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Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

money.cnn.com

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Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#101

Post by macjohnmcc »

jasode wrote: post #11

Another reason not mentioned by the article is map updates . Lexus charges $169+ to update the map data and requires a dealer appointment. A smartphone with google/Apple maps is always more up-to-date. If you're buying a new car today, the reason to get navigation is for the LCD screen and not for the GPS. The LCD is used to see the rear view camera image for parking. Also, playing music shows the song titles.

We bought a Gamin GPS for my wife as she prefers it over using a phone for navigation. It has lifetime map updates and costs less than the map update for my car's built in navigation. It's also far superior in several ways including knowing the speed limit on more roads, showing the name of the upcoming cross streets and better multi-lane information. I personally tend to use Waze on my phone but like the Garmin navigation experience more overall.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#102

Post by kzisme »

macjohnmcc wrote: post #101
jasode wrote: post #11

Another reason not mentioned by the article is map updates . Lexus charges $169+ to update the map data and requires a dealer appointment. A smartphone with google/Apple maps is always more up-to-date. If you're buying a new car today, the reason to get navigation is for the LCD screen and not for the GPS. The LCD is used to see the rear view camera image for parking. Also, playing music shows the song titles.

We bought a Gamin GPS for my wife as she prefers it over using a phone for navigation. It has lifetime map updates and costs less than the map update for my car's built in navigation. It's also far superior in several ways including knowing the speed limit on more roads, showing the name of the upcoming cross streets and better multi-lane information. I personally tend to use Waze on my phone but like the Garmin navi…

Previously I had used my phone, but after taking a few small trips and the phone's GPS either placed me on an incorrect street, or was unable to get a steady signal - I decided I needed a Garmin.

I've been happy with it thus far, and with the lifetime map updates it's pretty nice. I do with the model I got had weather overlays, but that's just me being picky.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#103

Post by izacus »

mrpippy wrote: post #91
UVB-76 wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The average age of cars on the road in the US is something like 11 years [0] Even if CarPlay/Android Auto last more than five years, I expect new versions will come out which render old vehicles incompatible. [0] http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-ihs-average-c...

Apple takes backwards-compatibility very seriously for MFi protocols, because they know that the "accessories" are cars that people keep for a long time. I used to work at a company making iPod car kits--we took an interface from 2006 (with a hard-wired 30-pin connector), hooked it through a FireWire->USB charging adapter, a 30-pin->Lightning adapter, and it worked fine with an iPhone 6.

I distinctly remember iPhones complaining about "obsolete device" when plugging them into a few years old Audi and VW cars around iPhone 4 era. That was then followed up with connectivity and charging issues.

So what was the deal with that?

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#104

Post by tdkl »

Someone1234 wrote: post #39

This is why Carplay/Android Auto are so key. They're safer than using your actual phone, they offer legitimate maps apps (Google Maps/Bing Maps/Apple Maps/etc), and are somewhat future proof. Too bad the MirrorLink consortium dropped the ball so epically. MirrorLink arguably does the same thing as Carplay/Android Auto and has been deployed to millions of vehicles, but nobody uses MirrorLink 1.1, why? Because to get y…

Why would I pay hundreds of $currency for a new head unit or thousands for a new car, if I'm already walking around with a device capable doing all that? Android Auto/Car play should just run as a dedicated mode on the phone.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#105

Post by Retric »

UVB-76 wrote: post #86
Someone1234 wrote: post #39

This is why Carplay/Android Auto are so key. They're safer than using your actual phone, they offer legitimate maps apps (Google Maps/Bing Maps/Apple Maps/etc), and are somewhat future proof. Too bad the MirrorLink consortium dropped the ball so epically. MirrorLink arguably does the same thing as Carplay/Android Auto and has been deployed to millions of vehicles, but nobody uses MirrorLink 1.1, why? Because to get y…

The average age of cars on the road in the US is something like 11 years [0] Even if CarPlay/Android Auto last more than five years, I expect new versions will come out which render old vehicles incompatible. [0] http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-ihs-average-c...

