RunningOnSolar
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Scott
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- Aug 17, 2024
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- Macan 4, Subaru Solterra
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Recently, I chose the Porsche navigation app to navigate to a friend’s house instead of using CarPlay. After reading reviews about the augmented reality features maybe AR would demonstrate some advantages over the Apple Maps and CarPlay. Also, it was interesting to see how well CarPlay and Porsche Navigation coexist and maybe decide if Porsche navigation should be the tool of choice going forward. This post hopefully clarifies the strengths and weaknesses of each app.
select Porsche navigation by tapping the Navigation icon in the center display of the PCM or passenger display if you have one. I recommend Porsche voice commands such as “Take me to (address).” Don’t worry about exact wording as natural language is supported. If you type, there is some help given by the nav trying to guess your destination (or waypoint). In some cases the guess may significantly reduce the work, but always confirms your pick by naming the associated city.
Once your destination is successfully input, the fun begins. A map appears in your center display and if you have the HUD, it will start giving you hints and eventually directional arrows. Arrows appear when you are close enough to a turn (or possible lane change). The absolute magic here is in not guessing distance to a turn. Instead the arrow (or arrows) in the HUD grow and animate to signal the immediacy of your upcoming turn. This works for intersections, roundabouts and when you have to switch lanes to avoid an exit lane (etc). The experience is fun and engaging. It makes sure you get your turns right first time and every time. If you choose, you can display the Porsche navigation maps instead of gauges and switch to CarPlay in the center and/or passenger display. This balances out your display use well if you don’t want to look far ahead in the map for your next turn.
I had read reviews and seen pictures of the turn by turn guidance in the HUD, but the shear WOW factor took me by surprise. Static pictures of the HUD arrows simply don’t do this feature justice.
While the turn by turn arrows are an impressive and useful feature, the most compelling Porsche navigation feature is charge planning and battery conditioning. For that reason alone, I expect the Porsche navigation to be my tool of choice on long road trips.
On the other hand, CarPlay takes advantage of all your stored contact information so it may require less work before you start driving. CarPlay is not as lively or helpful in the HUD, but still provides a high percentage of the same functionality. HUD info includes guidance about which lane to choose. If you just want to use the nav as a copilot and avoid traffic congestion, CarPlay functionality is plenty adequate and may even be preferred as it is somewhat more seamless and familiar.
Bottom line: I prefer Porsche navigation on long trips and for less familiar roads because of the charging planner and extraordinary augmented reality features it provides if you have a HUD. However, I will stick to CarPlay around town because of the familiarity and integration with my contacts list.
select Porsche navigation by tapping the Navigation icon in the center display of the PCM or passenger display if you have one. I recommend Porsche voice commands such as “Take me to (address).” Don’t worry about exact wording as natural language is supported. If you type, there is some help given by the nav trying to guess your destination (or waypoint). In some cases the guess may significantly reduce the work, but always confirms your pick by naming the associated city.
Once your destination is successfully input, the fun begins. A map appears in your center display and if you have the HUD, it will start giving you hints and eventually directional arrows. Arrows appear when you are close enough to a turn (or possible lane change). The absolute magic here is in not guessing distance to a turn. Instead the arrow (or arrows) in the HUD grow and animate to signal the immediacy of your upcoming turn. This works for intersections, roundabouts and when you have to switch lanes to avoid an exit lane (etc). The experience is fun and engaging. It makes sure you get your turns right first time and every time. If you choose, you can display the Porsche navigation maps instead of gauges and switch to CarPlay in the center and/or passenger display. This balances out your display use well if you don’t want to look far ahead in the map for your next turn.
I had read reviews and seen pictures of the turn by turn guidance in the HUD, but the shear WOW factor took me by surprise. Static pictures of the HUD arrows simply don’t do this feature justice.
While the turn by turn arrows are an impressive and useful feature, the most compelling Porsche navigation feature is charge planning and battery conditioning. For that reason alone, I expect the Porsche navigation to be my tool of choice on long road trips.
On the other hand, CarPlay takes advantage of all your stored contact information so it may require less work before you start driving. CarPlay is not as lively or helpful in the HUD, but still provides a high percentage of the same functionality. HUD info includes guidance about which lane to choose. If you just want to use the nav as a copilot and avoid traffic congestion, CarPlay functionality is plenty adequate and may even be preferred as it is somewhat more seamless and familiar.
Bottom line: I prefer Porsche navigation on long trips and for less familiar roads because of the charging planner and extraordinary augmented reality features it provides if you have a HUD. However, I will stick to CarPlay around town because of the familiarity and integration with my contacts list.
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