New Mercedes iPhone integration to come

Used car experts from Dekra help you to buy the right car

If you are not a used car expert you can get help from Dekra. The new Dekra app uses the data of 15 Mil. used car checks. You get information about the technical details and deficits of used cars.230 different models in 3 ranges of driven kilometers are available. Turn on your ipHone before you buy your next used car!

Control your iPhone within your BMW with on-board display and controller

For the first time following the launch of MINI Connected, the BMW Group is now also offering select iPhone applications for integrated use in a BMW.  The new option is designed to improve the integration of the Apple iPhone in the car and will be available from March 2011. The special option will cost €150. Finally, the iPhone with your data and its own connection to the internet is used and the car is another user interface only. Next step would be to use the iphone navigation instead of expensive on board technology. But this will still take some time.

BMW Connected app: listen to web radio, send and receive Facebook and Twitter posts.

With the BMW Connected app, functions such as web radio, Facebook and Twitter can be shown on the car’s display and be operated by means of the iDrive Controller. In addition to the new special option Apps, the requirements for this function are Bluetooth connectivity and the Navigation system Professional (both special options), as well as an iPhone with the BMW Connected app, which can be downloaded free of charge in the Apple App Store. If the iPhone is connected to the car via the USB socket or snap-in adapter, the content of the BMW Connected app appears on the display. This means drivers can leave their iPhone in the holder and keep up with personal Facebook or Twitter posts in comfort and safety via the large vehicle display. Using preformulated text modules, which can be individually defined and stored in the iPhone app, the app can also be used to call up vehicle information such as current speed, outside temperature or navigation destination, enabling the driver to reply to new posts and messages from the car at any time.

As with Facebook and Twitter, the web radio feature can also be operated via the display using the iDrive Controller. It means that vehicle occupants have access to many internet radio stations around the world. As with the iPhone, music station searches can be carried out via a wide range of search parameters such as genre, country or local stations. Stored favourite stations can also be called up.

Whereas Facebook and Twitter can only be accessed inside the vehicle, the web radio feature of the BMW Connected App is also available on the iPhone beyond the confines of the car.

In addition to allowing the use of the BMW Connected app, this interface also opens up the possibility of using future applications in the vehicle which have been adapted in collaboration with BMW. As such the Apps interface only marks the beginning of extended iPhone integration through BMW ConnectedDrive. Further functions and apps will follow at regular intervals and will be available for download from the App Store to customers who have opted for the special option Apps and the related interface.

PlugIn: simple operation of the iPhone’s iPod function in the car.

As well as permitting the integration of apps, the new interface offers a further in-car entertainment function known as PlugIn. This allows the operation of functions via the familiar Apple iPod user interface that appears in the car’s display. Since the PlugIn feature gives the car direct access to the iPod functions of the iPhone, BMW owners can also avail themselves of all the extended options in the car. These include, for example, Genius playlists that allow the driver to automatically generate mixes of similar tracks from the music catalogue. All stored playlists are shown with their original album cover art – just as they would be on an iPhone or iPod. Here, once again, BMW is affirming its leadership role in the field of infotainment.

As the software for the various BMW ConnectedDrive options is in the user’s iPhone, regular updates can extend and adapt these functions, thereby guaranteeing the long-term use of current and future iPhone functions. It marks a new era in the integration of consumer electronics in the car. The requirement for this comprehensive integration is a snap-in adapter.

Video playback: vodcasts in the car as well.

Last but not least, the new Apps interface also allows video podcasts from the iPhone’s iPod function to be played and watched on the in-car display – when the vehicle is stationary.

Source BMW

Audi’s internet connection solution now is called connect

The Audi vehicle networking strategy finally has a name: Audi connect. (BMW: ConnectedDrive, Mercedes: COMAND online) Audi is using this term to bundle all applications and developments that link current and future models with the Internet with their owners and with the infrastructure.

Audi connect is already present in the Audi A8, A7 Sportback and the new A6, and soon the A1 will include it as well. These models can be equipped with an optional UMTS module that links them with the online world. These connections make some applications possible, such as the unrestricted integration of Google Earth into the navigation system’s map display (powered by nivida), which should make orientation significantly easier. In addition, due to being connected to the Google search engine, the driver has instant access to many points of interest. And the integrated information service brings information such as weather, travel data and news into the car.

