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Comma Ai continues to impress with its aftermarket driver assistance tech
Way back in 2016 I flew out to Las Vegas to check out Comma Ai's driver's assistance system crammed into an Acura. At the time, it was being developed as a self-driving add-on for vehicles. But times have changed and nearly every automaker and startup has since dialed down their autonomous expectations.
Amazon is bringing Fire TV to cars and Dolby Atmos to its soundbars
Amazon plans to bring its Fire TV platform to in-car entertainment systems. Today, Amazon announced that Fire TV Edition for Auto will appear in future BMW and Fiat Chrysler vehicles. It will include access to Alexa, a touchscreen interface and offline playback capabilities. Content will be available through the vehicle's WiFi or LTE connection, a mobile hotspot or a WAN-enabled device.
Universal, Ford create in-car VR experience for 'Bride of Frankenstein'
Starting on October 14th, a fleet of 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles will be offering special rides to the public from Universal CityWalk Hollywood. Those vehicles come equipped with virtual reality headsets from German startup Holoride, which will give passengers the chance to try an in-car VR experience based on Universal Pictures' 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein. The passengers will have to go on a virtual journey, face monsters and overcome obstacles to deliver a message to Frankenstein in the new content created by Universal Monsters.
Alexa Auto adds offline capabilities that work in tunnels and parking garages
Having an Alexa-enabled car is convenient if you want to make a call, check the weather or order groceries while you drive. But that convenience quickly disintegrates when you drive through tunnels, parking garages or remote areas and lose signal. Amazon wants to fix that. Today, it released version 2.0 of its Alexa Auto SDK, which now comes with a bunch of offline functions.
Honda E video shows off the EV's dual-touchscreen dash
Need another look at Honda's adorable electric vehicle? Some new images and a teaser video take you inside the Honda E prototype to check out its dual 12.3-inch touchscreens. The menu has a similar style to Honda's current touch UI, but with two screens it's designed for easy use by both driver and passenger -- even if they're in separate apps. It's very customizable, with a quick swipe to add or remove shortcut items. Honda seems intent on making its software live up to the experience people expect from their smartphones, and allows for swiping or browsing through both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The idea is that if the EV is parked, then those inside can even watch video on the large screens. Naturally, it also has its own voice-controlled Honda Personal Assistant, while a smartphone app can monitor its charging, start the car with a digital key or send navigation details to the dual-screens. It's still a prototype and this is just a video demo, but it certainly doesn't make things easier for anyone in the US who knows Honda's strategy will keep the E away from here.
Uber wants to sell you Echos, AirPods and Oculus headsets
Uber is taking its retail offerings up a notch. Last year, the company teamed up with Cargo to let drivers hawk goods ranging from snacks to phone chargers. Now, Uber and Cargo are hoping riders will buy more expensive products, like Amazon Echos, Apple AirPods, Oculus devices and Glossier make-up.
Jaguar’s ‘sensory steering wheel’ heats up to deliver notifications
Much of the technology developed for new cars has to do with safety, and that's for good reason -- in 2017, distracted driving killed 3,166 people in the US. Like other manufacturers, Jaguar Land Rover hopes it can prevent fatalities, but the way it wants to get there is unique. The company has developed a steering wheel that heats up to give drivers signals, like when to turn or that they're approaching an intersection. According to Jaguar, the "sensory steering wheel" will help drivers keep their eyes on the road.
Amazon will deliver packages to the trunk of your Ford or Lincoln
Apparently having packages shipped directly to your door in two days or less -- even placed inside your garage -- is not enough. Last year, Amazon began delivering packages to newer GM and Volvo cars. Now, the company will chase down even more vehicles. Ford announced today that select Ford and Lincoln vehicles are now eligible for Key by Amazon In-Car delivery, meaning Amazon will track you down and deliver your package wherever you've parked.
Anker's Roav Bolt puts Google Assistant in your car
Google is cramming Assistant into everything from headphones to a pressure cooker as it inches toward getting the smart helper into a billion devices. Aside from the weirder collabs (Assistant in a shower anyone?) one of the places the AI would actually be helpful is in your car, especially if you don't want to fork out for an Android Auto infotainment system. To that end, Google is teaming up with accessories-maker Anker -- which is also bringing Alexa to older vehicles inside its upcoming $50 Bluetooth charger -- on a new in-car receiver that plays nice with the digital brainiac.
Amazon adjusts the outlook for its in-car Echo setup
With time running out on 2018, Amazon has suddenly started delivering a bunch of the Alexa-connected devices it announced in September. However, it's looking more and more like the Echo Auto that links its virtual assistant to your car stereo won't be one of them. Despite some flip-flopping by Amazon's website, AFTVNews notes that the product page has recently changed, and instead of saying invitations for a pre-release program will go out this year, it simply allows users to get their names on a list. Another adjustment is in its potential support for navigation apps. While it previously promised support for Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze, it now specifies that support for the latter two will arrive in 2019, presumably at some point after the hardware is first released. There's also a support page listing phones that definitely won't work with it, so we have bad news for anyone hoping to link their Nexus 4 to the device.
Use Chevy's in-dash system to pay for your Shell gas
If you have a 2017-or-later Chevrolet with access to GM's on-board marketplace, you might be able pay for gas without having to take out your wallet. The automaker has teamed up with Shell to roll out what it says is the first in-dash fuel payment in the US. If you're fueling up at participating Shell station, simply tap on the brand's icon in Marketplace and choose the station's location to generate a code you can use to activate a pump. It will charge your payment to the method you have on file, and yes, you can still access your loyalty reward perks.
