Will Apple iPad become ultimate road trip companion with turn-by-turn directions?
One of the sexiest features of iOS 6, Apple’s latest mobile operating system for the iPhone and iPad, is the updated Maps app with turn-by-turn direction.
While it’ll be great figuring out how to get between point A and B on an iPhone, imagine how great it’s going to be on the iPad. With this update, the iPad becomes the ultimate road trip companion. Without doing too much research, the average vehicle GPS features a 3- to 5-inch screen. How great will it be to see turn-by-turn and possibly other information on a 10-inch screen.
It’s likely that 3rd party companies will develop windshield mounts, but I think Apple is up to its usual business: Redefining a technology and/or gadget.
With a revamped Maps app and Siri giving us turn-by-turn direction, I see the iPad becoming a road trip companion for solo drivers and groups in a car. Let me set the scene:
You’re traveling from Michigan to California with your best friend. Your friend pulls out the iPad, plugs in the destination of choice and hits the “route” button. You’ll quickly receive information on the trip (length of trip, total miles, etc.) and you’ll see that familiar turn-by-turn screen (likely with much better graphics). Shrink that turn-by-turn screen into the upper left hand corner and pull up information about nearby restaurants, gas stations and more. Want to change your music? Again, a seamless task. Want to take a photo and save it to your map? Again — another creative project in the making.
The GPS is being redefined and it starts with the iPad. The restaurant information is coming to us thanks to the people at Yelp; Siri is providing us the voice for turn-by-turn, but expect some other voice options; and iCloud will somehow be incorporated — maybe by syncing favorite stops along the way.
It’s important to note that you’ll need an iPad with a data plan to make this scenario come to life.
Are those hand-sized GPS’s mounted to windshields a thing of the past? I wouldn’t be surprised.
June 20th, 2012
There are some companies that make iPhone holders for cars that can hook onto the AC vents without damaging them. I think something like that could be useful for the iPad. Why spend thousands on a new radio with GPS when you could just use the iPad? That’s how I see it anyways…