CES 2013: Auto dealers making vehicles to interact with smartphones, tablets
BY ROBERT EVATT World Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
LAS VEGAS — A huge number of the estimated 20,000 new products unveiled during the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show are capable of interacting with tablets and smartphones.
Cars are no exception, as automotive companies turned out to demonstrate new and updated apps, vehicle control systems and even real-time traffic sensing technologies.
General Motors led the pack with the Chevrolet MyLink, a series of premium entertainment and connectivity systems that was selected for an innovation award from the Consumer Electronics Association, the trade organization that produces CES.
MyLink radios feature a touchscreen panel that can play music from smartphones, USB devices, radio stations, SiriusXM satellite radio and a variety of music apps, including Pandora and TuneIn, which can play over 70,000 radio stations from across the globe.
General Motors continues to support and upgrade OnStar, its navigation and assistance service. Steve Ross, a representative of General Motors, said the company is in the process of testing new capabilities for OnStar’s RemoteLink smartphone app.
“We’re getting feedback from the audience to see what people prefer,” he said.
New tested capabilities include integration with calendar services so appointments will pop up and provide navigation to get to them.
OnStar’s app may also include integration with social networks to tell friends where you’re going, integration with other apps such as Yelp and remote unlocking.
Chrysler also expanded its navigation, dubbed uConnect, with a permanent 3G cellular connection that can turn the car into a wireless hotspot and allow for texting and apps. The system would also allow for remote door controls and remote starting via an app, said Chrysler representative Tara Quist.
“You can lock the doors anywhere,” she said. “You don’t have to be at your car.”
Hyundai’s Blue Link features navigation that also reveals points of interest along the way, real-time traffic updates and restaurant ratings. It can also be upgraded to provide roadside assistance and voice text messaging.
Blue Link can also stream music, pictures and videos and also has an app for locking and remote starts.
Lexus took a different tactic and demonstrated their advanced active safety research vehicle.
This vehicle has an array of sensors that can interact with other sensors on roadsides. The hoped result is a car that can detect nearby vehicles and pedestrians and pick up information about the road.
Associated Images:
This Lexus has an array of sensors that can interact with other sensors on roadsides. The hoped result is a car that can detect nearby vehicles and pedestrians and pick up information about the road. ROBERT EVATT/Tulsa World
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