[Starks8]

For those forum members who have the 2013 Cruzes or maybe even plan on getting a 2013 Cruze that's equipped with the 7 inch color touch screen, you likely know that it comes with the Stitcher and Pandora Apps pre-installed, allowing one to access these apps through your phone/ipod touch through either bluetooth or the USB/AUX hookup. Well I have a few questions about it and want to get you guys' prospective and thoughts on it as well.

The first question is, what would happen if one tries to open other apps on the phone that's paired to the car that aren't Stitcher or Pandora? Would they work? Say I pull up the Accuradio app on my Iphone or the Iheart radio app on my android phone through either bluetooth or USB connection? Would I be able to hear the music through the cars speakers at all? Would I see the app's background pop up on the screen? Would I be able to operate the app through the touch screen /steering wheel controls, or at least through my phone, even if it doesn't show up on the cars touch screen?

If its possible to have the ability (even if somewhat limited) to use the iphone and/or Android specific music/radio related apps that aren't the pre-loaded Pandora or Stitcher apps, would other apps that aren't radio/music related work? For example, would phone apps like Facebook, Fandango, Accuweather, ESPN, yelp, and/or Redbox possibly work on any kind of level through the cars color touch screen when hooked up through USB or ran through bluetooth?

My initial guess is that the answer to this is a big fat NO, but you never know and I thought I'd at least ask. And I obviously ask because I'm interested in the Cruze being able to have this ability to do this. The spark and sonic I think have this ability on a certain level but not to the extent that I'm talking about.

When I wrote Chevy/GM that 5 page letter I mentioned that the upcoming 2013+ cruzes should have the ability to do this and pretty much be able to use almost any app on your phone through the oem touch screen. I mentioned the company CustomGadz to them that has a Mimics Dash that does exactly what I was talking about ... customGadz , Android / iPhone Car Dash intergration - Full device control [MimicsX2] - YouTube. I might seriously look into what they can do with the Cruze because it seems it doesn't have to be connectED to your car's computer to work although some installation will be required.

Do you guys think Chevy will ever send a update through a USB drive that would allow Cruze to owners to upgrade the usable apps feature in the Cruze, so that more apps can be downloaded to the headunit and thus usable through our iphone/android phones? Sorta like how Ford sent out a whole system upgrade to their buyers for their Myford touch's problems through a USB drive? Thanks and let me know what you think. Sorry for the length!

 

[ctrider]

From what I've read so far, which isn't much, so don't hold me to it, but that's what Gracenote is. It helps link other apps. I usually turn on the radio, hit the Bluetooth icon and then pick the App on my phone. It will start playing over the speakers. It doesn't show any icon, but will play. I've used Slacker radio, Rhapsody, and can set up Verizon's ap as well.

It will even play audio from Youtube. So I think it will do most any. Mine is not the IPhone, it's Android, but anything I've tried so far has worked this way.

 

[Starks8]

Nah, I don't think Gracenote in the Cruze or in any car for that matter is what allows you to do that or what Im talking about. The Gracenote feature in the cruze does this...

"Gracenote® identifies the music collection on the driver’s smartphone or MP3 player and presents information such artist name, genres and album cover art on the MyLink screen and enables users to select similar music to the tunes they love. Gracenote also improves the accuracy of MyLink’s voice activation system by allowing users to access music using artist nicknames, such as “The Boss,” “G.N.R,” or “The Fab Four” simply by using MyLink’s touch-screen or steering wheel buttons and voice control interfaces." Gracenote | Chevrolet MyLink Creates Smart Phones on Wheels .

However while reading the information in the above link about gracenote and the chevy mylink infotainment package, it seems my question is somewhat answered as it states within the reading... "Drivers will be able to upgrade the capabilities of MyLink as new approved downloadable features become available. Before any smartphone apps can be used with MyLink, they must go through a validation process to demonstrate that they are safe to use while the vehicle is in motion. Functions such as text input on the touch screen are disabled while driving."

So if indeed able to upgrade the capabilities of Mylink which I'm hoping means, being able to download more usable apps (i.e., Yelp, Fandango, Accuweather, ESPN) to the Cruze's 7" color touchscreen headunit, actually when and how often will these mylink upgrades take place?

