Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Is this the iCar? Nah, couldn't be]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/13/is-this-the-icar-nah-couldnt-be/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/13/is-this-the-icar-nah-couldnt-be/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/13/is-this-the-icar-nah-couldnt-be/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Last August speculation begin to swirl about a joint collaboration between Apple and Volkswagen to produce the unofficially named iCar. All the rumors were based on a report by a German publication that claimed Apple CEO Steve Jobs had met with Volkswagen chief Martin Winterkorn. Volkwagen confirmed the meeting, but provided no specific details about what was discussed. Topics could have ranged from Apple assisting the German automaker with the user interface of its new touchscreens, as Engadget had discovered that the VW had used a touchscreen UI very similar to Apple's Cover Flow UI in its up! concepts, to a full blown collaboratively developed car, aka the iCar. As is often the case with Apple rumors, the iCar was likely more a product of what people wished for rather than what the facts suggested. The newest issue of Autobild, however, features a never-before-seen VW concept joined on the cover by an iPhone. Is this the iCar? Who knows. It will likely pop up at some point during the next auto show season and all questions will be answered, but the Apple rumor machine will likely provide us with some outrageous explanations in the meantime.

[Source: Carscoop]

Is this the iCar? Nah, couldn't be originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple icarapple volkswagenapple volkswagen icarAppleIcarAppleVolkswagenAppleVolkswagenIcaricarvolkswagen apple icarvolkswagen icarVolkswagenAppleIcarVolkswagenIcarFri, 13 Jun 2008 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[All VW models to get touch screens]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/12/all-vw-models-to-get-touch-screens/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/12/all-vw-models-to-get-touch-screens/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/12/all-vw-models-to-get-touch-screens/#commentsFiled under: ,

Recently we reviewed VW's four-door GTI and one of our few complaints was the difficult-to-use nav system. We suggested replacing all the little buttons and dials with a touch screen. Guess what? They listened! VW's design chief, Walter de' Silva, tells Automotive News Europe that starting next year, every VW will have a touch screen interface. Not just those equipped with nav, but every VW made. It's not clear from the story whether this is will be in Europe only or includes U.S.-spec VWs as well.

According to the article, all the car's main passenger-usable systems will be controlled by the screen including climate, radio, entertainment, etc. While we'll withhold judgment on the usefulness or intuitiveness of the system, it will surely go a long way toward giving VW a high-tech look. Could this have been what VW consulted Apple on a few months ago? Or is it just finally the fruition of VW's tech licensing of touch-screen technology from Immersion back in 2005? If so, that could mean the company's new touch screens will have tactile feedback like GPS units that use Immersion's TouchSense technology. Either way, we look forward to seeing how iPhone-like automotive controls work out.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - Sub. Req.]

All VW models to get touch screens originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple carapple volkswagenAppleCarAppleVolkswagenvolkswagen touch screenvolkswagen touchscreenVolkswagenTouchScreenvw applevw technologyvw touch screenvw touchscreenVwAppleVwTechnologyVwTouchscreenMon, 12 Nov 2007 08:57:00 EST