The new model's dashboard provides easy access to smartphone apps

On May 15, according to the Wall Street Journal Web site, the process of dismantling the barriers that prevented drivers from using smartphones finally entered the fast lane. Driven by consumer dissatisfaction and the search for new revenue streams, automakers, major smartphone makers and application developers are beginning to optimize software and hardware to eliminate the barriers that prevent the integration of automotive display systems with smartphone applications.

Currently, the dashboards on many new models provide easy access to smartphone apps, providing users with real-time traffic maps, finding parking, weather forecasts and more. "This year was a tipping point," said Thilo Koslowski, a market research firm analyst at Gartner Inc. Car applications have been a hot topic but this year will see a real revolution in automotive applications. "

GM has already begun integrating Pandora, a streaming music application, into its car dashboards under the Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac brands; Honda has integrated Aha Radio in its vehicles; and in 2014, the new Mercedes-Benz dashboard incorporates TuneIn radio applications that enable users to connect their smartphones Listen to radio stations around the world; Next year, GM and Audi will launch models that incorporate 4G high-speed Internet connectivity, and drivers will not even use their smartphones at all.

BMW is developing an app store similar to Apple iTunes to provide users with on-board applications. BMW Car Apps will be landing in Europe later this year, landing in the United States next year.

For automotive manufacturers, electronics and communications are becoming major selling points; for many buyers, especially young consumers or first-time car buyers, the importance of electronic and communications capabilities is even more than horsepower and maneuverability. Mathias Haller, chief designer at Audi's infotainment unit, said: "This is a dramatic change in the automotive industry in the digital context."

In car dashboard technology, auto makers can not afford to fall behind or make mistakes. With the Sync system, Ford was an early leader in the field of infotainment, but the product issues that followed were constantly evoked by customers, affecting Ford's car quality survey scores.

Now is the era of automotive applications 2.0. The new models over the past few years are often integrated with a USB port: http://product.it.sohu.com/list/subcate_682_1.html Ports, microphones, drivers can make calls without any action, and some models even listen to podcasts or the Internet via smartphones Radio. But first-generation products are often clumsy, affecting the user's attention and even affecting traffic safety. Due to frequent problems with voice controls, drivers are forced to manually control their smartphones and select the applications they need.

This situation will soon change. At last month's New York International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz presented an earlier version of the car infotainment system using Apple's CarPlay technology, the appearance and style consistent with the iPhone, and even the dashboard display icon exactly the same with the iPhone. Kal Mos, head of Mercedes-Benz infotainment systems, said: "The more familiar the driver is with a system, the higher the safety factor will be." Moss said the Mercedes-Benz car will be equipped with the system by the end of the year.

Christine Bickley, a computer science professor, said that while driving the 2014 new Kia home, the UVO in-car infotainment system automatically syncs with her Samsung Galaxy, running streaming media from the phone via the dashboard Music app - Spotify, when done it all her hands did not leave the steering wheel, eyes did not leave the road.

Bickley said, "This is so cool, I entered the car, the two systems connected via Bluetooth." Button on the dashboard, I can change the playlist. I did not move the phone from start to finish, the phone has been in my bag Medium. "Information on singers, music, and playlists, usually displayed on the phone's display, is displayed on the car dashboard display.

Mobile technology vendors and car makers are wary of each other, but they are good if they can get more consumers like Beckerley. Kanwalinder Singh, vice president of business development at Qualcomm, said: "Integrating mobile technology into a car is definitely an arms race." Worldwide annual car sales are around 100 million units, of which only 10% are equipped with Some form of communication system.

Security experts hope that a new generation of dashboards can be synchronized more easily with smartphones, which will help drivers concentrate on driving. Adrian Lund, president of the Road Safety Insurance Association, said earlier studies showed that the driver's failure to concentrate on driving was at least not worsened. Although drivers can do more with their smartphones, they can do these tasks more easily without leaving their hands without leaving their pavement. "These technologies at least do not aggravate the driver's heart as they used to be Two-purpose question. "

Streaming music and navigation apps will be just the "beginnings" of the many applications that drivers can use in cars. Ford demonstrated technology for ordering meals at the recent Darmeier pizzeria using an in-car infotainment system. Recently, automakers have begun to allow software developers to access data about the car itself, such as the fuel economy. Software developers want to develop applications that track the fuel consumption of cars and even compare relatives and friends to see who drives more fuel-efficient.

Bryant Trussel, founder of Glympse, an application developer, says that "apps that run on smartphones can all run in cars." BMW and other car makers are using Glympse in cars this year The product. (bamboo)