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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

#271

Post by JoBrad »

JosephHatfield wrote: post #229
duaneb wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does Carplay allow choosing which maps app serves the maps, or are you forced to use the apple maps? I'm sure people love Apple's app but it's given me many, many, many too many illegal directions for me to ever trust it.

I have CarPlay in my 2016 VW Golf R and the only map app that shows up is Apple Maps. I can still use Google Maps; I just plan my route on that app, and then bring up Apple Maps in CarPlay if I need to actually see a map. Google Maps continues to send driving directions through the car audio system even while Apple Maps is displayed. Still hoping Google Maps becomes an authorized CarPlay app eventually.

That is such bullshit

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

#272

Post by ktta »

astrodust wrote: post #233
ktta wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're comparing two vastly different things. Maps for Google (I assume people are referring to google maps) is a very important part of its business, up there with gmail. But maps for car companies is an afterthought, a secondary luxury feature. You can't expect car companies to drop billions on mapping and full time software devs in perfecting the navigation system. The way I see it, the best way would be for them…

Sure, but I expect Google could make a kazillion dollars with some kind of licensing deal to provide Android and a stripped down offline version of Google Maps as a backup if there's no data available to car manufacturers. Customizing an existing Android-for-cars platform sounds like a way better plan than whatever junk these manufacturers are shipping today. I've seen better systems in the 1990s in terms of responsi…

>some kind of licensing deal to provide Android and a stripped down offline version of Google Maps as a backup

I don't think a default offline android will ever be in the picture. If everyone is offline, how will it make money? (android is free, so its far fetched to think it will start charging for that). It is risky for google to just give away lot of map data. Google spent a lot of money trying to acquire it. If it starts distributing it in a nice little package, people will start flashing their in-car devices with it.

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

#273

Post by randcraw »

gutnor wrote: post #186
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…

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…

Honda does this. Using their HondaLink interface, you plug in your iPhone, then you can choose which GPS system you prefer to appear on the display -- Honda's or Apple's. And of course, Apple's GUI lets you access the web to search for your destination using a simple text or voice interface then navigate using either Google's or Apple's or Mapquest's or Microsoft's maps.

IMHO it's the smart web-based search interface that makes web-based maps so superior to car maps. And yes, the web-based live traffic data is nice to have too.

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

#274

Post by userbinator »

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…

"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.

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

#275

Post by gdrulia »

shalmanese wrote: post #266
copperx wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

I've always been puzzled as to why cars don't come with speed governing as a (default off) option. I'd love to be able to lend my car to my child with the max speed set to 60mph or govern my speed to 65 on long freeway trips so I don't have to constantly check my speedometer (this is different from cruise control because I could easily slow down below 65, just never go above it).

Some cars already have that, at least my 2008 Peugeot 607 has. While driving, push the button to select max speed and you're done. Controlling same way as cruise control. Although it leaves an option to go faster if you push the accelerator down to the floor.

Wouldn't work for controlling child, but on a freeway would work just as you expect.

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

#276

Post by luminiferous »

duaneb wrote: post #225
seanp2k2 wrote: post #125

Earlier 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…

Does Carplay allow choosing which maps app serves the maps, or are you forced to use the apple maps? I'm sure people love Apple's app but it's given me many, many, many too many illegal directions for me to ever trust it.

Neither Carplay nor Android Auto have multiple supported maps apps yet. Android Auto only allows you to use Google maps, but I don't have a problem with that since Google maps is very good. IIRC, they announced at the last Google IO that they're going to be supporting Waze in the near future.

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

#277

Post by raisedbyninjas »

copperx wrote: post #230
lukaslalinsky wrote: post #195

Earlier 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?

It's the same reason that we could but won't lower all speed limits by 15mph or 30mph. It would save many thousands of lives per year, and it would decrease economic output a bit. But the only cries that would matter are those that say driving slow is annoying/not fun.

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

#278

Post by u801e »

raisedbyninjas wrote: post #277
copperx wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

It's the same reason that we could but won't lower all speed limits by 15mph or 30mph. It would save many thousands of lives per year, and it would decrease economic output a bit. But the only cries that would matter are those that say driving slow is annoying/not fun.

> It's the same reason that we could but won't lower all speed limits by 15mph or 30mph. It would save many thousands of lives per year

You make the erroneous assumption that drivers will suddenly obey the new speed limits. That isn't going to happen. Second the fatality rate and total number of motor vehicle crashes is lower now than it was when the NMSL (National Maximum Speed Limit) was in effect.

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

#280

Post by u801e »

eric_h wrote: post #255
pkaye wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> 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).

On a somewhat related note, this graph[1] show that the deaths of children in cars due to heat stroke started increasing after 1998 (which is when passenger side airbags were mandatory equipment in new vehicles).

[1] http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/media/images/76289000/gif/_...

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