[emehrkay]

BMW's iDrive was/is considered a mess because of the single knob-do-everything approach, but it had potential for what could had been. This seems like it took what bmw had, implemented it as a virtual knob and removed the main problem (idrive's submenu system). I like this, great way to think about the problem and present a potential, easy to understand solution. This approach also allows the touchscreen to be put in a more natural position like closer to the arm rest. I'd just make it a taste more visual. I bet the haptic feedback that some android keyboards offer when keys are pressed would be a great addition.

[adav]

The latest iteration is pretty much spot on. Everybody unfairly discredited the first version - the technology hadn't matured. Much like the iPhone 2G (dismissed by the majority of non-techies)! However, not everyone can afford a brand new BMW, whereas pretty much everyone I know has an iPhone/Android, so their opinion was never re-evaluated.

The latest iteration is virtually perfected. Rocker buttons on top, and with a known number of clicks I can control 80% of all the main functions without taking my eyes off of the road at all. For the other 20%, it takes a quick glance to see the state of the screen and then I know "okay, now just two clicks down and I'm there".

The upcoming version (currently on the only the latest model to be released) has a small circular touchpad on-top of the wheel so you can draw letters without having to twist the knob. Useful for entering Postcodes into Nav, for instance.

I recall that both Audi and Mercedes have since copied the iDrive paradigm.

[erobbins]

idrive is way better now than it was initially... they added some buttons. I use it every day and it's very easy. if bmw tried to replace it with some touch screen gizmo I would push the car off a cliff.