With the integrated Wifi hotspot, up to eight mobile devices can be linked to the Internet.

In ummer 2011, Audi online traffic information and expanded voice command controls – which can be used to find special destinations via Google, will be available. Audi online traffic information provides more precise forecasts about traffic situations on selected routes based on real-time information as standard TMC or TMCpro.

In future Audi customers in some countries will be able to use Google Street View as a online service, and will be able to view the navigation destination on the MMI display from the pedestrian’s perspective in a 360-degree radius.

Another topic of Audi connect defines the network between the car and the owner. Audi connect pairs the automotive environment with the Internet and mobile devices. Audi drivers will be able to use a wide range of Smartphone functions that are specially adapted for their Audi model. For instance, photos taken with a GPS cell phone can be stored in the navigation system, which can then show the coordinates for the location of the photo.

A me to feature are the plans for cars powered by electricity. With the prototypes for the Audi A1 e-tron, the driver can view the status of the rechargeable battery on their cell phone display at all times. The driver can also check whether the doors and windows are closed, or if there is any service information. Controlling interior temperature by cell phone is also possible.

Source: https://www.audi-mediaservices.com/publish/ms/content/en/public/pressemitteilungen/2011/02/14/audi_connect__the.standard.gid-oeffentlichkeit.html

Audi A8 demo equipped with Alcatel-Lucent 4G/LTE

At the Mobile World Congress, an Audi A8 demo equipped with Alcatel-Lucent 4G/LTE infrastructure is shown. The 2011 Audi A8 is equipped with an integrated 3G Wi-Fi hot spot to support the Google Earth navigation system and up to six device connections.

The 4G hot spot will give users even higher bandwidth for better telematics response and internet access to support applications such as streaming media.

Alcatel-Lucent demoed the 4G capability in the vehicle using LiveCast and Vidyo. Speeds of up to 30Mbps is possible. In a commercial application users can expect speeds around 5Mbps. That’s a lot faster than the 400Kbps to 1.5Mbps you can expect on current 3G network.

What this new technology means for the consumer is better infrastructure to support the infotainment and telematics systems. The high speed connection with low latency will also make it possible to conduct business while cruising around in the A8. The 4G integration in the Audi A8 might be available 2014. Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler announced at the Consumer Electronics Show last month that LTE technology would be used in cars by early 2011.

Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20032174-48.html#ixzz1EFSSa9u1

BMW Vision ConnectedDrive

Source BMW: The leading position in the automobile world occupied by BMW in the development of innovative driver assistance systems (“That’s what they think”) and mobility services will be further strengthened at the 2011 Motor Show by the world premiere of an extraordinary concept vehicle (“Concept means most likely available in some years”). The BMW Vision ConnectedDrive study demonstrates current and future methods of mobile networking in a particularly focused way. The design and technology of this spectacular roadster are aimed at making the vehicle an integral part of a networked world. Comfort, safety and the infotainment experience in the vehicle can be precisely optimised by the innovative functionality, individually tailored to suit the requirements of both the driver and passenger.

Check this website. Good overview of the integrated features:

http://www.bmw.com/com/de/insights/technology/connecteddrive/2010/future_lab/index.html#/overview

Volvo is launching an app for the iPhone and iPad

Volvo Cars is launching an app for the iPhone and iPad containing plenty of inspiration and information about the new Volvo S60. For instance, the user can style a Volvo S60, watch videos, read news, find a Volvo dealer and order a test drive.

Among the functions included in the app, is a search tool that uses the mobile phone’s built-in GPS function to locate and specify the route to the nearest Volvo dealer.
It is also possible to book a test drive, and a configurator allows the user to build his or her own S60. These new functions are linked to the local market site and offer access to the latest news from Volvo Cars.
“We’ve integrated a number of unique features, such as using the mobile phone’s built-in gyro to look around inside the car. If you turn the phone, the image viewed moves too, creating the impression that you’re actually sitting inside the car,” explains David Holecek.

