Skip to main content

Good news, blabbermouths: Jaguar’s justDrive bundles in-car apps with voice control

Jaguar justDrive
Image used with permission by copyright holder
As in-car tech continues to develop and mature, integration will continue to be one of the biggest challenges for automakers to hurdle.

Most companies can reasonably manage fitting phone, music, navigation, and messaging systems into your daily driver, but presenting them together in an easy-to-use format is much more of a challenge.

Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘justDrive,’ a smartphone connectivity app designed by CloudCar, looks to do just that.

Tailored for use with the automaker’s InControl Apple iOS8 infotainment platform, justDrive bundles programs like Spotify, Twitter, and Yelp together in a hands-free, voice-activated package, one that was designed to improve connectivity while reducing distractions on the road.

Jaguar and Land Rover customers will already be familiar with the touchscreen functions of InControl, and justDrive will allow them to continue that experience while offering speech recognition as an option.

“CloudCar is excited to be collaborating with Jaguar Land Rover, a thought leader in bringing the connected car experience to their discerning customers,” said Luke Smithwick, VP of CloudCar Marketing and Business Development. “As the first to adopt justDrive, Jaguar Land Rover brings customers a thoughtful, connected experience that evolves with the driver and remains current throughout the vehicle’s lifetime.”

CloudCar’s technology differs from some other voice-controlled systems by using advanced plain speech recognition, which allows drivers to communicate with their car more naturally.

Instead of employing rigid syntax commands, “The driver can dictate and then send a tweet or SMS by simply saying: ‘Tell George I’ll be late’, with justDrive reading the content of the message back to you before it is sent,” Jaguar’s statement reads. “You can also ask justDrive to play a particular song just by asking for it.”

The app is available for 2015 model year Land Rover and Jaguar F-Type vehicles. It is also free to download on Android phones.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Tech giant reveals nice price for new EV to take on Tesla
Xiaomi's first electric car, the SU7.

Xiaomi's first electric car, the SU7. Xiaomi

Tesla already has a tough time in China competing with local auto behemoth BYD, but a new arrival in the electric vehicle market is set to make things even more challenging for the Elon Musk-led automaker.

Read more
Best dash cam deals: Protect your ride from just $39
Rexing V1 dash cam

There are a lot of difficult drivers on the road, and a great way to protect yourself from potential insurance issues is with a dash cam. A dash cam will ensure everything that goes on while you’re driving is recorded. The best dash cams can typically record in multiple directions, making them a great option for Uber drivers who want to keep their customers safe and protect themselves from potential legal issues as well. You can save big on a new dash cam right now, as there are quite a few dash cam deals worth shopping. Below you’ll find what we feel are the best dash cam deals to choose from right now, so read onward for more details on how to save.
70mai Smart Dash Cam 1S -- $40, was $50

The 70mai Smart Dash Cam 1S is the cheapest option in this list, but it doesn't feel like it because it's packed with features. The dash cam, which supports microSD memory cards of up to 64GB, records footage at 1080p Full HD resolution with night vision capabilities thanks to its Sony IMX307 image processor and f/2.2 aperture. With its built-in G sensor, the dash cam will detect an accident and lock footage to prevent overwrites. You can use voice commands to ask the dash cam to take photos or to start recording videos, and you can use its accompanying app to watch real-time footage and to download files to your phone.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5: Should you wait for the Rivian R2?
Rivian R2

Rivian has taken the wraps off of the Rivian R2, an electric SUV that's similar to the much-loved R1S, but smaller and, crucially, cheaper. But the R2 goes up against some serious competition. The likes of Hyundai have been building solid EVs for some time now -- including the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The R2 and the Ioniq 5 each make a compelling case for themselves, and they're likely to end up being similarly priced if the Ioniq 5 doesn't get much cheaper and the R2 does end up being sold at $45,000. To be fair, the cars are pretty different -- the R2 is more of an SUV, while the Ioniq 5 is much more crossover-sized. But because of their similar price, you might be deciding between the two. How do they compare? We put the Rivian R2 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 head-to-head.
Design
The differences between the Rivian R2 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are perhaps no more apparent than when it comes to design.

Read more