GM’s new MyLink telematics system will first be available starting with the 2012 Chevrolet Volt and Equinox, offering smartphone charging, Pandora radio streaming, GraceNote music identification, Bluetooth, XM satellite radio, voice activation, OnStar, and USB inputs.
The MyLink comes hot on the heels of Ford’s SYNC as an inevitable rival. But unlike the SYNC, MyLink includes the full power of GM’s OnStar behind it. It will also come with Powermat charging for the smartphones that you won’t need to fiddle with once behind the wheel. Functionality between the two infotainment systems is remarkably similar otherwise, which makes you wish that GM had introduced this earlier.
The MyLink includes a 7-inch full-color touchscreen standard, which controls climate control and navigation operations. The first GM cars that will be equipped with it later this year will be the Chevrolet Volt and the Equinox crossover, before being equipped in much of the rest of the General Motors lineup.
This entry was posted on Monday, February 21st, 2011 at 9:29 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+42
Feb 21st, 2011 (9:41 am)I use to come to GM-volt.com to keep up to volt news, but more importantly Lyle’s input of the topic. Since volt has gone mainstream volt news is everywhere and usually faster then gm-volt.com. I know Lyle has better things to do with his him time, but surely miss his insight.
Oh, and one more thing, we loved Lyle cause he was Lyle, living, breathing human passionate about the Volt like we are. This impersonal news isn’t going to work!
+3
Feb 21st, 2011 (9:51 am)off topic but dissappointing, Cleveland auto show starts in few days, No Volt, No Leaf,
+5
Feb 21st, 2011 (9:52 am)I really hope this will be a software upgrade for the 2011 Volts. From the video posted a few days ago in the forum, the Volt version doesn’t look any different except that it can interact with Pandora (and possibly other apps) through BT.
+8
Feb 21st, 2011 (9:52 am)Change is hard. I too miss the idea of coming here and reading news posted by an individual in their spare time. However, I appreciate today’s article. I didn’t know about this. I wonder how other early adopters feel about this? My 2011 car is slated to arrive in a week or two, but of course won’t have this feature built in. Yes it’s the risk we all take as early adopters, but what do other early adopters think? What about those of you who haven’t taken delivery?
+2
Feb 21st, 2011 (10:14 am)pavers123,
You know that feeling you get when you check out “Customer Reviews” for a product on Amazon.com or your local retailer’s website but you know it’s an obvious plant?
James
Quotes still don’t work – latest version of IE , why not remove the option since there seems no attempt to fix it?
P.S. – I read about this subject last week on GM’s Volt website
+2
Feb 21st, 2011 (10:26 am)I still want a Wifi card in the Volt so I can sync my car when I pull it into my driveway and it connects to my home network.
I do like the idea of the Volt supporing aps. There are tons of great aps I could think of for the car. Now will they go all the way and allow any smartphone ap on the Volt? Will they allow the Volt’s data to be used in aps?
Feb 21st, 2011 (10:44 am)Quotes work for me using latest IE.
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (11:02 am)You can use the quote button if you highlight the text you want to quote first then click on “Quote.”
+12
Feb 21st, 2011 (11:10 am)To enjoy the music from your iPhone in the Volt, a USB connection will occur in the 2012 Volt just like this year’s model. Since Pandora is an app on the iPhone, we can play it through the 2011 Volt sound system as well. While I like seeing more apps on the car, today’s Volt buyer should not feel left out. There will always be improvements and change, some you like and some you don’t.
Be happy for Lyle and his family. Be sure to enjoy his future visits. Those visits are something to look forward to. When you wake up each day, smile and choose to be happy.
+3
Feb 21st, 2011 (11:23 am)pavers123,
I’m getting mine in a week or two. I hope that this upgrade will be pushed to the 2011, but I knew that the second gen would have a lot more (and hopefully cheaper!). That is the price of being an early adopter. But the buzz the car has generated in my little corner of the world has been worth it!
+2
Feb 21st, 2011 (11:33 am)Thanks Michael. Trying to give these new guys a chance – but if we look at their other sites – it’s still kind of depressing.
