The OnStar / Cadillac press conference last night saw some pretty exciting news. The Cue infotainment center, OnStar open source API and expanding on the Verizon 4G LTE partnership with streaming content, in-vehicle content sharing and Skype video calling.
First of all the new Cadillac Cue infotainment center is state of the with multi-touch gesturing and voice recognition technology. Cue runs a Linux OS prime for developers to create apps on the newly announced OnStar open source API, sports a 12.3 inch multi-gesture, (tap,flick,swipe and spread) customizable, console display and 8 inch customizable driver display. The 12.3 inch console display also boast proximity sensing, with magically appearing icons and a users hand approaches the screen and heptic feedback, pulsing the users finger tip enabling the user to know, without looking, the gesture was recognized. Lastly, working with a company used in the development of SIRI, Cadillac engineers have created a voice recognition function that recognizes natural speech.
Although, Cue is still in beta form, still in need of fine tuning and I couldn’t try out the voice command, I was able to get a “feel” for the finish product on the demo unit. Cue will initially he offered on the flagship XTS and newly annouced ATS models in the near future.
The announcement of open source API to OnStar’s proprietary, ATOMS cloud, brought excitement. OnStar is allowing worthy developers to create applications to function on the OnStar network. The first application, almost ready to release to the public, RelayRides is a car sharing program that works like nontraditional car rental services. Through the RelayRides program owners will be able to share (rent) their own OnStar equiped vehicles and earn money. Folks interested in renting a vehicle, through the RelayRides app can locate and buy the rental that is right in their own community.
The expansion of OnStar 4G LTE services include streaming video from YouTube and NetFlix, Web surfing, Skype video calling, vehicle diagnostics, connected home, and more.
Finally, Cadillac showed us the newly announced Cadillac ATS from from Detroit just before the North American International Auto Show, said to be slated to compete head to head with the BMW 3 Series.
