In fact, over-the-air Radio could someday become nothing more than nostalgia?
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - Sept. 11, 2012
The Spark – It is not its infotainment system that will change the world, it is your smartphone interacting with it that will.
The Chevrolet Spark’s MyLink Radio will soon add the capability of connecting owners with an International streaming audio app called TuneIn and its global network of more than 70,000 stations.
According to GM, TuneIn has connected 40 million people across 230 countries and territories to global audio content via its mobile apps and online. Once the free app is installed, users can search for programming by location, genre, sports team name, station type or call sign.
Sara LeBlanc, Global Program Manager for Chevrolet and GM infotainment:
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“Spark buyers will soon have the ability to listen to music from Europe, a talk show in Africa or classic rock in L.A. giving a whole new meaning to the question, ‘What in the world are you listening to?’”
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Chevrolet said it expects TuneIn will be available for Spark in the first quarter of 2013. In addition to Spark 1LT and 2LT models, MyLink Radio is standard on the Chevrolet Sonic RS, which goes on sale this fall.
Along with GM’s soon to blow the lid off embedded NAVI systems called BringGo, TuneIn is yet another infotainment app that releases the power of the smartphone into the confines of an automobile.
MyLink
The Spark’s MyLink is not a radio but an extension of the owner’s Android, BlackBerry, Windows or iPhone smartphone.
When owners connect their compatible smartphones via Bluetooth, or by plugging in, they can access the following functions:
- Personal playlists of stored music
- Hands-free calling with Bluetooth-enabled voice activation from the customer’s smartphone when the steering wheel button is depressed.
- Allows video via USB while the vehicle is parked. (5 mph limit for the MT equipped Spark).
- Allows a photo album “slideshow” mode via USB while the vehicle is parked, with the last music selection playing in the background. Once the vehicle is moving, a single photo is viewable.
- BringGo adds full-function navigation, traffic updates
BringGo, the real future of vehicle navigation
BringGo, an embedded app that is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter provides full-function navigation and live traffic for $50. I know what you are thinking. $50 for GoogleMaps to be displayed on the 7” touch screen? BringGo is a full US, Canada and Mexico map suite that is loaded on your smartphone so even if your connection is lost, the maps like those in $1,500 embedded NAVI systems are within the car and never disconnected. In addition to maps and live traffic, BringGo enables easy access to emergency information including police, fire and the nearest hospital; thousands of points of interest; local search via Google; Where am I? locator; live traffic functionality that provides crash reports, lane closures and alternative routes; three-dimensional maps and more.
As Sara LeBlanc said at the Spark Regional:
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“smartphones lead to dumb radios”
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I could not agree with her more.
Hybrid Mode
