Touch Life Now Mirrors The iPhone In Toyota Vehicles
October 26, 2011
Many new models of Toyota cars in Europe are now including Toyota Touch Life, which is a smartphone mirroring system. Your iPhone can now be displayed on the integrated 7-inch touch display within the vehicle.
Engadget posted the press release from Toyota and it states this slick gadget is part of Toyota’s infotainment system. To get your iPhone or iPod touch to work, you will need to download a free app called Application Launcher, from the App Store. Then you can sync some popular apps you may use while driving.
Right now, the apps that work with Touch Life include: Garmin StreetPilot (for the UK, Western Europe and Ireland), Aupeo, Stitcher, Twitter and Facebook. No word yet on other apps that may work, but Toyota states the list will continue to grow.
Users will also be able to access their complete music and video library, using either the controls on the steering wheel or on the Touch Life screen.
Currently, Touch Life is available on European models of the Verso-S, Yaris and Hilux cars, it will be expanding to the Toyota Avensis, Prius, and Verso.
I am not sure if this will make using our iPhones, while driving, safer or more hazardous, as people will now be more likely to use this cool technology. Similar to navigation apps, I imagine there will be a disclaimer warning people of the dangers of using the product while driving, however, no one pays much attention to those. But, I do hope this technology comes to the U.S. soon.
What are your thoughts? Do you think this is a new direction automakers should continue to go in?
