Visteon's HABIT is a concept infotainment system that puts road trip copilots out of a job

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Visteon's incar HABIT concept infotainment system puts road trip copilots out of a job" data-src-height="388" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/05/visteonconceptgotbrains.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">A good acronym also hints at what it does, and Visteon's new intelligent in-car concept, HABIT, is a good example of that. The Human Bayesian Intelligence Technology system -- to give it its full name -- learns the behaviour of drivers so it can automatically change the temperature, heat the seats and drop that <i>Biohazard</i> album just when you need it most. Factors such as weather, time of day and real-time road conditions all play a part, plus, of course a log of all your typical in-car interactions. It promises to go above just warming your behind on a cold morning though, offering intelligence that would be able to divine local radio stations that play your kind of jam when you're out of town. It could also seamlessly mix these with your local / tablet / smartphone library and internet sources. Sound a little too creepy? Wait until you see the computer-generated demo video presenter past the break.</div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cq1n4D0AHBU?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Visteon's HABIT is a concept infotainment system that puts road trip copilots out of a job

A good acronym also hints at what it does, and Visteon's new intelligent in-car concept, HABIT, is a good example of that. The Human B...

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Garmin to power future Mercedes-Benz infotainment systems

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/01/garmindsc04929.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> It looks like Garmin has managed to lock down a very solid deal following its automotive group's compelling demo at CES. The company's in-dash GPS software is now set to roll out with future Mercedes-Benz models -- Garmin's navigation system is scheduled to be fully integrated within the next four years, and will begin appearing with select 2014 models. The solution sounds similar to the version we saw on display during CES, and includes a primary panel in the center console, along with a secondary display located behind the steering wheel, tasked with providing key driver stats, along with next turn info, for example.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Mercedes will share more details once specific launch vehicles are announced, but Garmin said to expect features like Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS), to help out with vehicle positioning, while the car manufacturer will bring tools like a rotary controller and voice commands to the table. What remains to be seen is how TomTom will fit into the mix -- last month, the company announced plans of its own to provide HD Traffic service to certain Mercedes vehicles, though it's unclear if the two GPS giants will be working together on this latest venture.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <strong>Update: </strong>Garmin reached out to clarify that the company will be providing the GPS software for Mercedes-Benz's own infotainment solution. So it's not all Garmin under the hood.</div></div>

Garmin to power future Mercedes-Benz infotainment systems

It looks like Garmin has managed to lock down a very solid deal following its automotive group's compelling demo at CES. The company...

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BMW announces compatibility with four new iOS apps, removable in-car LTE router, we go hands-on

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="BMW announces compatibility with four new iOS apps, removable incar LTE router, we go handson" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/bmw-2013-03-27-600-18-1364585385.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> At this year's New York International Auto Show BMW is expanding its portfolio of connected apps -- by four. The company announced iOS integration for Audible, Glympse, Rhapsody and TuneIn Radio and we couldn't help but swing by to check them all out. This integration (which also will work on Connected Minis) entails an update to those existing iOS apps. In other words, you won't need a dedicated BMW app nor second versions of these individual apps. You can use the ones you already know and love.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Join us below for a little more information on how that works, and a look at the company's in-car LTE router that's also on display.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> Lite previous connected apps, these four all work when connected via USB to the car itself. We demoed them all on an iPhone 5 using a USB to Lightning cable plugged in below the armrest, providing data to the car and power to the phone. As soon as the apps detect the connection to the car the screen is disabled, ensuring that this one vector for distracted driving is eliminated. The key features of app functionality are replicated through the car's iDrive controls. The interface is simple but still very functional for the most part.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="BMW announces compatibility with four new iOS apps, removable incar LTE router, we go handson" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/bmw-2013-03-27-600-12-1364585623.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> You can, for example, still mark songs or artists as favorites in Rhapsody or skip back 30 seconds in Audible. TuneIn now will suggest related stations and Glympse, a location sharing app, will automatically pull your destination from the car's GPS. Overall the data that powers the apps is still pulled down by the phone, so watch those data caps, but without a doubt this is a far safer way of using apps than actually picking up your phone. Still, we were disappointed that there's no way to change from one app to the next via the in-car interface. For that you still have to reach for the phone. We're also disappointed there's no information on versions for any other mobile operating system.</div><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="BMW announces compatibility with four new iOS apps, removable incar LTE router, we go handson" data-src-height="411" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/bmw-2013-03-27-600-1364585657.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> BMW was also unveiling something rather more strange: a portable LTE router. It slots in where the smartphone connectivity kit rests inside the armrest and, when a suitable LTE SIM is inserted (this prototype model was rocking Verizon) will utilize the car's antenna to get you great signal. That connectivity then shows up to anyone in the car (or nearby) as a WiFi hotspot that can be configured with whatever settings you like. Interestingly, BMW put a small battery in there so that you can pop the contraption out for use while out and about. That might be good for some roadside picnic action, but with only 30 minutes of charge and a brick-like form factor it's pretty clear that Novatel Wireless has nothing to worry about here.</div></div>

BMW announces compatibility with four new iOS apps, removable in-car LTE router, we go hands-on

At this year's New York International Auto Show BMW is expanding its portfolio of connected apps -- by four. The company announced iOS...

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NVIDIA details how its Jetson development kit creates smart, seeing cars

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="NVIDIA details how its Jetson development kit puts a Tegra in your car" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/nvidia-jetson.jpg" /></div>Developing a high-end in-car infotainment system can present challenges that don't exist in other platforms -- you're juggling core car systems, a myriad of sensors and media playback in a testbed on wheels. NVIDIA has just explained how it's uniting those elements with its new, lengthily-titled Jetson Automotive Development Platform. While it looks like a single-DIN car stereo laid bare, the configurable kit incorporates a Tegra processor (for usual infotainment functions), multiple car-friendly interfaces and a Kepler-based graphics chipset that can power car detection, lane departure and other computer vision systems by using CUDA or OpenCV code. The net effect should be a much simpler development process: automakers can consolidate some of their test hardware in one Jetson unit that they can upgrade or swap out if newer technology comes along. NVIDIA isn't naming the handful of designers and suppliers that are already building car electronics using Jetson, although history offers a few possible candidates.<br /> </div></div>

NVIDIA details how its Jetson development kit creates smart, seeing cars

Developing a high-end in-car infotainment system can present challenges that don't exist in other platforms -- you're juggling c...

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