I’ve noticed some top-line GM trucks have a “mobile hotspot” option. Also noticed some newer smartphones on the market with a moblie hotspot capability – but at a monthy price ( argh ). Mobile Hotspot in Volt would be sweet.
I do think Volt will improve the oft-complained about “audio always comes on” situation and will need to mimic LEAF’s charging station data screens as time moves forward and charging stations become more common. Even now it would be appreciated.
I do, however, like the colors of the photo above. While I don’t dislike the flourescent green/blue motif of Volt’s screens ( after all, they are Seattle Seahawk colors
) I think Sync and the MyLink graphics look a tad more user-friendly by graphics design and color contrasts.
James
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (11:54 am)Mobile hotspot would be interesting… not interested in paying anything more per month.
I’m even considering stopping paying for TV…. TV TEL Internet… just getting too expensive per month.
+3
Feb 21st, 2011 (12:15 pm)#4
I’m sort of disappointed about the Pandora, which is one of the few of such features I even care about, but I agree that it’s part of the risk we take. Anyway, Mark Z at #9 has suggested a workaround for the Pandora. Maybe I’ll have to break down and get an iPhone after all, LOL. Just what I need, even more complexity in my life. KISS! +1
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (12:17 pm)Thanks. See above. +1
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (12:19 pm)#10
Exactly. +1
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (12:24 pm),
green?
hope not.
YiKes, the knobs and the 1 2 3 4 5 6 buttons look like an old radio from the ’70s!!
GM, please find a designer!
Feb 21st, 2011 (12:34 pm)Have you tested this? I know you could use the headphone jack of the ipod to an Aux in on the Volt, but if you plug in the USB will the Volt allow music from aps, or just from the music files on your Ipod. I’m talking about the 2011 Volt.
@ Noel Park – the Pandora ap on the Volt requires an Ipod with this ap, no matter what.
Hopefully in the future the Volt will just have its own aps and you wont need the smart-phone.
+2
Feb 21st, 2011 (12:46 pm)For some applications knobs ARE the best option!
Feb 21st, 2011 (12:49 pm)Didn’t see HD Radio listed; anyone know if it is included as well?
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (1:03 pm)#4
pavers
“Change is hard”
This phrase, now usually used as a put-down, has a rational basis that has been studied extensively. Change is indeed hard, and that is because it is expensive or risky or both. One makes a change to a working system in the hope that the cost now will be less than a benefit that will be received later on. Sometimes it is, and sometimes not. In any event, one draws down accumulated resources (money, good will, knowledge or something) to cover the costs, in the interim.
In our situation, a change from Lyle is both risky and expensive. We will see how the change plays out.
+3
Feb 21st, 2011 (1:28 pm)So how will they integrate this into the center console????
Here are a few more links about this:
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=145265
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/general-motors-unveils-rival-to-fords-sync-2221248.html
Maybe there will be at least one advantage to having to wait for a 2012 model Volt!!!
And PLEASE GM – do not limit this to Apple products only. I use an Android based phone.
NPNS
Have Outlet – Ready For EREV In Ohio!
Please add me to the “I Miss Lyle” list………..
Feb 21st, 2011 (1:32 pm)#17
Even in the 2012? If so, I feel a little better, LOL. I saw an AT&T ad in yesterday’s LA Times offering iPhones for $59, presumably if you renew your contract. My cellphone expert said that they were last generation, but I doubt that I would know the difference, LMAO. I guess if it lets me play Pandora and preheat the car maybe I have to do it!
+2
Feb 21st, 2011 (1:33 pm)pavers123,
Hey pavers,
I too miss it. And in the abscence of articles over the past few days I decided to start posting a daily blog, my first ever. In fact I wrote about this topic 4 or 5 days ago. I’m no Lyle, but I’m gonna give daily volt blogging a try. Please visit! http://thechevyvoltblog.blogspot.com there’s room in thi world for 2 Volt blogs I think.