Source Volvo https://www.media.volvocars.com/global/enhanced/en-gb/Media/Preview.aspx?mediaid=36576

iPAD car integration in a Jaguar – very well done

B&S Car Audio offers iPAD integration in cars in combination with the on board radio system. Looks very well done.

You won’t need a build-in solution from the manufacturer any more to get 10″ navigation system, video, music and internet and and and…. And in case you get an iPAD 2, you just put that in.

iGO DACH and Europe for reduced price available – 30%

The turn-by-turn navigation app iGO is available for a reduced price. The DACH version now costs 14,99 € and the Western Europe version for 29,99 €.

The customer feedback is not that good – 2,5 of 5 stars but mainly on older versions and it is an iPhone app only.

You can have a look at the video to make your own opinion before you buy:

BMW Connected Drive with live traffic feature

From autumn 2011, all new BMW cars can be equipped with an traffic information system – Real-Time Traffic Information (RTTI) has been developed by BMW ConnectedDrive for BMW navigation systems. It should delivers unique dependability and accuracy in the automotive sector when generating, transmitting and applying information on the latest traffic situation in real-time. This data is used for calculating the most efficient route and making any subsequent detour recommendations. It sounds very similar to Tomtoms or Navigons live traffic feature, which is available for the iPhone and navigation handhelds since several years. In principle it is nothing new – just in the longer life cycle developed in-car devices it is not yet available.

Details:

BMW ConnectedDrive customers are able to use RTTI as a premium alternative (could mean you have to pay for it – instead of the ADAC app with similar feature for free) to the continually and free available Traffic Message Channel (TMC). The key benefits are the same os Tomtoms live service: faster and more comprehensive data communication via cellular networks and the SIM which is integrated in the vehicle. In addition to motorways and major roads, the new BMW system also covers country roads and numerous inner-city links. Considerably more data are taken into account for analysing the traffic situation and they are also updated more frequently than TMC data. In the future, BMW drivers will receive precise information about the traffic situation on a potential diversion route in addition to warnings about traffic jams on the current route. Unexpected delays occurring on the alternative route should thus a thing of the past. Instead, the navigation system always seeks out the fastest route to the driver’s selected destination, even under the most adverse conditions. But everybody driving in the area of Stuttgart knows, that this is not possible. Ones the A8 is stuffed with cars, you have no chance to find free roads. You just can wait.

The dynamic network connections of cellular phones will transmit anonymous movement profiles which will be matched with the entire road network. The number of locations and the speed at which they are changed within the cellular network will provide information about the current status of the respective traffic situation. Data are transmitted in real time via the GSM cellular network. An active smartphone app is not necessary. But which mobile phones movements are used is not mentioned in the article.

Local authority traffic computers will also be included in data aggregation, which will allow drivers in many towns and cities to receive information about possible delays on ring roads and connection routes between cities. Coloured road markings on the navigation map displayed in the control display of the iDrive control system indicate the latest traffic flow. The appropriate traffic situation is displayed in four increments – from green for free traffic flow, through yellow for slow-moving traffic and orange for stop-and-go, to red for gridlock.

The analysed road network is divided into sections of 500 metres and information is updated every three minutes. This means that very precise data is provided on the length of queues and the resulting delays. The driver is also able to notice changes on the color map display to identify whether the traffic situation has gotten worse or the tailback has already started to disperse.

The detailed data covering a comprehensive and dense road network enables RTTI to provide much more precise and dependable recommendations on alternative routes. For example, if a tailback is reported on a particular motorway section, the navigation system can immediately calculate the resulting delay whenever destination guidance is switched on. However, this is not the only parameter that can be determined. Since the traffic situation on roads away from the motorway is also recorded for the first time, the system provides effective suggestions on the alternative route. Once again, the system substantially reduces the risk of driving into other congestion areas when travelling on the alternative route and losing additional time as a result.

Recommendations on alternative routes include precise data on the difference in distance and time compared to the current route. This knowledge provides the driver with the option of accepting the traffic jam on the main route, if the proposed alternative routes offer no time savings. Drivers also have the option of deciding to take a longer diversion in order to have a less stressful journey and perhaps even include a pleasant stop-off en route.