 

[obermd]

The first question is, what would happen if one tries to open other apps on the phone that's paired to the car that aren't Stitcher or Pandora? Would they work? Say I pull up the Accuradio app on my Iphone or the Iheart radio app on my android phone through either bluetooth or USB connection? Would I be able to hear the music through the cars speakers at all? Would I see the app's background pop up on the screen? Would I be able to operate the app through the touch screen /steering wheel controls, or at least through my phone, even if it doesn't show up on the cars touch screen?

I think the answer to this is dependent on your phone. My phone will play music and navigate in the background and the audio runs over Bluetooth to my 2012 ECO MT radio. It will also handle calls at the same time and then usually restart music after the call ends. Navigation continues to run to give me voice instructions and display updates even during the call. My phone definitely doesn't have the horsepower or protocol support to extend it's screen and touch interface across bluetooth, but I expect phones with this ability may become available during the expected lifespan of the 2013 Cruze.

I remember one of the biggest gripes about the early iPhones was that they flat out couldn't do this. An application had be in foreground to be operating. I don't know about the newer iPhone models since I am "allergic" to Apple.

 

[ctrider]

Ah, right, I guess I was way off with Gracenote.

I do remember seeing something in the menu about updates. It asked me to install the USB device, so I bet you're on to something. It would make sense. I hope that's the case, that would be awesome if we could keep updating the system.

 

[Starks8]

Thought this video was pretty cool and informative about some new things that you can do by having the XM Travel Link service when paired with the new Mylink system. Anybody made use of the XM/Mylink Movie listings icon yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA-qrDD6M3w&feature=channel&list=UL

On a side note, I heard that the name for the infotainment program in the new Honda Accord is HondaLink! Really, HondaLink?! I wonder how they ever came up with that name? Copy-cats!

 

[ctrider]

I haven't used the Movie link, well I looked it over, but haven't actually gone to a movie I found yet. I use the Weather and Gas Station stuff all the time though. I like that it will link the gas station number so you can call them with a click of the button.

 

[Starks8]

I haven't used the Movie link, well I looked it over, but haven't actually gone to a movie I found yet. I use the Weather and Gas Station stuff all the time though. I like that it will link the gas station number so you can call them with a click of the button.

cool, so how is the xm weather info in your opinion? Does it do pretty good at finding the weather for the exact town where you live or does it just give you the weather for your closest city? Can you check out hour by hour forecasts, 24 h, 36 h forecasts? I live Culpeper, VA which is the northernmost county of central Virginia and we're considered part of the greater baltimore-washington metropolitin area, so I wouldnt be surprised if a). We couldn't get a XM weather reading or b). XM weather gave us the weather reading for either the city of Richmond or the Baltimore-washington area.

It would be sweet if the XM Gas stations could find you ethanol free gas stations! Then i would really be impressed! haha

 

[giantsnation]

Research GogoLink Navigation. I found out through the dealer that the '13s with MyLink will be able to add a navigation App for a one time charge of $50. Any one else hear this? Supposedly this is going to be available this Winter.

 

[ctrider]

cool, so how is the xm weather info in your opinion? Does it do pretty good at finding the weather for the exact town where you live or does it just give you the weather for your closest city? Can you check out hour by hour forecasts, 24 h, 36 h forecasts? I live Culpeper, VA which is the northernmost county of central Virginia and we're considered part of the greater baltimore-washington metropolitin area, so I wouldnt be surprised if a). We couldn't get a XM weather reading or b). XM weather gave us the weather reading for either the city of Richmond or the Baltimore-washington area.

It would be sweet if the XM Gas stations could find you ethanol free gas stations! Then i would really be impressed! haha

It shows 2 different screens. From the Home page you can see current conditions, then click the Info button and it will show a 5 day forecast and it appears to pick the largest city in the area. I live in rural Maine and it picks Augusta, which is 20 miles away.

Yeah, it would be good if you could screen out the ethanol stations, but it would work to just click the Call button and ask them I suppose.

 

[Starks8]

Research GogoLink Navigation. I found out through the dealer that the '13s with MyLink will be able to add a navigation App for a one time charge of $50. Any one else hear this? Supposedly this is going to be available this Winter.

Thats kinda cool, but I likely wouldnt want to spend $50 to use the Gogolink nav app. For 1, ive never heard of it and 2) for 50 dollars i could just use the mylink nav or my phone.