Dash Unveils the First Internet-Connected GPS Device

Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:26AM EST

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Every year, Robin Raskin hosts the Last Gadget Standing competition at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which she explains in this post. Our mission is to select a handful of new gadgets we believe will stand the test of time, then we ask you to vote for the one device you think may actually be life-changing.

One of the gadgets we've selected this year is the Dash Express, which was announced this past Monday (you can read about some of the other contenders here). I sat down with Dash representatives, who explained some of the highlights of the system. Just to give you an overall idea, the Dash Express along with the Dash Service do more than provide driving directions from point A to point B.

In fact, this is the first Internet-connected GPS system to provide you with interactive features that let you send an address straight to your system, conduct Yahoo! Local Searches, download RSS feeds of recommended destinations, and even plan alternate routes along with times of arrival so that you can skip traffic.

I've been using a navigation system in my car for the last two years, and I can tell you I'm ready for the next generation of GPS devices. When I heard what the Dash Express can do, I knew I was getting a glimpse of the future of in-car navigation systems. Robin describes it as GPS meets social network, and I couldn't agree more.

One of the features I know will be life-changing to me is the ability to send an address straight to my car. A browser plug-in called Send2Car allows you to highlight any address online or in Microsoft Outlook, then send it directly to your car via Wi-Fi or GPRS, so you don't have to bother writing it down or programming into your system. If you're on the road, you could easily have someone send your system an address, or you can send it straight from computer before you get behind the wheel. The possibilities are endless with this feature. Just imagine being able to send Evites in the future with a "Send to Car" address button that, when clicked, would send turn-by-turn driving directions to your guests' systems.

Since the device is always connected, you could easily conduct a Yahoo! Local Search of unlimited points of interest along with key details to help you choose the right destination. For example, if you do a search for nearby gas stations, gas prices are also displayed to help you pick the closest gas station with the lowest gas price. If you're headed to the movie theatre, you can choose one based on movie times, and restaurants searches can be sorted out by a rating system so that you're always in the know.

The social aspects of the Dash Express are extremely practical, thanks to the systems' ability to accept RSS feeds. By logging on to MyDash portal, you're able to create your own feeds or import feeds others have created. This feature would be great for those who travel frequently, and want to find the local hot spots in town or even the best tourists spots. If the list doesn't exist, you could always create it yourself, and share it with others. I've always wanted a feature like this for open houses, garage sales, and road trips.

The Dash Express also provides you with up to three routing options along with traffic conditions and an estimated time of arrival so that you can select the fastest or shortest route. The latest updates are sent straight to your GPS system wirelessly thanks to AutoUpdate, so you'll always have the most current information. The Dash Express costs $599 and includes three free months of the Dash Service. There's no monthly subscription, but if you want to have all the interactive features, you're required to sign up for the Dash Service, which costs $9.99 per month with a two-year plan or $12.99 per month with no commitment. I asked Dash reps if the Dash Service was required, and they said it's not. Without Dash Service, the Dash Express would behave just like a standard GPS system.

So what do you think? Do you think the Dash Express is a life-changing product?

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  • 6 Posted by tinwings2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    This may indeed be the best idea of the ten, but the very first thing I wondered about while reading the article was Internet connectivity. Ten dollars a month for a two year contract seems very optimistic to me. I typically avoid commitments this long for technology. And $13 for an open commitment seems steep too. In two years time someone else could come up with a GPS that tracks traffic, in real time, without a special purpose optional connection. Why not partner up with some existing providers at a reduced rate? Google already tracks traffic on Google maps and that's just the cost of your existing internet connection. Granted it's a bit behind actual events, but it's better than the news.

  • 7 Posted by steve_scsavoia on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm a Marketing Director for a healthcare organization. I'd like some opinions so please post your comments with your reply. My question is, do you see this technology as a future advertising channel for a captive audience? For example, if a GPS user types in locations for the nearest drug stores within a 5 mile radius of their current location...could there be an ad opportunity to have a small pop up window or some vehicle to promote XYZ company's healthcare or beauty product that drug stores sell to the public? Could the message be audible, visual, or would it be sent to the user's e-mail address? I'd like your thoughts on this. Maybe I'm just way off but you never know!

  • 9 Posted by skhan66 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    For that price, i think the dash service should be free.

  • 10 Posted by inarmsway on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    My Garmin Nuvi does everything this does and more and I dont have to pay anything for monthly service. Also, i am skeptical about the internet speed on this thing. if its anything like my iphone (which i LOVE by the way) the mobile internet feels slower than dial-up on my first 56k modem. Everyone and their brother wants to be a GPS player these days and most of them dont last long. i would go with a Garmin, they are the original GPS guys and everything else is a compromise..

  • 11 Posted by mojo_wire on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hilarious. $10/month for a service that tells you how to save 2 cents/gallon on gas.

  • 12 Posted by jharris92109 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree, definitely go with a Garmin. I have one and couldn't be happier. Very skeptical going with a no-name and unproven company which likely does not have the same quality and tech support that Garmin does.

  • 13 Posted by johntheadams on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    Silly and stupid. The pupose of mobile GPS is to aid the driver in navigagtion, not cause potentially dangerous distractions. Why stop there? Why not display DVD movies? Idiotic and ridiculous. A toy for snobs.

