Tag: connected car

Why Car Manufacturers Need To Work With Tech Companies

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: New York Times

Toyota caused a stir in the connected car market when the company was quoted by the NY Times as saying that it currently has “no plans” to offer either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay in its new models, despite being listed by Apple as an official CarPlay partner.

As more and more traditional OEM in-car equipment, such as GPS systems and CD players, are rapidly being replaced by newer, mobile-based substitutes, car buyers will understandably expect some compatibility with their mobile devices. Going against consumer behavior is not the best move for car manufacturers, especially when most seem to lack the technological expertise to develop an integrated and user-friendly in-car OS.

New Security Concerns Arise As Cars Get Connected

Posted on by Lab Team

 Read original story on: BBC News

Cars, especially the fancy high-end ones, have always been target of thefts, and security measures have been constantly updated with the advance of technology. Lately, however, new types of security concerns has risen for car owners as new models of connected cars begin to infiltrate the market.

BMW has just patched a security flaw that reportedly left 2.2 million cars, including Rolls Royce and Mini models, open to hackers. The flaw affected models fitted with BMW’s ConnectedDrive software, which uses an on-board Sim card to operate door locks, air conditioning and traffic updates through internet and Bluetooth connectivity.

Verizon Enters Auto Aftermarket

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: CNET

Verizon announced its first entry into the auto aftermarket with Verizon Vehicle, an aftermarket service that can work with virtually any car, connected or not. It will reportedly provide diagnostic services, roadside assistance and a hotline to mechanic support. As the auto industry continues to incorporate mobile technology, we expect to see more telecom companies to follow suit.

 

Ford To Support Third Party Nav App With AppLink 3.0

Posted on by Lab Team

Read original story on: Gigaom

Ford unveiled the newest update of its AppLink system, and one key highlight is its capability to support third-party navigation apps, including Google Maps, Waze, or even Apple Maps, if that’s what you prefer. As most automakers tend to limit in-car navigation to their own embedded OEM nav systems, Ford’s move here will not only save its customers a few bucks on subscription fees, it also points to a more platform-neutral future for connected cars.

CES 2015: The Yahoo Experience And A Conversation With BlackBerry

Posted on by Lab Team

Today IPG Media Lab took a detour from the Las Vegas Convention Center to walk through the “Yahoo Experience” at the Cosmopolitan. Of particular note was Yahoo’s proprietary content recognition and delivery service for Smart TV. Otherwise known as ACR, the technology has been around for a bit, but it’s at the forefront of Yahoo’s content strategy for 2015. The company has a footprint of 4.4 million televisions, which gives it a sample size 50 times that of Nielsen. (And of course, if you have the Yahoo Sports mobile app open, you can get the same ad on both devices, and that user data will connect across all Yahoo properties — including Tumblr.) Yahoo is moving toward this strategy because it yields more eyeballs, better ad revenue, and more interesting data.

Next door to the Yahoo Experience, Pogue interviewed BlackBerry CEO John Chen about the future of the phone company. While not the mobile powerhouse it used to be, Chen insisted their phone business is still profitable, and  intends to expand distribution in 2015. And despite the lower profile of BlackBerry’s phone, its QNX automotive system is used in 50 million in-car systems, and possesses a 50% market share. Over in the North Hall, QNX has featured a Maserati with its infotainment and telematics systems working in full throttle. As the car is a huge story at CES 2015, expect this sector of BlackBerry to keep growing.