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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

#201

Post by hx87 »

teej wrote: post #134
pwthornton wrote: post #106

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 ha…

Acura wants me to spend something like $179 to update the maps for my in-car navigation system. For that money I can buy a windshield phone mount and a nice cable with cash leftover to take the wife out to dinner.

It's not just the money, it's the time. Lexus wants me to wait two days to special order navigation software for my car. Which leads to the question: why the hell do I need to wait 2 days for software in 2016?

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

#202

Post by tdkl »

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…

For use-case I'm talking about he would just:

- set the destination in Android Auto friendly UI,

- clip his phone in the car holder.

Done with no extra fuckery as you described.

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

#203

Post by eric_the_read »

My new Tacoma has a hybrid system called Scout GPS. The idea is that you run the app on your phone, and it does all the heavy lifting WRT GPS, computing routes, etc., and the dashboard display is basically a moderately dumb UI that displays maps on the screen.

In theory, it's a best of both worlds situation; the UI doesn't really need to change very often; what is most important is the maps/POI information, which can be downloaded either in-app or via an update. Practically, the UI is just irritating enough that I end up using Google Maps anyway, and just letting the voice directions get me where I'm going.

(edit: punctuation, because my inner copyeditor won't shut up)

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

#204

Post by hx87 »

sliken wrote: post #188
astrodust wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a stupid question: Why is the user interface on a $30K car so bad compared to a $99 smart phone you can buy at the drug store? What is with the garbage they call software these days? The response time on some of these in-dash systems can be measured in seconds.

The CPU, Display, etc of a car is designed extremely conservatively. Cars lasting 20 years are not uncommon, vibration, temperature extremes, and direct physical abuse (kids, fingers, ice cream, feet, fists, pounding, etc). Not to mention being turned off for months. Car buyers are also pretty sensitive about monthly costs (thus no data connection). Your smartphone is designed to die around 2 years (expoxied battery)…

Swapping out a unit every 2 years (or why it craps out) for $200 sounds like a good deal compared to a terrible one that lasts 20 years and costs $10000 to replace.

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

#205

Post by tormeh »

zeveb wrote: post #152
Someone1234 wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would new versions cause incompatibility? Carplay/Android Auto are just, at their core, dumb protocols for transmitting screen information and receiving back touch inputs. If you go disassemble Mirrorlink 1.1 apps they use the VNC protocol behind the scenes, the protocol isn't complex (the certification nonsense is all artificially added). The reason for the fragmentation and pain in this particular space (infota…

> Why would new versions cause incompatibility? Because CarPlay in 2016 doesn't support the new hotness of 2018, because we are an industry of attention-deficit twentysomethings. Granted, were I forced to choose between attention-deficit twentysomethings and bureaucratic, glacial fiftysomethings … well honestly, I don't know which I'd choose.

I believe you're describing the choice between Tesla and Mercedes...

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

#206

Post by sib »

seanp2k2 wrote: post #125
pwthornton wrote: post #106

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 ha…

Yeah, I'm not sure why car companies invested at all in attempting to build their own mapping software. It's a hard thing to do well, and I had been using GPS in the car since Windows 98 + Microsoft Streets + Garmin eMap + serial adapter running NEMA days. PC or smartphone navigation software has always been better than what is available in cars. Additionally, while the upgrade cycle for phones is yearly for some peo…

"I'm not sure why car companies invested at all in attempting to build their own mapping software."

Given how much the OEMs charge for the systems (often it's a $2K upcharge), plus how much they charge for updates (typically $150 - $200), the manufacturers undoubtedly saw it as a potentially profitable product development effort.

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

#207

Post by hx87 »

Symbiote wrote: post #110
noir_lord wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Side streets need to support their fair share of traffic. Most cars these days are very quiet, barring the occasional beater, utility truck, and ricer. That being said, if they slow cars down Waze will direct less drivers to them.

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

#208

Post by tdkl »

mtanski wrote: post #182
tdkl wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not a dumb terminal, it's a fully fledged car nav system from the car manufacturer, which also (secondary function) serves as an external screen for Android Auto/CarPlay. A dumb terminal would be dead until you connected the phone to it (and also cheaper).

The 2016 VW Sportwagen I does have a touch screen console either with or without Nav. The SE model and below does not have Nav and SEL does. I got the SE because it was the nicest model without Nav. Built in Nav in cars is so shitty that I would personally pay extra to not have it.

Point taken for being a nav or not, but those touchscreens are still functional as in being a car stereo, contact manager (for BT calling), handling settings for the car computer etc.

But to answer my question why there's no standalone mode for Android Auto/Car Play - probably because they struck a deal with car vendors to sell more extras with the cars or newer cars.

So if you drive something older - fuck you and consume.

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

#209

Post by hx87 »

conductr wrote: post #181

You can't buy car features a la carte like the "build your car" tool on every auto maker's site suggest you can. You're forced to buy the "tech package" which includes the GPS because you want something as simple as bluetooth

If the base car has 3.5mm input jack, getting bluetooth is pretty trivial.

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

#210

Post by sib »

lucaspiller wrote: post #178
sangnoir wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

My 2003 Mini Cooper (not very high end!) has this, as does my 2015 Subaru - it makes it incredibly hard to drive any other car that doesn't.
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