DS Car Navigation Arrives in Japan
Posted by Thomas Whitehead
Courtesy of Toyota
A lot of modern cars have satellite navigation and as many buttons as Apollo 11, but Toyota has decided that perhaps the whole experience can be a bit more easy-going in the Japanese market, if a bit of Nintendo is thrown into the mix. The car manufacturer has created the Smart Navi car navigational system that uses a DS — and we assume a 3DS — as a navigational remote control.
As reported by Kotaku, Kuruma de DS is a DS cart that links, through bluetooth, with a Smart Navi system and then allows a passenger to use the sat-nav with the DS, through a user-friendly interface that features Miis, maps and sight-seeing information. With a speedometer, quiz and the ability to play DS sound through the car speakers, it sounds like a fun gizmo.
If you live in Japan and fancy giving this a try, however, you'll need to save some serious Yen. The best Smart Navi system is ¥206,850 (US$2,586), while Kuruma de DS is purchased separately through Toyota for ¥7,329 ($92): not a cheap luxury. Still, it's DS satellite navigation, what's not to like?
[via kotaku.com]
#1
Burning_Spear said:
How about we just get lost and I use the DS to play Harvest Moon?
#2
Aviator said:
A smart Navi system...
When was I hired?
#3
WiiLovePeace said:
Man that sounds suprisingly fun & awesome
#4
photofool83 said:
I love technology like this. Not that I have the money for things like this. But I do love the technology.
#5
Randomname19 said:
"With the ability to play DS sound through the car speakers"
That would be annoyng and funny at the same time.
Hadouken!Hadouken!Hey,listen!
#6
BlueBana said:
DS sounds trough the cars speakers.. if I had this technology in my car I would play Zelda the whole ride!
#7
3Dash said:
My brother wants a DS game that you can buy a car for and drive and crash and waste money
#8
Obvious78 said:
Now there is a hole in the market that needs to be filled...I dont think it will have much success. I do wonder how it will interact and how save this will be.
#9
japzone said:
Darn, no video.
#10
Expa0 said:
Sigh.. Long gone are times when game systems were used for gaming.
#11
SLiM said:
I just need a car that drives itself, so I can play my 3DS
#12
childofacid said:
"Hey! Listen!! Turn Left!!"
#13
SkywardLink98 said:
I'd rather get one of those prototype cars that drives itself, and play my 3DS
and I can already play my 3DS's sound through my car, I got a tape-adapter that let's me plug in a little wire that's basically a headphone jack 
#14
DrDaisy said:
I guess texting while driving doesn't cause enough accidents so that had to add this.
#15
Geonjaha said:
Dear God look at those prices. x.x
#16
Hokori said:
Maybe it should be a free or a $2 dsiware or 3DSware app
#17
EvisceratorX said:
Haha, and you can even use the D-Pad to drive your car, too!
#18
tardis10 said:
I reckon Resetti pops up and barks at you if you get lost.
#19
famestephy09 said:
technology... it keeps getin sicker
#20
clubmini said:
: Why is this released so late... also expensive... D:
#21
StarDust said:
Is it just me, or is using any type of game console while driving generally a bad idea? People have wrecks from texting while driving; I'm sure linking your DS up to your satellite system while you drive is just as bad, if not worse.