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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

#171

Post by bjelkeman-again »

tibbon wrote: post #142

Why is Tesla one of the few car manufacturers who actually pushes real updates to their car's dashboard system (and for free, others charge absurd fees if they do give minor updates). I hope that by 2020 it is the expectation that your car will continue to update and improve its interface over the years you own it. I say this because people point to smartphones as always being more updated- and there's no reason for…

It would piss off the dealers. They live on the service costs.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/524791/why-your-car-wont-...

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

#172

Post by ap22213 »

goshx wrote: post #121
salmonlogs wrote: post #114

Reading the comments I appear to be the exception. I lease a 2015 BMW 4-series which I added "Professional Media" to and the nav works really well. I've driven plenty of other cars where the nav is useless, but not all are bad. Reasons to use it over my phone: * 11" screen shows me a high quality map overlayed with current traffic, with 1/3 split for lane guidance when needed * Directions also shown directly on the d…

Same lease as you. Maps are not updated and the traffic information is pretty bad compared to google maps. I use the car's nav only when I don't have to worry about delays caused by traffic, otherwise google maps is my first option. BMW's nav is pretty bad in offering alternative routes based on traffic data, but I just LOVE the directions on the HUD.

No problems with alternate routes here, either. It actually works surprisingly well.

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

#173

Post by kelvie »

grecy wrote: post #42

Out of curiosity, are there any Tesla owners that can chime in about their experience? Do you use the in-built GPS, or just use your phone? I would think if anyone has it right, it would be Tesla.

Copied from my comment above:

Even in the Model S, I use my phone's directions. Tesla's map app is great, and the UI is _really_ good (even better in the latest update!), but their source for navigation is garbage (and also their routing algorithm).

I hear it's cause whatever they use works offline, but also because Google wants them to send back real time data, but Tesla doesn't want to (forgot where I heard this though).

I would much much prefer to use the Tesla UI for nav, but the directions are really that bad.

I've used the built-in nav for about a year, and had to go buy a phone mount.

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

#174

Post by maaaats »

gknoy wrote: post #150
korethr wrote: post #144

As a counterpoint to the comments here bringing up the point that the maps on one's phone are always up to date, I'll bring up the point of offline access. Yes, often the maps are bad, out of date, and require one to go the dealer and pay money to get an update. However, once out of the city, and cellular data ceases to be a thing, Google maps and similar applications built with an assumption of an always-available I…

I realize this isn't a perfect counter, but Google Maps (on Android, and probably iOS) allows you to download "offline areas", and you can store just about many of them as your phone has storage for. This means that as part of your trip preparation, you can download the maps and use them on your trip in the boonies. I don't know how well it _uses_ them, nor what amount of data connection it still wants, but it saved…

The offline areas are useless. They are basically just prefetching the map-tiles. You can't do anything while not online, not search in the offline area, map a route or anything like that.

Here maps blows this out of the water in comparison.

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

#175

Post by bjelkeman-again »

kelvie wrote: post #126
nojvek wrote: post #66

Toyota gps is just garbage. Hangs all the time. I strongly believe car makers just don't see software as a critical component. Exception is tesla.

Even in the Model S, I use my phone's directions. Tesla's map app is great, and the UI is _really_ good (even better in the latest update!), but their source for navigation is garbage (and also their routing algorithm). I hear it's cause whatever they use works offline, but also because Google wants them to send back real time data, but Tesla doesn't want to (forgot where I heard this though). I would much much prefe…

I wouldn't call it garbage, but maybe my area is better mapped.

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

#176

Post by [deleted] »

zeveb wrote: post #159
aeharding wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mazda Connect has worked very well for me. So weird that it came with a CD player, though. I thought those would have been gone by 2016...

A CD player's still convenient on a long road trip when one wants to listen to one's own music, not the radio or the satellite. A phone can only hold so much!

[deleted]

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

#177

Post by mtanski »

tdkl wrote: post #104
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.

I have a 2016 VW Sportswagen that I use with my iPhone all the time. Everything just works and in 10 the Maps app in Carplay has gotten better.

About a month ago I was driving with a friend of mine in the passenger seat. Driving 45 minutes to some trails upstate. I asked him to put his Maps on (Android) so I don't need to get my phone out of my bad and fuck around with it while driving. He's got Galaxy 6 edge+ so I figured it just work... Boy was I wrong.

When he plugged it in nothing happened except autoplaying some music. Since I'm driving how no idea how to make it work. Turns out you need to download an App from the app store to make it work... but Android gives you no notification about it.

Then there's a whole on-boarding process you got to click through. Then you need to agree to let the Android connect to the Car all in all about 5 different agree prompts. Took about 30 minutes to get this going.

After all that the car would lose Android Auto connection with the phone every few minutes. Apparently it's a know issue with that model of Android and VW.

What a terrible experience. For a while I was thinking of getting an Android phone next time I need a new phone (break, slow/sluggish). Not going to happen now.

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

#178

Post by lucaspiller »

sangnoir wrote: post #162
imglorp wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My car needed the nav feature in order to get the backup camera, which is essential in cars with a poor rear view.

What is it about American cars[1] and tiny rear view windows? I once got a Ford Fusion rental in the US; I was surprised how little I could see of what was behind me. I have never had the same issue with European/Japanese vehicles. 1. My sample size is small, I could have been unlucky. Anti-glare coating on rear view mirrors on American cars makess night-time driving awesome though, I wish the European/Japanese vehic…

> Anti-glare coating on rear view mirrors

The technical term is an 'electrochromatic auto-dimming rear-view mirror'. It's been an option on higher end cars/trims for the last ~5 years, even in Europe. On eBay there are DIY kits too.

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

#179

Post by pkaye »

bsder wrote: post #155

How about: "Can't set new route while car is in motion?" If you ever block me from doing something on a computer that I know it can do , I will hate you forever. You know, I might have a passenger who could work the nav system, but, oh, no, the car is moving so you can't enter a new destination. So many people disabled this "feature" on the Prius nav system that Toyota removed the ability to disable it . I kid you no…

I think some states have laws that restrict navigation control access when car is in motion.

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

#180

Post by izacus »

mtanski wrote: post #177
tdkl wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I have a 2016 VW Sportswagen that I use with my iPhone all the time. Everything just works and in 10 the Maps app in Carplay has gotten better. About a month ago I was driving with a friend of mine in the passenger seat. Driving 45 minutes to some trails upstate. I asked him to put his Maps on (Android) so I don't need to get my phone out of my bad and fuck around with it while driving. He's got Galaxy 6 edge+ so I f…

How horrible, you had to install a single app and click "Next" a few times!

The connectivity issues with VWs are a valid complaint, but not pushing bloat on everyones devices really isnt.

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