CES: Pioneer unveils an iPhone GPS car cradle

LAS VEGAS--Remember when TomTom launched a $120 GPS car kit for iPhone last year and everyone screamed "too expensive!" Well, Pioneer just announced a similar kit of similar functionality at a similar price point at this year's CES. We're wondering if history is doomed to repeat itself.

Pioneer's car kit holds your iPhone or iPod Touch in place while you drive with a swiveling cradle with a 30-pin dock connector. The unit features a GPS receiver that enhances the positioning and accuracy of the iPhone and adds positioning to the iPod Touch. There's also a louder speaker for hands-free calling or turn-by-turn directions and an audio output for connecting to the vehicle's auxiliary input. The whole kit attaches to your windshield or dashboard with a suction cup and connects to a 12-volt charger to keep your iPhone juiced.

The car cradle essentially combines all of the features one would expect to find in an external GPS receiver, speakerphone, and car mount into one neat package. We can see the value there, but we have a feeling that consumers will cry foul at the perceived value of the $129 accessory when this product hits retailers in spring 2011.