Dash Express - 3d map view
Last week I asked our readers what features they wanted me to detail for them, and many asked about our map views, specifically our 3d map view. The Dash Express has a number of drive views, including 2d, 3d, and a directions list view. Much of our marketing material has shown our 2d view, so many people have been asking to see our 3d view, so in this post I am going to describe our 3d view in both “day mode” and “night mode”.
3d view without a route set:
The screen shots below shows our 3d view without a route set. As you can see, there is traffic data along some of the surface streets and major arterials (I will get into a lot of detail on traffic in another post soon). As you can see, you can zoom in and out in our 3d mode with the “minus” and “plus” buttons. The compass not only shows you what direction you are driving, but touching it toggles you into 2d view (which I will show in detail in a post soon).
Here is the same screen in night mode:
3d view with a route set:
The screen shots below show our 3d view with a route set. As you can see, the top bar shows your next maneuver, while the screen visually shows you not only the upcoming move, but also the next maneuver if it is close after your first maneuver. The bottom right hand corner now shows the arrival time, and if you tap the arrival time this information area will rotate between distance left, time remaining, and arrival time.
Here is the same screen in night mode:
March 6th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Woah, nice display! So if we touched the “next maneuver” area (600ft Oregon Expy for example) would we then be able to see a list of all our upcoming directions?
March 6th, 2008 at 4:47 am
Thanks! Curious to find out how traffic appears on all of the sidestreets that currently aren’t showing any traffic data. Nice touch too - being able to cycle between distance left, time remaining and arrival time.
March 6th, 2008 at 5:28 am
@ Mark - Thanks, I was getting nervous, but I feel better now.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Best info’ yet, thanks.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Very cool; thanks for posting more photos & details.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Working on building a database of Dash Express users. This is totally voluntary. If interested, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dashnavigation.
March 7th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Nice - thanks
March 7th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Hey folks!! Go to the faq page 2. We have a manual!!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Will there be a way to change the “car” icon?
March 7th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
With the upcoming traffic post, could you identify how traffic is calculated and colored on the map? Such as - what exactly identifies the difference between yellow/orange/red - is there a speed to drop below, etc? Thanks!
March 8th, 2008 at 4:06 am
The colors of the traffic are explained in page 8 of the manual.
Same as a traffic light…mostly
Red — Stopped, congested
Orange — Slower
Yellow — Slow
Green — Normal, Free-flowing
White — Unknown
Don’t know about the speed.
March 8th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Thanks nday, but was looking for something more specific. Like what constitutues “slow” and what’s “slower?” Is there a speed difference, time difference, etc.
March 8th, 2008 at 7:51 am
No offense, but I’ve been watching for a while, hoping for better news… but seeing screens like this really scratch my head.
The “flat earth” sudden dropoff of terrain is a little disconcerting.
It’s not that I think I’m going to drive off the edge; it’s that the draw distance ahead looks surprisingly short. I want to see traffic up ahead, not where I already am.
And why distribute the (-) zoom icon to the left? Put it on the right and free up some contiguous real estate.
I’ll do some more digging around, but this thing, in my opinion, has a LONG way to go. Realtime is great but usability is king.
Andrew
March 8th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
@Andrew If you want to see further infront of you, you’ll have to zoom out.
There is space reserved on top (as you can see in the last 2 photos) as a background so you can further read the turn information. I’d rather be able to clearly see “Left Turn Oregon Expressway”, with a blue background than to have the background transparent with hard to read text.
~Rob
March 9th, 2008 at 12:43 am
A ‘Dash Express’ fan page is now up on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dash-Express/8467833959?ref=ts
March 13th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Understood on zooming out to see further in front of you - could you post some ‘zoomed out’ screenshots w/ traffic info?
I know the Dash will give me route options based on delays, but if I have to decide at the beginning of my commute which route to take, would be very beneficial to pick based on what the traffic is like at the main congestion points 20 miles away…
March 13th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I pre-ordered a Dash Express unit, and I can’t wait to get it. When do you expect to ship? As for routing based on traffic flow info., does the local Dash unit calculate/determine the routing (and alternate routes) based on traffic info. received from the host (Dash server) or does the host (Dash server) calculate the routing (and alternate routes) and send the routing info. to Dash Express unit in my car?