In-car technology has been
steadily improving, with the likes of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto paving the
way for those who appreciate a dashboard full of gadgets and goodies. Not all
of us are lucky enough to have cars with these options, however. So, what's a
driver of a "dumb" car to do? We've compiled a list of 10 apps that
will bring even the most battered and dated of cars up to 21st century
standards.
TomTom
Once, a bulky Sat Nav (or
GPS) unit was your only option if you wanted a gadget to guide you to your
destination. Now, the likes of TomTom and Garmin offer apps, saving you from
carrying yet another object around with you. Available for various regions on
both iOS and Android, TomTomis free for the first 50 miles of use each month,
but requires a subscription for unlimited use. Subscriptions are $21.99 /£14.99
(converted to AU$29.08) a year or $49.99 / £34.99 (AU$66.10) for 3 years.
Giving it the edge over free solutions such as Google Maps, TomTom offers speed
camera warnings, giving you a heads up when it comes to upcoming speed traps.
Its interface is also comparatively clutter-free, making it much easier to
glance at while driving.
Waze
For a slightly less
intuitive, but entirely free, Sat Nav solution, Waze can't be beat. Offering
community-driven features, it encourages crowd sourcing as a means to keep you
informed of accidents, police traps, and traffic jams in your local area. On
top of that, it provides turn-by-turn voice navigation, automatic rerouting and
the ability to send your ETA to your friends, so they know you're on the way.
The option to add and view information on local sights and businesses is
convenient for those new to an area also. Don't expect Waze to be as easy to
use as something like TomTom. But, with a little brain retraining, it's a
convenient, affordable alternative.
Carcorder
Dashcams are increasingly
popular accessories for cars. Being able to record your journeys means you have
concrete evidence in case of an accident, but it also means you can capture
some fantastic footage as so many Russian dashcams have over the years.
Carcorder and a dashboard mount turns your iPhone into a capable dashcam,
allowing you to switch between multiple resolutions, track your location, and
know when you're driving too fast. It's not as comprehensive as a dedicated
unit, but for only $1.99 (£1.49, AU$2.49), it's an excellent starting place.
iOnRoad
An increasing number of
cars offer forward collision warning systems, detecting when a car in front has
slammed the brakes on, before you've had a chance to see it yourself. For $0.99
(about £0.92, AU$1.42), iOnRoad isn't a perfect substitute for this, partly
because you need to (ironically) keep an eye on your phone's screen, but it can
be helpful. Using your phone's camera and GPS, it detects how long it would
take for you to collide with the vehicle in front of you. A color coding chart
gives you an indication if you're getting too close, ensuring you don't
tailgate by accident. Speed sign detection is also included.
iCarMode
Allowing you to use your
dashboard mounted iPhone safely, for $1.99 (about £1.31, AU$2.84) iCarMode
offers up a big buttoned display, making it simple for you to activate a music
player, call your friends, and check for places nearby. Custom app shortcuts
support apps such as Spotify, Audible, and TuneIn Radio, saving you from having
to look at overly small buttons every time you want to make an adjustment on
your trip. A night mode means it'll fit into the aesthetics of your car too.
For older cars, it's an ideal substitute for built-in dashboard systems that
more recent cars offer.
Dashdroid
The best Android dashboard
replacement, Dashdroid keeps it simple with eight custom buttons and a central
display. The display offers the current time, weather as well as your current
speed, while voice commands ensure you don't have to take your hands off the
steering wheel to make a call or text. It could look more stylish, but its
focus on a clean interface means it won't distract you while driving. You can customize
buttons for your frequently used apps too. And, finally, it's free.
AutoMate
Not everyone can spring for
a new car or radio with Android Auto connectivity, but AutoMate brings the
clean car-friendly user interface to any Android phone or tablet. AutoMate
integrates with Google Maps, messaging, phone calls, music apps and voice
controls. The app is free for basic features, but you can pay $3.17 (converted
to £2.25 or AU$4.19) to unlock premium features that lets you set AutoMate as
the default phone launcher. Premium also adds hands-free gesture controls, like
you can get in a BMW 750i if your phone has a light sensor, traffic camera
alerts and custom wallpaper. And in case you want to shoehorn a tablet or phone
into your car, AutoMate lets you automate functions like power on, power off,
shut off communications, close apps, etc... when it detects power via USB,
Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, so an Android tablet can replace your in-dash
radio.
Beat the
Traffic
Your daily commute is a
drive that you can almost do in your sleep. You don't need guidance on how to
get there, but you do need to know when a traffic jam or incident is in your
way. Beat the Traffic provides real-time traffic updates, crowd sourced by
other users, before providing you with a new quickest route to dodge the issue.
All for 100% free. Spot an incident that hasn't been reported yet? Simply shake
your device to give others the heads up. You'll always know just how delayed
you're going to be.
GasBuddy
Buying cheap gas can make a
world of difference to your car's running costs. While those few cents or
pennies don't seem that significant on their own, they soon add up. GasBuddy
sets out to find the cheapest gas near you, no matter where you are. You can
search via your current location or via a city or zip code, meaning you know
exactly what's ahead of you. For US users, submitting gas prices yourself gives
you a chance of winning $100 (£65, AU$140) of gas each day, too, along with
other awards for regular submissions. Better yet, it's all free.
Spotify
There's no need to be
restricted to using the traditional radio to listen to music any more.
Streaming services like Spotify have taken off through your PC or phone, and
they can be just as easily enjoyed through your car. Some cars offer Spotify
directly to your dashboard but for everyone else, you can use Bluetooth or an
auxiliary jack to hook things up. The free app lets you listen to any artist or
album, providing you have an internet connection, while subscribing offers
offline listening and ad-free music.
Automatic
Requiring a separate car
adapter, Automatic is worth the initial outlay of $99 (£65, AU$141). It turns
any car into a more connected car than either CarPlay or Android Auto can say,
offering fuel level tracking, parking reminders, and fuel saving habits. The
app will track your miles per gallon, how much each journey costs you, and keep
an eye on whether you've been braking excessively hard on those journeys. A
separate feature is also there for analyzing engine lights and giving you some
guidance as to whether there's a problem and what you need to do to correct it.
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