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (1:34 pm)#23
You got that right. Don’t quit yet! +1
Feb 21st, 2011 (1:45 pm)I posted a video a few days ago on the last thread showing the integration into the Volt’s screen. It isn’t just for Apple products. You can run the Pandora ap on Droids too. And I believe the Droids use a bluetooth connection, so you dont even have to use the USB cable.
Feb 21st, 2011 (1:55 pm)kdawg,
No, I have not tested Pandora in the Volt. Normally I would use XM and the iPod feature of the phone. The headphone jack and a charger could be used without the USB connection. Not a slick solution, but it does give the 2011 Volt owner flexibility.
Ideally I would like to see GM add a video input for the center screen too. The video content on an iPod or iPhone should be playable just for flexibility.
Feb 21st, 2011 (1:56 pm)The important question that I have about the blog’s changed status is simply this:
Does anyone at GM still read it?
If so, I have an urgent request: Please provide a means, in a setup screen, to disable the voice command for good and all; so that when I hit the button on the steering wheel by mistake I won’t scream an obscenity and drive into a tree.
Alternatively, I suppose you could program it to recognize “oh s***” as the command to shut off.
.
+5
Feb 21st, 2011 (1:56 pm)FWIW, I just got word that my Volt was produced last week, #1756 if anyone is trying to keep up with how many have been made.
Feb 21st, 2011 (2:21 pm)Reminder:
Those of you who see comments appearing in green text can place the following characters ahead of your own comments to make them appear in normal, black text:
(I had to create a bitmap to show the characters, just type them in normally ahead of your comment text).
.
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (2:53 pm)Jackson,
Thanks Jackson, but wouldn’t it be better if the site managers fixed this?
I posted my observation yesterday, that if you start a comment with a “reply” or a “quote,” then your typing will be in black. This doesn’t work if you type above the “quote.” Also note my comment #8 above.
In comment #21 above, the URL link in green also fixes it. Notice how the typing is green before the link and black after it.
So, you could always start a comment by replying, quoting, or posting a link, but we shouldn’t have to all do this. They should fix it!
MichaelH
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (3:47 pm)Missing Lyle,
In a robotic voice, “We__cop__y__and__paste__ar__ti__cles__from__the__in__ter__net. Car__bon__units__need__not__a__pply.”
Hope they don’t shut down Facebook. lol
+2
Feb 21st, 2011 (4:14 pm)Congrats on your Volt being finished Noel, I don’t think I could sleep at night knowing it’s made and not in your garage.
If anyone here hasn’t read my daily blog here’s the link! Come by and say hi! http://thechevyvoltblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/better-weather-and-better-volt-warranty.html
Feb 21st, 2011 (5:44 pm)Of course, just offering a work-around ’til then …
Were you the one who pointed out the mis-placed parentheses around “tme posted” and the “quote” and “reply” links?
.
Feb 21st, 2011 (5:55 pm)I visited 4 GM dealers in the past 2 weeks. Two of them had a 3 car allocation. They only sold 1 each and had them on the lot for 2 months. The other 1 dealer had 2 in their allocation and sold 0 and they were both still on their lot. The last one had 2 allocated and sold only one of them. They had them on the lot fo2 months.
Although they are nice looking cars, IMHO, they’re NOT selling like “Hot cakes” / “Flying off the shelves….”….etc.
The “Niche” group of early adopters that can afford one have been filled. Now they’re not selling.
Just go visit a few dealers.
Not looking good!!!
Feb 21st, 2011 (5:57 pm)I miss knobs.
+6
Feb 21st, 2011 (6:12 pm)Noel Park,
Noel, I agree that life’s too complicated today in many ways. But let me suggest how to get into the “smart phone” era for very little sweat of the brow and minimal coin…
First: If you’re already an AT&T wireless customer, go to your online account to see if you’re eligible for an “upgrade”. If so, have them send you via FedEx a refurbished iPhone 3GS* overnite: total cost, $19.00 (+ a 2-yr extension in your contract with them, of course) and tweek your plan as necessary to work with an iPhone. [Don't get a new iPhone 4 ---it has an external antenna that can reduce your received signal if it's not held correctly so is not recommended by Consumer Reports; and it's not improved enough over the 3GS to justify its dramatically higher cost.]