Apple CarPlay now supports Google Play Music
If for some reason you're an iOS and CarPlay user that also manages your tunes with Google Play Music, you're in luck. Google's music service is now compatible with Apple's in-car system, which means you can control things from the safety of your car's display rather than fiddle with your iPhone while on the road.
Spotify's Android app now works with MirrorLink in-car systems
If you've been looking for another way to access Spotify playlists in your car, you might be in luck. MirrorLink-compatible in-car systems play nice with the music streaming service thanks to a hand from an app called RockScout. The MirrorLink platform lets you access content on your phone using your car's dashboard controls, especially those rotary knobs and touch interfaces. While it may not provide fewer distractions, it might keep you from futzing with your phone to change songs while heading down the highway. Working with MirroLink's entertainment systems means Spotify will be available for even more in-dash systems as it's already available on CarPlay and Android Auto. If you're looking to give it a go, you'll need to download the RockScout Android app as that piece of software allows "participating Android apps" work with MirrorLink.
The creators of 'Monument Valley' are redesigning your car dash
The developer of Monument Valley, Ustwo, isn't just content with designing beautiful puzzle games and tablet software -- it wants to rethink your car's dashboard, too. The company has partnered with Car Design Research to build a prototype for an instrument cluster display that tosses out much of what you know today. Instead of fixed gauges, it uses an adaptive screen that shows what you need when you need it. When you're stopped, it tells you whether or not you have enough fuel or electricity to reach your destination. Hit the accelerator and it shifts focus to speed and gears, while reversing automatically brings up the rear-view camera. It's even aware enough to notify you about slippery roads, school zones and other situations where you may need to drive with caution.
Ford and Intel want to make cars that respond to your face and gestures
Where do anthropology students go when they leave college? Apparently, instead of travelling the Andaman Islands investigating the social impact of cousin marriage like they're supposed to, they've been earning big bucks working for Ford and Intel on something called "Project Mobii." The name stands for Mobile Interior Imaging, and we're told that it involves a collaboration between "ethnographers, anthropologists and engineers" who are looking for ways to deliver a "more personalized and seamless interaction between driver and vehicle."
Connected car model gives us a glimpse of the automobiles of the future
Your dream car is (choose one): A.) A bumper-to-bumper candy-color paint-job, ostrich seats and 22-inch chrome rims. B.) One with everything connected cars can offer, such as in-car 4G LTE and WiFi. If you chose B, then you have to see the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association's connected car demo. In addition to having an internet connection, it also features wireless charging capability, 360-degree proximity sensors, as well as (we're saving the best for last here) gesture control and anti-drunk driving technology. We assume the car has an onboard breathalyzer of some sort, as you wouldn't even be able to start it if you've had one too many.
Google's 'Projected Mode' in-car system possibly leaked by Mercedes-Benz
Job adverts aren't most reliable way to hear about new technology, but interesting ones do crop up from time to time, and that's why our eyes are drawn to one recently posted by Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz. The ad requests the services of a software engineer who can help the German car maker implement Google's forthcoming in-car system, which is apparently called "Google Projected Mode" and which is described as a way to "seamlessly integrate" Android smartphones into a dashboard's head unit. This head unit would presumably house a bigger display that mirrors a simplified version of the Android UI -- unless the use of the word "projected" implies something more futuristic.
NVIDIA opens Ann Arbor Technology Center focused on car systems
NVIDIA's no stranger to in-car technology, and the company is increasing its commitment to four-wheeled transportation by opening a dedicated automotive office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The just-opened NVIDIA Technology Center will design driver aids and infotainment systems with the help of car makers that are just a stone's throw away -- the company mentions Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and others as potential clients. We'll likely have to wait a few years to see the new facility bear fruit, but it's already clear that NVIDIA wants to become an integral part of the motoring landscape.
Sprint unveils Velocity Service Bus, puts your car's settings in the cloud
Many connected cars only take limited control through the internet -- they can receive directions and unlock doors, but rarely much more. Sprint is widening that scope by launching Velocity Service Bus, an upgrade to its Velocity infotainment, diagnostics and maintenance platform. The IBM-powered expansion adds that map delivery feature, but it will also sync cabin settings through the cloud: preferences like radio stations, seat positions and temperatures can transfer between vehicles. Naturally, this also makes it easy to customize the car's interior through a smartphone or another remote device. While drivers will have to wait for automakers to implement Sprint Velocity Service Bus, it may cure quite a few headaches for multi-car homes once it arrives.
Visteon's HABIT is a concept infotainment system that puts road trip copilots out of a job (video)
A good acronym also hints at what it does, and Visteon's new intelligent in-car concept, HABIT, is a good example of that. The Human Bayesian Intelligence Technology system -- to give it its full name -- learns the behaviour of drivers so it can automatically change the temperature, heat the seats and drop that Biohazard album just when you need it most. Factors such as weather, time of day and real-time road conditions all play a part, plus, of course a log of all your typical in-car interactions. It promises to go above just warming your behind on a cold morning though, offering intelligence that would be able to divine local radio stations that play your kind of jam when you're out of town. It could also seamlessly mix these with your local / tablet / smartphone library and internet sources. Sound a little too creepy? Wait until you see the computer-generated demo video presenter past the break.
