Hughes Telematics working on downloadable apps for vehicles
What's good for the iPhone is apparently good for the sedan. Hughes Telematics is working up a suite of programs that will work with its in-car communications technology and allow you to download applications for your car. From tailored data collection to controlling your car's systems with your phone to repurposing your car's features, the possibilities will turn your humble transport into the ultimate programmable appliance when Hughes releases the software to be ready in 2010. Let the betting begin on how long it will take someone to make an app that makes your car fart.[Source: New York Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mr.Oak 8:14AM (2/19/2009)
Nice, but will it re-map my engine.
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Jsams4131 8:40AM (2/19/2009)
I think that a program that could re-map the ECU would be GREATT.
RedSiBaron 8:49AM (2/19/2009)
yes...that would be a laptop and a fully programable ecu...
the laptop aside that should cost you less than the damn year in fees for the iphone...
Tecmec 9:39AM (2/19/2009)
You really want to play with editing ECU maps on a cell phone? ...
steve-o 10:31AM (2/19/2009)
why? so you can tap into the 'hidden hp'?
hotrod69 8:57AM (2/19/2009)
Interesting. I still think the DashDAQ (www.dashdaq.com) is far superior, has cooler looking gauges, and by the way, is not vaporware! Those guys even allow you to custom make your own skins. How cool is that.
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Alex 9:09AM (2/19/2009)
heh, my car already backfires. no need for an iphone app to do that, just let the timing go!
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adrenalnjunky 9:48AM (2/19/2009)
Weird that the car in the diagram appears to be a Malibu, Aura or G6 - all of those cars already have these system monitoring in place - at least my wife's G6 GT does. The readout is built into the radio, so I dunno why that particular car would need the iPhone app anyway.
I thought it was a gimmick at first, - but it has gotten my wife to pay closer attention to her car - she now tells me when her tires are low, or the oil life monitor is getting into the teens.
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JZeke 10:12AM (2/19/2009)
Cool.
Now how long til all manufacturers agree to a single standard for vehicle architecture? Every company has basically their own OS, which would make it hard to build common apps for all.
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jcar302 10:21AM (2/19/2009)
Would be pretty cool if they could make the app not so it was capable of tuning the car, but so it was capable of uploading a tune similar to an SCT tuner.
Get your tune via email, then upoad it with your iphone instead of a seperate $400 tuning device.
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larry a 11:50AM (2/19/2009)
I dunno makes me want to get an iPhone, this and the dyno program plus thousands of others, seems worth it
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len simpson 12:45PM (2/19/2009)
after cellphones, this will be 2nd most accident prone situation.
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