In order to use RTTI, the car must be equipped with the BMW Navigation System Professional including mobile phone preparation with Bluetooth interface. The new generation of traffic information will be offered as a priced option in addition to a BMW ConnectedDrive contract.

iCar Black Box you know from planes as iPhone app- more or less -

If you ever had to prove who caused an accident, iCar Black Box would have done it more easily. Not only does it provide a visual record of who was at fault in an accident, but you can also use it to record any other questionable activity that takes place in front of your car. And it is available for 99 Cent.

You could also, of course, just mount your iPhone on your windshield and roll its video camera every time you hit the road. For the extra dollar, however, iCar offers a few useful extra features.

It uses the phone’s GPS to keep a constant record of your speed, With clock and date functions it creates a map that displays where and when an accident took place.

Additionally, it only saves footage if you want to do so. It uses the iPhone’s accelerometer to detect when an accident could have taken place, and then verbally asks if you wish to save. If you press OK on the screen (hopefully I still are able to do so), it then retroactively saves the footage leading up to the accident. You can also start the recording with the Emergency button.

Audis used car search as iPhone app

Audi offers its used car search now on the iPhone as app: Audi Fahrzeugbörse. Some users say, that the app is too slow or does not work at all. Mine is fine.

Make money with Automotive branded fake apps

Let’s see how long this Volkswagen app will be only. The developer J. Lee wants 0,79 cent and uses the VW logo for it. http://itunes.apple.com/de/app/volkswagen/id407914584?mt=8. He also offers the same for Toyota and Subaru.

 

 

Daimler expands mobile internet offering and iPhone app

• Mobile group website (www.daimler.mobi) completely revised and content expanded
• Daimler application for iPhone™ and iPad™ now available free of charge from the Apple Store

Daimler AG is expanding its mobile internet offering. The group website for mobile devices has been completely revised and has now been made fully accessible to those on the move with expanded content. But new content is not the only addition to the site: it has also been given a new user-friendly look and feel, based on the technical capabilities of the latest mobile devices – such as smartphones for example – and enabling simple navigation. Besides the existing content on investor relations, all of the latest information on the group, the individual group brands and products, and also technology and innovation topics, can be called up quickly and conveniently, even when out and about, at www.daimler.mobi.

The content and design of the mobile Daimler website have been adapted to match the Daimler group website (www.daimler.com). The aim was to adopt a consistent approach to expanding the mobile communication channel, as well as provide mobile users with optimised access to all of the information available on the group website. Attempts to access the site from mobile devices are automatically detected and redirected to the mobile website which has been specifically optimised for this purpose.

Daimler application for iPhone™ and iPad™

For users of the iPhone™ or iPad™, a new Daimler application (app) boasting a variety of additional useful features and services has also been developed. This mobile portal not only contains the link to the mobile group website, but also comprises the latest group announcements, overviews of the company’s entire mobile presence, and also all available apps from the group and product areas of Daimler AG. It has now also been updated with the latest vacancies from the many global business divisions of Daimler AG.

Furthermore, Daimler app users can access multimedia webspecials which have been specially optimised for mobile use – for example webspecials on group brands and products, new technologies or even different events being staged by the company. Practical electronic tools for use when out and about, such as a parking reminder or a rest break assistant, which helps drivers to make regular, relaxing stops, also round off the latest mobile application offerings. With these mobile services, Daimler AG has made a timely and service-oriented move to expand its range of online products and services.

According to Jörg Howe, Head of Communications: “Mobile internet use is a matter of course for our customers and will continue to grow in significance in the future too. As an innovation and technology leader , we want to stay abreast of this change and also develop our future mobile services even further in a customer-oriented manner. The fact that we are relying on the latest technologies goes without saying. This is why at group events, for example, and in adverts for our company and our brands, we are now already making increasing use of so-called QR codes to point to additional information on company mobile websites.”

Telematics from all brands

The word evokes such services as General Motors Co.‘s OnStar: technology that is built into the car and uses live operators to, say, summon an ambulance after a wreck.

But smart-phone technology is rapidly changing the very definition of telematics. All it takes is a smart phone to stream a rich menu of applications into the car, ranging from social-media sites to traffic alerts.

