Dash Express now available for preorder

Dash Express

(Credit: Dash )

It's been well over a year since Dash Navigation unveiled its Internet-connected GPS device, and after months of beta testing, we're finally one step closer to actually seeing the Dash Express navigation system hit the streets. Today, the company announced that it's taking preorders for the Dash Express from its Web site, carrying a price tag of $599.99 that includes a complimentary three-month subscription to the Dash Service. Afterward you can choose from several plans to continue the service: two-year plan at $9.99 per month; one-year plan at $10.99 per month; or month-to-month at $12.99.

The Dash Express is unlike other portable navigation systems as it offers connectivity via Wi-Fi and GPRS, so you have an always-on connection to receive the latest traffic and map updates and local search powered by Yahoo. In addition, there's a Send2Car feature so you or someone else can send addresses from your computer directly to the Dash device. The unit is expected to ship in mid- to late February.

Just out of curiosity, how many of you are actually interested in getting the Dash? Frankly, I think the unit price is a bit high (even knocking off $100 seems a bit more reasonable) and I'm just wondering if this type of system is ready for prime time yet. Although I think the offered features are great, I'm not sure how many people will be willing to pay the monthly fees when perhaps on a day-to-day basis a "regular" GPS device will suit you just fine. I don't know...I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

[cmatt23930]

sounds like much ado about very little

How is the Dash Express much different than TeleNav which is offered by T-Mobile, ATT and others on GPS equipped phones like the AT&T Blackberry 8800 and 8310. Seems to me that having a WiFi connectable unit will not have use in a car or anywhere else except hotspots. The price is also extremely high and no mention of the monthly service charge. TeleNet is under $10 per month. Am I missing something here?

[electronista]

Could sell just because it breaks from the pack

Think about it: if you can afford a high-end GPS, you've probably heard the terms "Bluetooth hands-free" and "Traffic Message Channel" so often that the words have lost all meaning. Having Internet-based local and WAN traffic is pretty smart and a way of luring in luxury drivers. I'd get one if I had advanced navigation needs.

[Snurt]

Dash is very different from Telenav etc

Dash gives you real time traffic data for *all* roads. Telenav (and everyone else as far as I know) report traffic only on highways and other major roads. So want to know the route for the shortest time home? Only Dash will guarantee the shortest route, whether on back roads or on the highways.

[Mary Beth Lowell-TeleNav]

TeleNav Traffic Data - clearing up confusion

Mary Beth from TeleNav here - regarding Snurt's comments and cmatt's questions - as far as I understand it, Dash's traffic data is not different than the traffic data TeleNav provides. We use the same traffic provider (Inrix) and from what I understand, it is very challenging (if not impossible) at this point to gather sidestreet traffic data. So Snurt - if you can share how Dash would be able to do this, I'd be curious. Even if Dash is providing data back based on their customer's routes, they would need to reach a critical mass of users for every sidestreet.

The good news is that highway traffic data is usually what most customers need during their daily commutes and Inrix does an excellent job in gathering and providing this data.

To cmatt's point - the connectivity that Dash provides is already available through TeleNav GPS Navigator on cell phones. So you don't need to purchase a separate device and the monthly subscription fee is less ($10/mo).

[tmo454]

Too much $$$

I think the Dash has some great features however they will run into an issue selling the devise to the target market. The problem is that most people that have the extra $600 to throw into a GPS device probably already have a car with an internal GPS device. If you drive a low end civic and need a GPS your probably not going to buy a $600 one. However if you have the $600 to do it your probably driving something with a bit more kick and you'll have a system installed... Just a thought...

[dash_mark]

Some more details about Dash

Hi everyone, this is Mark Williamson from Dash. I thought I would chime in and clear up some confusion about the Dash product and Service.

Let's start with traffic. Mary Beth is correct that we do have a partnership with Inrix for traffic data, but it is not correct to say that this means we have the same traffic data as other services using Inrix traffic. Each Dash device acts as an anonymous probe that contributes back traffic data on BOTH highways and surface streets (yes, this is possible and we have done it!). We are able to combine this traffic data to give consumers a better experience. We not only have more granular traffic data than anyone else, but we have more robust historic and live traffic models that are really important when it comes to making a routing decision. For example, if you are stuck on the highway in traffic only Dash will be able to tell you what traffic is like on an alternative route that relies on surface streets. And without this information the consumer could make a really bad decision. Finally, we don't need a lot of units to create a really differentiated traffic offering, in our testing we see that a couple hundred units in a given market can result in a very compelling experience.

For some number of consumers the experience of using their mobile phone as a navigation device will work fine, but our research suggests that most consumers want a dedicated navigation device. They want the dedicated device because they want the large 4.3 inch screen so they can easily see what is going on and it is easy to enter information on. For many consumers the cell phone interface is just too limiting. Additionally, many of these services stop working if you don't have cellular connection... our device, like other portable navigation devices, continues to function even if you are without cell phone service.

The bottom line is that for some set of consumers cell phone based navigation services will be good enough. Some set of consumers will want a fully functional dedicated navigation device, and hopefully it is a Dash. We certainly think that our traffic offering, ability to do live Yahoo! Local search from the device, integrate with map mapsh-ups and third party service, etc. will differentiate us from standard navigation devices.

