Garmin taps QNX technology to create K2 infotainment platform

Complete digital cockpit delivers navigation, diagnostics, streaming media, smartphone integration, and voice recognition

Most people are familiar with Garmin's many portable GPS devices, from sports watches to action cameras to PNDs. But Garmin has also created the K2, a next-generation infotainment solution that's built for automakers and based on the QNX CAR platform.

The K2 is a complete “digital cockpit” that comprises multiple digital displays, on- and off-board voice recognition, smartphone integration, and optional embedded 4G connectivity. It's designed to give drivers simple, intuitive access to navigation, vehicle diagnostics, streaming media, and realtime Web information. It's also designed with scalability in mind, so automakers can use it to address diverse market requirements and cost targets.

According to Matt Munn, managing director of Garmin’s automotive OEM group, “the QNX CAR platform has played a major role in helping us to achieve our goal of providing both world-class software reliability and flexible access to emerging consumer applications. From the proven stability and performance of the QNX architecture to the company’s worldwide industry recognition, QNX was the logical choice.”

Other key features of the K2 include a 3D-enhanced city model, a predictive services calendar, and remote personalization and control via a web portal or smartphone.

Here's the K2 at a glance:

Source: Garmin

And here's a demo of the system, filmed by Engadget at 2013 CES:



For more information on this announcement, read the press release. And for more on the K2 itself, visit the Garmin blog.

A version of this article was originally posted on the QNX auto blog.

Foryou Electronics, leading infotainment supplier in China, makes the shift to QNX CAR platform

A Foryou infotainment system.
Source: Foryou

This just in: Foryou General Electronics, a global supplier of in-car infotainment systems, has chosen the QNX CAR platform to develop infotainment and navigation systems for automakers in China.

Said Steven Chen, CTO of Foryou General Electronics, ”we appreciate the modular, pre-integrated approach that the QNX CAR platform offers because it allows us to develop highly reliable, differentiated infotainment solutions for entry-level to high-end vehicles.”

Foryou chose the QNX CAR platform after comprehensive testing of competing infotainment platforms, including open source solutions.

Established in September 2002, Foryou General Electronics is a subsidiary of Foryou Group Ltd., one of the top 100 electronic information enterprises of China. Its products are sold in more than 80 countries and regions worldwide; company sales were more than US$300 million in 2012.

For more information on this announcement, read the press release.

20 million points of interest
In related news, QNX has also announced that it is partnering with AutoNavi, a leading provider of digital map content and navigation solutions in China, to integrate AutoNavi’s technology into the QNX CAR platform.

AutoNavi offers a digital map database that covers approximately 3.6 million kilometers of roadway and over 20 million points of interest across China. By supporting this database, the QNX CAR platform will enable automotive companies to create navigation systems optimized for the Chinese market and users.

Said Yongqi Yang, executive vice president of automotive business, AutoNavi, “as a leading global provider of vehicle infotainment software platforms, QNX is not only a technology leader, but also a design concept innovator in enhancing vehicle flexibility — infotainment designs based on the QNX CAR Platform can be quickly customized.”

For more information on this partnership, read the press release. And to learn more about AutoNavi, visit their website.

This article was originally posted on the QNX auto blog.

Panasonic goes global with QNX CAR platform

In the automotive market — or any market, for that matter — a product platform must be judged by its flexibility. After all, the whole point of a platform is to help you create multiple products or product lines, each with its own distinguishing features, while reusing as many components as possible. Done right, a platform lets you target multiple price points, multiple consumer segments, and multiple geographies, in the least time and at the least cost. If that doesn’t define flexibility, I don’t know what does.

Which brings me to Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America. They’re an international supplier of infotainment systems — Chevy MyLink and Chrysler Uconnect are just two of their products — and they need this kind of flexibility to deliver localized solutions  to their OEM customers in North America, Europe, and Japan. To help achieve it, they use the QNX CAR platform.

Flexible by design: MyLink supports
a touchscreen, voice commands,
and steering-wheel buttons.

To quote Scott Kirchner, vice president and CTO of Panasonic Automotive Systems, “we wanted a platform that would let us quickly customize our infotainment systems for a variety of markets and customer requirements — the QNX CAR platform, with its modular architecture and support for mobile connectivity standards, provides the inherent flexibility we were looking for.”

That quote comes from a press release issued just a few minutes ago. To read the release in its entirety, visit the QNX website. But before you click, remember also to visit the Chevy website, where you can find out more about the MyLink system. And did I mention? MyLink has been building quite the trophy case, what with the Best of CES 2013 Award it won in January and the CTIA Emerging Technology (E-Tech) Award it won in May.

Chevy MyLink system.
Images: Chevrolet

This post originally appeared on the QNX auto blog

Six QNX videos more people ought to see

Looking for examples of how people use QNX? You've come to the right place. From outer space to the automotive space, these six videos demonstrate the sheer flexibility and dynamic range of QNX technology. Better yet, you get to hear five users describe, in their own words, why QNX is important to what they do.

QNX in space
First up is Iain Christie of Neptec, the company responsible for creating the SVS and LCS camera systems on the NASA space shuttle. Highlight: when Ian explains the importance of QNX to the shuttle program (1:46). For more on the QNX-based LCS system, see my previous post.



QNX in the clinic
Next up is Vladimir Derenchuk of the Indiana University Health Proton Therapy Center, which uses proton beams to blast difficult-to-treat tumors. Highlight: it's all good, but listen to Vladimir explain why they chose QNX, and how it has helped with FDA approvals (1:34).



QNX in the HVAC
Next up is Hans Symanczik of Kieback & Peter, a German firm that has used QNX in building automation systems for more than 20 years. Highlight: when Hans explains the ultimate benefit of the QNX OS (2:07).



