MINI Connected Latest Feature: Minimalism Analyzer
Efficiency is definitely a core value for MINI. Here we have MINI taking that to another level with the MINI Minimalism Analyzer. It’s a core feature of the upcoming updated MINI Connected App that lets you analyze and optimize your driving for maximum efficiency. As of this posting, it’s not in the US Apple App Store yet, but we’ll keep an eye out. Beyond the eco-nerd goodness of being able to optimize your driving for max MPG, this is a great example of the kind of ongoing, expanded functionality that the MINI Connected system brings to the car. So if you’re on the fence about shelling out the $1000 for MINI Connected, think of it this way: you just might make that money back in fuel savings with the help of this app*.
*Yeah, yeah, we know that would take something like 20 years of driving, but just go with it. It’s a cool app.
<p>Ohh wow, look how efficient I’m driv……..BAAMMMM. Smacked into a wall.</p>
<p>Really, Nathaniel, Really?</p>
<p>Must be in Holland. I think the goldfish died.</p>
<p>I’m swimming upstream, so far anyway, but I find the Minimalism App not only excellent, but not-new (I’ve had cars with upshift indicators for decades). Regarding safety, the data is aggregated for viewing after the driving experience, so there’s no need to look at the nav-screen.</p>
<p>Also notable in the category of MINI apps is the MINI Getaway Stockholm, which I ran across a few weeks ago:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ditii.com/2010/10/24/mini-getaway-stockholm-2010-moible-reality-game-app-video/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.ditii.com/2010/10/24/mini-getaway-stockholm-2010-moible-reality-game-app-video/</a></p>
<p>It’s been built into the minis tach for years. I call it the “gas mileage RIGHT NOW” screen. Push the pedal and watch it drop. Release the pedal and it jumps to 99mpg.</p>
<p>So why has Mini had the MPG digital readout on the tach? Seems like “Mini Connected” is just Mini connecting with your wallet…</p>
<p>He should be watching the road, not staring at the big display while driving. One more electronic option too many.</p>
<p>Wow! Every time a nice “option” utilizing the MINI Connected is presented here, we seem to be getting the same replies: “oh, watch the road”, “I rather have an option that augments the engine roar”, “will cause deaths in thousands”, etc etc.</p>
<p>C’mon people. Just embrace the technology. Then again, this is the US-market MINI crowd with 45+ median age, which inherently dislikes ANY electronics in the cars :)</p>
<p>Thanks for posting. This is a great example of how the MINI Connected will be utilized in the future with many many more apps – whether the MF crowd likes it or not.</p>
<p>Seems kind of neat to me, though I wonder if they will continue to update these things or if they will let it whither and die like the current MINI Link app?</p>
<p>I have hard time justifying spending $1k on the Mini connect. The apps is cool but at the end of the day not worth it.</p>
<p>Come on MINI, get your act together!! Who the hell buys one of the best driving machines available and then cares about how to save fuel when braking and accellerating…….. Stay true to the MINI spirit</p>
<p>There are plenty of cars you can buy if you’re obsessed with careful driving and constantly monitoring your MPG. The MINI is not one of them. I’m sick of getting stuck behind eco-jerks.</p>
<p>Please, MINI offer me something useful, I’m tired of nonsense. Do not make me feel like one of these:
<a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2010/09/19/dr-bem-the-countryman-commercials/" rel="ugc">https://www.motoringfile.com/2010/09/19/dr-bem-the-countryman-commercials/</a></p>
<p>Lars, I kind of thought the same thing, then I realized you could probably use the system and their rankings to see who could get the worst rating too. ;)</p>
<p>It’s a cool app but the character and graphic itself is a bit “teen girl squad” in this first implementation. Also, had this been in my R53 JCW, I suspect I would have killed many tiny digital fishes. :)</p>
<p>In all seriousness though everyone, this is an emerging field and an exciting one. The big research picture is known as “aggregate indicators –> environmental feedback loops” and it has many potential uses.</p>
<p>These tools can be implemented well, in which case they allow us to aggregate multiple inputs and summarize them to a “green/yellow/red” or other simplified (and implicitly value-based) feedback metric that helps those wishing to maximize a certain behaviour learn how to do so (e.g., minimizing fuel use, not bouncing their passengers around). Bad implementation would be when it is implemented as a “nanny” – reinforcing values contrary to what you wish/need to use the machine for at that point in time – and cannot easily be turned off.</p>
<p>Most well-thought out feedback indicators should be flexible and offer alternate “values” (in this case, driving modes). For example, what if an alternate mode was one that coached you in driving smooth but fast, to be used on a racetrack or winding road? I suspect that kind of feedback and accompanying datalogging would be very much welcomed by the drivers among us.</p>
<p>So, overall I would recommend judging it not by what you see today, by what it could be if done well in future.</p>
<p>All that aside, it’s time to hear more about driving dynamics and feel and outright performance from MINI again to balance things out… the Twins can’t come soon enough! (And let’s hope they are serious hot hatches in at least the JCW variants.)</p>
<p>hahaha @ Lars and Cory.</p>
<p>Ah, for the good old days when all there was to worry about was Lucas.</p>
<p>It’s a cool app but the character and graphic itself is a bit “teen girl squad†in this first implementation. Also, had this been in my R53 JCW, I suspect I would have killed many tiny digital fishes. :)</p>
<p>In all seriousness though everyone, this is an emerging field and an exciting one. The big research picture is known as “aggregate indicators –> environmental feedback loops†and it has many potential uses.</p>
<p>These tools can be implemented well, in which case they allow us to aggregate multiple inputs and summarize them to a “green/yellow/red†or other simplified (and implicitly value-based) feedback metric that helps those wishing to maximize a certain behaviour learn how to do so (e.g., minimizing fuel use, not bouncing their passengers around). Bad implementation would be when it is implemented as a “nanny†– reinforcing values contrary to what you wish/need to use the machine for at that point in time – and cannot easily be turned off.</p>
<p>Most well-thought out feedback indicators should be flexible and offer alternate “values†(in this case, driving modes). For example, what if an alternate mode was one that coached you in driving smooth but fast, to be used on a racetrack or winding road? I suspect that kind of feedback and accompanying datalogging would be very much welcomed by the drivers among us.</p>
<p>So, overall I would recommend judging it not by what you see today, by what it could be if done well in future.</p>
<p>All that aside, it’s time to hear more about driving dynamics and feel and outright performance from MINI again to balance things out… the Twins can’t come soon enough! (And let’s hope they are serious hot hatches in at least the JCW variants.)</p>
<p>It’s a fun appl but i works a bit distracting i would imagine. Instead i would prefer for example a nightvision cam integrated in the system</p>
<p>One detail that I think has been overlooked in this conversation is that the app is keeping track of your efficiency over time. The in-the-moment info is great, and yeah you can get similar info from the OBC, but being able to look at the data away from the car and see how your driving habits may have shifted from one week to the next is pretty cool.</p>
<p>I for one would have fun using it to compare different routes to the office and see which was more efficient. That and see how much difference more aggressive driving makes over time.</p>
<p>Any news on Mission Control app?</p>
<p>Any news on Blackberry and/or Android support for Connected?</p>