The navigation system on my 2013 Acura is unusable. My iPhone sits on the seat and does the job.
The navigation system on 2016 Volvos is usable.
Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions
251–260 of 393 posts
Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions
#252How 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…
Personally, I mount my phone right on a vent on the lower edge of my visual scan of the road. The infotainment displays in most cars are way too low to be looking at while driving, except maybe the pop-up screens in Mazdas and BMWs.
Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions
#253This 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…
>They're safer than using your actual phone
Not sure about that. In many cars you have to take your eyes pretty far down from the road to look at the radio. Touchscreens honestly don't belong down there, I'd much rather have physical controls I can operate by feel.
Phones can be mounted in the visual scan across the windshield (close and small enough to not occlude anything).
Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions
#254Earlier quoted context omitted.
Cars can generally go much faster than the maximum speed limit, so it wouldn't be the first time the car allows you to do something against the law.
I'm honestly surprised they don't restrict that. Does anybody know why? I know different states have different speed limits, but I think a 85mph speed limit could cover them all. Is it because Canada and Mexico? They have lower speed limits. Is it because the car could be exported to Germany and driven on the Autobahn? or what?
b/c Xs don't kill people; people kill people
Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions
#255How 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.
Certainly, but cars are also mandated to have a weight sensor in the passenger seat to disable the passenger side airbag when there isn't an adult sitting there (so they don't kill children in car seats).
Can't we at least compromise on that requirement? If there's a passenger, unlock the controls.
Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions
#256Earlier quoted context omitted.
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)…
You just made a great argument for investing MORE in GPS software in a car than in the phone: get it right the first time so you aren't stuck with useless software for two decades–that's a waste of everyone's time and money.
I'm all for awesome car nav in a car. Nice touch screen, fast updates, current traffic, up to date maps, etc.
Unfortunately every car I've seen (including some rather expensive cars) look like Maemo Mapper from my ancient (pre-android pre-iphone) Nokia 770 tablet.
However I'm weird, I have a note 4 with a replaceable battery, wireless charging, 3GB ram, and a microSD slot. A phone that could easily last 5 years. It's VERY hard to find similar on the market today.
Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions
#257Earlier quoted context omitted.
You just made a great argument for investing MORE in GPS software in a car than in the phone: get it right the first time so you aren't stuck with useless software for two decades–that's a waste of everyone's time and money.
I'm all for awesome car nav in a car. Nice touch screen, fast updates, current traffic, up to date maps, etc. Unfortunately every car I've seen (including some rather expensive cars) look like Maemo Mapper from my ancient (pre-android pre-iphone) Nokia 770 tablet. However I'm weird, I have a note 4 with a replaceable battery, wireless charging, 3GB ram, and a microSD slot. A phone that could easily last 5 years. It's…
Unfortunatley cars need to get over NIH for software. I'll admit CarPlay/android auto seems like the way forward.
Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions
#258Earlier quoted context omitted.
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've always wondered why it took manufacturers so long to put in a 3.5mm jack into head units--it would have saved us a lot of awful tape adapters in the 90s and CD changer emulators in the 2000s.
Ha, and apple just removed the 3.5mm jack from their phones. Perhaps the entire reason for it was to get CarPlay into more cars :P
Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions
#259Earlier quoted context omitted.
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 co…
I've seen that Pioneer, Alpine and the usual after market head unit vendors have options with car play. So you might not be entirely out of luck.
Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions
#260Smartphone 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…
You also forgot that they are fast with responsive UI. And that's only if you compare the best of the car built-in GPS. If it is not the top of range (which btw is not related to the price of the car), the UI is generally awful. If you are a google/apple map user. Searching for an address is a million type easier: roughly type some part of the address and it will find it. No such luck with car gps. At this stage you…
It's even better: "OK Google, take me home" -> 3 seconds later Maps app is open and navigation is in progress. No typing required.