Review: A8 Head-Up Display

14000rpm · 4th December 2015, 12:56

Nice to see options coming up.

I have been searching for good options for HUD GPS. Garmin has now discontinued their product but then, I now find HUDGLASS as a good option. At $ 49 (in preorder), it sounds like a great option as I can use use an old or cheap Android phone and loadup HUDWAY app for offline maps.

what do you think?

as always I have spent more time thinking and not yet into doing. suggestions will help close the loop.

Desmosedici · 4th December 2015, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mafioso

It's a cool setup! But just wondering the use of this for a common man as it only shows the statistics of a car. It would have been really helpful if this is integrated with bluetooth and can display maps with directions - like the Jaguar cars

Are there any such devices available? It must be a similar technology which receives data and projects it ( I know it may not be as simple as that!) Just checking

You can checkout the below link.

https://www.navdy.com/

Seems good and having better features.

PatchyBoy · 4th December 2015, 19:44

Since there have been a few posts with alternates, let me explain why I went for this device.

Firstly, I have tried with a BT dongle and an android phone. Here are the downsides -

At maximum brightness, the display is still washed out in bright sunlight.
Since the phone comes with a Lithium Ion battery, it cannot be left exposed to sunlight and needs frequent recharge.
The phone does not start up and shut down automatically with the car
Navdy at $ 319 is very expensive

Why this device -

This device goes to maximum brightness in bright sunlight and is still clearly visible
No battery. So no risk of explosion and no fuss of recharging
Starts and stops automatically with the car
Allows me to check my speed without taking my eyes off the road

To put things in perspective - I own one BT, one USB and one WiFi ELM 327 devices. I have one 7" Android tablet and one Blackberry Playbook exclusively for my experiments. I am in the process of developing an app that will allow me to perform a few actions like turning on hazard lights, rolling windows up & down, etc from my smartphone. Suffice to say that I am not one of those technologically ignorant folks and the decision to get this device was well thought out.

I attach my smartphone to the central console with a magnetic holder and use navigation on that when required. I also have a home built holder for my 7" tab / playbook to run Torque Pro to monitor engine vitals. I am also getting dedicated gauges for boost, EGT and transmission temperature, which will be mounted on the A pillar.

SuperFlyBoy · 6th December 2015, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desmosedici

You can checkout the below link.

https://www.navdy.com/

Seems good and having better features.

I also found this: http://hudwayglass.com/ - another Kickstarter-funded project like Navdy.

Maybe not as many features though...

RacingHart · 22nd December 2015, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatchyBoy

The product

Double reflection on the windshield. Not really a product con though. I haven't installed the supplied reflective film yet

Hi,

Once you install the supplied reflective film, the double reflection would go away. I got mine from dragonmart at International City in Dubai. It works great. Nice techy feature.

Cheers bro.

yajaman99 · 7th October 2016, 22:10

I am looking for a HUD, the A8 is widely seen on Aliexpress.
How has the unit been behaving , it will soon be year now. I am looking to have it installed on my Creta.

sgmuser · 5th April 2017, 17:09

Just received the HUD A8. I ordered through Gearbest which got one of the cheapest offer along with shipping. I ended up paying extra for Customs (Oman) as well. So total landing cost is 39+12 shipping + 10 for Customs around INR 3100 or so approximately. I yet to open and play with it. My real purpose to go for this was to watch on the speedometer mostly as I tend to cross the limit once in a while. Over speeding fines start at 10 OMR (INR 1700 approx) per violation so even if I can be saved by 3 fines, then I get the money back! ;-)

Observations will follow after the weekend!

arjithin · 5th August 2018, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgmuser

Just received the HUD A8.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatchyBoy

Since there have been a few posts with alternates, let me explain why I went for this device.

How is the long term reliability of the unit?

4th December 2015, 12:56	#16
14000rpm Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Helsinki Posts: 2,340 Thanked: 5,553 Times View My Garage	Re: Review: A8 Head-Up Display Nice to see options coming up. I have been searching for good options for HUD GPS. Garmin has now discontinued their product but then, I now find HUDGLASS as a good option. At $ 49 (in preorder), it sounds like a great option as I can use use an old or cheap Android phone and loadup HUDWAY app for offline maps. what do you think? as always I have spent more time thinking and not yet into doing. suggestions will help close the loop.
	() Thanks

4th December 2015, 19:44	#18
PatchyBoy BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Goa Posts: 917 Thanked: 2,022 Times View My Garage	Re: Review: A8 Head-Up Display Since there have been a few posts with alternates, let me explain why I went for this device. Firstly, I have tried with a BT dongle and an android phone. Here are the downsides - At maximum brightness, the display is still washed out in bright sunlight. Since the phone comes with a Lithium Ion battery, it cannot be left exposed to sunlight and needs frequent recharge. The phone does not start up and shut down automatically with the car Navdy at $ 319 is very expensive Why this device - This device goes to maximum brightness in bright sunlight and is still clearly visible No battery. So no risk of explosion and no fuss of recharging Starts and stops automatically with the car Allows me to check my speed without taking my eyes off the road To put things in perspective - I own one BT, one USB and one WiFi ELM 327 devices. I have one 7" Android tablet and one Blackberry Playbook exclusively for my experiments. I am in the process of developing an app that will allow me to perform a few actions like turning on hazard lights, rolling windows up & down, etc from my smartphone. Suffice to say that I am not one of those technologically ignorant folks and the decision to get this device was well thought out. I attach my smartphone to the central console with a magnetic holder and use navigation on that when required. I also have a home built holder for my 7" tab / playbook to run Torque Pro to monitor engine vitals. I am also getting dedicated gauges for boost, EGT and transmission temperature, which will be mounted on the A pillar.
	(7) Thanks

7th October 2016, 22:10	#21
yajaman99 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: bangalore Posts: 512 Thanked: 801 Times	Re: Review: A8 Head-Up Display I am looking for a HUD, the A8 is widely seen on Aliexpress. How has the unit been behaving , it will soon be year now. I am looking to have it installed on my Creta.
	() Thanks

5th April 2017, 17:09	#22
sgmuser BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 755 Thanked: 1,122 Times View My Garage	Re: Review: A8 Head-Up Display Just received the HUD A8. I ordered through Gearbest which got one of the cheapest offer along with shipping. I ended up paying extra for Customs (Oman) as well. So total landing cost is 39+12 shipping + 10 for Customs around INR 3100 or so approximately. I yet to open and play with it. My real purpose to go for this was to watch on the speedometer mostly as I tend to cross the limit once in a while. Over speeding fines start at 10 OMR (INR 1700 approx) per violation so even if I can be saved by 3 fines, then I get the money back! ;-) Observations will follow after the weekend! Last edited by sgmuser : 5th April 2017 at 17:10.
	() Thanks