Smartphone App enhances navigation and infotainment features
- Picture Destinations allows users to send geo-coded photos from their smartphone to their in-vehicle navigation system
- Music Stream provides access to over 7,000 broadcast internet radio stations from around the world through the MMI interface
HERNDON, Va., April 16, 2014 – Owners of the all-new 2015 Audi A3 can now use their smartphone to enhance their ownership experience* with the Audi MMI® connect App. The App will synch directly with the available MMI® Navigation plus to elevate features both in and outside the car.
“This is the most advanced driver companion app Audi has ever launched,” said Anupam Malhotra, Senior Manager, Connected Vehicles for Audi of America. “The Audi connect Smartphone App features intuitive technology and easy-to-use features that not only increase functionality, but make the ownership experience fun and even more enjoyable.”
The MMI® connect App also works alongside owners’ existing myAudi accounts (my.AudiUSA.com). Key features include:
- Online destinations
With functionality supported by Google Maps™, drivers can search for a destination in advance, send that destination to their car via myAudi, and program it in the MMI® Navigation system. The App also allows them to browse contacts or calendar entries for address details and send them to the car.
- Picture destinations
With Picture destinations, drivers don’t even need an address. They can select any geo-coded picture from an existing picture album on their smartphone, or take a new picture on the spot, and send it to their car. Once in the car, drivers can browse through the photos and navigate to the destination where the photos were taken. This feature also makes it very convenient to drive to a friend or family member – friends and family simply send a geo-coded picture from their location and the App can be used to upload the image to the vehicle.
- Music stream
When a passenger’s smartphone is connected to the MMI® system over the in-car Wi-Fi, it’s possible to access thousands of web radio stations, as well as any music stored on their smartphone. Using the MMI interface, vehicle occupants can browse top stations, select from their favorite radio stations, or go through playlists on their device. For passengers, the App offers additional functionality including radio station selection by genre, topic, country, or language, as well as free-text searches and storing favorites. These features are available once the smartphone is connected to the MMI® system over the available Wi-Fi. The App can also be used outside a vehicle to listen to web-radio (home, office, etc.).
- Car finder
Thanks to Car finder, drivers can access their vehicle location through the App. When their smartphone is connected to the in-vehicle Wi-Fi, the MMI® connect App makes a note of where the car is parked, allowing drivers to easily navigate back to it from wherever they might be. The Car finder feature also allows users to take a photo of where they parked, which is stored with their vehicle location, to help recall area markers, garage levels, or other important information.
The App is available for download on the iTunes store. An Android version will be available in the near future. To view videos that illustrate the functionality of the MMI® connect App, please visit: http://youtu.be/yzmB6GQkFY8
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