So traditional telematics companies, such as OnStar, are exploring ways to bring the Internet into the car and, at the same time, looking for new lines of business, such as selling telematics-related products directly to consumers.

The answer in many cases is to make the traditional services, which range from unlocking car doors to helping find a vehicle in a parking lot, available on a driver’s smart phone.

Besides OnStar, the big players in the world of built-in telematics are Hughes Telematics Inc., ATX Group and Sweden’s WirelessCar. Those are the companies whose technology runs automaker-installed systems such as Mercedes mbrace, Toyota Safety Connect, BMW Assist, Volvo On Call and the newest competitor, Hyundai Blue Link.

Mercedes mbrace, developed by Hughes Telematics, debuted in 2009 with both built-in and smart-phone features. Besides being able to push a button to reach a call center, a Mercedes driver can control certain vehicle functions using a smart phone.

Toyota offers traditional telematics through its Safety Connect and Lexus Enform products, developed by ATX. This month, the automaker announced it will provide a separate system called Entune, which will give drivers voice-controlled access to popular smart-phone applications, such as Internet radio, restaurant reservations and movie tickets. They will be streamed into the car from cell phones.

OnStar offers some of its core services on cell phones. It also integrates Google Maps with OnStar’s turn-by-turn navigation feature.

But in one of the biggest changes to its business model, OnStar is moving into the aftermarket. It recently announced plans to sell an OnStar-equipped mirror that retailers can install in nearly any vehicle.

Gartner Inc. analyst Thilo Koslowski called OnStar’s move a “pre-emptive strike.” He said other telematics companies will follow suit.

Before the announcement last week that he is leaving GM to start a consulting firm, OnStar President Chris Preuss told Automotive News that competition was one reason for OnStar’s decision.

“We could just hold our hands pat and let somebody else take that opportunity,” Preuss said. “Or we could go after it.”

Hughes also has an aftermarket device, called In-Drive. It provides access to traditional telematics services but also can tap into onboard data, such as whether the car needs maintenance, how fast a driver has been going and the number of miles driven. One target customer: insurance companies that want to set their rates according to how people drive.

The ability to track vehicle data and driving patterns is significant, said analyst Roger Lancot of Strategy Analytics. He said GM’s use of OnStar vehicle diagnostics to steer drivers to their dealers’ service departments “turns car ownership into an idiotproof proposition.”

Also valuable is telematics companies’ ability to detect crashes. Hughes is developing personal telematics devices, such as pendants and wristbands that can be used by elderly or disabled people to summon help. The same technology that detects a collision can detect when a person has fallen.

Koslowski says he wouldn’t be surprised to see other telematics providers, even OnStar, roll out such consumer devices.

“Why not take that value proposition outside of the vehicle?” he asked. “To me, it makes a lot of sense.”

Source: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110124/OEM06/301249994/1182#ixzz1C5YdtOFl

Chrysler brands offer owners manuals as apps

Dodge is launching a some free apps for Android, iPhone, or BlackBerry smartphones. Boasting a feature set similar to that of the Hyundai Equus’ iPad app, the Mopar apps is a digital owners’ manual, as well as access to owner services.

After downloading the app, users will be given access to all of the vehicle operation, warranty, and maintenance information that one would normally find in a printed manual, as well as video demonstrations of features. The smartphone’s data connection also allows access to 24-hour roadside assistance, customer care, and Dodges various social media sites for connecting with other owners. Dodge can also make updates to the e-manual through the cloud.

Apps for the Dodge Charger and Durango are currently available for download, with apps for the Dodge Avenger, Journey, and Grand Caravan becoming available in “mid-January 2011.” Considering that it’s already late-January 2011, we should be seeing them any day now. In addition to the Dodge vehicles, we’ve also spotted apps for the Chrysler 200 and 300, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Ram Trucks, so we expect to see more apps for the rest of the Chrysler group models popping up in the future.

Source: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20029487-48.html#ixzz1C5RTy6X3

iPAD chat app for car dealers – get more leads

Contact At Once!, a or maybe the leading provider of live chat software for car dealers (that want to convert more of their website visitors into appointments) announced a ContactAtOnce! iPad chat app. The app enables car dealers to answer chat leads from their WiFi and 3G iPads, making them more productive using the iPad’s mobility and unique user experience capabilities.

