Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to see the road in a different way when you were driving, like looking through the eyes of a character in a video game?
Once Garmin released its HUD gadget earlier this year, it was only a matter of time before something similar landed for smartphones. Hudway is a free iPhone app that will soon be available for Android (February of next year). The app reflects driving directions onto your windshield for low-visibility conditions, taking the need for a navigation system out of the equation.
Working from Google Maps, it allows you to build a route, and then the app preloads it for use offline – this can be quite convenient if connection is intermittent or you don’t want to use data. You then place your phone on your dashboard (we recommend securing it with some kind of mount) and driving directions are displayed by being reflected off of the glass.
This is the app in its basic form. Upgrading to Pro for $1.99 will allow you to customize the view of the road and its turns, and dangerous sections of road will be displayed in red.
It probably wouldn’t work particularly well in bright light, and the app’s developer is very careful to specify that the app has been designed with low-visibility conditions in mind.
“Usually, we like to drive — it’s convenient, fast, and fun. But when it’s heavy rain, snow, foggy conditions, or just a dark night, driving can be very dangerous,” the app’s description reads. “And this danger is due to very limited visibility of the road, usually 20 to 50 meters (60-150 feet) ahead. There might be a sharp turn or just straight way.”
Because of these limitations, it won’t be replacing your GPS any time soon, but for a maximum of $2, with no need to buy extra map packs and constant upgrades, it’s a pretty good deal.
