A week before this year's MWSF, NewerTech announced availability of TrafficJamz, an in-car FM transmitter and charger for iPods new and old. Engineered with a state-of-the-art and plug-n-play design this widget brings the iPod's legendary ease-of-use to any vehicle with an available cigarette lighter plug for about half ($35) of what most makers charge.

In comparison tests performed by Newer in and around Chicago (an area full of high-powered FM stations), TRAFFICJamz was the only FM Transmitter that did not experience bleed-through or static noise.

Compatible with any iPod with a dock connector port (1 & 2G nanos, all minis, and all 3, 4 & 5G standard iPods), TRAFFICJamz features a convenient dock connector cable length of 27 inches and broadcasts to any frequency (88.1 ~ 107.9 MHz).

In my road testing (think remote work site), I used TrafficJamz with my 4GB iPod mini in my trusty Toyota Echo with an after-market Pioneer set.

Moreover, because Newer's widget includes a tuner wheel that provides tactile feedback, you can to tune to a neighboring frequency without taking your eyes off the road.

For example, we also have a Benkin tuner / charger, but that unit doesn't offer tactile feedback (just an LCD display), so you have to look at the device to see what you're doing—not cool.

Also, TRAFFICJamz can be paired with the NewerTech 120V-12V Power Adapter ($7) to utilize household power and allow broadcast of iPod over home stereo equipment—a feature the competition can't match.

Conclusion

The NewerTech TrafficJamz is a convenient (size & operation) tuner / charger that provides great value and performance at about half the price of many competitors—big thumbs up!