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101

Sailfish car mode UI or future Sailfish/Jolla IVI

asked 2013-12-30 13:54:01 +0300

fk_lx gravatar image

updated 2013-12-30 13:56:25 +0300

It would be great if Sailfish had a car mode. I used to travel a lot by car with my N9 and I really liked navigation app there. But sometimes you are stuck in a trafic jam, waiting on red lights or driving on straight highway with no or very low traffic and would like to do other things than navigation - for example check e-mail or send SMS (with predefined message "I'm driving do not disturb"). Hitting small icons when your phone is laying safely in holder is a difficult action to do. Moreover even VKB should be larger and possibly take even the whole screen to make typing easy. What about simple voice commands for most frequently used functions? I can imagine such car mode UI could be also a beginning for future Sailfish IVI (yeah it might sound like a very distant in time idea to happen, but why not to think about it - there are already Android based IVIs in cars like for example Renault R-Link and as we all probably know Sailfish runs on Android hardware).

So I would like to hear your ideas on the topic:

  • How Sailfish UI should look like in car mode.?
  • What parts of current UI wouldn't be much useful in such conditions and what kind of solutions could be introduced ?
  • What options would you expect to be easily accessible?
  • What kind of additional functions of your Jolla in car enviroment you can imagine?
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6

Answering automatically with messages whilst driving is I think a much better idea, you shouldn't touch your phone when speeding on the motorway especially not typing messages, I certainly hope that you're not checking your emails whilst driving. Voice commands are definitely the way to go if you have to use your phone.

fasza2mobile ( 2013-12-30 14:24:09 +0300 )edit

@fasza2mobile I don't see anything wrong in checking e-mails while stuck in a traffic jam. Especially if you are waiting for an e-mail that might change your journey plans. I never typed an e-mail while on highway and yeah it's hard to imagine that.

fk_lx ( 2013-12-30 14:34:30 +0300 )edit

@fk_lx I only opposed to check your emails when driving at a speed, I have nothing against you or anyone using their phone waiting at a traffic light or in traffic. I've seen cab driver texting whilst driving on a major/busy road.

fasza2mobile ( 2013-12-30 15:01:06 +0300 )edit
9

Currently the display is shutdown after a delay, even while you are using Maps-app and trying to navigate. So at least that should be changed.

Milo ( 2013-12-30 17:54:55 +0300 )edit

@fasza2mobile it all depends on conditions, I had situations when I was driving through completely empty highway and read subjects and senders of e-mails occasionally and then if if it was something really expected and urgent I just stopped at nearest parking area to read it.

fk_lx ( 2013-12-30 18:15:29 +0300 )edit

15 Answers

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4

answered 2013-12-30 16:14:32 +0300

chrjos gravatar image

Quick access to bluetooth-settings, answer/deny-button, maps and music will be fine. Plus, i really miss the fm-transmitter from my old Nokia N8 to listen to my music while driving and using navigation.

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I would really love the fm-transmitter in Jolla! I have my n900 all the time in the car with me because the fm-transmitter is one of the best features in it, especially when unlocked. Does anyone know if it would be possible to use n900's fm-transmitter and make a TOH with it? Or something similar because I don't want anything bad to happen for my n900 :)

joonne ( 2014-02-17 08:13:06 +0300 )edit

FM-transmitters a sub-optimal solution. You can play music over your car stereo through Bluetooth or even a jack-connector...

bilgy_no1 ( 2015-02-11 13:18:39 +0300 )edit

@bilgy_no1, eventhough Bluetooth is superior to FM, it is not easy all times. In my car, having Bluetooth but not profiles for music streaming, and factory fitted stereo, I have to do some extensive and expensive modification in the car in order to get that kind of functions working. Thus, a FM transmitter is a very feasible solution in many cases.

nick75 ( 2015-02-11 14:06:17 +0300 )edit
12

answered 2014-01-05 13:51:36 +0300

bilgy_no1 gravatar image

It would be great for me if Jolla had some kind of 'Car Panel' mode, similar to what HTC offers on their phones. In the Car Panel mode, several apps are available on the screen: navigation, phone, music. The screen stays on, so if you want to initatie a call, you do not first need to wake the screen.

It's already very functional on Android, but I think it could be even better on Sailfish, due to the better multitasking. Navigation could stay active, while you're making a phone call (in the case of the HTC panel, you need to exit navigation first and restart it after your call. This entails too many pushes etc. which is not safe while driving). In landscape mode, you could have colums for minimised apps, and a simple sweep changes to the next app. Or even just the basic home screen, but with the associated apps opening automatically.

