Apple Gets Car Dashboard Patent

While there has been talk that Apple's iOS 7 would find its way into cars, a new patent won by the Cupertino, Calif. company seems to indicate that Apple wants to take over the dashboard.

The patent filed in 2009 and named “Programmable tactile touch screen displays and man-machine interfaces for improved vehicle instrumentation and telematics” was granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Wired reported. It features a touchscreen with "tactile feedback" that act as virtual knobs and sliders.

The iDash also offers a tangible way for how Apple will bring its iOS to the auto. It also will allow users to incorporate their iPhones with the dashboard either through tethering or Wi-Fi. Then users would have access to "Maps, the Music Player, Messages" and other apps. The whole thing will also be controlled by voice commands.
 
We wrote about Apple wanting the iOS to be in cars last April, likely as a way to push out middleman software. However, right now Wi-Fi isn't in most cars, although it's scheduled for many come 2014. But don't expect it to show up in 2015 models without more work from Apple to create a product better than ones already available from Ford or GM.
 
 
 
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