OnStar has announced today that it has teamed with Google to develop new features to be used in Chevy Volt mobile app.
The app will get its first public showcase at the upcoming Google I/O conference tomorrow in California, where OnStar will show off the Android-leveraged application.
Adds OnStar pres Chis Preuss: “While OnStar will never lose sight of our core focus on safety and security, this relationship is an example of how we’re evolving our leadership position in connected vehicle technology. What we’re talking about today is only the beginning.”
The current Chevy Volt app will get a new “navigation” tab, which will pinpoint the car’s location via Google Maps. Then, just like on Android smartphones, users can voice search for destinations and have OnStar turn on turn-by-turn directions.
Additionally, the app will have the following features:
* Charge status display – plugged in or not and voltage (120V or 240V)
* Flexibility to “Charge Now” or schedule charge timing
* Display percentage of battery charge level, electric and total ranges
* Ability to manually set grid-friendly charge mode for off-peak times when electricity rates are lowest
* Send text or email notifications for charge reminders, interruptions and full charge
* Display miles per gallon, electric only miles, and odometer readings
* Shows miles per gallon, EV miles and miles driven for last trip and lifetime
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Result for: reminders
According to a report from China.org.cn, Chinese citizens are upset over Microsoft’s latest anti-piracy tactics.
The software giant is bringing its Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) and Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) software to China next week, but the software will be more intrusive then it is for US users.
Users of pirated Windows will see reminders every few hours that they should purchase legitimate software and occasionally the software will turn your screen black. A Microsoft official described it this way:
“The user may reset the background to a wallpaper or another background color, but every 60 minutes, the desktop will be reset to a plain black color until the copy of Windows passes validation. In addition, a persistent notification will appear in the lower right corner of the desktop.”
Luckily for Chinese pirates, the software is opt-in so if they do not want it they do not have to download it.
Result for: reminders
At a press event this week, Warner has revealed that its first BD-Live enabled titles will become available in time for the Winter holidays, as promised at CES.
Darcy Antonellis, president of Warner Bros. Technical Operations added that among the new interactive features would be “real-time viewing, a search engine, library access, and a ‘recommendation tool’ for other titles complete with e-mail reminders.”
There will also of course be downloadable picture-in-picture, deleted scenes and trailers, as well as wallpapers and ringtones.
“I think it [BD-Live] has the ability to compete [with MySpace and YouTube] for a user’s time because you are taking them online and you’re able to create a community that we have never been able to do before,” she said. ‘That’s huge for us.”
Although the titles were not confirmed, Antonellis implied that the upcoming blockbuster ‘The Dark Knight’ was a likely candidate.
“These are exclusive opportunities that can be offered through this small community that is created with these [Profile 2.0] players,” Antonellis said. “We are no longer limited by finite capacity on the disc.”
