Mercedes is introducing a feature called Search and Send to that will allow you to send Google and Yahoo! driving directions directly to your car's navigation system. How it works: you get driving directions from either source, and then hit a button labeled Send to Car. If you have a Tele-Aid subscription, when you get in your new Mercedes you can hit the "i" button, and the car will download the directions. Voila and giddyup.
You can even send directions from your PDA, or have someone else send directions to you while you're in the car. However, the unique identifier that gets the directions to your specific car and no one else's isn't spelled out. It also isn't clear if this is only for new cars, or if your 2005 CLK and your woeful sense of direction can ever benefit. The release says it will start off on the S, CL, and new C-Class, and be phased in across the range over time. It doesn't become available until September 5, but you can see a video of it here.
[Source: Foursprung]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve @ Aug 31st 2007 9:25AM
So what is the purpose of having the navigational system in the car in the first place? Doesn't it do the same thing without having to go to a website, getting the directions and then downloading / sending it to the navigational system in the car?
DPA687 @ Aug 31st 2007 9:52AM
Yea, but let's say someone leaves you a voicemail or text message that just says, "Meet me at the new X restaurant in Springfield." No address given and it won't be in your points-of-interest database since it just opened. You look it up on Google Maps and upload the address to your Navi system. Easy! No printed directions to distract you while you're driving. Just the menthol-cool voice prompts from the MB navi chick.
Golferal @ Aug 31st 2007 12:32PM
If the restaurant just opened, it might not be in Google or Yahoo maps yet either. This happens to me all the time.
This feature/ system seems pointless to me.
Ligor @ Aug 31st 2007 2:24PM
if you looked it up
why not jusst print the directions, or just get them from your phone
navigation will soon go the way of the cassete player
too bad there will be plenty of used cars with a burned out screen coming in the near future.
gess that resale value will kick way down, and the simple, unloaded models of the car will be worth more.
always a better idea to buy an aftermarked navi that can be placed in any car.
Justin @ Aug 31st 2007 9:42AM
Agreed, Steve. It'd be nice as a side feature, I guess, only because they keep their maps more updated.
However, let's not forget to mention those two services are frequently wrong and make some pretty wretched mistakes.
Ben H. @ Aug 31st 2007 10:04AM
What is needed is a full integration of the Internet browsing within the car. The technology has caught up enough for it to be a business case. Right now, I just use my Blackjack to get Google Maps info and business info.
RicardoHead @ Aug 31st 2007 10:06AM
Can I stream porn on that thing?
AlexP @ Aug 31st 2007 10:08AM
Only with 3G
JZeke @ Aug 31st 2007 10:18AM
Google maps would be sooo much better than a DVD based NAV system. Ive used it on a blackberry and iphone and it really works well... come to think not "why not" but "how long" will it be til an iphone similar google map browser is in cars? Ie with finger resizing and zoom, tilt and satellite photo overlays.
Trinitron @ Aug 31st 2007 11:17AM
Have you ever used a Garmin? By far the best navigation there is. Google just sucks as it uses tele atlas.
Chucklenuts @ Aug 31st 2007 9:02PM
BMW has had this since March.
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-6165466-7.html
Eludium-Q36 @ Sep 5th 2007 8:22PM
The nav features in cars are SO primitive right now that you don't even realize it, kind of like the first-gen iPods. The nav systems need to be Internet-based with your choice of Google, Yahoo, or MS Live maps instead of the stupid DVD-based, must pay $300 to update systems currently offered. And they must fully integrate with names & addresses connected/dl'ed from your PDA/phone, and your GPS camera ! Take a pic, tag it, d/l it to your car, and now it's a personal picture-POI. Awesome. And when someone, anyone calls you through your vehicle's Bluetooth connxn, the person's or business' address is acquired via caller-ID info and with a simple confirmation becomes an instant POI. Cool. That's where all this is going and I don't want to - in fact, I won't - buy another vehicle until these features are included.