Well, I really don't like having a cell at all, but my contract w/ Verizon ended and my wife, bless her little heart, got me an iPhone 3GS to replace it.

This thing is cool.

Besides getting "apps" (short for "applications"), for sports and stuff, I had to find one to replace my older Magellan GPS unit as I "loaned" it to my brother. It is somewhere around Tuscon. Or Lake Geneva.

Lots of free "apps". And $.99 ones. Cool ones. As I was driving back home through the wilds of West Alabama Saturday night/Sunday morning, I was using the GPS map: App Store - MotionX GPS Drive

And was wondering why my UltraGauge was reading 77 MPH when my hated 2000 Accord speedo said 83 MPH. (Large amounts of food travelling cross-state to my 320 lb son precluded driving the buggy). The MotionX doesn't have speed display (for $1, what can I expect?) So I started looking for a GPS speedometer. Found many. All work, and agree with my UltraGauge. The Accords' speedo is off.

Many $1 and free HUD speedometers. some with other info, some barebones.

aSmart HUD for iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad Wi-Fi + 3G, and iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G on the iTunes App Store
App Store - speed HUD
App Store - Car Dashboard

And my favorite:
App Store - Awesome HUD

Anyone else do this? A dot of Velcro or a low-profile mount to keep it in place on the dash about 6" from the defroster vents. And low. Don't want to block my vision.

It needs to be charging while on GPS or it will only last ~ 2 hours.

 

I'll bet I can't do this on the $15 plan

 

$15??? Smoke signal blanket? Semaphores? Screaming parrots?

No, but I'll guarantee that your phone is going as fast as you're driving!

 

BUMP. Anyone?

 

I like the speedometer app. at night you can set it to reflect off your windscreen to show you how fast your going.

 

Bob, when ya gonna name that car ?
The suspense is killing us ........

( I've about settled on 'Crissie' for mine. Hows that grab you ? )

 

I use the map feature for driving directions instead of a Garman, Tomtom, etc.. Works well for me.

Great price on the G3S - FREE w/2 year contract.

 

The NAV lady is named Ruth; I just had to keep that name around. I just haven't come up with a proper name for it. I can say this, she's cost me more in upkeep than my last two SRT's combined lol.

 

It does drain the battery pretty quick.

 

I have a Garmin that tells me how fast I am going if I don't believe the speedo. Other than that I don't like reflections on the windshield of any kind and between the Garmin and the dashboard there is enough for me to watch already. To me you don't have to be going real fast on public roads to have fun. I only have a data plan on this free to me IPhone because AT&T makes me.

 

You are just too advanced for the rest of us, like usual

If I had it hard wired and setup for something like this, it could be very cool, but IMO there are too many distractions in the car as it is, and this is just one more...

 

I actually have a couple e-mails outstanding to a couple companies. One of them is beginning to look into Android based headunits, and the other, well the other is Zeitronix. I leave the puzzle of what I want to do to up for speculation.

 

I don't think you understand my point, guys-

With a HUD setup, you just look through the speed display and out the windshield-not taking your eyes off the road at all. Analog or digital-whatever your mind processes easiest.
I was thinking of this as I watched the deer on the side of the road...watch me going by!

It is just a set of numbers or a gauge floating in space over the hood. Try it. You can always delete it.

Like this, only not so busy nor so bright:

 

A much better example:

 

Max, I have all kinds of apps, including google earth on there. If I am delivering to a new location in the country, it is handy to see what I might be getting into with the semi, so I use google earth to take a look at the farm beforehand, and I can use the gps app if I wish....you will have a blast with all the apps, I have mine full, so I am now bundling some of them now...don't crash while playing now...

 

The HUD app is cool. And if you're concerned about running the battery down on the iPhone you can get a plug to go into the cigarette lighter with a USB connector on it that will keep the phone charged.

I keep my iPhone in the compartment at the aft end of the console. I have a USB connector in there that is hooked to my new Kenwood stereo. It keeps the iPhone charged and allows me to run and control the Pandora app from the radio. I'd have to give up Pandora to run the HUD so probably won't happen.

 

That's exactly what I'm referring to

 

There are a large number of HUD apps for the Android as well. The most popular seems to be Speed View. It comes in both a free version and another for $1.99.

 

I understand 100%, as I drove a BMW with a hard wired aftermarket HUD and a Gran Prix for 50K+ miles that had an OEM HUD - and I loved it. Since this is not a built in unit, I do not care for it. Between the rough suspension and tight turns, I see that damn thing flying all over the place because the only time I would see the advantage is for spirited driving so you dont have to look down - not for me unless it is hardwired but glad you are enjoying it.

 

As info, I read somewhere that auto manufactures have always calibrated their speedos on the fast side so they would not be blamed for a owner's ticket if they tell the officer the speedo said something different. I noticed this with my wife's Hyundai - it's ~3 MPH faster than the GPS. On the xfire, it's almost perfect.

Also, I too have a ultra gauge and after calibrating the distance and the gas, it's very accurate on average MPG and DTE. I really like that little gauge for $60.