Autoblog

Why using Google Maps for driving directions is illegal in California

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST

Back in January of 2012, Steven Spriggs was cited for using a cellphone while driving in California, violating the state's Vehicle Code Section 23123 that makes it illegal for someone to drive "while using a wireless telephone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving." In this case, though, while Spriggs did have the phone in his hands, he was using it to check directions on Google Maps, not make a phone a call or send a text.

Spriggs appealed the citation, but according to Digital Trends, Judge Kent Hamlin of the Fresno County Superior Court has ruled against him. Hamlin's eight-page decision asserted that the law prohibiting drivers from using their hands to operate their cellphones to make calls and send texts didn't mean they could manually operate their phones for some other purpose, like getting directions; Hamlin reasoned that the law's intent was to prevent all manual operation of the cellphone to curb distracted driving.

Hamlin felt this even though Sprigg argued that when the original law specified voice calls, it was felt necessary to append the law to add texting to its purview. Using that example, if the law didn't specify the other operations it covered, then it shouldn't apply to those other operations. Hamlin's decision countered that there was no legislative history that demonstrated the bill's original supporters didn't want texting covered by the law originally, and that since the purpose of the "plain language" of the law is to eliminate the distraction of manually using one's phone while driving, that any such use is automatically covered.

Why using Google Maps for driving directions is illegal in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australian police urge motorists to stay away from Apple Maps [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Technology, Australia

Apple Maps is the beautiful but flawed pile of poo that just keeps on steaming. Not long after it appeared in the company's latest operating system, people noticed that it had a habit of showing destinations in the wrong locations, like a museum located underwater, or refusing to show locations at all, like the town of Stratford-Upon-Avon and most of a few world metropolises. The CEO apologized once, was met with hilarious rejoinders, then apologized again and recommended other map solutions, and the guy in charge of Apple Maps was shown the door, which Apple was indeed able to find.

None of that has apparently helped drivers looking for the town of Mildura, in Victoria, Australia however. Apple Maps still places the hamlet in the middle of the Murray-Sunset National Park, about 44 miles southwest of its actual location. The displaced location map issue has reportedly left six drivers lost or stranded in the national park for up to 24 hours without food or water, in temperatures that can reach up to 115 degrees in the Outback with no phone reception. Six people have had to be rescued in the past two months, and now Mildura police have issued a statement calling the situation "a life threatening issue," urging caution when using Apple Maps.

Check out the Newsdesk video below for more details, and be very, very careful when you go in search of Mildura.

Continue reading Australian police urge motorists to stay away from Apple Maps [w/video]

Australian police urge motorists to stay away from Apple Maps [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 5 gets native turn-by-turn navigation, car connectivity questions remain

George Kennedy — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Infotainment

The big news yesterday in the tech world (and most of the rest of the world) was the debut of the iPhone 5. If you have not yet been left with a feeling of inferiority due to your current device, this should put you over the top. The new iPhone will come with the Apple Maps app. Maps is Apple's rebuttal to the hugely popular Google Maps, and comes with a host of functionality.

One of the key features of the app is turn-by-turn navigation with voice prompts from Siri. Just like an in-car navigation system, as you approach a turn, a 3D view appears to better show the user where to turn. This may ruffle a few feathers at the wireless service providers, as many already offer paid-subscription navigation apps, such as AT&T Navigator, VZ Navigator and Sprint Navigation. According to Apple, you can use Siri to search for a destination and engage the navigation system, all by voice command.

Maps also offers real-time traffic data much like an advanced in-car GPS system. This will give users the option to select alternate routes as a way to bypass heavy traffic. The app also has a flyover feature that lets a user view a 3D replication of the map, with major landmarks presented in high resolution.

This is all well and good, but Apple also announced the new Lightning connector, which replaces the 30-pin connector to which we have become accustomed, and is more of a mixed bag in terms of in-car connectivity.

The new connector still works with USB ports, so any automaker that employs such an outlet in its vehicles will have no issue. Several automakers, however, have connection ports specifically built for the 30-pin connector. Apple will offer an adaptor for that setup, but that may not be enough.

The new 8-pin connector is fully digital, and is not able to transmit analog signals. Kia. Hyundai and older BMW models feature a connector that sends both USB and eighth-inch analog signals through the 30-pin connector. It appears Apple's adaptor will not work with the connectors provided by these vehicles.

The new app will be available with iOS 6, which is standard on the new iPhone 5. It will also be made available to compatible devices on Sept 19.

iPhone 5 gets native turn-by-turn navigation, car connectivity questions remain originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple gives Google Maps the boot, adds free turn-by-turn navigation to iPhone

Noah Joseph — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:44:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

The big news in the tech world right now is the World Wide Developer's Conference which Apple just concluded. That's where the House that Jobs Built unveiled its latest operating systems for both computers and mobile devices, its latest laptop computer design and more. But what does this all have to do with cars, you ask? Plenty.

First off, Apple used the high-profile press conference extravaganza to announce the integration of its Siri voice service into cars, starting with nine automakers (among them the massive General Motors group) that will be putting a dedicated button on their steering wheels to allow drivers to activate the service on their iPhones and iPads without taking their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road. But that's not all that's of relevance to motorists from WWDC 2012.

Apple has also announced the launch of its own Maps application, replacing the Google Maps utility it had begrudgingly integrated into its devices until now. Resulting from Apple's acquisition of several erstwhile independent digital cartography operations, Maps aims to improve on the popular Google service with such features as spoken turn-by-turn directions with real-time ETA, smooth-scrolling 3D imaging, aerial flyover views of city centers and important landmarks, Siri integration and real-time traffic information.

The latter is reportedly crowdsourced anonymously from other users, leaving us with some questions regarding privacy issues. But we'll leave that to the guys with the tin-foil hats while we blissfully revel in Big Brother's latest offering to the masses. Follow the links below to see what Apple has in store in greater detail.

Apple gives Google Maps the boot, adds free turn-by-turn navigation to iPhone originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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