Alibaba-backed AutoNavi Adapts to Apple’s New Dynamic Island Feature

AutoNavi, a digital map and navigation service provider backed by Alibaba, announced on October 21 that it was the first one in China to adapt to Apple iPhone14 Pro and iPhone14 Pro Max’s Dynamic Island feature, so that users can avoid a series of tedious operations such as frequent unlocking, sliding screen and starting apps during navigation and travel.

Apple previously said that Dynamic Island brings users a new way to interact with their iPhone, blurring the boundaries between hardware and software. Important reminders, notifications and activities will be shown on time. With the launch of Dynamic Island, the original camera has been redesigned to reduce the occupied display space.

On the premise of not affecting the display of content, Dynamic Island remains active, allowing users to use control options only by pressing it for a few seconds. Maps, music apps, and timers running in the background are always visible and interactive. However, the feature received some negative feedback in China, such as the failure to adapt to some Chinese apps and frequent bugs.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 14’s Dynamic Island Doesn’t Support Many Popular Chinese Apps

The adaptation with AutoNavi shows that after the navigation function is started, users cannot only quickly access more concise key guidelines, but also quickly return to the main AutoNavi navigation interface through the Dynamic Island.

AutoNavi mentioned that walking navigation is one of the functions used by users quite a bit. Since line of sight can be obscured by plants, buildings and other objects along the street, repeatedly unlocking smartphones to view navigation information can not only be a nuisance but unsafe.

After upgrading to iOS 16.1 and above, users of the iPhone14 Pro and iPhone14 Pro Max can still access navigation information after locking their phone screens but a prompt will pop up when the app is guiding the driver to turn or switch lanes.

If users need to check more information, they only need to click on the Dynamic Island to quickly open the main navigation interface and set the new destination.

At the end of September this year, AutoNavi announced that it had completed the R&D for the navigation engine “Vision”, which includes immersion navigation, 3D vision, digital navigator and other functions. At present, based on the engine, AutoNavi has achieved complete 3D vision capability in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen. In addition to browsing natural scenery and city landmarks, 3D vision function also provides the display of shopping malls, commercial streets and other often-visited spots.