RE: New Audi Phone Is A1

RE: New Audi Phone Is A1

Friday 19th October 2007

New Audi Phone Is A1

Control your car from your armchair


Sneak preview of 2009's hottest gadget
Sneak preview of 2009's hottest gadget
Audi is on a bit of a roll at the moment, especially in terms of their new cars’ über-cool details.

Their LED daytime running lights and Bang and Olufsen stereos are certainly hitting the spot, and if their latest Tokyo concept gets the green light for production, expect queues out of the door of your local dealership.

As part of their Metroproject (for this read new A1) concept, Audi unveiled a touch-screen mobile phone, which also acts as an access authorisation system, navigation unit and audio and video player. Beat that iPhone.

The device allows the driver to remotely activate the car’s heating before you leave your house, and when you approach the car, sensors open door for you so the days of fumbling for your keys may be numbered. You can also input sat nav directions and upload your MP3s from the comfort of your living room.

The Metroproject car itself is also equipped with cameras, so should someone unauthorised attempt to get in to the car, the system will photograph them and send you the images via its wi-fi link. Clever stuff.

Author
Discussion

andyturner

Original Poster:

120 posts

208 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
Heh, very cute use of the logo for the earpiece.

CommanderJameson

22,096 posts

225 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
That's bloody enormous.

I'd want more screen and less bezel. I'm assuming it's a slider.

PekkaR

41 posts

249 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
Audi should make a Symbian, Java, Win mobile versions of it so that existing phones can be used. I think smile

Über-cool feature still


tinman0

18,231 posts

239 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
considering most people break their phones after 2 years, is this device still going to be working in 15 years?

chocolatebruce

5,620 posts

214 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
CommanderJameson said:
That's bloody enormous.

I'd want more screen and less bezel. I'm assuming it's a slider.
It's a touch screen I though, so I guess no slider...maybe i'm wrong

AMG Merc

11,954 posts

252 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
Cool! How do you turn on the heating without starting the engine (which is illegal without a person in the driver's seat in many countries)?

Capn Xboks

27 posts

212 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
Anyone got any pics of the actual A1 yet?

Agoogy

7,274 posts

247 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
look for the Audi Mini other thread...

CommanderJameson

22,096 posts

225 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
chocolatebruce said:
CommanderJameson said:
That's bloody enormous.

I'd want more screen and less bezel. I'm assuming it's a slider.
It's a touch screen I though, so I guess no slider...maybe i'm wrong
If it's a touch screen, it definitely wants to be bigger.

speedster986

251 posts

205 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
IIRC Mini had an option to pre-warm your car from the comfort of your own home although i do not know if that option was available in this country. Sounded like a good idea if you live somewhere really cold or suffer from Reynaud's!!

justlivyalife

4,530 posts

206 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
My father's 2000 5 series had a setting called "auxilliary heating" worked pretty well to warm the car from freezing before you got in. It doesn't start the engine, just uses the heating pump to do it.

tomTVR

6,909 posts

240 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
I like it but its not going to be fun when you lose it in a club, bet it wont be cheap either.

JackHolroyde

490 posts

197 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
That is the SEX. I love it. The fact that it photographs people trying to steal your car? Genius!
Trying to keep up with car thieves is a difficult business, and I think this is really a step forward.
I daresay that fully comprehensive insurance policies will adapt to cover it, bearing in mind it is in effect a key, and keys are covered on most policies, even TPFT

stuartbuckell

3,643 posts

225 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
JackHolroyde said:
That is the SEX. I love it. The fact that it photographs people trying to steal your car? Genius!
Trying to keep up with car thieves is a difficult business, and I think this is really a step forward.
I daresay that fully comprehensive insurance policies will adapt to cover it, bearing in mind it is in effect a key, and keys are covered on most policies, even TPFT
Steal the car with a balaclava on? rolleyes

Just another gimmick.

Ed.

2,169 posts

237 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
How will the car know it is being stolen to take the picture; wouldn't that be a good time for the immobiliser to do something? rolleyes
Maybe instead it takes pictures all the time then just recall the one you want? A few policy changes later and it will take a picture everytime the abs or dsc kicks in or speedo climbs.

Hendry

1,945 posts

281 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all

And what wi-fi link? How is that going to work then? From where is it getting this wi-fi connection? This was a bit of detail skipped over...

il-mostro

173 posts

212 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
MINI were offering the heating a few years back for UK cars i'm sure. I had a '51 plate, and i'm 99% sure this was an option i read about at the time. It would work via a text message sent to the car before you set off. I'm assuming using the heating pump mentiond once already in this thread?

flattotheboards

6,679 posts

205 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
cool. but what if it goes wrong? your kanckered then if your cars not under warranty.

dugt

1,657 posts

206 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
ah this is great some chav mugs you and they get your car thrown in for free

doug

Neomagic

386 posts

200 months

Friday 19th October 2007
quotequote all
flattotheboards said:
cool. but what if it goes wrong? your kanckered then if your cars not under warranty.
I think its one of those sorts of devices that would be an option, no doubt you would still retain your original keyless entry card or key or whatever they come with these days.

It's just like having option extra sat nav or something if it stops working your still going to be able to use the car.