Hudly is a full colour Heads-Up Display that projects your phone onto a transparent screen on your windshield for easier access to apps and notifications. And now the device has been upgraded with Hudly Wireless, the next-gen head-up display.

Anybody who drives a car these days has to contend with the constant bombardment of social media notifications while behind the wheel. They also have to peer at their phone to properly read directions if using apps such as Google Maps. All of this is a little clumsy and puts drivers at risk of causing an accident.  

Hudly: Full Color Heads-Up Display

In this technological era, we are more connected than ever and have a compulsive need to see what is on our smartphones. It has become as important a task as driving. Far too many people get into accidents when they look at a screen and take their eyes off the road. Fortunately,  a silicon valley startup Hudly, plans to integrate your phone screen onto your windshield seamlessly, giving you a heads up display (HUD).

The startup behind the device ran a crowdfunding campaign on KickStarter to raise funds required to make Hudly a reality. A heads up display, or HUD, is similar to what military aircraft’s use, allowing pilots the ability to monitor a ton of information while flying, such as fuel levels, velocity, etc. And with Hudly installation as easy as setting up a sat-nav, the device is an innovative piece of kit.

This highly advanced technology is traditionally the preserve of military applications. But the tech startup now wants to bring the HUD to consumers everywhere. Eric Lee, the designer behind Hudly, believes  device that projects your phone’s display and content onto your windshield right in front of you is much safer for drivers.

This means that your phone never need distract you ever again. Your eyes will always be looking ahead at the road. The driver’s windshield will now contain vital information that will aid you in driving.

Hudly Wireless: The Next Generation of the Innovative Head-Up Display

Following on from the success of the first device, the gadget’s maker has once again turned to crowdfunding to finance their next-gen head-up display. Hudly wireless is a portable version of the company’s initial head-Up display (HUD). The portable version connects wirelessly to both Android and iOS devices. In this way not only can you use your Hudly app for directions, but you can also view information from any of your favourite apps as well.

Hudly wireless connects to any mobile device using Airplay and Miracast wireless standards. Once your device is connected to the Hudly’s WiFi network, the system remembers it for seamless re-connection for future use. Again, while newer cars now come with HUD as standard, the Hudly wireless device allows drivers to have the technology even in older vehicles.

Hudly V  Wayray Navion?

Should we think of it as a version of Google Glass, only much bigger and designed for your car! However, Hudly installation is quite easy to achieve. In fact, the concept is more similar to the Wayray Navion, a holographic device made by WayRay, a company from Switzerland.The Navion projects holographic images onto your car’s wind-shield using a small round shaped device that is supposed to sit on your dashboard.

Hudly consists of a projector, transparent glass combiner, and a wire that plugs into your car’s OBD2 port. All cars built after 1996 have an OBD2 port. Owners of older models can still connect this device into your car’s cigarette lighter adapter.

The gadget works with iPhone 4 and later models, as well as Android devices with MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) compatibility. Hudly also includes a micro USB port and a mini HDMI port. This allows owners to use Miracast and Chromecast for wireless video functionality.

Furthermore, the device has a built-in speaker and a light sensitivity sensor. In addition the new Hudly wireless device now works with any iOS or Android devices.Consequently this means that Hudly will always adjust its brightness according to the surrounding lighting conditions.

 Native Voice-Activation + More

Another neat features include being able to use your smartphone’s native voice-activated features. Users can control all apps with your voice as you keep your hands on the steering wheel. The user’s phone also gets charged up when connected to Hudly. So there is never have a worry about your phone dying on you.

The setup and configuration of Hudly installation is quite straightforward. Owners of the device  need to plug into a car’s OBD2 port or cigarette lighter adapter to power it up and connect it to the car. The projector is placed at the top of your windshield, just behind your sun visor. The glass optical combiner is placed near the bottom of the windshield, aligned it with the projector. This will place the screen perfectly in a driver’s line of sight to serve as a real HUD.

Petrolheads no longer have to imagine being a pilot with have an HUD; they will now have one with Hudly, displaying all necessary information. Augmented reality (AR) is a buzzword that has been thrown around the technology scene in recent years. It seems like Eric Lee has come up with a device that will make it a reality.

As of this writing, the Kickstarter campaign has already amassed $40,000 of its $100,000 pledge. They plan to deliver Hudly nationwide by the time Christmas arrives. The perfect Christmas gift, don’t you think?

Hudly Price

In terms of cost, the Hudly price as quoted on the product’s crowdfunding pages comes to around $199.00. However, the Hudly Wireless will actually retail for an RRP of $349 once its released. Other special Hudly price points are also available for early backers, albeit in a limited quantity. Depending on how much you use satellite navigation apps such as Google Maps or Waze, the wireless device seems like a good investment. Consequently, with Hudly installation and retro-fitting into older cars being a piece of cake, – any Hudly review should result in top marks being awarded.