Automotive

Hudway app turns your phone into a head-up display

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The Hudway app in use
The Hudway app in use
Everything is displayed upside-down and backwards, so that it appears right-side-up and forwards when reflected onto the windshield
To use the app, you start by inputting your starting point and destination, and then creating a mapped route between the two
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It was just this July that we heard about Garmin's HUD. It's a portable device that sits on the dashboard of the user's car, working with their smartphone to project a head-up display (HUD) onto the inside of their windshield. Russian startup Hudway has taken that same basic approach with its self-named free app, except that it utilizes just the phone – no projector is required.

The Hudway app is currently only available for iOS devices, although an Android version is expected to be ready in February.

To use it, you start by inputting your starting point and destination, and then creating a mapped route between the two. This is the only step in the process in which internet access is required.

You then place the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch on your dash, preferably on an anti-slip surface such as a silicone pad. Using the device's GPS and accelerometer, the app keeps track of data such as driving speed, geographic location, upcoming curves and hills in the road, and distance to required turns.

Everything is displayed on-screen upside-down and backwards, so that it appears right-side-up and forwards when reflected onto the windshield. It works in the same way as a TelePrompTer.

Everything is displayed upside-down and backwards, so that it appears right-side-up and forwards when reflected onto the windshield

As can be seen in the supplied photos, however, the reflected image can be a little double-visiony. It also likely doesn't show up that well in bright sunlight, although the designers point out that the app should be most helpful at night or in other low-visibility situations, anyways.

Hudway is available now, on iTunes – if you want the ad-free version, it'll cost you 99 cents. It can be seen in use in the video below.

Source: Hudway via Digital Trends

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11 comments
Christine Gray
Does it work anywhere ?
Ivan Klabukov
Worldwide. It uses Google or OSM direction service to build a route.
Daniel Mutch
I checked the app out under android and it is completely useless for me.
Frank Fain
@Daniel Mutch
interesting how you've already tried it under android.... Its available on IOS now but they said it would not be available until February for android...
Kevin Swanson
As the ticket written to the Google Glasses wearer in San Diego recently demonstrates, laws are in place that may place the user at risk of tickets. Automated vehicles should remove this obstacle as laws are changed.
Dave B13
Err. Brilliant, but as an android, I have to wait.
Smitty Jl
Sounds like a good way to cook your phone in a hot sunny area.
Bryan Paschke
Ok, I downloaded the app and tried it....pure garbage.
* Even under dim sunlight (extremely overcast) it's almost impossible to see. * no voice prompts * does not try to recalculate your route if you get off course or even start somewhere that's not your original starting point.
Overall, neat idea but pure garbage.
Bruce H. Anderson
For me, Google Maps on my smartphone works like a champ for navigation. I can usually find a spot to put the phone somewhere on the dash (business travel = rental cars), or I can just listen and follow directions. Not sure what benefit this adds.
Joso
This app is completely useless. It doesn't recompute your route and has no voice commands. I think that the best head up display navigation app with best Google Maps integration so far is Head-Up Nav. It's really easy to use.