Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions • Hacker News Board

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

#371

Post by hx87 » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 3:43 PM UTC

Symbiote wrote: post #302

hx87 wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Side streets need to support their fair share of children walking to school, bicycles, conversations and not-polluted air. Their fair share of traffic is very low, only traffic to or from a building on the street.

> Side streets need to support their fair share of children walking to school, bicycles, conversations and not-polluted air.

So do main streets.

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

#372

Post by eric_h » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 3:49 PM UTC

Bud wrote: post #309

eric_h wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

No. It wasn't. And by the way, the iPhone 7 can still output to a 3.5mm aux jack just fine, which you probably already knew, or should know.

I was joking. And I do know that the iPhone 7 has an adapter for the 3.5mm jack, as it came in the box with my iPhone 7.

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

#373

Post by j45 » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 4:57 PM UTC

masklinn wrote: post #113

CWuestefeld wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You would think so... In my '13 Hyundai, the navigation UX is pretty good, but I swear that the entertainment part of it was written by a summer intern.

Ditto, though I wouldn't call most of the nav systems I've used "pretty good".

I also have an Infiniti, and have suffered through others. Relatively speaking it is pretty decent and still usabale. Have you tried it out?

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

#374

Post by j45 » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 4:58 PM UTC

izacus wrote: post #219

j45 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have had the same experience with my car. Car manufacturers are far better at the car/dash experience than phones, however the phones have been catching up. Apps like Waze are hard to ignore. What would be ideal is a high quality integration between the two worlds, or at least the ability to use the phone's touchscreen as an extended mirroring display of one's phone if you choose as a universal standard.

Well, Android Auto is exactly that and Google announced Waze support in this years IO.

I'd like to see a car have both Apple car and Android Auto. My point was more around the universal ability to extend either to your screen and not have to have to pick a particular car and particular phone to work together.

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

#375

Post by 0xffff2 » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 5:26 PM UTC

pluma wrote: post #339

userbinator wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"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." I'd prefer to call the person there the "first officer" or "copilot", as "passenger" seems more... passive.

In German the passenger (front right seat) is actually called the "co-driver" (Beifahrer) and there is a cultural expectation to assist the driver with things like reading maps or passing drinks/food or even looking out for directional signs. There is no such expectation for "guests" on the backseat(s), so this is a pretty distinct role.

The same expectation applies in the US in my experience, but we don't generally give different names to the front seat passenger and other passengers.

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

#376

Post by VT_Drew » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 7:06 PM UTC

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…

Is the Garmin smart enough so if two routes temporarily share a stretch of road it doesn't tell you to get off the route you were coming from? For example you are traveling east on route 2, route 202 merges into 2. Rt 2 and 202 are the same road for a few miles, then rt 202 splits off (you are going to continue going east on rt. 2). My GPS tells me to get off Rt2 and to "turn right" on to 202. My ideal GPS wouldn't say a damn thing in this situation since I am staying on the same road.

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

#377

Post by neuronexmachina » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 7:07 PM UTC

0xffff2 wrote: post #375

pluma wrote: post #339

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In German the passenger (front right seat) is actually called the "co-driver" (Beifahrer) and there is a cultural expectation to assist the driver with things like reading maps or passing drinks/food or even looking out for directional signs. There is no such expectation for "guests" on the backseat(s), so this is a pretty distinct role.

The same expectation applies in the US in my experience, but we don't generally give different names to the front seat passenger and other passengers.

Shotgun?

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

#378

Post by audleman » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 7:39 PM UTC

eric_the_read wrote: post #203

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…

If any Mazda employees are here, take note. This is all I want: let me set a route on my smartphone, you project it on my in-dash screen and it talks through the stereo. The built-in system is garbage and I gave up after 2 weeks. I'm currently looking for a good dash-holder for my phone so I can use it to navigate

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

#379

Post by eric_h » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 9:53 PM UTC

ygra wrote: post #286

eric_h wrote: post #255

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

That's only in certain jurisdictions, I guess? Around here cars either have a big warning sticker not to put children backwards in the front passenger seat or have an option to disable the airbag. I don't think I've seen one that does it automatically. The only use the sensor gets is making noise when the passenger doesn't use the seat belt.

I'm pretty sure my dad's ~2001 saab 9-5 had an indicator on the dashboard as to whether the passenger side airbag was turned on. Of course, I could be misremembering.

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

#380

Post by eric_h » Thu, Oct 13, 2016, 10:18 PM UTC

eric_h wrote: post #379

ygra wrote: post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's only in certain jurisdictions, I guess? Around here cars either have a big warning sticker not to put children backwards in the front passenger seat or have an option to disable the airbag. I don't think I've seen one that does it automatically. The only use the sensor gets is making noise when the passenger doesn't use the seat belt.

I'm pretty sure my dad's ~2001 saab 9-5 had an indicator on the dashboard as to whether the passenger side airbag was turned on. Of course, I could be misremembering.

Okay, a quick googling led me to this [1]

It appears that passenger side airbags that automatically disable are not required, but they were explicitly allowed ca 1997 by the NHTSA (as well as allowing a manual on/off switch). So my original point was somewhat mistaken. Of course, cars do have a weight sensor to alert you when the passenger seatbelt isn't fastened, so still, the car knows when you have a passenger.

1) http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle-Shoppers/Air-Bags/Deactivati...