Bichon

I was thinking on the drive home about some real cool enhancements I'd like to see offered in the next generation nav system.

My biggest wish would be a web browser and email client, touch screen of course, backed with a diversity Internet connection: WiFi when a signal is available, EVDO or another cellular technology when not.

Then I really got silly. Imagine if the navi could download Google Earth satellite images and display those (as you were driving) instead of the map. I can't really think of any practical benefit, but for some reason it strikes me as really cool.

Any other cool ideas?

kensteele

so they are doing this today but you probably already know about the carputers over at mp3car.com; i don't think a car manufacturer could ever pull this off, too many variables like who would provide your wireless service?

IS350_PHIL

iTrader: (2)

I would like a real-time (or close to real-time) traffic map overlay on the current nav...

JrFoxMN

Well, Volkswagon is already demo-ing such a unit...

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/03...gation-system/

As for real-time traffic, a LOT of other car companies are doing this, including Infiniti, Acura, and good-lord, Chrysler!

As for pulling down info via your wireless provider, it's actually rather easy. When you pair up Bluetooth devices, they exchange profile information. One of those profiles is called DUN - or dial-up networking. Most Bluetooth phones support that. So, with knowing that profile, and a few other small pieces of info (username/password, basically), any Bluetooth device that knows how to speak DUN, like an upgraded Nav system, could use your phone to download info.

Pretty sweet stuff...

Bichon

Thanks!! That's really cool, and exactly what I was imagining.

IS3FIDDY

Man, doesn't anyone here watch MTV's "Pimp My Ride?" A company called Drive Soft (http://www.drivesoft.net/) has been doing this for quite some time now...be forewarned...website sucks...

I think it incorporates 3G wireless as well...

jc957

I remember when we were test driving all the different cars, I think it was the acura TL that offered the xm with the traffic updates that popped up on the nav screen. At least thats what the dealer described it as ... the traffic problems show up on the nav screen so you can avoid them...but I never saw it working first hand. I was surprised that lexus didn't offer the same service considering their partnership w/ XM. Has anyone used that service or had experience with it?

Bichon

Not the TL, that's a new feature exclusive (at least at the end of '05 when I was doing my test drives) to their flagship RL. I also recall that a monthly charge for the service would be applicable after the first year.

jc957

I thought it was the TL but we drove so many cars in April that I can't be certain. I don't see anything on Acura's TL site so I could be wrong. I do remember though that it was XM and I was surprised Lexus didn't offer the same thing as the IS's nav is the newest.

bobbynoise

I'd like a navigation unit in which you can input your own route. For the most part, navigation works great, but there are some times where the route they suggest isn't really the most recommended route (i.e. people who live in the area suggest a more efficient way).

Mike_TX

I've campaigned for a long time for a real-time weather radar overlay on the Nav display. You could switch it off when you didn't want it on the display, but when there's bad weather in the area you could see where it is and where it's going. That would be really useful on road trips.

Now it turns out Garmin is finally doing something like this ... although I don't know exactly how it works yet.

Ramon

I like the internet idea. It wasn't long ago that I was sitting in my car waiting to pick someone up when I thought "man, it'd be cool if I had internet on this thing."