Posted on Thursday 27 March 2008
Chrysler may end up being the first to market with an in-car internet solution, but BMW’s ConnectedDrive, announced in advance of this year’s Geneva Motor Show, is the first to bring us video of the system in action.
An interesting point covered in the videos is that the internet service is routed through BMW proxies - meaning both that no anti-virus or other protective measures are needed, and that all traffic on your annual subscription will be going through a BMW computer before being relayed to your car. BMW insists that surfing is not limited nor restricted in any way, however. Unlike Chrysler’s system, BMW’s ConnectedDrive does not require a separate mobile phone subscription.
ConnectedDrive at Geneva 2008
ConnectedDrive at CeBIT 2008
Of course all this is inevitable.
Could come in handy, I suppose.
I assume it’s only allowed when the car is stopped.
Or maybe the passenger can override that?
As far as the emergency calling system, kind of like OnStar, I suppose, where it automatically calls for help. In case of an accident where no one else is around I could see that being a life saver. Doesn’t happen nearly as often as a collision at a busy intersection, but when it does happen it’s a nice piece of mind to have. I wonder though, if the car is really badly damaged, is there a backup battery for it’s use? Most cars that go off the road so badly that the driver can’t call for help don’t have anything left that working, especially electronics wise.
BMW has always been an innovator…
gus, all i can say about the electronics is that enough of an electrical charge can be stored in a unit like that to send out a distress call. and electronics, especially the solid state electronics (that done use rotating disk drives..) can sustain thousands of G’s.
and you’re right, its probably a system similar to microsoft sync where it only works at speeds less than 2 mph or something like that. that’s why i’m hoping lincoln can bring out that split touch screen that maintains the right aspect. that way the driver’s side would turn into a generic radio touch screen, and the passenger still has functionality.
@Chris
Actually Microsoft’s SYNC is similar to BMW’s, so let’s keep it in order.
Now, in older BMW’s with the NAV system, you could not watch TV if your car was moving, The car should have been in Park position for the TV to work.
Sorry for the MS thing but I could not keep it just for myself.
Ohh and there is no official override for it
I don’t think so.
Obviously you have never used BMW’s infuriating iDrive in person, which I have, after the hour it took me to figure it out.
Ford’s sync system, on the other hand, took me all of 5 minutes.
So I really don’t car who came first, I care who got it right…