GM goes full smartphone with its latest infotainment system

Many of us are using CarPlay and Android Auto to essentially replace the infotainment systems in our cars. Automakers like Audi, Mercedes, and really anyone putting metal on four tires is taking notice of this trend and have started working hard to win those smartphone users back to their systems. The latest is GM which has taken quite a lot of cues from the tech world for its latest offering.

During a recent demo in the 2018 GMC Terrain (the first GM vehicle to get the new infotainment system) Jason Park, GM's global infotainment product manager, showed off the company's latest in-dash system. The layout resembles a smartphone, in fact, Park points that out. That's not new; automakers have been doing that for a while. What is new is how it behaves almost like the computer in your pocket.

Like your smartphone of choice, the updated GM system supports tap and hold to move icons around or even delete a selected app. Also like the iPhone or Android, certain apps (such as the phone app) can't be removed. It's a sign that the automakers like GM (and Volvo, which offers this type of feature in Sensus) understands that after about a decade of touchscreens, drivers are accustomed to certain features and what carmakers bring to their dash might as well mirror that.

Another intriguing feature is cloud connectivity. In addition to offering over-air-updates to the system, drivers can create personal accounts that are tied to their key fobs, meaning when you get in the car, your settings are automatically enabled. This includes your seating preferences. Each car can handle up to five accounts at a time so the entire family can have their own settings.

What's nice is that since those accounts are stored in the cloud, drivers that get into other GM vehicles with this infotainment system, log into their account and get all their settings in that vehicle too. If you travel often and use a lot of rental cars, this could be a huge benefit. Just remember to log out when you're done.

Part of the benefit of taking your account with you everywhere is GM's Marketplace that allows you to order food, make a reservation at a restaurant (or hotel), and pay for gas all from the infotainment system. In the interest of safety (keeping your eyes on the road as much as possible instead of wading through a selection of food), you don't get the full menu of items from a place like Dunkin Donuts or McDonald's -- instead, the apps will offer up recently placed and favorite orders. Payment information is saved in your account so you just cruise in, grab your grub and go.

All of these features are GM's way of trying to get drivers back to looking at their screens instead of tech company's offerings while driving. It's not alone MBUX from Mercedes-Benz is built to replace the smartphone in your car. It's a smart move because more and more, infotainment systems are becoming a larger part of the car buying decision process. If you don't get ahead of Apple and Google, you could get left behind and your cars are just conduits for the offerings of tech giants.

Right now the system is only available in the 2018 Terrain SUV but will be permeating the rest of the GM lineup in coming years. Oh, and it still supports CarPlay and Android Auto.



via Engadget RSS Feed https://ift.tt/2tpnGCv
RSS Feed

If New feed item from http://www.engadget.com/rss-full.xml, then send me

IFTTT

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Evernote cuts staff as user growth stalls

Image
Note-taking app Evernote has fallen on hard times of late, culminating in its latest spate of job cuts impacting 15 percent of its workforce (54 employees). CEO Chris O' Neil -- an ex-Googler who took the reins in 2015 -- announced the firings at an all-hands meeting earlier today, reports TechCrunch . In a message on the Evernote blog , O' Neill admitted he'd set "incredibly aggressive goals" for the company in 2018. He continued: "Going forward, we are streamlining certain functions, like sales, so we can continue to speed up and scale others, like product development and engineering." The layoffs follow an exec exodus just weeks ago and the company's recent brand refresh (complete with a refined logo and wordmark). But critics are more concerned about its product, especially the free tier, which they claim lacks the perks to...
Read more

The best air conditioner

Image
By Liam McCabe This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter . When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here . After six summers of researching, testing, and recommending window air conditioners, we've learned that quiet and affordable ACs make most people the happiest—and we think the LG LW8016ER will fit the bill in most rooms. This 8,000 Btu unit cools as efficiently and effectively as any model with an equal Btu rating, and runs at a lower volume and deeper pitch than others at this price. Little extra features like a fresh-air vent, two-axis fan blades, and a removable drain plug help set it apart, too. The LG LW8016ER is a top choice for an office or den, and some people will find it quiet enough for a bedroom, too. If our main pic...
Read more

We won't see a 'universal' vape oil cartridge anytime soon

Image
Pre-loaded cartridges of cannabis concentrate are currently among the most popular means of consumption, and for good reason. They're discreet to use and easy to handle, a far cry from the dark days of 2016 when we had to dribble hash oil or load wax into narrow-mouthed vape pens by hand. But, frustratingly, an ever increasing number of oil cartridge manufacturers employ one-off design standards so that their products won't work with those of their competitors, thereby locking customers into proprietary ecosystems. We've already seen this with nicotine vaporizers -- which has a seen a massive rise in "pod systems" in the last few years, each outfitted with a unique canister and battery built to be incompatible with those of their competition. Is it too late for the burgeoning cannabis industry to set a universal standard for their product designs? ...
Read more