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Nokia's Here Auto tries to predict your driving needs (hands-on)
Okay, let's get this out of the way: it's not Nokia Here anymore, just plain old "Here." Nokia's VP of Connected Driving, Floris van de Klashorst, told me that Here no longer uses the Nokia name and is fully independent (though it's still 100 percent owned by Nokia). That settled, Here Auto was launched last year as Nokia's connected car solution for automakers, competing with Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto. Nokia beat both companies to the punch, however, and it definitely shows. The latest version of Here Auto, launched at the Paris Auto Show, has very few rough edges. It's designed to think ahead of you, learn your habits, work with other devices and present information and options in the least distracting way possible. That's Nokia's goal, anyway -- to see if it succeeded, I took a tour around Paris in the company's Range Rover demonstrator.
Nokia Here Auto displays trip info in more places
Nokia first trotted out its Here Auto connected car platform just over a year ago, and at this week's Paris Motor Show, the company is showing off the latest developments. In order to properly equip the rise in heads-up display tech, Here Auto now shows its info in more places around on the dash. In addition to the main display between the driver and passenger, navigation details and more can be beamed to a HUD or under the steering wheel. The central cluster's route data is "context aware," so when you're low on fuel, it'll show gas stations along the way. During the drive, passengers can employ smartphone and tablet apps to examine the trip and make the most of stops. If a nearby national park is selected, the driver can okay (or reject) the detour and directions get automatically updated. And with a new SDK, auto makers can customize Nokia's system as needed, adding in of CarPlay, Google Auto and more.
Nokia reveals Here Auto connected car navigation system
Nokia's no newbie to navigation, but its latest product raises its involvement to the next level. The Here Auto connected car platform is comprised of an application that can be embedded to a vehicle's navigation system, a mobile app companion and a cloud service. Any in-car navigator with the Here Auto software can offer voice-guided navigation with or without a data connection, along with 2D, 3D and street-level satellite maps. You'll need internet access to tap into the cloud service for real-time data, including traffic and weather updates, but previously downloaded maps work just fine even when you're offline. The Auto Companion mobile app complements the software and the cloud service, giving you a way to pre-plan trips or find your car through a phone. Currently, it only works on Windows Phone devices, but Espoo's developing ones for iOS and Android. Nokia has partnered with Continental (the same parts supplier working with Google and IBM) to find carmakers willing to integrate Here Auto into their navigation systems. It might take a while before we see the system hit the market, but it'll be demonstrated at the International Motor Show in Germany on September 10th.