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GM Highlights Coming Infotainment Tech - Thumbs Up Or Down?

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Gorehamj Senior Enthusiast

Gorehamj

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John Goreham
Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com
9-6-2019

Today, GM announced new technology that will enable "...customers to bring their digital lives into future connected vehicles." after listening to customers needs, GM has decided to work with Google to bring out a new suite of in-vehicle technology across all brands by 2021. "“We are re-envisioning the future in-vehicle customer experience, and this is just the first step. The integration of select Google technology and services into our vehicle infotainment systems will foster a more connected and efficient driving experience,” said Santiago Chamorro, vice president for Global Connected Customer Experience, GM. “We will continue to offer our own unique infotainment features that only GM can deliver, such as service recommendations, vehicle health status, in-vehicle commerce and more, with the Google applications and services complementing our offerings.”

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Are you on team Android now, like many of the GM-Trucks.com staffers?  If so, you will be happy to hear that future GM infotainment systems will be powered by Android, which GM says will bring familiar and enhanced experiences from Google to the vehicle. Here is a selection of what GM says is coming:

-Voice Assistant: With the built-in Google Assistant, drivers can make the most of their time in the vehicle and easily get things done hands-free using just their voice. Drivers can use the Assistant to make calls or text a friend, play a favorite radio station or podcast, close the garage door (requires compatible smart home devices) or even change the temperature in the vehicle, all while keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

-Embedded Navigation: Google Maps in the vehicle is constantly up-to-date and helps drivers navigate with real-time traffic information, automatic re-routing and lane guidance. With the Assistant, drivers can use voice to navigate home, share their ETA, find the nearest gas station and EV charging stations (based on availability) or ask about a store’s hours without needing a phone.

-In-Vehicle Applications: The Google Play Store lets drivers find their favorite apps and services designed specifically for in-vehicle use. Drivers can listen to the same albums, podcasts and audiobooks in the vehicle as at home and stay connected with their most important contacts on communication apps.

 

“GM is a trailblazer with Android in automotive and a leader in vehicle connectivity,” said Patrick Brady, vice president of Engineering, Google. “We’re incredibly excited to work with them to transform the way people consume media, stay in touch, navigate and access information on the go.”

 

The above all make sense to us except the "embedded navigation." Isn't the beauty of Android Auto that we don't need to pay for embedded Nav? And don't we already have the ability to select vehicle-focused apps like Waze and Pandora and have Android Auto work seamlessly with the vehicle controls and screen? Maybe we are missing the point. What say you members? Thumbs up or down?

 

 

 

Mountain boy Enthusiast

Mountain boy

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I would assume you have Google Maps on your iPhone, no different than that except you don’t need your phone. Spotify runs on infotainment now same thing. It will all the same stuff it does now just add a bunch more Google stuff. We apple junkies will be fine.

Gecko50 Enthusiast

Gecko50

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The BIG question is will it be up load able to the 2020 infotainment centers? If this can be done then its a home run in my book. But IF your not allowing 2020 over the air upgrades its a sales loss as customers will wait to buy vehicles till 2021! What say you GM!!

 

Chuck

Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

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GM is about a heartbeat away from eliminating anyone but them from touching you car/truck and sending you to jail or shutting your vehicle down if you try. John Deere and JI Case have already gone this route. Saw some poor sap last night on TV whose JD tractor sat a year before the dealer could get to it then when he tried in frustration to repair it himself it set off a loud alarm until the battery died he couldn't shut off. Googles involvement in this is the gateway. Ask an Apple user that has had his battery replaced in his phone at some other place than the Apple store how that works. Your touch screen stop working? Get locked out? Then told you need to buy a new phone when your current one works perfectly? How's that going to work with a $70K truck? They are creating monopolies. We have laws. They have lobby money. 

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

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I’m glad vehicles are getting autonomous driving. We’re getting to busy to bother.


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MaverickZ71 Senior Enthusiast

MaverickZ71

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Sounds like its the whole Sirius vs XM, VHS vs Betamax deal all over again.  Choose your manufacturer based on your preference.  

Pearl2017 Enthusiast

Pearl2017

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...you'll be driving along happily and fart ...the display will switch to a commercial about Gas-x and a button touch asking if you'd like your nav system to take you to the nearest store that carries it. You decide that's a great idea and accept. En route the stereo unexpectedly mutes your favorite track and Alexis's voice firmly states ..."please slow down Dave or i will be forced to contact the local authorities and your insurance carrier".  ....Ummmm No thanks., Can you please just make a better stereo? the Bose is a good start.

wizard4878 Enthusiast

wizard4878

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Listening to the customers needs???   What customers,  I have been a GM person my whole life and nobody has ever contacted me about what I would like in my truck or car.  Are you only asking rich people,  business people, millennials,  who?  I think before you go changing a bunch of "stuff" the will end up costing us more money maybe you should ask ALL your customers.  I would be willing to bet that most people that have a newer GM product don't need, want, or even know half of what the vehicle is able to do.  I personally don't know anybody that pays for the onstar service,  I'm sure some do,  but I would say the vast majority do not.   So again I ask,  what customers did you ask?

Smoothbassman Enthusiast

Smoothbassman

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I think this is a welcome addition.

Chrysler has taken it to the next level offering a really nice experience in their units. This almost swayed me to go to RAM, but the new RAM exterior isn't as appealing to me as the Chevy.

That aside, GM has to do something to catch up and with no internal development team they are going the partnership route like they did with Ford and the new transmission platforms.

Doing something different that could offer some advantages in the market place for them. I love Android Auto/Carplay but I don't want to have to use my phone all the time. This embedded Android platform would be cool to see in operation.

I'll wait and see how it unfolds.

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CDNSS Enthusiast

CDNSS

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So if I understand this will google maps be imbedded only for Android users ?

StinkyCheese Senior Enthusiast

StinkyCheese

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4 hours ago, CDNSS said:

So if I understand this will google maps be imbedded only for Android users ?

Yes and no.  Yes because if you buy a vehicle with this crud in it, it will be Android OS on the vehicle.  No in the sense you're probably meaning that you as an Iphone user won't have access to it.  Unless I'm reading the OP wrong anyway.

Gecko50 Enthusiast

Gecko50

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17 hours ago, CDNSS said:

So if I understand this will google maps be imbedded only for Android users ?

Silly Rabbit... goggle traffic / mapping is also a "App" on the Iphone. I am NOT a avid user of the Iphone and was issued one for work. I hated the Iphone map software and had the IT department load the Google App for maps. But I also found entering BOTH address into both phones. They had different methods of their madness. I found on Android phones the routs were shorter AND took traffic  with accidents routing a lot better. Now that is my experiences. May not be yours. I would think that GM would HAVE to appeal to both types of phones. or have a app that allows the Iphones to operate. Silly rabbit..... LOL

 

Chuck

econometrics Senior Enthusiast

econometrics

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I bought a Google TV back in 2010 (I think?). What a piece of junk. 

 

Hopefully this isn't what happens to GM trucks in the future. I like Google Maps on my iPhone, but everything else Google-powered (besides Google.com) seems to be very buggy all the time. 

 

Also, goodbye further layers of privacy. Google loves having more info about where we go, and what we do. Yay. 

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