Video: Chrysler's iPhone-like dashboard makes your car look lame
By Darren Murph 
posted April 15th 2009 10:34AM
posted April 15th 2009 10:34AM
posted April 15th 2009 10:34AM
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"My fat greasy fingers prevented me from seeing the check engine warning and I drove with out oil to get more Popeye's, Mr. Factory Warranty Denyer Guy"
There might have been touch screens before the iphone, and there has surely been touch screens post-iphone. But you know what, all pre-iphone toch screens sucked, and almost all post-iphone touch screens also suck. Engadget readers know this.
You idiots should realize that these "touchscreen" devices starts popping up after the advent of the introduction of the iPhone by Steve Jobs 2 years ago.
Ignorant Microsoft fools.
Wow. Do you really believe that to be true?
Apple marketing ftw.
TOUCH SCREENS ARE OVERRATED: I like the tactile feel of mechanical switches & buttons. And, I'd be worried about when the display dies and takes every control in the car with it.
It's a Chrysler project. The screen will far outlast the car.
/Charger driver
I think people are forgetting that this is a concept car. It's the arena in which companies play with ideas that will only see an auto show floor. But it is a lot of R&D to be investing for a concept car, methinks.
So you're a knob man then?
Darren, you silly fanboy.
well ik4rt is partly right. because ipods and iphones have become more than just a music player. A fad, a hype, a fashion accessory, a must-have bandwagon consumer item making apple like a celebrity company and having major influences to everything due to its marketing, of course other companies will take notice and try to milk money out of it for themselves. They certainly did not invent or the first to make the touchscreen, its just because everyone is talking about these days.
iPhone references aside (no it doesn't look anything like the iPhone interface), an all touchscreen control interface for your car is a TERRIBAD idea. As other people have said, you need to keep your eyes on the road when you're driving. So you need controls that are tactile and stationary, preferably in places that don't require you to take your eyes off the road, like the steering wheel.
I don't know how Chrysler failed to grasp this fairly simple concept. The whole "drag something to somewhere else" targeting aspect of it is so incredibly stupid in terms of a control interface for a CAR that I can only assume they're on some pretty powerful drugs. I hope it comes with Onstar, because you're going to need it when you drive off a cliff as you're trying to drag a photo album from one side of your dashboard to another while going 80.
Darren, even Zak here doesn't think it's iPhone-like!
Darren...
Did you just read Tim's post and say "Oh, Nartron partners in Apple's button-hate"? If so, I think you need to realize that Tim's comment was saying both Apple and Nartron hate buttons, not that their actual corporate partners. Just got back from Nartron's website and the New York Times--Apple licenses Nartron's patents, as do SEVERAL OTHER COMPANIES. Christ, this isn't iPhone=like. This is "Nartron owns multitouch patents and companies develop interfaces using it"-like.
Also, as so many have pointed out, the display in the video is clearly a Surface. Actually, even the dash in Tim's post looks more Surface than iPhone. But whatever, guys, whatever.
I'd rather drive my car than fondle the dash...
Seriously, an intuitive touch-screen is cool enough without needing to put 'iPhone' in front of it. Next we'll be replacing the word 'Sci-Fi' with 'Star Wars meets...'
indeed.
I think you all are forgetting the BIG picture. This is a concept. It's simply demonstrating the interactivity between a computer (possible a surface computer in your home or not), your own iphone or other smartphone, and your car. Isn't this what we want to see. Interactivity between your car, your home, and your computer. The fluid transfer of your personal data between the three. Get past the iPhone or the fact that it's a Surface computer.
Also, most auto manufactures have some sort of "lock out" to ensure you're not driving and playing with modern day display like iDrive type settings in their vehicles. Liability rules.
Buttons = ergonomics.. durr. What idiot would want this in their car?
Yo dawg, I heard you like iPhone-like dashboards, so I put an iPhone in your iPhone-like dashboard so you can plan your trip while driving your whip
Engadget, every thing that's a touch screen isn't a damn iPhone interface. Get off the iPhone please.
Will the screen respond when it's -20c outside? Can I use it wearing gloves? Will it fog up? Hey, I live in Canada, I need to know!
Not to bash Microsoft or anything, I love the Surface concept, but it bugs me that the table is not too sensitive; it fails from time to time.
Eurocopter has something similar to this. They used it at their HAI exhibit. I got the opportunity to actually play around with it and it actually worked quite well. It was working with Vista... Next time I see it, I will take a pic.
Next thing will be calling the Kindle II an iPhone rip-off.
Why bash on Chrysler? Because you're a trendy eco-friendly moron who supports foreign goods? Overall leading to the destruction of our economy.
I bet you shop at Wal-Mart too...
Good job.
We've seen some half-sloppy work from you before, Darren, but this article blows the current WTF scale and lands on a completely new level of bafflingly stupid Apple plugging.
Please go see Chris and ask him how to use the comment system, so that you can come here and defend your ridicolous articlethe only way possible to appeace your readers. We will remember this one.