Standards can last a fairly long time. DVI and 802.11b are both over 16 years old and backwards compatibility is still common.

Even if they just default to a remote desktop with touch screen interface, that's still fine for most in car applications.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#106

Post by pwthornton »

Smartphone maps are so superior because they are always up to date, can provide real-time traffic data, can tell you to take an alternative route and can provide other data about places to eat, etc.

While a lot of car GPSs have some of this, they are no where near what Google Maps or Apple Maps (or a targeted app like Waze) has. I bought a new car last year, and intentionally didn't get the GPS, even though my car has a 7-inch touchscreen. I would never use those crappy maps when I have my phone with me. If the car supported Carplay, I would 100% use maps through that.

This is why Carplay and Android Auto are the future. Their apps, APIs and data are so superior to whatever car companies can come up with.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#107

Post by izacus »

joezydeco wrote: post #48
coldpie wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, it's pretty sad. I was ready to buy a brand-new Subaru a couple years ago, but they mandated the shitty touch screen in the dash on all new models. Ended up with a used Mazda3. I was very interested in the new ND Miata, but they mandate the dumb LCD screen in the middle of the dash. Nope, not doing that. Seems early 2010s are the last of the good, pre-technology cars. Hopefully the self driving ones come soon b…

The GPS navigation feature on the new Mazda Connect systems is a $400 SD card that plugs into the dash. That's it. For $400 I'll stick with my phone. If only Mazda got CarPlay working on their dashboards as they've been promising for two years now.

As an owner of the new Mazda3, I actually use the builtin nav more than I do the phone one. It's always there, it's always loaded, always initialized, has better organized UI (canceling routes, adding waypoints, etc. needs way less taps than Sygic/Apple Maps/GMaps do) and shows the upcoming navigation events on the projected HUD.

Unfortunately it also runs less smoothly and it's uglier and RDS traffic info is less reliable than phone one. At least for me the simpler UI and phone battery saving rally outweigh the downsides though.

(I got my nav included with the car, but compared to VAG group which charges 1000EUR+ for nav unit, 400EUR didn't seem to be all that much IMO.)

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#108

Post by kctess5 »

Tomdarkness wrote: post #26
RankingMember wrote: post #2

It never made sense to me why you'd want to have a built-in GPS these days when modular devices are available that are A. generally better-designed and B. replaceable. People buying used cars in the coming years will be stuck with these big-screened dinosaurs in their dash that are essentially wasted space.

The reason I have it built-in is it integrates with the head-up display meaning I don't have to take my eye off the road to see directions.

This. My mom's BMW has a really useful navigation display on the HUD. It also shows your speed. These two things mean you basically never have to look down from the window. Definitely comes in handy, especially in stressful driving scenarios.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#109

Post by izacus »

ChrisRR wrote: post #21
jbob2000 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My car has voice-control, so I press a button on the steering wheel, speak my destination, and I'm good to go. It works really well. I can't do this easily on a smartphone while I'm driving. The "big-screen dinosaur" is incredibly helpful for showing routes and directions, much better than the dinky smartphone screen.

"Ok google, navigate to "

Which makes Google happily google for "Navigate to place" instead of starting GMaps. At least on my Nexus 5X :/

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#110

Post by Symbiote »

noir_lord wrote: post #92
stillworks wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If everybody has that kind of intelligent routing, then any advantage of that kind of intelligent routing will stop being an advantage.

Not sure that would be true in all cases. If you have a truly intelligent system it would spread the load across the roads equal to what they can handle rather than the system now where everyone seems to take the "main" road leading to congestion on that road and quiet side streets. Similar to Braess Paradox :- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braess%27_paradox#Traffic

Do we want noisy side streets?

In some European countries, streets are configured to prevent through traffic. That leaves them quiet for the enjoyment of residents.

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