I also envision that the car panel mode starts up when in contact with a car dock. It would be great to use a TOH for that (start Car Panel, charge the phone, connect BT to car sound system).

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that would be great:

I also envision that the car panel mode starts up when in contact with a car dock. It would be great to use a TOH for that (start Car Panel, charge the phone, connect BT to car sound system)

peter-berlin ( 2014-02-23 16:17:30 +0300 )edit

it would be nice if your car could start when you connect Jolla to TOH car dock =) i mean your start engine button would work only after you've connected Jolla

virgi26 ( 2014-02-27 12:18:22 +0300 )edit

MirrorLink would be a great feature. I don't want to use a Android for it...

TW1920 ( 2019-06-28 02:03:45 +0300 )edit
2

answered 2014-01-28 23:49:15 +0300

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This post is a wiki. Anyone with karma >75 is welcome to improve it.

updated 2014-01-28 23:49:15 +0300

TimTTK gravatar image

When Sailfish will get more popular it could be even used in vehicles as central operating system to manage entertainment systems and other vehicle features. Something similar to the ones seen to be made by Android and Apple now in few cars. That would be something.

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It's an old answer, I know, but you're both wrong and right. Sailfish OS is better for vehicles that anything. ...because of the multitasking. But there is no reason to wait for more popularity. With popular comes imminent obsolescence. Smart TVs rarely get updated but new software in the infotainment is almost unheard of. The software of the car needs to last and Sailfish OS does that. Working with the Helm2 project made me discover that what we consider normal in our phones works well inside a car. Right now there's only three things missing from my in-car bucket list: Input from bluetooth devices (phone to car). FM radio. And an app for showing "didi" (direction and distance) to fuel, food and such things, without being a GPS. Everything else is already in place, imho.

vattuvarg ( 2018-09-07 20:23:59 +0300 )edit
2

answered 2014-01-29 17:17:52 +0300

Mariusmssj gravatar image

I think it would be nice to have feature similar to the one of an upcoming Windows Phone update where phone can be set into driving mode. What this does it can hold calls and automatically reply to a person by a message saying "Sorry I am driving" if the person is driving and can't answer a call or reply.

When driving mode is disabled the phone works normally.

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1

answered 2014-02-14 17:58:58 +0300

wickwire gravatar image

How about enabling a screen mirror/flip option? Mobile device screens can reflect off of windscreens especially at night/low light, and it is possible to have the device project its UI to an area on the windscreen. This idea would only work though if the phone UI can be mirrored, to compensate for the reflection effect. Voice commands with it and it would be possible to have a HUD working on a discrete part of the windscreen - and then use any desired app - GPS navigation tools, messages, etc.

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Should be a matter of a shader effect I'd presume

Stskeeps ( 2014-02-15 21:53:12 +0300 )edit
2

answered 2014-02-14 21:05:56 +0300

vattuvarg gravatar image

updated 2017-09-05 21:01:02 +0300

Jolla Helm

PLEASE NOTE that the specs below are obsolete. The updated Helm 2.0 is specified in another answer.

  • Equipped with a display for night driving (or night fishing). Super black and quickly reversable for head-up use behind the steering wheel.

  • Sticky wireless charger pad holds the phone while powering for extended GPS navigation, dashboard instrumentation and in-car media.

  • Modified Sailfish theme engine adapted for excellent night visibility while keeping night eyes clear and alert.

  • BrightNight dual colour (white and red) LED torchlight.

  • FM/DAB receiver with built-in antenna for traffic information, weather reports, in-vehicle entertainment, etc.

  • The Jumper Cable Other Half allows charging straight from 12V batteries as well as from wireless pad.

The above was posted in the Jolla second device hardware thread.

Hardware updates

  • Hydrophobically treated to endure humid environments (on a bike or a boat, etc).

  • Remote control for better driving safety. May also be controlled from bluetooth headset.

Software updates

  • Dashboard Ambience with settings for in-vehicle use. May be combined with the new deck of Cards idea.

  • Map with weather forecast overlay (based on both weather and speed data).

  • Tethering for in-vehicle WLAN access for passengers.

  • Native darkMess app for optical signaling (using the torchlight and camera).

  • Native waveHello app combines waving and dynamic display to create multicolor floating messages. (Like the monkeylectric wheel lights).

  • New audio settings for in-ear navigation and info while serving in-car media (radio, music or video).

  • Special navigational data for children, like the are-we-there-yet map mode.

