Dash Express - Automotive Genius
Dash is the name and revolutionary automotive navigation is the game. Dash has been developing an Internet-connected GPS device that taps into services like Yahoo! Local Search, provides you with ridiculously accurate traffic reports by talking to other Dash units on the road and anonymously checking their location and speed, and much more. I had the chance to play around with the original Dash unit while visiting Mike Malone in San Francisco and I don’t know how we would have gotten around otherwise.
The older, fatter Dash unit pictured to the left.When it worked, the old Dash unit was amazing. We could tap along and find a restaurant within the area or find an alternate route to the Golden Gate Bridge when there was traffic. However, we had many issues with the old unit. One time it froze and thanks to the internal battery we found no way to reset it until the battery ran out. Also, the older unit had a huge problem with connectivity to GPS satellites when surrounded by tall buildings in downtown SF.
Dash announced their revamped model, the Dash Express, today and it seems like it has fixed many of these issues. It has a much better design, the last one was ugly and had a small screen along with buttons that weren’t necessary. The Dash Express has a larger 4.3-inch touchscreen, a USB port, a larger internal battery and a larger/louder speaker.
Gizmodo wrote about the Express today and I think they put it perfectly:
The difference between the Dash and all of the other dedicated portable navigators on the market is that it’s got Wi-Fi and a GPRS modem built in, so that it can receive (and send) useful live information. If you’re a user, Dash will know your commute and check traffic conditions, sending you an SMS when it thinks you need to hit the road so you’re not late for work. Besides better traffic data, Dash is about local search: it gets POIs not from some static list but from Yahoo, so there’s a greater chance of finding something up-to-date and appropriate to your needs.
Gizmodo
I know I don’t mention it much around here, but I’m a huge car nut. The Dash Express is the first navigation system to really capture my attention. I don’t own any navigation systems at the moment, but I have been relying on Google Maps on my BlackBerry whenever I get lost. You can’t get a Dash Express just yet, but they should be popping up online around early 2008.
Do you use any gadgets in your car?
If you work for Dash, please send me an Express to review.
Besides my ipod adapter no other gadgets… This is a huge breakthrough in GPS devices!!! I want one and I’m pretty good with directions. I think the concept that they came up with, and the approach that they’re taking towards this will rocket them right up to the top of the list with other GPS devices!
My iPhone’s Google Maps works well for me. It’s not real-time, but it delivers turn-by-turn directions which is neat.
Here in Italy there’s a huge breakthrough in GPS devices. The most used is TomTom. In my car I use TomTom Mobile on a N70 cellphone paired with a bluetooth GPS antenna and it’s incredibly useful.
Of course I’ve also an iPod ;-)
I have an iPod video, which is my only gadget right now.. :-)
Google maps is very good, and I usually check it before I go anywhere, because I have a ‘regular’ cell phone, not a smart phone :o
HA! Do I use any gadgets in my car! I’m running a PPC G4 Mac mini (your old one Paul), with a 7″ touch screen custom fitted to the double din area my head unit used to occupy.
As part of this, I’ve mounted a Griffin PowerMate USB rotary knob to my steering wheel (volume control), and have integrated a USB port into an unused accessory slot in the dash (I think it would be for seat warmers if I had them), so that I can connect an iPod, flash drive, NES controller for playing emulators, etc. I also have a palm sized QWERTY keyboard on a retractable cable installed in the ashtray which slides open and closed, as well as a bluetooth mouse for when it’s necessary. Next on the shopping list is a GPS receiver, but Dash sounds good enough for me to consider it over the integrated solution!
Hi Paul. Did you sign up for the Dash Express beta test that was linked to from slashdot several months back? I did but was not selected unfortunately. This device and this company seem to “get” technology and have built an interesting project. Definitely a company to pay attention to, there is still lots of room for innovation in the car computer/GPS area.
Pretty decent for an add-on solution.
The last 2 cars that I owned (2003 Nissan Murano and 2004 Mazda RX8) both had OEM navigation systems that worked well, however, when I would travel for work I had to go without a GPS system, and that’s when I would say I needed it the most. So when I bought my 2007 Lincoln MKZ, I decided to opt for a portable unit.
The one that caught my eye was the Garmin nüvi 680. I love it’s weather and traffic alerts as well as the bluetooth sync with the phone. Most of my friends favorite feature is the voice options…currently, I’m directed around town by a rather stiff sounding English man.
Great sounding device. I’m looking forward to reading more about it’s release!
Wow. This looks hot. Thanks for the pointer!