News - Garmin announces in-car navigational HUD

[HEXUS]

Car windscreen display will work alongside your Bluetooth enabled smartphone.

Read more.

[3dcandy]

Still think this is a good idea....

[marshalex]

seems like a great idea if you don't have a built-in navigation system.

[kopite]

I like the idea but dont like the fact that it only works with garmins own traffic apps. Would prefer to use google maps navigation but then I`m cheap like that

Will be interesting to see how hackable it is to run other software

[crossy]

Hmm, I really like this idea - especially if it's got a good fitting that means it won't slide off of a sloping dashboard if I brake hard.

Price is reasonable too (assuming we don't go the $1:£1 nonsense), only drawback being having to use Navigon. Then again, Google Maps is okay for a "freebie" but I prefer to use a bought in app - especially since those can operate fine in areas with NO data coverage, (and yes, I know you can set GMaps to cache - but I've never found that to be practical for a long trip).

If they bring it out over here and do a bundle deal with Navigon then I might be tempted. That said, I've got ALK CoPilot on my S3 on a screen mount and that software does a directions only view (which isn't as good as the "Driving Mode" that the previous release had) which can easily be read at a glance.

[big_hairy_rob]

as long as you can alter where the HUD Displays to make it comfortable for driving in different conditions, then I am all for this. Why more car makers do not already do something similar is beyond me! It would almost remove the need for a car dashboard.

[mojothejester]

The thing I like most on that is that it shows your current speed next to the speed limit. Just need motorbike helmets to have the speed/limit on a hud in the visor and I'll be happy

[stevie lee]

one thing i've wondered about these HUDs.
if you are standing outside the car looking at the windscreen will you see the back of the image?

wont these new fancy 'take a photo of the driver' speed cameras also take a photo of the reverse of the speed display bit, so you cant argue that it wasn't you and weren't speeding, because there's a nice clear image of the speed right infront of your face?

[TheAnimus]

But the indicated speed is probably less accurate than the observed speed by the speed camera.... So who cares!

[TheAnimus]

Time Magazine points out that the Garmin apps aren't as tightly integrated into phones as Apple Maps or Google Maps for example. Both these smartphone mapping systems can be controlled by voice queries and commands whereas to use Garmin's apps you will have to prod your smartphone screen before setting off.

What about their WP app? I mean the voice API in WP is so damn easy to code against.

[Xzil3]

cool idea ~ but if it is expensive, not worth for money =(

[crossy]

But the indicated speed is probably less accurate than the observed speed by the speed camera.... So who cares!

But I'm guessing that the "indicated speed" will be derived from GPS, in which case it'll probably (unless someone's got better information) be more accurate than the in car speedometer.

cool idea ~ but if it is expensive, not worth for money =(

The article says:

The new Garmin HUD device, available this summer, will cost you about $129.99. Additionally to make the most of the unit you will need a Garmin StreetPilot and NAVIGON app and map, prices start at $29.99 for a regional map.

So that's a total of US$159.98, which my phone's copy of Convertor Pro reckons is £107.63. In my book I wouldn't call that a bargain, but it's also not into "rip off" territory either. Actually a quick check on Halfords site seems to show that this price is consistent with a low to midrange satnav, e.g. "Tomtom Start 25M" is currently a penny less than £100 as a discounted price versus a claimed normal price of £119.

If you use satnav a lot then I guess this would be a sensible purchase. Only way they could have improved it would have been to add an FM transmitter too.