sound sistem?
How much of a dash-breaker is it? My old Volvo's in such good condition and I'd hate to mess it up.
Nice to see a review of a gadget like that. Keep it up.
How much of a dash-breaker is it? My old Volvo's in such good condition and I'd hate to mess it up.
Nice to see a review of a gadget like that. Keep it up.
Unregistered
Comment: I am just starting to look at this sort of functionality for my car.
Could I ask what mobile car mount you are using for you N95 8GB as i will need to purchase this as well?
Thanks.
Could I ask what mobile car mount you are using for you N95 8GB as i will need to purchase this as well?
Thanks.
Unregistered
Comment: You check your messages and emails whilst driving?!
filipp
Comment: Quite good solution, but I prefer CK-15W - it lets me leave my phone in a pocket or bag, no need to clip it on a dashboard to see who's calling or to select the number to call to. IMHO voice tags are totally useless in language different then english.
predicaments
Comment: No, I don't check my emails whilst driving! But when i've parked or park up I find the CK300 handy for doing so.
With regard to mounting the phone - I simply use a cheap holder that can be purchased from any Carphonewarehouse store - it's £9.99 and clips to the air vents so does not need any mounting or drillling and is fine with aircon blowing full blast. It's a great solution and is unobtrusive. There is no mount provided in the box although Nokia do offer an N95 custom mount now...although quite simply I wouldn't bother when this cheap option works just fine.
Voice tag recognition is better than when using the mobile only in my tests.
With regard to mounting the phone - I simply use a cheap holder that can be purchased from any Carphonewarehouse store - it's £9.99 and clips to the air vents so does not need any mounting or drillling and is fine with aircon blowing full blast. It's a great solution and is unobtrusive. There is no mount provided in the box although Nokia do offer an N95 custom mount now...although quite simply I wouldn't bother when this cheap option works just fine.
Voice tag recognition is better than when using the mobile only in my tests.
lookatbowen
Comment: How do you play music from your Nokia N95 through the speakers in the car? - Does it have a FM Transmitter?
predicaments
Comment: Audio is streamed via Bluetooth. Your vehicle might require an interface between the CK300 'brain' and your head unit or in car system. The beauty of it is that it does integrate well with many systems. For example in my Audi when I'm using the CK300 the word 'PHONE' is displayed on my Driver Information System display in the dash as well as on my Audi head unit.
davidmaxwaterma
Comment: The review could use more details of the hidden magic - the bit that goes under the dash and interfaces with the car's stereo and whatever.
Could use a few pics of the product in it's box/etc...
Otherwise, review makes me want to get one...though I'd have to get a car first. Perhaps you can suggest a matching car ;)
Actually, that's not such a stupid question - what kind of equipment do you need for it to work. Clearly a stereo is required, but it'd need more than just a 'line in' since that wouldn't be able to mute (ie reduce) the volume when it gives directions...hrm. "More explanation required" :)
Max.
Could use a few pics of the product in it's box/etc...
Otherwise, review makes me want to get one...though I'd have to get a car first. Perhaps you can suggest a matching car ;)
Actually, that's not such a stupid question - what kind of equipment do you need for it to work. Clearly a stereo is required, but it'd need more than just a 'line in' since that wouldn't be able to mute (ie reduce) the volume when it gives directions...hrm. "More explanation required" :)
Max.
fernando20
Comment: Indeed, more explanation is needed. Do you need to change the audio source or something as silly in the stereo before using it? Do you need to drill anything in order to install the "brain"? More pictures please!
Unregistered
Comment: Well, at least in germany you are not allowed to touch your phone in any way while driving. You should be able to do everythin with voice or the touch of one button. Will it read incoming mails and sms?
predicaments
Comment: Some clarification needed here. This is a PROFESSIONALLY FITTED CAR KIT solution and not one I would suggest an end user attempt. It has to be professionally fitted by people who know how the 'brain' of the CK300 is wired into the specific vehicle / audio system.
Such intricacies would be pointless in a review that was simply designed and written to show the end user experience of the CK300, not a boring install guide!
For those who wish to see how the unit is installed please check this link:
[url]http://europe.nokia.com/A4884031[/url] (You'll also find CK300 specific product pages and user guides)
I got the CK300 fitted by HUETS CAR AUDIO in Brighton, East Sussex. They also fitted an interface that works between the CK300 brain and my Audi BOSE system to ensure that audio is routed to my car speakers. If you ARE getting the unit fitted I would strongly suggest testing everything before driving away because as you will see in the user guide PDF from the Nokia site there are various ways of fitting the CK300.
I hope this clears up any problems or misunderstandings.
Such intricacies would be pointless in a review that was simply designed and written to show the end user experience of the CK300, not a boring install guide!
For those who wish to see how the unit is installed please check this link:
[url]http://europe.nokia.com/A4884031[/url] (You'll also find CK300 specific product pages and user guides)
I got the CK300 fitted by HUETS CAR AUDIO in Brighton, East Sussex. They also fitted an interface that works between the CK300 brain and my Audi BOSE system to ensure that audio is routed to my car speakers. If you ARE getting the unit fitted I would strongly suggest testing everything before driving away because as you will see in the user guide PDF from the Nokia site there are various ways of fitting the CK300.
