Just like it teased late last night, Nokia has announced its official foray into in-dash navigation systems. With the company’s HERE maps already forming the backbone of the 80% of all car navigation systems worldwide, the new HERE Auto system adds plenty more features that enhances the connected car experience.
HERE Auto is the standalone in-dash navigation system which works both on and offline. When used offline, HERE Auto provides more than standard navigation systems, by providing the right set of maps depending on your driving speeds and locations: helicopter view on highways, lower third-person view for city driving, and, as you approach your destination, street level imagery a la LiveSight.
Online, maps are kept as updated as possible via constant OTA updates, and users can even download maps to the system for those outstation excursions and road trips. In addition, the HERE Auto RESTful APIs will also be available for carmakers, allowing the the freedom of providing a customized version of the system tailored for their driving machines.
On top of that, there will also be a HERE Auto Companion App for Windows Phone and Android. Using the app, users can synchronize favourite destinations saved on their mobile devices to the in-dash system. On top of that, the app even lets users control various settings in the car, such as locking and unlocking the car, adjust the air conditioning, as well as monitor the various sensors in the car, such as tire pressure and fuel level.
Currently, companies such as Magnetti Marelli are already on board to bring HERE Auto to the market, with car models integrating the system to be announced in the future. Nokia and HERE will reveal more on HERE Auto at the coming Frankfurt Motor Show on September 10. For now, more info can be found on Nokia’s Conversations blog.
