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Automakers smarten up cars with consumer electronics [Boston Herald]
[May 23, 2011]

Automakers smarten up cars with consumer electronics [Boston Herald]


(Boston Herald (MA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 23--Consumers are demanding that new cars feature seamless connections to smartphones and the Web -- and car manufacturers are scrambling to build mobile applications, new navigation systems and multimedia interfaces that satisfy the demand.



"We're all looking more and more like consumer electronics companies," said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford Connected Services Solutions, at a recent presentation to the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "We look into the future, and it's boundless." Car buyers now have a slew of different tech options to choose from in the world of automobiles. Here are some of the most popular: Chevrolet MyLink Featured on the 2012 Volt and the Equinox, this feature allows drivers to access apps running on their iPhones, BlackBerrys and Android devices using their car. Apps on the list so far include Stitcher, a customized news delivery system, Gracenote, a large media database, and Pandora, a popular entertainment app. These features can be accessed with voice recognition.

General Motors IntelliLink This is the same as MyLink, rebranded for the Buick Verano, LaCross and Regal, as well as the GMC Terrain.


Audi The newest Audi A7s and A8s feature navigation through Google Earth, points-of-interest searching powered by Google and Wikipedia and a wireless connection that makes the car your own personal Wi-Fi hotspot with a $30-per-month T-Mobile subscription.

Hyundai Blue Link In addition to OnStar benefits like automatic crash notification with live operators, this platform features voice recognition by real people. If the car's Nuance and Vlingo software can't recognize your words, the audio is sent to a person in a call center who will respond directly to you. The best part: you'll never have to speak to them directly.

Launching on the 2012 Sonata and Veloster this year, Blue Link will search points of interest, generate a monthly vehicle report on the car's condition and allow you to lock and unlock your car remotely. It also features restaurant reviews powered by Bing.

Ford Focus If you're looking for an electric car, here's something to chew on -- AT&T has partnered with Ford to deliver wireless to its upcoming Ford Focus Electric. This will allow electric car drivers to remotely monitor the vehicle's battery life and find the nearest EV charging stations.

Ford Sync This cloud-based delivery network allows drivers to personalize the news and other info that's delivered to their vehicles. With Bluetooth music streaming, traffic reports and navigation powered Google and Mapquest, Ford has also launched an app developer community for Sync, hoping to break into the popular market that has boosted tablets and smartphones.

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Copyright (c) 2011, Boston Herald Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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