Second, get a leather case to protect the 3GS screen & case if you ever drop it. A very inexpensive and handsome case is at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003NWYUD0 for only $5-6 bucks including S&H. In the case, the 3GS slides in/out of a man’s shirt pocket as easy as pie.
Third, spend some time playing with and learning everything you can do with the 3GS and I promise you’ll fall in love with it —if you don’t, you can return the phone & the case and I promise to ask for your forgiveness here at gm-volt.com!
* The iPhone 3GS is a current model & my $19 refurbished one is exactly like new!
Feb 21st, 2011 (6:39 pm)John,
#32
No s**t! +1
It’s probably sitting out in the snow in Hamtramck, poor thing. Well at least they don’t have my money yet, LOL.
+2
Feb 21st, 2011 (6:42 pm)#35
Thanks my friend for the good advice. +1
Feb 21st, 2011 (6:47 pm)No, but I saw that comment. I understand your “workaround,” and all these clues should point to a solution, but it doesn’t do anything to help me read all the light green posts from others. The lack of management response here is deafening.
Feb 21st, 2011 (7:33 pm)This is a serious jump in price…
NPNS
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (7:39 pm)Volt #555 currently @ 655mpg lifetime…
Feb 21st, 2011 (8:50 pm)I want this to be upgradeable to the 2011. There is no reason it can’t be, they need to design these to be upgradeable software-wise!
Feb 21st, 2011 (9:20 pm)I also am not a big fan of the icons in the image for the center stack monitor. I don’t like the 20th Century channel buttons either. The current Volt center stack, though not optimal with about 40 possible nibs to depress, is still better than what this future setup seems to suggest. I saw an Apple documentary a few months ago and a former mgr from there summarized their successful designs pretty clearly, “If you want good design you’ve got to hire the best designers and pay them like they are major league ball players.” I doubt GM would go that route but maybe they would think twice if they take a look at the success that fruit company has had over the last 10 years.
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (9:24 pm)Oh yeah, new GM-Volt people (Helen etc.)-
Keep working at this and to spice it up add some opinions every once in a while. Dry objective news can be soooo boring.
Silently motoring home now in my white #135.
-Book
Feb 21st, 2011 (10:09 pm)Don’t hit anything, and we promise not to tell the cops that you’ve been driving and texting.
.
Feb 21st, 2011 (11:24 pm)They mentioned Equinox and charging in the same sentence. Maybe there will be a Voltec Equinox in 2012?
+1
Feb 21st, 2011 (11:54 pm)Lol. Now I’m getting an error from wordpress in IE9 beta. Maybe this will help troubleshoot the quote issue.
+1
Feb 22nd, 2011 (2:42 am)Hey everybody look at this I have some good news if you’ve been itching for those gas prices to go up well look at this media clip from my local news site it says that gas could go up nearly $4.00 a gallon by Memorial Day and if so maybe we could go well beyond $4.00 a gallon and that could mean more people wanting to save at the pump or even better maybe more will want to get a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or even an electric car who knows only time will tell? Enjoy. http://www.king5.com/news/consumer/Pain-at-the-pump-is-getting-worse-116630163.html
+2
Feb 22nd, 2011 (2:53 am)I know you may not agree with everything on this clip but maybe more people will turn to alternatives if gas keeps soaring like this and beyond do you agree with me if so plus me.
+2
Feb 22nd, 2011 (5:55 am)“…maybe more people will turn to alternatives if gas keeps soaring”
The turn to alternatives = willingness to adjust mindset. In 2007 there was talk of the electric Volt being built. A car which could function as a short range gas-free battery commuter. And also as a long range gasoline car.
There were several man-on-the-street videos on the web wherein folks were asked what they though about driving an electric car. A surprising number replied, “That’s weird!”. Others bashed the battery as “running out to leave the driver stranded”. Even though the electric Volt (EREV) had several hundred miles range.
The national mindset toward EV has changed since 2007. What still lingers is the short sighted buying of 5000lb V-8 vehicles when the price of pump gas drops to $2 per gallon.
