Less than two months after the last update, Bosch is already releasing the next revision of the eBike Flow app for the Smart System drives. With the change to version 1.12, the focus is clearly on navigation. In addition, there are a few smaller innovations that can prove to be very practical in everyday use. Quite undetected, Bosch also fixes a bug from the previous update.
1. Listening experience navigation
2. New re-routing
3. Excellent visibility even in the dark
4. More details in the map
5. Additional ride screens
6. Honey, where did we park?
7. New features for iPhone users
8. Bugs from previous update fixed
1. Listening experience navigation
When riding on a planned route, the eBike Flow app previously offered basic functions. However, it did not come close to the solutions of specialists such as Komoot, Strava and Co. until now. This remains the case after this update. However, Bosch has managed to significantly reduce the gap.
In addition to a pure representation of the route as a map, a voice output is now added. This means that the app informs you with a short sentence, for example, that your route will turn off the current road in a few hundred metres. If an even more rudimentary version is enough for you, you can switch from the voice instruction to a simple advisory tone. The corresponding setting can be found in the Ride Screen. The acoustic signals are not emitted from your display, but from your smartphone. So you should have it with you. In any case, riding in this way can be noticeably relaxed, as you can focus your attention completely on the traffic around you and don’t have to look at the display when searching for the right way to go.
2. New re-routing
If you do stray from your intended route, the Bosch app will now help you in this situation too. Thanks to the re-routing function, it suggests an alternative route to your actual destination that involves as little diversions as possible. According to Bosch, the suggestion will be automatically displayed within a few seconds. Important: This only works if you are connected to the app online at that moment.
It is quite possible that the alternative route is based on data from other people who also use the eBike Flow app. In the future, this data will merge into a common pool. In this way, you will automatically receive an ebike-specific route. At least that’s what Bosch promises. And the company encourages you to rate the routes you have ridden. This would continuously improve the recommendations and increase the reliability of, for example, an estimated arrival time.
3. Excellent visibility even in the dark
Another new feature is a “dark mode” for the display, as you know it from many other apps and programmes on computers. Bosch calls this view “Dark Map”. It ensures that the navigation view remains clearly visible when the sun has already set. The display then changes to a more appropriate colour scheme, which prevents you from being dazzled, among other things. Nice side effect: Your smartphone requires less power in this mode.
4. More details in the map
Bosch has worked on the navigation screen of the display especially for navigating with the Kiox 300. Until now, the map display only showed the actual route as the only graph. In future, you will also see turn-offs and exits, which should make orientation easier in many situations by comparing them with your surroundings. By the way, this is also how the route display in the eBike Flow app looks.
5. Additional ride screens
We continue with the innovations that have nothing to do with navigation. These include the increase in ride screens. In the displays, you can already see vital ride data such as the ride time, the total distance, the average speed, the charge status of the battery and the remaining range. In addition, there is now a separate ride screen for the current cadence together with the power produced by the bike, as well as a separate ride screen for various information on the altitude differences covered during the ride.
Less than two months after the last update, Bosch is already releasing the next revision of the eBike Flow app for the Smart System drives. With the change to version 1.12, the focus is clearly on navigation. In addition, there are a few smaller innovations that can prove to be very practical in everyday use. Quite undetected, Bosch also fixes a bug from the previous update.
1. Listening experience navigation
2. New re-routing
3. Excellent visibility even in the dark
4. More details in the map
5. Additional ride screens
6. Honey, where did we park?
7. New features for iPhone users
8. Bugs from previous update fixed
1. Listening experience navigation
When riding on a planned route, the eBike Flow app previously offered basic functions. However, it did not come close to the solutions of specialists such as Komoot, Strava and Co. until now. This remains the case after this update. However, Bosch has managed to significantly reduce the gap.