Mark

[q5w_rocks]

$600 *plus* monthly fee? :( no thanks

I'd like the wifi/mobilephone connection for internet to pull map information from yahoo,mapquest, or even evil-google

the Q5W + GPS has no monthly cost and it has a 5" screen and can play FLAC and videos

[pjmagee]

Dash Express

Having been part of the beta program for almost 6 months this product is not ready for prime time! the products weakest feature is it's mapping and the support from Dash was the second weak link. I used this product extensively on the east coast and no matter what state I was in I consistantly gave some of the worst directions possible. Traffic reports are about a 10% to 20 % accuracy rating. Having used many GPS products this one rates about a 2 or 3 on a scale of 10. I would say it should retail for about $199 if they fix the mapping and support issues but skip the subscription based feature it's not worth 2 cents.

[xaqSixChip]

I so want this product to succeed, but...

What a great vision its creators have. I have been following the development of things thing for almost a year now, wanting and waiting, patiently. Now I see what its gonna cost; I fell out of my chair when I finally heard the price for the first time. AND, on top of that, a SUBSCRIPTION FEE!! You have got to be kidding... I refuse to pay a monthly fee to continue to use something I've already purchased(except my cell phone).

[j0hnny0]

Is the Dash worth the cost? I think so.

I'm currently testing the Dash Express. The product is in beta and definitely
has unfinished edges, but the improvements and enhancements I've seen
over the past month (never mind the past six months) have been impressive.

In short, the best analogy I've seen is that Dash is like Tivo, and the other
GPS units are like the DVR your cable company gives you. Does the cable
company DVR work? Sure. Does it annoy and frustrate you? Yes.

A couple of points worth noting:

- While I too was frustrated by traffic accuracy during the summer's testing,
it's gotten significantly better over the past month. My Dash now usually
outperforms Google Maps traffic.
- While Inrix data is good, Inrix + live data from other Dash units on the
road is better. The Dash traffic colors indicate level of confidence. Solid
lines = high confidence, dashed lines = lower confidence (i.e. historical
patterns). I *love* this since I can make intelligent decisions while I drive. I
constantly see updates in front of me, and I can see traffic confidence levels
changing behind me based on what I just did. That's pretty cool (never mind
satisfying...) The more Dash units on the road, the better the traffic will get.
- I get useful local traffic estimates. These are mostly based on historical
patterns as well as other Dash drivers on the road. The estimates in my
neighborhood are pretty accurate, and it's nice to know about the nasty
intersections in other neighborhoods. I'd rather have estimates than nothing
at all.
- I get three routes, and I can see traffic on each route. If I decide to ignore
the routes, it generally figures out what I'm trying to do and reroutes (though
I would like an 'Ignore this route, figure out another' feature). While there's
room for improvement, the important thing is I *am* seeing improvement,
because...
- ...I get software updates and new maps automatically via WiFi or GPS. I
*never* have to sync or plug in my Dash to my laptop. It just works.
- Sending addresses to the Dash is frighteningly fast. As a test, I loaded the
address entry page on my Blackberry web browser and it appeared *as soon*
as I hit return. Same for pushing special search types and GeoRSS feeds to
the device.
- The maps tell you what you need and are not overbearing like other GPS
units I've used -- they treat you like an adult. Also, I know I always have the
latest maps.
- I've found support to be excellent. The Dash team is constantly in contact
and the message boards are well looked after. Best of all, they listen and the
product is getting better because of it.

The Dash Express is not cheap, but I think you get what you pay for. If
anything, I think the top-of-the-line Nuvis and TomToms are too expensive.
I see the Dash Express as an investment, versus other GPS units which
rapidly become dated, not just with maps but with features. The way WiFi +
GPRS are integrated brings a level of functionality (never mind future
potential) that I just don't think other devices can match. Best of all, the
crowdsourcing of traffic data is always going to be a step ahead of other
sources.

I hope Dash gets the opportunity to get critical mass. If they keep listening
to their users like they have been, I think they will give Garmin and TomTom
a run for their money.

[EyeintheLAsky]

are you HIGH?

i recently (last week), caught one of the Navigon models for LESS than US$350...AND it COMES with LIFETIME traffic subscription - FREE.

Do you REALLY believe i'll sport for the extra sub-fee AND pay almost double for the unit?

(hint: i may have been born at night...but it wasn't LAST night!).

[planes2008]

But what about all the other features???

I'm in the market for a GPS that does traffic, BUT, all I've heard about the Dash is that it can do wifi and realtime data transfers - what about basic GPS functionality???? Does it offer a 'detour' function, or more importantly (at least where I live), the ability to avoid a road on the route??? I haven't heard/seen/read anything on those types of functions. If I had access to that type of data (user guide, feature list, etc.), I'd be willing to buy it up front, but without it, there's no way I'm plopping down $600 for something that I don't know anything about...

[t3ppk]

Question for Mark

Hi Mark,

Will the device allow you to send data back to the website from which you're getting a feed? So, for instance, if I was using the device to find a yoga place in LA, to use your example, and I noticed that the coordinates of a particular location were wrong, would I be able to tag the correct location and upload? If not available on your platform, would I be able to build an application and have a user install to make this sharing of data possible?

Thanks,
Pawel