Gasoline will near $4 per gallon this Summer. Dodge Ram owners will be hopping up and down and yelling for troops to go in and kick some OPEC ass. It doesn’t need to be this way.
For those who feel $350 per month is too much for a new EV. Consider buying the most fuel efficient vehicle you can. Early adopters of Tesla, Volt, and Leaf are paving the way to lower prices longterm. Let’s all get on board in some way on this effort. I am very happy to be driving a new Volt. All systems are doing fine. No complaints and no buyers remorse.
Early reports of the Volt being top heavy with bells and whistles had me worried about over complication and of course sticker price. After daily driving for 5 weeks. I’ve learned to appreciate both the 650mpg and luxury features of the car.
I spoke with an attractive lady at the gym this week. She saw me pull in and made very positive comments on the styling and coolness of the Volt. She asked, “Is it a Pontiac?”. I replied, “No, it’s a Chevy”. She replied, “That’s even better!”.
Go Volt
=D-Volt
Feb 22nd, 2011 (7:36 am)#49 Dave K
“Change the mindset” is going to be a hard sell. A recent Deloitte survey showed that slightly more than half those surveyed were interested and willing to consider an electric car. That seems like good news BUT most people had the expectation that range would be about the same as ICE, AND most were expecting the price to be lower and at worst about the same or up to $1K more for electric. Taking those factors into account, Deloitte estimated that around 4% of purchasers might be willing to buy one. Still, even 4% is far more people than cars available.
Of course, most people in most places do not have the choice of Volt, Leaf, or anything else, and that will be true at any gas price, so any discussion is filled with hypotheticals.
Feb 22nd, 2011 (8:06 am)#50 RM
Everyone I know loves the Volt. More than expected. The Volt has a very good chance to not only be a popular green car. But also a trendy car to drive. Why buy a BMW?
NPNS
+1
Feb 22nd, 2011 (8:15 am)Look on the bright side guys. Lyle’s gone but gas is going up. (3.66/gal here) so be vindicated even smug–(-sort of like Prii owners) in your Volt purchase (or future one).
As to the disappointment in the lead articles:
As far as I know anyone can submit an article. So quit whining and WRITE ONE.
I had a great idea for one. I was thinking about writing one on big block Chevy engines. It’s Chevrolet history. Ahh but that would go over like a lead balloon.
+1
Feb 22nd, 2011 (8:21 am)Noel Park #13
Get a Droid. I did and I like it.
Feb 22nd, 2011 (9:07 am)I hope that’s not a picture of the actual “MyLink telematics system” for the 2012 Volt. The buttons makes it look like it came out of a 1998 model. The 2011 Volts center stack is fantastic as is, GM please don’t change that.
Volt#671
NPNS!
+1
Feb 22nd, 2011 (9:14 am)James,
Mobile hotspot? Check out the android phones. If it has v2.2 (Froyo) it has built in Mobile AP. If it doesn’t, you can root it and flash a stock android OS (or modified) and get all sorts of neat stuff. No need to pay a monthly hotspot fee to your wireless provider.
I have an AT&T Samsung Captivate. I was waiting for the official Froyo upgrade from them, but they took too long so I rooted and flashed and couldn’t be more happy. I now have the mobile hotspot and can load apps from non-market places (like websites — but I could do that before with the Android Central Sideload Wonder Machine). And just because I am a nerd doesn’t mean you can’t do it too — face it, you are a nerd too because you are on this website…embrace it.
Go Volt Go!
+1
Feb 22nd, 2011 (9:36 am)I’m thinking with so many chefs in the kitchen, it may be best to just open it up to the public and let everyone skin the screens/interface how they want. This may make troubleshooting by GM more difficult. I guess GM could maybe offer 5 to 10 different standard skins to let customers choose from. That would make it easier on them.
Feb 22nd, 2011 (11:34 am)#55
I’ll take that as a compliment, I think, LOL. +1
-1
Feb 22nd, 2011 (11:39 am)#53
Thanks to you too. +1 Now I’m on information overload again, LOL. The world gets more complicated every day. Just ask Col. Kadhafi (Gadhafi? Where did that come from?).