The future of smart cars is a dedicated infotainment system like Android Auto. But it’s going to be a long while before everybody upgrades their vehicles to get a car with the latest gadgetry built in.
Logi, which is the consumer division of Logitech, thinks it has a solution. The company on Wednesday released a pair of car connectors and a voice-controlled app that transforms your phone into a smart dashboard with support for multiple voice commands.
The app allows you to speak text messages, place calls, share your location with Glympse, stream music with Spotify or Deezer, and issue commands to Google Maps, Waze, or Navigon.
There are two different hardware options: an $50 air vent mount that connects to the back of the phone, or an $80 car mount. According to Logitech, the air vent mounts are available in black, red, and white, with the dashboard mount hardware only in black.
Once your phone snaps to the magnetic air vent or the dashboard dock it triggers the connected Android app. You can also wave at the screen to activate the listening function.
Why this matters: There are several good solutions to help you keep your eyes on the road while driving. But a dedicated car mount and car-friendly app are extra perks that might assist you with navigation and avoid the inevitable dig for your phone’s whereabouts. It’s a pretty low-cost solution into giving you a smart dashboard. The app support is rather limited, but at least the major players like Spotify and Google Maps are here out of the gate, which should broaden the appeal.
