Germans send data straight from Google Maps to BMWs
By Jeannie Choe 
posted March 8th 2007 1:12AM
posted March 8th 2007 1:12AM
Navigation systems have revolutionized the way we get from A to B -- a huge step up from crusty fold-out maps and a "good sense of direction." It's going to get even better now that Google Maps and BMW have joined forces to streamline the data entry process. Instead of printing out or writing down an address to re-enter in the car, the information is sent directly from your computer to your navigation system. German drivers with Drive Assist-equipped BMWs can send any Google Maps Deutschland business listing straight to their cars, either to contact the business once inside, or to set it as a destination. Honestly, it's about friggin' time online maps and automakers made this connection, and we're glad that Google appears ready and eager to expand this service. Check out the video of how it works after the jump.
[Via Navigadget, thanks Tim]
[Via Navigadget, thanks Tim]
From the look of it, all this is is address parsing on BMWs side.
Google Maps just finds the address and emails it, and the car collects it and parses it and uses it with its inbuilt GPS system.
Nothing revolutionary.
Karl
Actually if you notice, when he clicks send. The menu that comes up has send to email, and then send to car, car is selected and it says "Google maps supports sending information to cars enabled with BMW assist" So there is some special feature that google added in to work with BMW, but I'm sure a gps/car maker could make it so the gps/navigaion had an email you could send your google map stuff from and have it work the same.
you can bad-mouth and put down all you want, but it'll always be only one thing to me:
bitchin'
In the sense that it will not overthrow the government, Karl, you are right. It's not the content of the message to the car that matters, it's the ability to do it and the useful function it provides. In that respect it is new and interesting (if not revolutionary). As the bandwidth to the car improves, the amount of data sent can be more interesting.
Good to know you can figure out how it's done, Karl. Too bad you didn't think of it first.
Can you send virus this way?
will this make stalking easier?
Why didn't they integrate Google maps into the BMW instead of sending it?
Oh, and they also had to showcase the horrid BMW selection knob. After using that knob, it makes like the Early Zen's feel incredibly easy to use.
I must admit that its sweet.
This is what technology supposed to be, a seamless working co-operation between components
I still hate it takes 15 steps on my cell to connect to my bluetooth
and for this, you gotta pay extra 7grand or
something like that as usual.
(Euro cars with their crazy option price)
Unless you are seriously direction blinded.
All you need is a good map.
Maps are so easy to use these days.
It takes less then 10 seconds to find a
route to your destination with good map.
And for that, All I gotta pay is 4.99.
Except for those who absolutely need this,
This is nothing but a very expensive toy.
Hehe... you've obviously never driven through Europe.
Dear akijikan: I'm a cartographer. Now THAT'S Bitchin! Paper maps rule!
paper map? I don't know what that is
From the FAQ:
In order to be able to receive the data in their BMW, you need a valid BMW ASSist contract. BMW ASSist is available as special equipment in all new BMW models with navigation system Professional with integrated Handyvorbereitung Bluetooth.
For SPAM:
I would not like to receive messages from Google map.
In your profile in BMW the ASSist portal can deactivate you at any time this function.
http://www.bmw.com/com/_shortcuts/meineinfo/
in other news, yahoo maps teams up with hyundai motors offering identical looking service
The problem is that this requires the following options to be added to a Euro spec BMW:
- Navigation Professional
- Bluetooth Phone support
- Speech support
- BMW Assist (only available in a few countries, like Germany, UK, USA and Canada)
IF google could get the hardware together, with their EARTH program, they would crush pretty much every GPS company out there
I like this idea and I like Google Maps, but it's not exactly up-to-date in a lot of areas (like most digital maps). Too bad it sometimes takes a while to get updated stuff (Magellan updates their maps every 1.5 years).
So with my portable GPS Syatem I have it on my desk and plugged into my PC. I send the data to the GPS device and unhook it and walk to my car.
Isn't this simpler, cheaper, more reliable, quicker and I can use it in any car.
Whoever said that all cites in the USA have nice straight roads and square blocks has certainly never driven through Boston :) Hell, even parts of NYC confuse the hell out of me (once you get below 1st street)
In the USA, BMW's navigation option is $2000 and the BMW Assist is $595, if my memory is correct.
Now if BMW would just replace their iDrive navigation interface with something a little more user-friendly, we'd be good to go.
iDrive is friendly, you just haven't used it with an open heart and mind. it's the best designed navigation system out there...
Having google as part of the equation is a step forward if the goal is to start licensing map technology. I can easily see having to pay google a subscription to use your BMW nav screen. (a la-Sirius and XM).
The fact that your car can send and recieve emails when switched off begs the question: when can I start my car with my cell phone? All this emerging technology is essentially adding software to already existing systems, which seems pretty easy to implement. The pace at which this technology is emerging is too slow.
m9