I don't think the concern is distracting the driver from looking at the rear view mirror... the concern is distracting the driver from looking at the ROAD. GPS should only be mounted at right about dashboard height... any other GPS location is going to inevitably divert attention away from the road. Let's hope nobody buys this ridiculous contraption. Drivers have enough distractions as it is.

pj737

What?
AAAAAAAAAA!

strider_mt2k

The Navigon GPS is pretty cool. We did a review of it a while back:
[www.rainydaymagazine.com]

We have reviewed our share of GPS devices. What is needed is a HUD on the windshield. The "reality view" is already there...called "the road" :-)

If the turn indicators can be displayed directly on the windshield, then it would be a lot less distracting. It would be even better if the turn indicators could be made so that visually it appear "out on the road" where the turn is suppose to take place. That way the eye does not have to keep focusing back and forth.

RainyDayInterns

They might as well sell a cattle gaurd to install on the front of your car with this to make it easier to flatten all the pedestrians you'll hit while trying to look at this thing.

DirtySocks

@uncleruss: Not only that, the driver missed his turn to Chicago.

Geisrud

It'll take a while for people to get used to the conflicting images - remember, the image on the left is what's behind you and going away, while the display on the right is ahead of you and coming at you at 72 MPH.

I'm thinking this is going to be bad.

I have my GPS on the lower left side of my dash, to the left of my steering wheel. It obstructs my view less there, and doesn't disturb my observation pattern.

hakubak

I would say they started off on the wrong foot, the road behind you is 2 lane, while the directions on the GPS are to take the exit off a 3 lane highway, what kind of ad is that?

uncleruss

I hope this thing has a reflective surface (i.e. like a traditional rear-view mirror.) What happens when it's rebooting/lost power/off?? Guess you just can't back up.

Also, to make this more annoying, they should add banner adds to the bottom "Sponsored by 7-11: Wouldn't you like a nice big gulp right now? Exit first street, turn right..."

Kuato

I'd like the idea if it was $300, but at $800 I'd just rather put in the nice Kenwood stereo navigation unit with a big screen, etc.

I guess this would be good if you had no dash space, but otherwise, why?

GeekyNerdGuy

@pj737:
I agree completely -- the mirror location requires far more refocusing and head movement away from the view of the road.

@RainyDayInterns:
- agree on the HUD symbology -- preferably focused at infinity though I'm speaking without understanding what it would cost to do that. Even minimal text, such as 2 lines of text showing next the 2 turns is really what most of us use I would think -- with street names / exit numbers and distance to turn. On my Garmin, I find myself flipping between the god's-eye view and the list view of upcoming turns all the time.

Geraldo

@TVGenius: I didn't research CA law, but in MN (which has similar statutes) the 2007 Statute, Chapter 169, Section 71 says,

Subdivision 1. Prohibitions generally; exceptions. (a) A person shall not drive or operate any motor vehicle with:
(1) a windshield cracked or discolored to an extent to limit or obstruct proper vision;
(2) any objects suspended between the driver and the windshield, other than sun visors and rearview mirrors and electronic toll collection devices;...

I think these might actually be okay, depending if the rear-view camera is permissible as a rear-view mirror.

Geisrud

have fun putting down the sun visors in your car with that gigantic mirror in the middle of them. you'll have to move the rear view mirror out of the way just to put them down

snowtires

this mirror is going to need constant readjustment with the touchscreen built into it.
It's going to cause accidents.

zed0

@Kuato: Indeed, they should use the same (or similar) tech as they did with that cell phone (LG Shine, I think) so one could use as a regular rear-view mirror.

Geisrud

buy a tom tom and save your money.

urbanturban666

Wouldn't this be illegal in California? You're not allowed to have a GPS (or anything else) 'attached' to the windshield.

TVGenius

I'm pretty sure the left 2/3 of the mirror can still function as a regular mirror. Still pretty awkward though.

joe23521

Seems too small. You'd be squinting to see the text or you have to move your head up to the mirror like you were going to put on makeup. Unless this thing is the size of those rear-view mirror attachments that my Asian friends seem to have that span the entire length of your windshield. LOL.

berribrand

@TVGenius:

Apparently they're working on making it legal: [www.engadget.com]

But it's not like we should expect them to follow suit with the rest of the 50 states on GPS legislation...remember this from a couple years back? [archive.salon.com]

generalassembly