QNX on the air
Next up is Mikael Vest of NTP, a Danish company that supplies QNX-based audio routers to the global television and radio broadcasting industry. Highlight: Mikael himself, who gladly did this interview despite suffering from a flu to end all flus. A real trooper.



QNX on the road
Next up is Rick Kreifeldt of Harman International, a company known in the automotive industry for its ability to push the technology envelope. Highlight: the section where Rick's respect for the QNX team shines through (2:14).



QNX in flight
And last but not least is Thomas Allen from Mechtronix, a company that has developed an innovative, software-based approach to building flight simulators. Highlight: when Allen states that Mechtronix simulators effectively use the same software architecture as the QNX OS (0:45). Years, ago, someone explained to me how the QNX OS isn't simply a well-designed, modular OS; it also encourages well-designed, modular systems. In Mechtronix, we have an example.

Putting faces to names at the UOIT Faculty Summit for Mobile Computing

Jin Xu

A guest post from my colleague Jin Xu, Global Education Program Manager, QNX Software Systems

I always enjoy the experience of putting faces to names. And that’s exactly what happened to me on May 30 at the University of Ontario Technology Institute (UOIT) in Oshawa.

As manager of the QNX in Education program, I had spoken to many of institute’s professors over email or the phone, but never had the chance to meet them in person. So I was thrilled to greet and meet so many of them during a single event.

Fifty-five university faculties from 22 universities across Canada got together on May 30 in OUIT for a two-day mobile computing summit held in partnership with the BlackBerry Academic Program. The universities attending this event included:

      Albert Campbell C.I. — Toronto, ON
      Bucks County Community College— Newton, PA, US
      Centennial College — Toronto, ON
      Conestoga College — Guelph, ON
      Dalhousie University — Halifax, NS
      Georgian College — Barrie, ON
      McMaster University — Hamilton, ON
      Queens University — Kingston, ON
      Ryerson University — Toronto, ON
      Seneca College — Toronto, ON
      Sheridan College — Oakville, ON
      Simon Fraser University — Burnaby, BC
      University of Calgary — Calgary
      University of Guelph — Guelph, ON
      University of New Brunswick — NB
      University of Ottawa — Ottawa, ON
      University of Toronto — Toronto, ON
      University of Waterloo — Waterloo,ON
      UOIT — Oshawa, ON
      Western University — London, ON
      Youth Science Canada

Long story short, the event was very successful. As one professor commented, “I found the summit to be extremely valuable… the first day’s talks were very informative, especially having some of the professors share their experiences… it provided a great opportunity to get an overview of the BlackBerry platform, and the hands-on session demonstrated how quickly we can have students create a mobile application from scratch in BlackBerry 10.”

As you know, QNX has deep experience in the embedded market. That, together with a long history of supporting academic research, makes the QNX in Education program an ideal complement to the BlackBerry Academic Program, which provides free curriculum resources and mobile hardware to qualified professors and instructors.

During the first day of the summit, QNX delivered a presentation on the history of the QNX in Education Program and on the various offerings that QNX makes available to academics, and consequently, to students. A demonstration of QNX-based reference designs was very well received. On day 2 of the event, QNX provided a hands-on training session focused on the reference designs.

Another successful cooperation between the QNX in Education and BlackBerry Academic programs since the BlackBerry student competition in China last year!

Did you know…
… that the QNX in Education program has been active since the 1980s? And that Harvard University has been a program member for 23 years? Find out how in Harvard has been using QNX technology to investigate the ozone hole.

Find out more about the QNX in Education program and BlackBerry Academic Program.

What are the 5 all-time most popular QNX videos?

Geez, I thought you'd never ask. Seriously, the question came to mind earlier this week, so I decided to find out. A quick trip to the QNX YouTube channel provided the answer.

What that trip didn't tell me is why these videos are the most popular. I can think of several reasons, but the most obvious is that the videos all hint at a future in which driving is more connected, more convenient, more enjoyable — and also a little safer. But don't take my word for it. Check out the videos, if you haven't already, and judge for yourself.

Without further ado, here are the top five, along with my favorite scene from each one.

#1
First up, at more than 525,000 views, is Imagined: Your car in the not-so-distant future. Best part: the augmented reality-enhanced stop sign (1:10).



#2
Next, at more than 230,000 views, is QNX seamless connectivity. Best part: John Wall speaking on the real challenge of making a connected car (:50).



#3
Close behind #2, at more than 213,000 views, is The QNX secret to making hands-free noise-free. Best part: The marching band (1:21).



#4
Next, at more than 85,000 views, is QNX HTML5 series - Interview with Pandora's Tom Conrad. Best part: It's all good, but I love the bloopers (3:00).



#5
And last, at more than 34,000 views, is QNX technology concept car - Bentley Continental. Best part: the couches.



One that didn't make it...
And, finally, here's my current favorite. It's not one of the top five... yet. But I think it should be:

What has the QNX auto team been up to?

Well, let's see...

• Scott stays focused on distraction
   
• Tina goes over the moon over OTA
   
• Justin stays up late at Telematics Update
   
• Paul gets juiced over the Jeep
   
• Nancy crashes the QNX concept garage
   
• Paul opines that winning twice is twice as nice
   
• Nancy finds bloopers reel funny
   
• Paul can't decide which side of the fence he sits on
   
• Tina speculates about specs for cars
   
• Andy is nominated as co-chair for a W3C group and gets all musty
   
• Paul discovers an alarming solution for driver distraction
   
• Nancy thinks passwords suck
   
• But Emil insists it's all a matter of context
   
• And Romain (finally) throws away his 8-tracks