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Project Overview
Dashbox Car App is a universal IOS app, suitable for ipad, iphone and ipod touch and aimed at the ever increasing connected in-car market. It provides an innovative in-car experience, combining a variety of features. These include a music player, maps, world radio player, calls, web and YouTube. It also features some useful widgets and gadgets, all delivered within the same app in a stunning visual style, while providing safe usage for the driver.
Its aim is to grow and challenge the major industry leaders for in-car integrated systems as a stand alone app.
Project Creator
Dashbox
Lee Black
Project Team
Lee Black / Owner and UX/UI designer
James Hudson / External Freelance Developer
It has been designed, front end developed, managed and marketed by Lee Black after 2 months of intensive work. The app was released late February 2014.
Project Brief
With billions of vehicles worldwide, drivers increasingly want connection to the mobile world. Yet many car apps do not provide the multiple functions, listed in the Overview, that drivers are demanding. Dashbox is unique, providing many features and functions in a comprehensive app and with great user experience and ease of use. It can be downloaded onto an ipad, iphone or ipod touch which can then be mounted to the vehicle’s dashboard or windscreen.
There is a growing market for such an app when you consider the activity of the industry’s leading players. You only have to search CarPlay to read all the comments and debates about “being locked in” to such a system or the fact that people do not want to change their car. Dashbox addresses such debates by offering a low cost alternative.
Safety is important in how the user interacts with the app. There is a safety disclaimer that must be agreed upon, before entry into the app. Innovative features such as eyes free music or Bluetooth steering wheel controls show how the app is moving by intuitively integrating the product with a safe driving experience. In addition many features are aimed at passengers.
Project Need
Drivers and passengers now want to connect their digital life to their vehicle. Dashbox lets them easily access a stunning music player, maps, world radio player, call, web and YouTube, as well as other gadgets and widgets.The music player offers simple and intuitive interaction and integrates unique eyes free gestures, letting the driver control the music without looking at the device. It can also connect to your vehicle via Bluetooth and allow for steering wheel control. Cloud access has also been integrated to allow music or video streaming over the air. Front and rear passengers can use it, a bonus for parents on long journeys.
The app is unique in its field. There are no competitors on the iOS App Store apart from iCarConnect and ONICS (coming soon and a collaboration with a US in-car hardware company), both owned by Lee Black.
Dashbox provides a coherent user experience for drivers worldwide.The app has already tapped into a growing global market. In addition, for drivers in the third world or emerging markets, it gives a realistic and cost effective solution to in-car systems. It has reached number one in Venezuela, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Argentina and Chile on the App Store, illustrating the demand for the app.
Innovative future plans for the app include camera gesture controls, voice commands, SMS delivery, pre-defined location and social networking push messages.
In conclusion Dashbox is all about safe in-car digitally connected experiences.
User Experience
User experience is Dashbox’s number one priority, in the multi-task environment it operates in. The app has a simple 2-3 level UI hierarchy. It lets drivers access music over the cloud and add radio stations to a favourite list. This offers a good experience in terms of device storage capabilities and easy station access.
Dashbox has had up to 20,000 downloads. User feedback is integral to how the user experience will be shaped in future updates. Feedback is achieved via a link in the app which is user friendly and encourages participation. It asks for feedback, ideas for improvement and suggestions for future updates. To date, over 200 comments have been recorded with around 20+ new ideas and features, added to the backlog for future updates. In addition past suggestions have been incorporated in the last update.
Users can also access Dashbox’s Facebook page (15,000+ followers to date) to leave comments and get up to date information. A regular newsletter is also planned and it already has more than 200 subscribers.
User feedback indicates a demand for more vehicle gadgets such as speedometers, back up camera and a “favourites” app launcher. AppRadio and an Android version have also been requested. The designer also plans to integrate camera gesture control, GPS features and voice commands to further improve the experience and safety while driving.
Project Marketing
Before Dashbox’s launch in late February 2014, an awareness raising campaign via its Facebook page was launched. This created interest in the app from as far afield as the US. So far the Facebook page has over 15,000 followers. Several competitions have been run. Dashbox also has its own website.
Other marketing initiatives have included getting the app reviewed independently. Dashbox has received excellent reviews in Stuff magazine (print and iPad mag), AppRadioWorld and Givemeapps.
Facebook advertising has been used as the main market advertising tool. By using targeted advertising, Dashbox has continued to gain new users daily.
Major review sites and magazines have also been identified and plans to approach them with a full downloadable media package are also underway. This package will include screenshots, video, marketing materials and a free app download code.
Apple Carplay, Microsoft in-car solutions and Pioneers aftermarket units will publicise the benefits of in-car systems for free. By utilising and piggy backing on their publicity, Dashbox can drive demand for its product, specially as it does all that the above devices do (and eventually more) for a fraction of the cost.
Dashbox has been on the app market for 3 months at the time of this submission. A marketing strategy, based on the above points, has been developed and is being now implemented, including plans for localisation into Apple’s top recommended languages. Finally it should be noted that Dashbox has been developed and self funded solely by Lee Black.
Project Privacy
Dashbox app does not take any user data nor does it require account setup. Therefore privacy and legal requirements are not needed. Over time, as the app grows and becomes more socially connected, privacy criteria will meet industry standards.
Best Connected Device and Wearable Tech
This category recognises the best Connected Device and Wearable Tech
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