Here you can record a voice memo that can be played back later. One of the more useful features is the memo option. During testing we never had to wait longer than a couple of seconds, but websites were noticeably slower than on a smartphone. The speed at which each story loads is dictated by network coverage, so it can vary. In traffic, however, your time can be spent checking out the headlines and an accompanying image, thanks to the addition of a mobile SIM-card.
#Idrive review bmw driver#
While iOS devices are supported, Android and Windows Phone users are less catered for.Īrguably the driver should keep his concentration fixed on the task at hand, not on the latest news stories. There's also the addition of Wiki Local to find interesting local sights, a vehicle finder in case you forget where you put your car and access to internet radio. BMW iDrive can read the latest updates out and it can even provide access to your Facebook calendar and trending topics on Twitter.
#Idrive review bmw Bluetooth#
Up to three Bluetooth devices can be synced at any one time.Īn Android and iOS app known as ConnectedDrive is available, which adds Facebook and Twitter. The AUX connection can allow iDrive to display the current artist and track when an iPod is attached and there's a Bluetooth connection for smartphones and tablets, the latter of which is easy to setup thanks to on-screen instructions. Technically a BMW fitted with a head-up display that projects the next direction onto the windscreen negates the issue of not using split-view somewhat, but a quick glance at the map on the display and the more informative directions to the right can sometimes be the difference between a right and a wrong turn, especially in heavy traffic on roads with multiple lanes.Ī number of connection options allow iDrive to work in conjunction with smart devices. We found it performed at its best with split view enabled, as the option allows you to see two functions side-by-side instead of just the one.
#Idrive review bmw tv#
On the whole, the user interface is easy to use and options load up quickly - certainly much faster than most smart TV interfaces, anyway. The option button is particularly handy for making quick changes to how iDrive operates. Fortunately iDrive has seven buttons - Media, Radio, Menu, Tel, Nav, Back and Option - located around the Touchpad that allow you to do just that. It even doubles-up as a mouse trackpad when surfing the web.īrowsing through the iDrive menu is relatively painless, but there will be times when you want to quickly jump from one task to another. You can also write out a letter on top of the Touchpad to enter it, saving you from having to use the on-screen menu system.Īnother handy feature of the Touchpad is the ability to pinch and zoom into navigation, just in case you need a closer or further out view of the journey ahead or surrounding area, and you can scroll left, right, up and down the map. Voice recognition can be a bit dodgy - just look at Apple's Siri - but it seemed to understand our British accent more often than not. Pressing on top selects an option.Ī voice control system allows you to, for example, speak out a destination. The BMW 'Touchpad' can also be used to go up and down through the infotainment options like a directional pad, with left and right reserved for selecting and backing out of a function. Fortunately place names are suggested after a few characters and, using the example of a postcode, letters and numbers are removed to save you scrolling through the entire alphabet. This entry method is reliable but can prove tedious with lengthier words. In some respects Audi's MMI and BMW's iDrive are quite similar in that the central wheel can be rotated, allowing the driver to select a letter or number from a circle of characters displayed on screen. Our 640d M Spec Coupe test car had the larger 8.8-inch display. The BMW iDrive infotainment system centres around a centrally-located dashboard glare-free display that comes in a 6.5 and 8.8-inch size and a control panel to navigate your way around the system.
BMW's offering, which we're reviewing today, is iDrive. It took little time for manufacturers to cotton on to the fact they could differentiate their cars with smartphone and tablet-esque connected technology, which is why most new cars have some sort of built-in infotainment system.
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