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Apple Developing Car Navigation System?

matthewHUB said:
great... so you have to fork out $80,000 on a car just to get the apple features. i don't mind AT&T having exclusive rights to a service/feature, but i think it's unfair to let a top dollar brand have exclusive use. Would be better for Apple's sake to introduce their super-user-friendly GUI to a more consumer and wide base of clients.

just my $0.02US
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What, so now that Apple are (allegedly) working on a GPS interface or similar you are already bashing them for choosing the wrong/not enough car manufacturers to supply it to? Despite the fact that if Apple are it will be as part of a business deal for, you know, businesses?

Unbelievable!



(Edit: Would love to see OS X or similar behind a decently organised Sat-Nav.)
 
Kazr said:
I can't see the logic if this rumour turns out to be true. I think there are plenty of things for Apple to do in their core business areas without branching into yet another sector.
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Yeah...let's see a new iMac before they branch out into something else!
 
Jobs just wants better navigation for his Mercedes...therefore better navigation for all Mercedes. :D
 
I think this (if true) will be the next generation COMMAND system for Mercedes. The current system has been widely criticized for being way too complex and unreliable, and Apple could definitely fix those problems. For example, there are over 50 buttons on my E-class to control radio, nav, and phone. I'm sure apple could improve that...
 
the new apple navigation system will incorporate google's new street maps, so you can see where youre going to before you get there.
 
translation

Google's translation is okay, but I hate reading computer translations.

My take? Sounds interesting and by 2009 I may be able to afford a Mercedes. I was skeptic about a video iPod and then iPhone and I love what Apple has done with each. I'd love to see what Apple can do in cars!

Apple builds a Navigation System

FOCUS
After Computers, MP3 Players and cell phones, the computer maker wants to shortly offer Navigations- and Sound Systems in cars as well, starting with Mercedes.

On board computer:
Apple conquers cars
According to FOCUS-sources, the device, that the computer maker is presently developing combines entertainment, communication and navigation in a single device.

Mercedes will exclusively offer the new Apple device for six months, with an expected market introduction targeted for 2009. It is still unclear whether Apple - as in the case of the iPhone - will rely on Google Maps for navigation help.
 
Macrumors said:

The system is reported to include "maintenance, communication, and navigation," similar to devices already on the market.
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Hi,

there's a mistake in the translation... Unterhaltung means entertainment in this context, not maintenance...
All in all the idea sounds quite interesting, especially considering the current UI of the Mercedes navigation.
I'm almost sure, Apple will not develop a complete new system, instead it will improve what is already there.

vito
 
vito87 said:
Hi,

there's a mistake in the translation... Unterhaltung means entertainment in this context, not maintenance...
All in all the idea sounds quite interesting, especially considering the current UI of the Mercedes navigation.
I'm almost sure, Apple will not develop a complete new system, instead it will improve what is already there.

vito
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Yeah, he used the google translaion, which is why I offered mine above. Meh.

I agree. Apple would approve upon what they already have. Or essentially build on top of it. I've actually never seen the Mercedes systems yet. I'd love to though. Heard it's much better than BWM's iDrive.
 
Please...

Could we have some editorial discretion? These days, it seems it's MacRumors mission to repost anything remotely related to Apple. No matter how lacking in information or credibility. I know you're trying to drive page views for ad revenue, but you're really scrapping the bottom of the barrel here. MacRumors might be going the way of MOSR...

While we're at it, I haven't seen an original content from you guys in ages. It might be time to unsubscribe from your RSS.
 
CBAviator said:
Yeah...let's see a new iMac before they branch out into something else!
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Relax Chief ..the new iMac is coming...the company doesn't have to grind to a halt to get one computer model out the door LOL


Apple working on a GPS product makes sense. They've been getting cozy with Google and doing wonderful things with Google maps (especially on the iPhone"

Now you look at OS X and how they've streamlined it into small products (Apple TV and iPhone) and you can see how a GPS system by 2009 could very well be a standout and popular product for Apple.

Remember Leopard now supports OpenGL 2.1 which includes OpenGL 2.0 ES which is tailored for CE devices. Take the UI that you get with Garmin and Tom Tom and improve them like %100.

If Apple has patented multi touch and other things they are best to recoup that effort by licensing as much as possible.

