That first traffic update was only the beginning -- Dash is announcing today its first proper software update to the Dash Express. Dubbed June08 (or v2.1), users now get three new trademarked names (among other things):
- FasterFind - uses SiRFInstantFix for acquiring GPS during startup, so your Dash Express is aware of its location much faster than before.
- MyRoute - your Dash Express learns your routes to common destinations and offers them up in comparison to its recommended routes (so you can see if your usual way really is faster).
- Search Along Route - pretty much what it says. Allows you to find points of interest en route without gumming up your destinations. This seems like the most useful new feature, behind the faster acquisition time.
- Road closure support - another self explanatory addition. If the Dash finds out a road is closed through Inrix or another means, it will completely black it out of your routes.
- Performance and UI enhancements - We gave it a short test, and things really did seem a bit snappier and cleaner looking. Icons are better polished, arranged, and rendered, and simple stuff like navigating menus or switching between 2D and 3D views is quicker.
Still no way to quickly bypass the route selection screen (which is one of our bigger pet peeves), but as it's populating you can now make your choice, which will save you a bit of extra time. It's available for download via your Dash's WiFi this morning, and is free for all users. Videos of MyRoute and Search Along Route after the break.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason @ Jun 30th 2008 11:05AM
I have to wonder if the Dash's days are numbered. The unit is huge and clunky. Certainly in a few years most of us will be using all-in-one devices like the Blackberry Bold or iPhone for not only telephone and media player uses but for navigation assistance as well.
The real money for Dash is to develop the Dash software to run on the iPhone, although an article did appear that indicates that this is strictly forbidden by Apple at this time. The only reason that I can think of is that Apple has its own turn-by-turn directions GPS in the works and doesn't want anyone competing with them.
Doug @ Jun 30th 2008 3:24PM
Not everybody will be willing to give up 1+GB of their precious storage for map and POI data on the iPhone. Undoubtedly some will want to, but I think that's an exception rather than the rule.
And, yes, according to the current terms and conditions for the iPhone SDK, it doesn't look like navigation apps will be allowed. I suspect Apple is (a) trying to avoid lawsuits due to idiotic actions taken by GPS owners... You know what I'm talking about. .... or (b) has their own navigation software in the works and doesn't want competition.
thedesolate1 @ Jun 30th 2008 11:06AM
These things are going to be obsolete in a few years..... I've been itching to buy another gps but they are going to be overshadowed by gps in phones. Well at least for Engadget tech junkies like me.
Sporkinum @ Jun 30th 2008 1:56PM
Which you won't be able to use due to laws coming on the books about preventing the use of cell phones while driving.
thedesolate1 @ Jun 30th 2008 2:52PM
they have those here in new york but who the fuck is gonna give you a ticket for having a phone mounted to your windshield as a gps....
chris fredette @ Jun 30th 2008 5:48PM
CA apparently does, but they are the fruity exception.
The iphone and Bold require a $30 a month fee and don't work outside of cell towers(not global?). GPS's are free by the month except the Dash($10) but that is only for the neat features. You can also just hand the unit to your wife so she doesn't get lost. I would not let her have my phone.
CUBSWILLWIN @ Jun 30th 2008 11:09AM
Damn! When I refreshed the homepage, there it was! A big ass picture of a dash GPS! That scared me to death for a sec.
Tom @ Jun 30th 2008 11:14AM
Yeah, my TomTom 720 GO is supposed to log my routes and let me know about performance (and recommend better routes based on traffic patterns), it doesn't seem to ... do anything. It does have a thing where if I sync it to my computer, it does a quickfix thing where I will get quicker location awareness for about a week.
On the other things, TomTom already had search along route, but doesn't quickly offer a way to resume the route once you've found a new place. As well, it doesn't say something I'd like to see, like, if a place is 30 miles away vs another place 35 miles away, but the 30 miles away one is 20 miles off route and the 35 mile away one is 5 miles off route, I'd rather go to the 35 mile away one (due to the quicker time getting back on route). No way to do that as far as I can tell, and no guarantee the Dash can do it either.
Aaaaand via the computer updating it can find road closures, but like with dash, there have to be other TomTom users actually marking these changes. I can use either a data service with my phone (my iPhone doesn't do bluetooth modem support so I can't do that), or I can buy a special antenna to pick up traffic signals off radio stations, and in the USA you only get one year of service, because for some reason they charge you yearly for a service that's free to air elsewhere. VERY annoying.
mike @ Jun 30th 2008 11:33AM
well, i actually own a Dash and i'm keeping it. even though it's big and clunky, as you say. i knew what i was getting into with a v1.0 product, but every software update just keeps getting better.
they're definitely not for everybody, but nothing is. i believe this device has advantages over similar devices in key areas that i deem important. if you find other features more important, buy something else.
Erwos @ Jun 30th 2008 11:56AM
Question: have they improved the routing? There were some early criticisms that it would sometimes produce wonky routes for longer trips. I'm glad that they've got the "slow to fix" issue fixed (theoretically), though.
