Anker’s smart-driving system Roav can now be pre-ordered for $299

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Charged.

Anker's dash-mounted smart driving system, Roav, is now up for pre-order. The voice-controlled computer assists drivers with directions, speed, calling and more with a clear glass display that sits in front of the steering wheel.

The Roav is a standalone system with a dual-core processor and 32 GB of internal storage space, featuring Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity. Instead of checking your phone for information while driving, the Roav's voice-activated hardware is able to read notifications aloud and provide route information on its dash-mounted panel.

"This voice-control technology not only makes the driving experience more convenient, but also safer," said Steven Yang, CEO of Anker, adding "With a simple command, drivers can simply ask for the fastest way home or the best restaurant nearby, and let Roav do the rest."

Among Roav's features are:

• Navigation
• Live-traffic re-routing
• Live-traffic alerts
• Speed limit alerts
• Music Streaming
• Calling
• Messaging and notifications
• Trip statistics
• Onboard map

The Roav is similar to the self-titled device from San Francisco startup Navdy. Navdy has been in development for two years but still is yet to see an official release.

Anker has also undercut the $800 price tag of its competitor with the Roav, which comes in two variants: the 4G version priced at $299 and the Wi-Fi version for $399. These early-bird pre-order prices are discounted from the regular retail prices, which come in at $499 and $599 respectively.

See also:

Anker launches Roav, a dash-mounted HUD for your car

October 11, 2016

Anker says this is just phase one of its Roav project with phase two launching in Summer of 2017. This would introduce dashcams featuring ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance System) to alert the driver of possible dangers.

The 4G version ships in the US in Spring 2017, while the Wi-Fi versions land in the USA, UK and Canada in the Summer. The 4G variant in Canada will be on sale Summer 2017 also.

Is the Roav on your radar? Let us know in the comments.

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