Features:

    - Support for both WiFi and 3G iPads

    - Streamlined user interface, optimized for the iPad and designed to maximize productivity and ease-of-use

    - Rich contextual information about the shopper and the car in which they are interested is presented using the iPad’s high resolution screen

“We are pleased to announce a native application on the iPad,” noted Marc Hayes, Contact At Once! Founder and EVP Products. “We believe that many of our 7,500 dealers will benefit greatly from the enhanced mobility and user experience that the iPad, combined with our chat app, offers.”

Contact At Once! has posted a short video highlighting features of the ContactAtOnce! iPad chat app for car dealers and is currently accepting applications for a limited-availability release. Car dealers having licensed the ContactAtOnce! Dealer Edition may apply now.

Dealers interested in the iPad app but not currently licensing the ContactAtOnce! Dealer Edition may schedule a demo or request additional information by visiting contactatonce.com.

Audi on the go: Press service for iPhone, iPad and iPod

• Update 13.01.: Now available for the iPAD as well – iTunes Link
• Free program by Audi Communications available in iTunes App Store
• Access via iPhone to the latest content of Audi MediaServices
• One-touch direct access to Audi contacts

With the “AudiMedia” App, journalists and media representatives can now quickly and easily access information from AUDI AG. No matter where, no matter when: the Audi app offers the latest press texts, photographic materials and videos regarding the Four Rings.

“The AudiMedia App for on the go is especially suitable for journalists who travel a lot,” says Toni Melfi, Head of Audi Communications. “Suppose an editor writing on a train or at the airport requires an appropriate photo for their piece or needs to look up something. Well, they no longer need a computer connected to the Internet. Instead, with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, they’re just one click away from the AudiMedia App.” The app can be called up in German or English.

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This app allows Audi to transmit news and images in an especially user-friendly manner. The home page is continuously updated and provides media representatives with as many as 20 key news items regarding Audi. Users then view content by means of a media-rich ticker. Here journalists can find photos, videos, and complete press releases – configured specifically for the iPhone.

Using a scroll menu at the top of the app, it is possible to activate a filter so that topic-specific articles will be displayed. Whether company news, product information, motorsport results or lifestyle topics: categories mirror those of Audi MediaServices and provide in-depth information.

People who use their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch as a mobile office will enjoy two features in particular. First, Audi provides a calendar which highlights not only Audi events in the near future but also upcoming press events. In the Contacts category, press representatives will find the relevant contact person from Audi Communications who they can call directly or send an e-mail.

The contact information of the press spokespeople can also be saved directly in the journalists’ own directory.

“Naturally, this app also features an overview of Audi’s current portfolio of products,” says Stephan Öri, Head of Product and Technology Communications. Users choose a model line by means of an animated selector wheel. From A (as in A1) to T (as in TT): the MediaApp has every model. Similar to a combination lock, there are two further selector wheels which enable the user to find the model version he is looking for: one for S and RS models, and one for Cabriolet, Sportback and Avant versions. A final wheel then shows the media formats which are available for the topic in question.

Audi has made this new research tool available for download free of charge at the iTunes App Store. Once journalists have installed the program, they can use all of the app’s content without even being online. Audi’s on-the-go press database will be immediately updated every time a user’s iPhone, iPad or iPod touch connects to the Internet.

Journalists are not the only ones who can download this free tool. End users, bloggers and Apple fans may also install this program on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to access a public area of the AudiMedia App. In the password-protected version, registered journalists will find exclusive press materials and the Audi contact persons.

Download:
http://www.audi-mediaservices.com/get/iphone-app

App Ideas Wanted

The German Telekom is looking for automotive app ideas. You can win 1.000€ each month and the best idea can win 25.000€.

The question is: If you have a good idea, why tell it Telkom and not realize it yourself? Let’s see what Telekom will do…

http://www.appfahren.de/regeln.html

Navigon help2park helps you to find a parking lot

The Navigon help2park app helps you to find a parking lot nearby your current location. You can choose how big the search radius should be and get a result list. You can take over the result in the Mobile Navigator app.