03/23/2006, 4:50pm, EST

Thursday, March 23rd

VW computer provides UI to devices

Volkswagen is developing a new system that provides a user-friendly interface to a number of electronic devices and software programs. It's called Gypsy, and at the center of the system in a large LCD touch screen located in the car's center console. Most notably, it includes the ability to interface with many popular devices, such as the Apple iPod and Palm Treo. The prototype car has a slot for inserting an iPod. Once the iPod is connected, the user no longer needs to touch it. Instead, it can be controlled entirely via the touch screen interface. The car also appears to have a built-in iTunes player, but that was not previewed.

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ebow

bad UI / interaction

03/23, 6:02pm, EST

From the photo (couldn't get the video to work) that looks like a rather bad UI to be interacting with while driving. I don't want to be squinting at some small text in the center console and trying to poke at small targets with my finger.

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ibugv4

you've never driven a vw

03/23, 6:24pm, EST

Germans make good interfaces. You'll be able to read the text, trust me. I saw this on a newscast and it's really, really nice. It's like a flowchart in a sense. one set of icons brings out a list of available options. it was kind of like the ipod interface in a sense, easy to grasp in 45 seconds. It also has a "task bar" that shows running programs, and it supports "Widgets like those found in Apple's Mac OS."

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ronjamin

Yavol!

03/23, 7:17pm, EST

Selbstverständlich bilden wir gute Benutzerschnittstellen, Sie Schweinhund!

he he

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chadpengar

now to get good diesels

03/23, 7:19pm, EST

now if they can only get diesels in their "luxury" models and not just the base or middle models we would be there... (speaking of the US).

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ibugv4

i'm with you, chad

03/24, 9:32am, EST

Sadly, with the AEU and American Corporations at the helm of transporation, you'll never see it. Not enough market, and you try and persuade someone to diesel and their first words are "it smells! ew no!" we're such pampered babies there.

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Watch out for cyclists

03/24, 3:00pm, EST

Don't get me wrong - I want one of those, but I spend more time on a bicycle than I do in a car. I hope I don't get creamed by a guy who can't wait til he gets home/office to send or read an email. If this is the way things are going I'm doomed.

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hybrid

...powered by a Mac mini?

03/28, 11:22pm, EST

If you watch the video, you'll see what looks like a 6" x 6" rounded-corner white square embedded in the centre console just in front of the armrest. It has a VW logo on top.

To me, it looks suspiciously like a Mac mini, which could be what's driving the interface in the prototype.

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