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The remote control might be best done with another smartphone+app?

vattuvarg ( 2014-02-14 21:48:37 +0300 )edit
1

Context-based ambience colouring perhaps/ambience selection that changes to a more night change feasible?

Stskeeps ( 2014-02-15 21:53:36 +0300 )edit

Avoiding certain colours should help the biker/driver/captain/pilot keep the "night eyes". The new deck of cards idea could then arrange active covers in the shape of a dashboard. The radio (as an example) would show RDS data on the active cover. The media player already shows the current song. Maps would show next direction, etc. If the background of the dashboard ambience could be changed dynamically (e.g. to alert) then the rest would be up to the user.

vattuvarg ( 2014-02-15 23:07:20 +0300 )edit

Yes, MirrorLink, absolutely!

hwicha ( 2014-02-25 21:51:20 +0300 )edit
24

answered 2014-02-16 20:41:38 +0300

HighCast gravatar image

I'd like to see Mirrorlink car device connectivity at Sailfish OS. This would allow, for example, using SailfishOS UI on a car device touch screen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MirrorLink

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2

this is imo the best way to g

teun ( 2015-02-09 16:34:54 +0300 )edit
2

I also would like if MirrorLink would be part of Sailfish OS

mastal ( 2016-01-27 14:57:20 +0300 )edit

Mirrorlink looks promising, but it can't work when car is moving.

4dmonster ( 2017-09-06 09:26:07 +0300 )edit

would be great!

TW1920 ( 2019-06-28 02:03:08 +0300 )edit
2

answered 2014-02-19 16:16:33 +0300

vattuvarg gravatar image

Changing things without looking would be nice. Matthaeus Krenn has a strange solution, but nice too. http://matthaeuskrenn.com/new-car-ui/

The multitouch idea could well be included in the IVI solution.

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Looks great, but the idea to relay on the number of fingers is a bit ....

deloptes ( 2018-10-12 01:43:33 +0300 )edit

The gestures of Sailfish OS are almost enough for my needs (with Helm2). The three-finger volume patch was nice when driving. Don't use it now, though.

vattuvarg ( 2018-10-13 18:44:21 +0300 )edit
0

answered 2014-02-23 14:47:40 +0300

aironeousb gravatar image

updated 2014-02-23 14:49:21 +0300

Unfortunately any technology solution you come up with can be simply vetoed by the government in your country. See, you may be great at taking and making email and voice calls using google glass or just a voice interaction UI but grandma may not and if any accidents happen because grandma or grandpa was distracted by your voice UI then here comes your lawmakers to label the whole thing unsafe.

The ultimate answer here is for tech companies and car companies to come up with several levels of tech competence tests while driving and these should be incorporated into your governments driving test.

A 3 tier test of tech competence while driving you would need to add as an option to your DMV test. It would be something like:

level 1 legacy/classic car interface) Person is not competent at using tech while driving or has opted out of this portion of the test. Phone must be turned off or go into "driving mode." Any DUI in your history defaults you to this level.

level 2) Competent at interacting with a voice UI only. Not competent at using a HUD while driving.

level 3) Competent at using both a HUD and voice UI.

There should be standards for all of these car/phone interface solutions. Something that doesn't mistakenly turn pedestrians phones into "driving mode." This test added to the driving test should be carefully made with the close cooperation of governments so as to not be easily cheated.

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Please don't be offended but... This could well be turned into a sci-fi story. ...and a funny one at that. :)

vattuvarg ( 2014-02-23 14:53:49 +0300 )edit
1

I hate all kind of restrictions like that put on technology just because some people use it irresponsibly. I want to control my devices. I don't think that sailfish should go in the direction you outlined here.

p.a ( 2014-02-23 15:56:17 +0300 )edit
1

Some restrictions are good. What about this one? How do we make it so easy to use a Jolla in a car that it isn't illegal?

vattuvarg ( 2014-02-23 16:12:07 +0300 )edit

A software company should offer a concept and implementation and it is up to the government to decide it is acceptable or not.

deloptes ( 2018-10-13 21:37:04 +0300 )edit

Governments accept anything for the right sum of currency. ...but I think it is better to create things with safety in mind anyway.

vattuvarg ( 2018-10-13 22:39:19 +0300 )edit
1

answered 2015-02-09 16:22:38 +0300

rgrnetalk gravatar image

updated 2015-07-02 12:27:47 +0300

A very very very basic HuD is now available via openrepos: HuD, (update 2-7-2015:) no longer via openrepos, but in official jolla store (update in the pipeline).

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Asked: 2013-12-30 13:54:01 +0300

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Last updated: Jun 28 '19