Smartphones Impacting More Than Just GPS Use in Vehicles

 

It appears smartphones are making obsolete more than just GPS receivers in vehicles these days.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/23/business/once-popular-car-...

Can the good old car radio be far behind?

more techno-babble

Each of these predictions are based on assumptions drawn from their personal experiences. In every instance of the installed equipment cited in the article, the change wasn't driven as much by obsolescence as it was evolution. Eight track tape was replaced by the next evolution in tape based media, the cassette which was replaced by the CD. The CD is being replaced by the compact music player which in itself is an evolutionary product and that is being supplanted by streaming media operating off - wait for it - RADIO. But each of these has one common element, they are all devices for storing and allowing the reproduction of music or previously recorded sound. There has been no such change regarding the car radio. It is still used for the same purpose it was designed for over 80 years ago, bringing instantaneous INFORMATION and entertainment to the vehicle. The method of delivery and the fidelity have evolved, but the function has not changed and can never be reproduced with any of the devices mentioned

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Internet Radio

is already available in many markets. Broadcasters are using services such as Surfer Network:

http://www.surfernetwork.com/

and a host of others to provide online programming using smartphone apps.

SiriusXM has an app that will supposedly work worldwide.

http://www.siriusxm.com/internetradio

The car radio won't be going away anytime soon as long as there are subscription fees and expensive data plans but I would hesitate to say it will never happen.

Smartphones still require cell towers

Smartphones, excepting satellite phones, require cell towers to function. Even the GPS in most smartphones still needs cell towers to help improve accuracy. Additionally, Google Maps and similar apps need data connections to keep them accurate and current during a trip.

A GPS unit has internal maps that remain regardless of data connection. While neither GPS units nor smartphones would work well, if at all, inside tunnels, in caves, or in parking structures, at least a GPS can work in cell phone dead zones such as some rural areas of the United States.

While I use my smartphone at times to give me current routing due to construction in DFW area of Texas that makes a Garmin GPS not as accurate due to frequent rerouting as work progresses. However, for long trips I like the waypoints and POIs on my Garmin GPS as I can get estimated distance to items which is great when in the Western United States areas such as West Texas and the Southwest with long distances between services and towns.

GPS on smart phone

GPS on a smart phone does not need cellular towers to function. Yes they will improve it, making it a better choice than a GPSr having both a GPS chip in it and able to use cell tower triangulation. There are many GPS apps for smart phones that load all the maps to the smart phone so that's not an issue either and the software gives time of arrival information also.

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If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else. - Yogi Berra

Smartphones Impacting More Than Just GPS Use In Vehicles

Yes, smart phones are making many otherwise moderatly intelligent individuals stupid

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Never argue with a pig. It makes you look foolish and it anoys the hell out of the pig!

How About a Smartphone Dash Dock?

Take out the Car Stereo head unit, and just have a docking station where the radio was. When you plug your smartphone into it, you then have your phone, GPS, Radio, and everything else on the dash that could all go through the stereo speakers.

Of course, with the multitude of different brands, models, plug and port locations of all the smart phones, this would never really be a viable option.

Unless, they came up with a "generic" main unit, then you have adapters that fit your specific smartphone, and that would then plug into the dash unit.

I'm half joking here, but at work, in a training class, one of the points was "is it possible?"

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And now, back to your regularly scheduled forum - already in progress . . .

Hmmm

Airbrushed wrote:

Take out the Car Stereo head unit, and just have a docking station where the radio was. When you plug your smartphone into it, you then have your phone, GPS, Radio, and everything else on the dash that could all go through the stereo speakers.

Of course, with the multitude of different brands, models, plug and port locations of all the smart phones, this would never really be a viable option.

Unless, they came up with a "generic" main unit, then you have adapters that fit your specific smartphone, and that would then plug into the dash unit.

I'm half joking here, but at work, in a training class, one of the points was "is it possible?"

Bluetooth makes things possible such as above. Silencing the radio for GPSr instructions

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Using Android Based GPS.The above post and my sig reflects my own opinions, expressed for the purpose of informing or inspiring, not commanding. Naturally, you are free to reject or embrace whatever you read.

One Of The Problems As I See It...

So you've got GPS on your cell phone, but, with the cell phones 3" x 2" screen sad (compared to a Garmin Nuvi 2789LMT with its 7" screen cool grin )........

Yeah, right... and no thanks to the cell phone GPS. rolleyes

I'll stick with Garmin's larger 7" screen smile , as I happily motor along the highway.

Nuvi1300WTGPS

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I'm not really lost.... just temporarily misplaced!

The Demands of Age

Nuvi1300WTGPS wrote:

I'll stick with Garmin's larger 7" screen smile , as I happily motor along the highway.
Nuvi1300WTGPS

In my opinion, it will always come down to a balance of need and convenience.

And as I get older, I want (need) a larger and larger screeen! razz

as needed

in a car I like my Garmin nuvi with its turn by turn instructions and turn assist, but in town "seattle" it makes more sense to use a smart phone. my wife decided "yes she did" to get me another cell phone, I had a phone that texted and made calls just fine. I bought that phone in 2009. so now I have a droid turbo, talk about lost its got pages of apps I haven't got any idea what some of them are for and you cant just delete them because some of them are proprietary "Verizon" but I can turn them off ! I had to go to droid web sites for help Verizon sales people don't know enough about what they sell to help much, but im a survivor I will learn how to use this dam phone if only I could find how to turn it on lol

Use SmartLink...

If you have one of the newer Garmins, the Smartlink App is a nice addition. I have my 2599LMT-HD paired with my Galaxy S5 inked through Bluetooth, and it comes in quite handy. Being able to find a location on the phone (by talking to it) and sending the address to the Garmin is a nice feature - plus the live weather app really helps with our afternoon short-sudden rainsquals down here....you can see if there is a downpour in your intended path. Many times, my wife & I decide to pull over and take a bathroom & coffee break to let them blow over instead of fighting our way through them (they generally only last for 15-20 min.)

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"Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks" ~ Excerpt from the notebooks of Lazarus Long, from Robert Heinlein's "Time Enough for Love"