I look forward to having an iPhone someday that syncs flawlessly with my car Nav system.
 
Animaniac said:
While we're at it, I haven't seen an original content from you guys in ages. It might be time to unsubscribe from your RSS.
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Well MacRumors aims to search for and present any rumors to do with Apple Inc. that are deemed relevant and reasonably reliable, for the large MR community to discuss at their leisure. So your hope for 'original content' seems a bit off-the-mark.

As has been said, this was posted because it appeared in an influential German magazine, and is something different than John Dvorak ranting about the death of the iPod etc.

Don't read the thread if you're not interested.
 
Animaniac said:
Please...

Could we have some editorial discretion? These days, it seems it's MacRumors mission to repost anything remotely related to Apple. No matter how lacking in information or credibility. I know you're trying to drive page views for ad revenue, but you're really scrapping the bottom of the barrel here. MacRumors might be going the way of MOSR...

While we're at it, I haven't seen an original content from you guys in ages. It might be time to unsubscribe from your RSS.
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Bye bye. ;)
 
getting scary

Diversifying too much?
I hope this isn't true, yet anyhow. They're already spread extremely too thin as it is.
Instead of developing all of these devices by themselves, wouldn't a better strategy be something like licensing out OS X in some type of customizable form, a very close license for Apple's sake. But then allow third party manufacturers to make and deal with all of the stuff around it. Maybe loosely partner with Apple [NOT iPhone-insider close, that's too close]. Have a team at Apple solely there to work with these types of projects and outside companies to make sure it goes perfectly.

Then before any product can be made public, it must pass a very thorough testing and Apple-UI-goodness test, only the best will make it through [without wasted money because only the top products would be closely developed with the team at Apple to oversee the Apple-ness]. Seems like it would offer more opportunities, but a lot of trouble also. But I'd rather see that than having 10.6 delayed because of the iGumball Machine isn't working correctly with some aspect of the system.
 
jng said:
Yeah, he used the google translaion, which is why I offered mine above. Meh.
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I'm sorry...
I was away for some minutes and simply pressed submit when I returned.

In my opinion, there's no navigation device available at the moment that is usable really fast. With the iPhone Apple already has some experience with navigation (though no GPS), so the interface maybe somehow the same...?
 
Don't need it.

I for one don't need it. I've already got a mac mini in my car with a 7" 16x9 touchscreen. But then, hey, I might be a LITTLE ahead of the curve.

Clearly a great thing to have in an iPhone 2.0 would be GPS and all you would need for the car is a iPhone dock on the dashboard.

Navigation with Google maps is a foregone conclusion with the CEO of Google on Apple's board of directors.

Apple ][ Forever!
 
Wow awesome, apple, awesome.... bla bla.

Now what about working on that iLife 07, iWorks, Logic, Leopard OS and updating the Mac Pro first huh?
 
They're spread thin but they're also hiring like mad. I disagree. I wouldn't open Apple up. One of the reasons they are so successful is because of their closed-nature. Quality control and security control.

If anyone is interested, FOCUS has a larger article about Apple here:
http://www.focus.de/digital/computer/bordcomputer_aid_63624.html

Much if it die hard mac people already know. The important part is the middle about "Apple's Biosystem." It talks about how Apple changed its named from Apple Computer Inc to Apple Inc, expanded from computers MP3 players, homes and now cell hones. If Apple wants to integrate all aspects of a persons life, then the car is a logical extension of that.

I agree. And people who are upset about it being offered exclusively for Mercedes are just jealous - sort of. They feel like they are being excluded from the market. They aren't. It's just a business strategy. Develop it for Mercedes, release it, and get the kinks out before you expand to mid range automobiles. It's the same strategy they employed when they first introduced auto integration through a plug in the glove compartment. BMWs first. It's also a great marketing strategy. Nothing makes you want something more than thinking you can't have it.

That's why it's hilarious (to me anyway) to see who buys Burberry and Coach bags - the wealthy who can afford them and the lower class who can't.
 
vito87 said:
I'm sorry...
I was away for some minutes and simply pressed submit when I returned.

In my opinion, there's no navigation device available at the moment that is usable really fast. With the iPhone Apple already has some experience with navigation (though no GPS), so the interface maybe somehow the same...?
Click to expand...

No idea. But I'm sure Apple can work with Google or use their maps API to develop something they want.
 
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