I hope this clears up any problems or misunderstandings.
chilko
Comment: all of the details about connecting the handsfree system is available here
[url]http://nds1.nokia.com/phones/files/guides/Nokia_Car_Kit_CK-300_Installation_guidelines_en.pdf[/url]
[url]http://nds1.nokia.com/phones/files/guides/Nokia_Car_Kit_CK-300_Installation_guidelines_en.pdf[/url]
Davotron
Comment: Hi. Based on this nice review I bought the CK-300, and it is really very nice, but it has one big issue I can't find a solution for. If I hear to my usual radio, or MP3 from a CD-Rom, and do Navigation at the same time with Nokia Maps, the navigation voice is not working. Neither is it muting the audio or anything. I can only hear the navigation voice, if i play MP3s over the player of the N95 which is connected via bluetooth and is running Nokia Maps. Then I can even hear the navigation voice, but the music is that loud that the voice is only hardly understandable. Has anyone the same problem or a solution? The guys at nokia forums are not very responsive at that question...
Cheers, David
Cheers, David
rich1068
Comment: I'm having one of these installed on Friday to go with my new N95 8GB. The review I found on this site played a big part in my decision.
I'll let you know how I go on.
I'll let you know how I go on.
davidmaxwaterma
Comment: [quote=rich1068;384171]I'm having one of these installed on Friday to go with my new N95 8GB. The review I found on this site played a big part in my decision.
I'll let you know how I go on.[/quote]
See if you can get some photos of the heart of the system - the bits that go 'behind the scenes' - and how they connect to the various bits in the car (head unit/etc).
I'd be interested.
Thanks,
Max.
I'll let you know how I go on.[/quote]
See if you can get some photos of the heart of the system - the bits that go 'behind the scenes' - and how they connect to the various bits in the car (head unit/etc).
I'd be interested.
Thanks,
Max.
rich1068
Comment: I'll see what I can do. It's being fitted at my workplace and indoors so I should be able to get some pics. Unless I have to get some work done of course...
Anything you're after specifically? It's going into a 2008 Saab 9-3 and their audio wiring is notoriously quirky.
Anything you're after specifically? It's going into a 2008 Saab 9-3 and their audio wiring is notoriously quirky.
davidmaxwaterma
Comment: [quote=rich1068;384175]I'll see what I can do. It's being fitted at my workplace and indoors so I should be able to get some pics. Unless I have to get some work done of course...
Anything you're after specifically? It's going into a 2008 Saab 9-3 and their audio wiring is notoriously quirky.[/quote]
Nothing specific, but :
1) a photo of each bit in the box; we've seen the bits the user deals with, but I'm wondering about the other bits - I imagine there's a box that sits in one of the foot wells or behind the stereo/etc
2) photo of the unit in place...if you can get one that shows how the wires are connected, all the better, but I imagine that is best done with writing.
Thanks.
Max.
Anything you're after specifically? It's going into a 2008 Saab 9-3 and their audio wiring is notoriously quirky.[/quote]
Nothing specific, but :
1) a photo of each bit in the box; we've seen the bits the user deals with, but I'm wondering about the other bits - I imagine there's a box that sits in one of the foot wells or behind the stereo/etc
2) photo of the unit in place...if you can get one that shows how the wires are connected, all the better, but I imagine that is best done with writing.
Thanks.
Max.
rich1068
Comment: I can probably do better than that David. I've got a Nokia installation .pdf in full colour. PM me your e.mail and I'll send it you. I promise not to sell your address to 419ers :o
Unless you know of another way of me getting it to you?
:edit:
Scrub that. Found it [url]http://nds1.nokia.com/phones/files/guides/Nokia_Car_Kit_CK-300_Installation_guidelines_en.pdf[/url]
Unless you know of another way of me getting it to you?
:edit:
Scrub that. Found it [url]http://nds1.nokia.com/phones/files/guides/Nokia_Car_Kit_CK-300_Installation_guidelines_en.pdf[/url]
davidmaxwaterma
Comment: [quote=rich1068;384189]I can probably do better than that David. I've got a Nokia installation .pdf in full colour. PM me your e.mail and I'll send it you. I promise not to sell your address to 419ers :o
Unless you know of another way of me getting it to you?
:edit:
Scrub that. Found it [url]http://nds1.nokia.com/phones/files/guides/Nokia_Car_Kit_CK-300_Installation_guidelines_en.pdf[/url][/quote]
Yeah. That has some very interesting shots that are quite enlightening.
Thanks.
Max.
Unless you know of another way of me getting it to you?
:edit:
Scrub that. Found it [url]http://nds1.nokia.com/phones/files/guides/Nokia_Car_Kit_CK-300_Installation_guidelines_en.pdf[/url][/quote]
Yeah. That has some very interesting shots that are quite enlightening.
Thanks.
Max.
rich1068
Comment: Didn't go too well. The handsfree etc is excellent but I'm starting to wonder if the fitter was an idiot. No streaming music yet because 'it won't work on Saabs'. Second opinion tomorrow I think. I do have to say that 'Car Menu' is very, very good though.
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