  • 14 Posted by ivelbow on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Let's see is this a navigation device, a PDA, a video player, a Palm Pilot, an ultra-portable computer or just a gizmo to impress your friends? How about none of the above and expensive to boot. How many user interfaces must one person learn to accomplish nothing much of anything?

  • 15 Posted by middlenamefrank on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Is it just me or is everyone missing the most useful aspect of an internet-capable GPS unit? I currently have two GPS units I use and love (an in-dash in my car and a portable), but neither one of them has any awareness of current traffic levels. I'd give my eyeteeth for a unit that could plan a route based on current traffic conditions. I'm guessing they don't have the software up and running yet but they will soon. I'd agree the other online features are pretty silly but the ability to dodge traffic jamups would be WELL worth the price of admission.

  • 16 Posted by phatbootyluvr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've been hearing sound bites about Dash like I have been hearing sound bites about Tesla Motors. Both appear to be the crest of technology. And like most new technology, the price will go down and features will go up. Who here bought the iPhone for $500 versus those that bought it at $400? Dash...when is it available?

  • 17 Posted by surfnfx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Garmin IS the best GPS there is. I have 2 of them. 1 is a hand held that has TOPO loaded on it and works great offroad. The other is a C330, that I use mostly for trips. I have only one complaint about both of them. If I want to from Toronto to western Canada (a easy route, there is only 1 Hwy) the GPS always wants to take me thru the USA! This really ticks me off. I drive Big Rig and will have some stops on the way, but Garmins Gps's still want to take me thru the states first and then back up into Canada. Theres noting wrong with the states but I would rather stay in Canada and not have the hassle and cost and lost time of going over the boarder. I have e-mail Garmin many times about this problem! No responce from them at all. Next time maybe I will buy a Tom Tom. Al Mosher

  • 18 Posted by allanb-yl@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    $9.95 a month is not even in the ballpark reasonable for this service unless youre on the road very often, I am not. How about a per use charge say $.50 to send a route from my PC to the device over WIFI. Then you will definitely have me interested. You can still offer the $9.95 plan to those with greater needs.

  • 19 Posted by john_kuma on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    Great...ANOTHER way for drivers to be distracted while driving. It's bad enough that cell phones cause so many accidents, now with a device like this you know people will be accessing the web and paying less attention to the road.

  • 20 Posted by medicalifornia_07 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    low maintenance person here, lived a decade or so in pakistan before moving to southern california in 2006. i recently got a Pharos 550e (google it) used for $150 off ebay, pda+wifi+updated software saying out street names and use it and it's case as a WALLET. can use by itself, sound is loud enough or with headphones while listening to music. other thing was i checked out the software company and it's right down the road near irvine spectrum so i was like 'hmm'. only thing not there is LIVE traffic updates but i don't really care considering the state of congestion/population and it will only increase..so personally to me,it doesn't really matter duuude ;|

  • 21 Posted by derrick072 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    paying internet is stupid since you can't surf and drive. keep in mind the subcription based products can be a turn off to some people as they are already paying for similar internet features through cable or cell phone. I don't need andother monthly bill to pay on my list. If you must kept it under $5 bucks. Any pice over $11 buck should be free since it the unit will be paid for in a few years and possible over.

  • 22 Posted by ainthot on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    guess what? if everyone knows where a traffic problem is, guess where the next traffic problem will be.

  • 23 Posted by wireloom on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    For $400-$500, it kinda expensive. Expect lower price versions from competitors. Internet service should be free for 2 year if someone pays $500 for it. How else are they going to get people to buy and use it, unless they take a loss for the intial product offering. There's already a standalone GPS that offer traffic for free. (It's around the $200 range.) Traffic and Internet is not a big deal unless, you're on the road all the time. Though, $9-10 for service is reasonable.

  • 24 Posted by necrumbaugh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a laptop, which I take on the road both for business and pleasure. When venturing into unknown territory, I reseach before I leave and have maps and other info (like national parks I wish to hike) at hand. I stay in hotels with Wi-Fi so I can get local info from the Internet using the laptop. I save pages so I can check them later when off-line. I use a mapping program with a GPS unit attached to the laptop USB port for directions and food/gas stops. The screen is much larger than any standard GPS unit. When not using it for navigation, the backseaters can watch a DVD or play games on the laptop while the GPS software runs in the background for quick route checks. For local trips I have a low-end GPS that will run a couple of hours on battery and can be used in the car or when on foot or bicycle. Other than the laptop, which I already had, both GPS products cost me about $300 togther. I don't think this will be a life-changing product. I think it is too little for too much. The always on-line features are nugatory and expensive. But you could have shown photos that show it's unique shape - it drapes over the front of the cars' dash.

  • 25 Posted by c_shawn_h on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it's silly to buy a GPS unit for $600 when I can buy a touch screen cell phone with GPS for $300. Microsoft and Google both have FREE software that will use GPS and the addresses in your Outlook contacts on a Windows Mobile cell phone. Internet service on a cell phone does cost $25-$30 per month but you brake even in about 3 years plus it's MOBILE.

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