Ahead of the 2015 CES in Las Vegas, New York City hosted the CES Innovation Awards ceremony where 20 product categories announced their winners.
This year, in the “Software and Mobile Apps” category, the BMW i Remote App for the Samsung Gear smartwatch took the top prize. Selecting the winning submissions are teams of judges made up of independent industrial designers, engineers and media representatives. The “Software and Mobile Apps” category is guided by criteria such as functionality, aesthetic appeal, user-friendliness and innovative edge.
The BMW i Remote App for the Samsung Gear S smartwatch is an application which seamlessly connects BMW i drivers to their vehicle via their wristwatch. The app was developed to allow direct access to important information in real time. The app displays all key information at a glance on the smartwatch’s home screen: in the case of the BMW i3, for example, it shows not only the time but also the electric range available, the battery charge level and – during the charge process – the estimated charge time remaining.
READ ALSO: BMW i3 and Galaxy Gear Demo
Using the touch display to click on the data sent to the Gear S by the BMW i Remote App opens a submenu with more detailed information presented in the typically classy colours and style of BMW i. A further submenu informs the user of the vehicle’s current status, i.e. whether any of the doors, windows or the boot are open.
Advance regulation of the onboard climate, which can likewise be controlled by the Samsung Gear S, is an important factor in extending the car’s range. In this way, the interior can be conveniently preheated while the vehicle is still connected to the power supply. This does not affect the charging process.
Next on the table for BMW is the integration of BMW i apps with Apple’s upcoming smartwatches. A preview was offered by Tim Cook back in September.
