Putting OnStar's FMV to the Test

Earlier this year, General Motors started offering its OnStar service — something once exclusive to GM cars — to almost any car built since 1981. With Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and emergency response services, OnStar FMV could be perfect for motorists concerned with safety and convenience. But how does it work in the real world? MotherProof.com contributor Carrie Kim had an opportunity to find out with an older test car that had the OnStar device installed in it. To find out if FMV makes sense for you, continue reading at MotherProof.com.

Putting OnStar FMV to the Test (MotherProof.com)

All Buicks to Get Standard Multimedia System

Later this year, Buick will begin rolling out its IntelliLink multimedia system as standard across the brand’s entire lineup. Among other features, it will give owners access to Pandora internet radio.

The new 2012 Buick Verano and 2012 Regal will come standard with a 7-inch touch-screen, while the LaCrosse will get an 8-inch screen. The 2013 Buick Enclave will get a touch-screen and IntelliLink standard, too.

Much like Chevrolet’s MyLink system, IntelliLink gives Buick owners access to Pandora and Stitcher internet radio streaming programs and a better voice-recognition system, which allows for simple voice commands. There’s also upgraded USB connectivity, including the ability to play music from a memory stick as well as an MP3 player. Those updates are on top of other recent OnStar enhancements that include hands-free texting and Facebook updates, along with navigation and traffic updates.

When the launch is completed, Buick will be one of the first automotive brands to offer a multimedia system as standard equipment. 

Cadillac Shows Off New Multimedia System, Interiors

It’s been a busy day at GM; we’ve already brought you news on the new Chevy TrailBlazer and Spark EV. Not to be outdone by Chevrolet, Cadillac also released images and details of its new state-of-the-art multimedia system and a sneak peek into Caddy’s future interior design.

The new multimedia system, called CUE, is Cadillac’s version of Chevrolet’s MyLink or Buick/GMC’s IntelliLink system. CUE, which stands for Cadillac User Experience, will give owners access to hands-free texting, navigation and traffic updates, and Pandora or Stitcher applications when a smartphone is tethered to the system.

CUE is an upgrade over MyLink mostly through its hardware and interior cabin integration. Shown in the photos below and above are examples of CUE in a redesigned Cadillac SRX and an unknown future car, either the upcoming XTS flagship sedan or the ATS compact sports sedan. None of these vehicles has been shown to the public, but GM confirmed that all three will go on sale in 2012.

Steve Jobs' Impact on the Automobile

Apple founder Steve Jobs made a huge impact on the computer world, but some of the innovations he’s most known for have transformed the car as we know it. With his passing, we take a look at just how much has changed in a relatively short amount of time.

iPod Integration
The iPod, along with iTunes, not only destroyed the music industry’s revenue structure — it revolutionized how we listen to music in the car. CD players had finally pushed the tape deck out of the cockpit, only to be nothing more than glorified coasters for many consumers. The MP3 replaced the CD even faster.

Auxiliary jacks with analog capability were a bridge — originally intended to satisfy tape deck lovers — but some brands leapfrogged others by offering USB integration to get all the digital goods out of the iPod with song titles and playlists.

Now, many cars’ iPod integration is so advanced that they display album artwork along with song information.

Some cars have advanced HD Radio that allows drivers to “tag” a song they hear on the radio, and that song is then saved to their iTunes profile to purchase the next time they open their iTunes.

Cars.com Launches Free iPad App

If you’re a fan of the iPad and Cars.com, today is a big day for you. Our new iPad app is now available to download via the App Store.

Download the App here

The app is a new-car shopping and research tool that delivers a graphics-rich approach to the hunt for the perfect car.

Features in the app include 360-degree spins of the exterior and interior, new-car videos, our expert reviews and comparison tools. Check out some screenshots and a full list of features below.

New App Controls Your Garage Door

For those who second-guess whether they turned off the stove or locked the back door, there will be one less thing they can worry about: their garage doors.

Craftsman has announced a pair of garage door openers that can be accessed through the internet rather than shortwave radio signal, according to USA Today. That means wherever you are, you can open and close the garage door.

The garage door openers have Ethernet cable ports that need to be connected to a router — for most people, that’s going to be a very, very long Ethernet cord! Wi-Fi is not supported, according to each door opener’s specifications.

Once the door opener is connected to the internet, you can control it through your computer or through a free app available for iPhone and most Android devices.

What if someone happens to be near the door when you close it from a distance? The door will issue audible and visual alerts as the door closes. Infrared and contact-reversing sensors are built-in, too.

The door openers don’t come cheap. Both are priced between $275 and $314, depending if you want backup power functions in case of a power failure. On top of that, owners will have to pay a fee to use the internet controls — $14.99 per year or $29.99 bi-yearly.

Now You Can Close Your Garage Door With a Smartphone (USA Today)

Ford Sync Makes Live Operators Standard

In a bid to make its service more competitive against GM’s OnStar, Ford has decided to make live operator assistance a standard service for Sync Services, which comes standard on most new Fords. Sync Services are free for the first three years of ownership and then require a subscription. 

The move is a part of a rethinking of how Sync works by Ford, making it less technical by adding more human assistance.

Now, when a Ford Sync owner tries to use Sync but is having trouble, say with finding directions to a restaurant, they can say “Operator.” When the operator comes online, they can assist by sending turn-by-turn directions, sending a text message with the restaurant’s name, address and phone number, or directly connecting the driver's phone to the restaurant’s number.

Pioneer Stereo To Battle High-Tech Options From Automakers

Do you want the latest in in-car entertainment, but don’t want to fork out the dough at the dealership for a higher-level trim? Pioneer is hoping your answer is yes.

Like Ford’s Sync, Toyota’s Entune, Chrysler’s Uconnect and recent updates to GM’s OnStar, Pioneer's just-introduced AppRadio harnesses the internet and the multitasking abilities of an Apple iPhone 4 to provide services like streaming internet radio and real-time traffic updates to you while driving.

The unit’s core is a 6.1-inch 800-by-480 pixel capacitive touch-screen. That’s a higher resolution than most factory-installed systems. Capacitive-touch technology offers improved touch capabilities compared with most touch-screen units that use resistive-touch technology. Bluetooth capability is also built in.

Car Talk Looks at Self-Driving Cars

Will cars drive themselves in the near future? The folks at Car Talk think so, but it’s still likely at least a decade off before it’s available. While the technology is progressing quickly — Google has logged 140,000 miles of autonomous driving in its prototype — the legal framework to make these driving robots a reality is moving much more slowly.

Self-Driving Cars: Look, Ma, No Hands May be Around the Corner (Car Talk)

Sprint App Blocks Cell Phone Use While Driving

If you worry about your teen texting and driving or even talking on their cell phone and driving, Sprint has an application for you. Its Drive First app automatically locks out most smartphone functions while driving.

The app kicks in at speeds over 10 mph, as determined by GPS coordinates and cell tower triangulation. Once in lockdown mode, Drive First disables phone functions and email and text alerts. All incoming calls are sent to voicemail, and if you get a text message while on the road, the app automatically replies to notify the sender that you’re currently driving. (The auto-reply can be customized.) You won’t regain access to your phone until the car has completely stopped moving for a few minutes, to account for stop-and-go traffic.

If you really want access to your phone while driving, there is an exit button as well as a 911 button that overrides the app.

If you are a concerned parent, the app can notify you about any override of the app.

The service isn’t free, though. It costs Sprint subscribers $2 extra per month per phone. For now, Drive First works only with Sprint smartphones running the Android operation system, though BlackBerry devices will get the service in the future.