In addition to a pure representation of the route as a map, a voice output is now added. This means that the app informs you with a short sentence, for example, that your route will turn off the current road in a few hundred metres. If an even more rudimentary version is enough for you, you can switch from the voice instruction to a simple advisory tone. The corresponding setting can be found in the Ride Screen. The acoustic signals are not emitted from your display, but from your smartphone. So you should have it with you. In any case, riding in this way can be noticeably relaxed, as you can focus your attention completely on the traffic around you and don’t have to look at the display when searching for the right way to go.
2. New re-routing
If you do stray from your intended route, the Bosch app will now help you in this situation too. Thanks to the re-routing function, it suggests an alternative route to your actual destination that involves as little diversions as possible. According to Bosch, the suggestion will be automatically displayed within a few seconds. Important: This only works if you are connected to the app online at that moment.
It is quite possible that the alternative route is based on data from other people who also use the eBike Flow app. In the future, this data will merge into a common pool. In this way, you will automatically receive an ebike-specific route. At least that’s what Bosch promises. And the company encourages you to rate the routes you have ridden. This would continuously improve the recommendations and increase the reliability of, for example, an estimated arrival time.
3. Excellent visibility even in the dark
Another new feature is a “dark mode” for the display, as you know it from many other apps and programmes on computers. Bosch calls this view “Dark Map”. It ensures that the navigation view remains clearly visible when the sun has already set. The display then changes to a more appropriate colour scheme, which prevents you from being dazzled, among other things. Nice side effect: Your smartphone requires less power in this mode.
4. More details in the map
Bosch has worked on the navigation screen of the display especially for navigating with the Kiox 300. Until now, the map display only showed the actual route as the only graph. In future, you will also see turn-offs and exits, which should make orientation easier in many situations by comparing them with your surroundings. By the way, this is also how the route display in the eBike Flow app looks.
5. Additional ride screens
We continue with the innovations that have nothing to do with navigation. These include the increase in ride screens. In the displays, you can already see vital ride data such as the ride time, the total distance, the average speed, the charge status of the battery and the remaining range. In addition, there is now a separate ride screen for the current cadence together with the power produced by the bike, as well as a separate ride screen for various information on the altitude differences covered during the ride.
6. Honey, where did we park?
Especially when you are riding in an unfamiliar environment, it can happen that you forget where exactly you parked your bike. So that you don’t despair or start an unnecessary argument with loved ones, the app now shows you the street name and the location of the place where the ebike is currently parked on the home screen. If you wish, the app can even guide you there directly. Simply tap on the location. Next, a map opens on the display, on which the exact location is marked. After another tap on the location, the navigation function starts. However, you will only get out of the story in this elegant way if your ebike is equipped with a ConnectModule from Bosch for the Smart System.
7. New features for iPhone users
In addition, the handling of the eBike Flow app has been improved for mobile devices with the operating system iOS 15 or newer. You can now let it contact you with very important information at any time. To do this, activate the “time-sensitive messages” option in the notifications on your iPhone, for example. Then you define for the eBike Flow App that such time-sensitive messages are transmitted. Thanks to this setting, the iPhone will send you a message with a signal tone if your ebike has been stolen, even though you have currently muted the device or set it to a mode in which you do not want to be disturbed.
In addition, activities that you have recorded using Activity Tracking can now be renamed. When giving the new title, you can give free rein to your creativity, as emojis are also allowed in addition to text.
8. Bugs from previous update fixed
Unfortunately, Bosch does not address one detail in its press release. After the last update of the eBike Flow app in February of this year, more and more voices appeared on the Internet reporting that the values for the total distance and the average speed had suddenly doubled. This effect seemed to extend across the models of different manufacturers. According to our information, Bosch learned about the problem relatively quickly and promised a remedy as soon as possible. After initial confirmations from some users, it is now clear that the current update contains the appropriate fix.
You can download version 1.12 for the eBike Flow free of charge from the Google Playstore or Apple’s App Store. The minimum requirements for the mobile devices are the operating systems iOS 15 and Android 8.0.
Pictures: Bosch eBike Systems
Update fixed the double speed issue.
Hello Timo,
Thanks a lot for that confirmation.
Cheers, Matthias