Tag Archives: infotainment

VW Passat takes the red pill, jacks into Nokia’s Terminal Mode (video)

By melissa | Published: July 14, 2010
We've seen flashy concepts of what Nokia's seamless cellular infotainment initiative might look like, but it took a pair of Germans from Volkswagen to give us our first glimpse of Terminal Mode in action. At MobileBeat 2010, engineers showed off the video after the break, which shows how a prototype VW Passat might be rigged -- in this case duplicating the phone's display in its entirety (plus additional controls) on the auto's larger touchscreen. Sadly, VW said the tech's still a couple years away from commercial integration into vehicles, though they expect to see third parties selling Terminal Mode add-on kits and the like a bit sooner. Until then, Nokia and partner companies have to figure out how to encourage developers while simultaneously restricting apps that might distract drivers; VW reps told us that while you'll download car-compatible apps from existing app stores rather than a separate Terminal Mode marketplace, compatible programs will be categorized and restricted from in-motion use based on a set of still-to-be-determined rules. Nerd-to-English translation: don't expect to watch Netflix for iPhone on the go. Sans a hack, of course. Continue reading VW Passat takes the red pill, jacks into Nokia's Terminal Mode (video) VW Passat takes the red pill, jacks into Nokia's Terminal Mode (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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In a world of automotive cellphone hate, Ford promotes SYNC as the solution

By shervin | Published: July 9, 2010
Texting while driving may not be banned where you are yet, but it probably it will be soon, and Ford is pretty okay with that. As we saw at CES this year , the company is promoting SYNC and MyFord as solutions to distracted driving, enabling the car to read text messages to you so that you can keep your eyes on the road. The blue oval is working to get RIM digging Bluetooth MAP, enabling streaming of text messages to cars, functionality said to be coming in "all new BlackBerry smartphones." Beyond that Ford is touting its new "Do Not Disturb" button to block all incoming calls and text messages while still allowing outgoing calls and use of the phone for providing data to the car. This is in addition to already disabling much of the phone's functionality whilst in motion, keeping you focused on what you should be doing: shaving, reading the newspaper, and eating breakfast. Continue reading In a world of automotive cellphone hate, Ford promotes SYNC as the solution In a world of automotive cellphone hate, Ford promotes SYNC as the solution originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Jetstar Airways first to rent out iPads, only $8.40 a flight

By shervin | Published: June 4, 2010
The world's first iPad inflight entertainment system definitely came sooner than we thought; though Bluebox just announced the idea two weeks ago, it's slated to hit Australia at the end of the month. Quantas budget carrier Jetstar Airways will hold a trial of the service in the last two weeks of June, doling out iPads to passengers on flights 90 minutes or greater for AUD $10 (approximately $8.40) a pop, and will extend the service to their entire network if the business... well, you know. Since Jetstar CIO Stephen Tame famously predicted the iPad would kill the inflight movie business earlier this year, it seems we're looking at a classic case of if-you-can't-beat-em syndrome. Call us biased, but that sounds a good sight better than what Microsoft's up to . Jetstar Airways first to rent out iPads, only $8.40 a flight originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Nokia partners with Harman to ’standardize’ cellular infotainment

By melissa | Published: May 17, 2010
Though Microsoft , RIM and possibly Google are already vying to be the center of the automotive infotainment push, a certain Finnish phone manufacturer says it wants to take charge -- in what seems to be the latest phase of its Terminal Mode initiative, Nokia's tapped infotainment provider Harman to "standardize" the interface between phone and car. Like Harman's last in-dash venture , a touchscreen and physical controls will be the focus, while your handset (rather than an Intel Atom ) does the heavy lifting. Connected via Bluetooth or USB, your Nokia will play music, deliver Ovi Maps , respond to voice control and more, with the entire phone display duplicated onto the car's larger touchscreen for easy access and a set of auto-specific apps planned for Nokia's Ovi Store. It all sounds pretty swell, but it's still not clear how the companies intend to standardize anything beyond their balance sheets; we're not sure how much Nokia will appreciate you connecting a Droid to their Ovi-powered car. PR after the break. Update: It appears that this is part of Nokia's Terminal Mode initative, which -- as some have noted in comments -- we've actually told you about before . Whoops! Continue reading Nokia partners with Harman to 'standardize' cellular infotainment Nokia partners with Harman to 'standardize' cellular infotainment originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 May 2010 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Smart Car’s Smart Drive Kit for iPhone demonstrated (video)

By admin | Published: April 1, 2010
Daimler hasn't had a sales success on its hands lately with its line of Smart cars, with sales festering after an initial boom. To try to re-capture the imagination of we smartphone-loving Americans with short attention spans, Smart unveiled the Smart Drive Kit last month and now, at the NY Auto Show, is giving it a proper demonstration. The iPhone app effectively takes the place of an infotainment system like Sync , including internet radio, navigation, and hands-free calling. It's all demonstrated in a video after the break, and it looks cool -- cool enough to even warrant $9.99 for the app and, maybe, the $49.99 annual fee for maps and navigation. What we still needing clarification on is whether that cradle will actually be priced at a ridiculous €240 ($326) and, if so, from which precious materials it has been crafted. Continue reading Smart Car's Smart Drive Kit for iPhone demonstrated (video) Smart Car's Smart Drive Kit for iPhone demonstrated (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Nokia and Alpine integrating handsets into cars, bringing Ovi Maps to your dashboard

By melissa | Published: March 3, 2010
What's the one biggest hurdle to throwing out your dedicated GPS nav unit and going ahead with the free turn-by-turn navigation offered by your smartphone ? If your answer was that most phones don't have the great big screens or easy installation systems of some satnav devices, look out, because Nokia's about to shake up your world all over again. Alpine has just announced its partnership with the Finnish giant aimed at integrating Nokia handsets -- complete with free Ovi Maps navigation -- into car dashboard systems. Yes, that means you can use your superb six-amp speaker system to boom out music or voice nav instructions from the phone, as well as your in-dash 7-inch LCD for showing you the right way home. There's further interaction with widgets keeping an eye on your fuel levels and engine condition, leading to location-based services such as the phone notifying you of the nearest and cheapest petrol station. Connectivity is done over either USB or Bluetooth, and Nokia promises that this Terminal Mode will be showing up in its phones in the very near future. The sooner the better, we say. Nokia and Alpine integrating handsets into cars, bringing Ovi Maps to your dashboard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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