One of the key factors in the resurgence of the automotive industry since its near-collapse three years ago has been the introduction of extremely useful in-car electronics systems, such as Ford’s Sync platform. However, adding all those bells and whistles to the traditional on-board dash has alarmed U.S. regulators, who appear ready to set limits on when these kinds of systems can be accessed behind the wheel. [click to continue…]
Posts tagged as:
GPS
Here’s a question: would you feel comfortable having your GPS device track your driving style if it meant lower insurance rates? TomTom recently unveiled that it’s delving into the usage-based insurance market, meaning drivers who don’t whip around corners at F1 speeds could be rewarded for their safe driving habits by their automobile insurance company. [click to continue…]
According to a recent J.D. Powers & Associates survey – new car buyers have a lot of hate for their factory navigation systems. Owners report an average of 3.5 problems with the built-in navigation systems that came with their cars. The worst offenders are those in-dash systems that attempt combine features like navigation, audio and climate control into a single device. But the silver lining seems to be the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) systems by Garmin found in new Chrysler models that sit consistently at the top of the satisfaction survey. [click to continue…]
As wireless carriers and auto manufacturers come together to usher in a new age of smartphone-to-vehicle integration, there’s a renewed emphasis on tighter mobile security. A recent report suggests several different systems including Ford’s Sync and General Motors’ OnStar could be vulnerable to attack by hackers.
Think a lot of people use hands-free smartphone technology in their cars right now? Well, that may be true, but the number is set to increase dramatically over the next few years. In fact, according to a new study, the amount of consumers who use telematic smartphones apps in their cars will multiply 40 times by 2016. [click to continue…]