http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/09/s...ur-ipad-video/

Very cool stuff. Hopefully they'll offer an Android and Windows Phone version at some point.

 

Very cool indeed.

 

I like that a lot.

 

That's really cool.

 

Really cool idea and very innovative approach but somehow the SCT handheld device is superior to the ipad touch screen bluetooth solution. Tuning cars is not a game and these iPads are just one step above being an expensive toy like a gameboy with a few computer functions. I bought an iPad for Christmas. It is the most over rated hunk of junk we ever bought. Well maybe not so bad but it was kind of a let down when we had to connect it to our windows computer before it came to life.

Imagine buying a new Ford GT and the first time you want to drive it you have to connect it to a Chebby to get any sign of life from it. Then it would not connect to our wireless LAN without making many change to the router settings. 10 other devices worked and connected just fine.

So I would not like to connect such a device to my car as a tuning device or interface. The same can be said for the equivalent Windows or Android tablet. A netbook or handheld SCT unit with the good old cable is sufficient. Just my experience and opinion.

 

How is it superior? Don't they do the exact same thing? Your personal expectations of the iPad are irrevelent to the actual functionality of both units. Do you own a SCT handheld? Have you compred both side by side loading tunes on your Mustang???

 

Whatever......No need to get into a great debate. As I stated "Just my opinion." Buy it if you like. It is a very innovative approach to tuning because it brings additional flexibility. It is also a good solution which has additional "connectivity" by virtue of being on a connected device. This is an advantage for emailing files. Maybe the app, iPad, and the iSCT interface module are equal in capability to the SCT Xcal devices. I am not sure about data transfer rate.....lets call it equal. I have two SCT devices Xcal2 for my 03 cobra and Xcal3 for my 2011 V6. I can leave those devices in my car at all times and even datalog from each independtly and without any other device. Price: $350.00 - $400. The iPad lets just say $500.00 same as a laptop but more than the typical $300 netbook. Although these devices can cost more depending on features, most of us already own them and these devices aren't typically exclusively for tuning. Therefore the cost of the app and additional hardware - iSCT bluetooth module at $350 provides no real advantage in overall price.

The wired devices work so well I have no desire to seek improvement. So in my case I will not rush to try the better mouse trap. I do find it a great option if you like iPads and do not have a hand held device. I do like iPads but they are over rated. The video of the software running on the iPad looks good and sleek but a bit to game like for my taste. Although connected via USB cable, I think I like the PC interface more. Again my opinion and preference.

I also find the hand held device to be a bit more robust than an iPad. Normally we are careful with these devices but if we get careless or an accidental drop I beleive the iPad will suffer greater damage. Damaging the device are the least of my concerns but I feel better with the handheld. I don't want to test that by the way. But if my stock computer files are stored on there I want the best protection/least risk. My handheld SCT devices are always safely stored in a padded storage bag in the car at all times and not in constant transport mode like our iPad.

Each has it's advantage but I have no need to upgrade. That is impressive stuff from the SCT developer and a good all-in-one tuning solution with the iPad.

 

Dude--don't diss the iPad--I'm writing with it! And you could have connected it to you mac's iTunes in order to activate it, not necessarily windows. Also, funny story, Jeremy Clarkson, host of Top Gear, bought a Ford GT, and it was delivered months late, and would not start, and when it did, it would tell Ford that it was stolen, so the computer was disabled, etc. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't diss the iPad!!! :-)

 

LOL - I didn't really mean to totally diss the iPad. I still want to express my frustration with it after unpackaging. You are right I had to connect it to ANY computer with iTunes. The iPAD does not show a sign of life until you do that first step. It cries for iTunes. Guess what.....all of our other computers are Windows machines. I dropped a Ford motor in a chebby to get it going ultimately. OK maybe I just jump started it.

On a more serious note, what happens when a car gets modded and the parts like CAI or something simple which still requires a tune? Suppose I do so with an iPad and iSCT. After a while I sell the car but did not return it to stock. I will still have the stock tune which would have been uploaded to my iPAD right in exchange for the modifed tune files? The next owner will not have a way to access the stock tune or the modded tune. At the very least there will be some issues even if it is something an SCT dealer can resolve. If this were the case with a handheld SCT device you can sell it (seperately) with the car especially if there are many mods such as a supercharger and supporting mods. I wouldn't expect anyone to part with their iPAD so easy. The handheld SCT devices prevent users from using the device on multiple vehicles while it is MARRIED to a particular vehicle. Not sure how all that will work on the iSCT. I am sure they have it all figured out but I am curious to see how they resolve those issues.

 

The SCT app is FREE ... you are paying for the BlueTooth Module (paying way to much IMHO) .... you would include the Module with the car ... they can download the App for free ... and you email them your tunes ....

Unless the tunes are stored in the BlueTooth Module ... which is probably how SCT it locking it to the car ...

 

Problem solved! IPad wins! Lol

 

Now that I think about it ... there were USB ports on the module ... this will be for loading updates and tunes from your PC .... so I'm pretty sure I'm right ....

The iApp is pretty much just a remote control.

It would be cool to mount the iPad in your Mustang ... and leave the Gauges up and running ...

 

$350 for an OBD dongle seems pretty rich. If you could find another one for less it could work. Oh the possibilities....

 

I saw this at the CES show as well. At first I thought it was a 3rd party company writing an app that works with the SCT, but he told me they ARE actually SCT. They were very nice guys; the first guy I talked to didn't seem to get what I was asking, but then one of the other guys came and took over the conversation and definitely knew what he was talking about.

5 DOT 0 = I thought at first it was JUST a OBD dongle like you said, but they it said it actually uploads the tunes to your car. You just go online, load the tune, then bring it to the car and load the tune. So considering the SCT SF3 / X3 is around $380, this is a similar price, does the same thing, but also lets you tweak basic parameters.

He also said you can program it to show a shift light, which I found kinda cool.
I'm imagining having my Android phone mounted by the power socket with an easy to read shift light on it.

bpmurr = I asked them about Android as well, since that's what I have. He said that they focused on iOS first since that's what the "masses" have, but will look at doing an Android model if the iOS version sells well.

 

If it works w/ an iPad... will it work w/ an iPhone? =O

 

I'm all over this thing. Have an iPhone and iPad... Why buy a limited device with LCD screen. They can update the iPad app with new features whenever they want... And it's free.

 

In for many morons really screwing up their cars because they have no clue what they are doing

 

My guess is this will not be any more capable than the hand helds already available ... which are very limited to what you can actually edit in your ECM. Only an SCT tuner shop can get to all the really good stuff.

Having the live data and gauges is a nice feature though.