I'm very interested in a DE - I commute for two or three hours a day, and I think the Dash could really shave some time off that. Now that the price has apparently dropped to $300, it's almost affordable for me. :)
kastonie @ Jun 30th 2008 11:42AM
dash doesnt have a 3d view?
Doug @ Jun 30th 2008 11:48AM
Dash definitely has a 3D view. It is the default.
Prokanda @ Jun 30th 2008 3:08PM
and it says right in the article:
"Performance and UI enhancements - We gave it a short test, and things really did seem a bit snappier and cleaner looking. Icons are better polished, arranged, and rendered, and simple stuff like navigating menus or switching between 2D and 3D views is quicker."
c'mon.. the article wasn't so long that you couldn't read it before commenting, was it? now ya have to come back to see these comments and all you had to do was read a paragraph.
if only our grandparents could see our laziness these days.
Kiteless @ Jun 30th 2008 11:51AM
Woo! Can't wait to get home, hop on the WiFi and update my Dash. Engadget is on it. I got the e-mail from Dash and sure enough Engadget was updated minutes later. My Route and Search Along Route are some features I have been really wanting. Especially since I have a very specific path to work. It is not the fastest, but certainly the less stressful.
- Kiteless (Dash Fanboy)
mike @ Jun 30th 2008 12:07PM
@kastonie what you're seeing in the screenshot is the route selection view, which is 2D. when you're navigating, you have the option of 2D or 3D.
Christopher @ Jun 30th 2008 12:24PM
(thedesolate1) i dont think Cell phone GPS systems will ever completely replace the standalone. Having an mp3 player built in to your phone is great because the music can play in the background while you're texting/surfing/calling/etc. But having to dedicate your phone to be a map during every car ride becomes very inconvenient and it drains battery. I travel for work, I have a phone GPS, google maps on my iPod touch and a garmin GPS. I use them all at different times but once I'm in the car the garmin is by far the most appealing.
I hope the Dash does well. If i hear good things about the new software I might just get one
Sam @ Jun 30th 2008 1:31PM
Yes the major drawback to a cell based GPS is:
What if, just as you get to a complicated area where you need to carefully navigate the next few turns... your phone rings and you miss the turn because the caller ID is blocking the screen.
Jason @ Jun 30th 2008 1:40PM
Many of us have cell phone chargers in our cars already. Certainly it is more convenient to take my phone out of my pocket, put it in a small dash mounted bracket, and use it for navigation as opposed to having to shuttle my large Garmin Nuvi around from car to car (which is what I have to do today).
Certainly dedicated GPS will continue to offer better routing features, etc, although in about 2 years any GPS that is not internet connected is going to feel like a dinosaur.
Jason @ Jun 30th 2008 1:42PM
Sam,
You are talking about "what ifs" when we haven't even seen the cell phone based solutions that will materialize over the next 18 months.
Here's a "what if" for you. "What if" you can simply configure in your GPS software preferences that you don't want phone calls pre-empting your turn by turn directions when you are using the device for navigation? The caller could simply be sent to voicemail with a notice that you are driving and you will call them back when you are able. Or send them a text message with same.
Or.....
Ya, you get the point now.
Doug @ Jun 30th 2008 3:32PM
I have to agree that cell-phone GPS is not ideal. I've had a cell phone with a GPS for about a year now, and it's nice when I need it, but it isn't anywhere near as friendly or usable as dedicated devices. Maybe someday in the future they'll figure out how to get past the performance, storage, and user interface hurdles, but they aren't ready to take over the world just yet.
I love my Dash Express, and have quit using my phone's GPS for driving navigation since I got it.
Tony @ Jun 30th 2008 3:46PM
Most of the people who have a cell phone with gps built in are going to be business users and having my own business I know I would want to get all my calls while I'm driving and not have them sent to voicemail just so I can use my phone as a car gps. For most people who really will use it, a standalone gps would be much better for everyday commute/use.
Jason @ Jun 30th 2008 5:05PM
Really guys, it's ok. Many had the same things to say about cell phones doing email and other PDA type applications just a few years ago (many Palm users were outright abusive about how a phone could ever do what their PDA could do).
The reality is that storage and processor power in these devices is only going to improve every 12-18 months and that inevitably we will see "good enough" GPS for most users included in the phone as a $50 application purchase.
Most people would be simply delighted if an inexpensive purchase provided GPS with online integration right in their handset. For those willing to spend $250-$400 on a dedicated solution I'm sure that they will continue to exist for years.
ChillyCat @ Jun 30th 2008 10:24PM
Unfortunatly, this device is and has been doomed since its inception.
To blatantly disregard standard PNA form factor's certainly a huge mistake. I've used the unit in five different vehicles, and only one has had a decent mountable area I could live with.
Overall, the units very "vanilla".......nothing about the device exceeds standards already adopted by Garmin, TomTom,etc
Look for DASH units to quickly fall in price, and soon after that....totally dissapear.
Aaron @ Jul 1st 2008 10:14AM
This update is awesome. I'm still waiting for "avoid tolls" but everything interface-wise is much snappier, and I typically get a GPS lock in under 10 seconds.