The biggest test for car navigation systems is your smartphone:
Will you use whatÃ?s in the dash, or pull out whatÃ?s in your pocket
and drive right into me in the process.
IÃ?m B.C. with my Top 5
Car Nav features that will keep you using whatÃ?s built in.
5 - Traffic
This is a triple header: The system should display traffic (duh)
...automatically re-route you around it when youÃ?re under
guidance...and even alert you to major traffic ahead when youÃ?re
not.
IÃ?m less concerned with the data source, they all seem to be
pretty good.
4 - Some navigation systems move like thereÃ? s little man inside
reading a map.
Look for lightning fast operation to reduce
distraction and frustration.
This hinges on both touchscreen
response and internal processing.
3 - Natural Voice
The best nav systems today let you dictate an address by voice
as one string, like 235 2nd St., San Francisco, rather than in
tedious, separate operations for Ã?235Ã?, Ã?2nd StÃ?.Ã? and Ã?San
FranciscoÃ? like youÃ?re talking to a moron.
2 - Works While Moving
WeÃ?d all like to think drivers are conscientious enough to pull
over to enter a destination.
We all know they are not and will just
reach for their smartphone, which is even worse.
Rolling
destination entry also acknowledges that your passenger might
want to enter the address while underway.
Before we get to the #1 feature, here are a few I can live without.
3D buildings - IÃ?m not a bird, rooftops tell me nothing.
-
Photorealism - I like Street Views, but satellite view slows down
current the systems more than its worth.
- Most POIs: They
usually have no context or rating - IÃ?m not gonna pick a
restaurant from my car.
Exception here for gas stations and
ATMs which are generic.
-
1 - Connected
Connecting car navigation, especially Google powered,
fundamentally transforms it to that great experience you have
online, not the weird, stilted one you have in most cars.
A few
cars offer this today, more will do so every model change.
Demand it.
To stay on top go to CNET on Cars at cnetoncars dot com.
I am brian Cooley, thanks
for watching.
