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.

 Today only Amazon is offering a deal on the TomTom VIA 1505TM 5-Inch GPS – $135.95 and free shipping.

• Get over 1 million more miles of mapped roads in the US
• Outsmart delays with Free Lifetime Traffic Updates, without advertising
• Stay up-to-date on road changes with Free Lifetime Map Updates
• Navigate with ease using premium maps of the US, Canada & Mexico
• Travel in style with the new, slim design and integrated Fold and Go EasyPort Mount

Unveiled at CES 2011, for the first time, OnStar’s services are available to consumers in a standalone rearview mirror offering Automatic Crash Response, Link to Emergency Services, Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Roadside Assistance and Hands-Free Calling.  Look for OnStar’s standalone mirror to be  available in the U.S. in spring 2011 for $299 with Best Buy announced as first strategic retail partner and other selected retailers to follow. More in the press release after the break.

Press  Release

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –

OnStar today announced that it is responding to repeated consumer requests by offering its industry leading safety, security and connectivity services for non-GM and older GM vehicles already on the road. A standalone rearview mirror packing all of OnStar’s core technology will be available this spring through consumer electronics retailers, and is compatible with most top-selling vehicles from major manufacturers.

The OnStar retail product offers the key features that have made OnStar’s “blue button” an icon, including Automatic Crash Response, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, one-button access to emergency and roadside services, and hands-free calling, including Bluetooth connectivity.

“For years, thousands of drivers have asked us to get OnStar in vehicles that didn’t feature it as standard,” said Chris Preuss, OnStar president. “With the retail product that we’ve introduced today they certainly can. This move in to the consumer electronics space represents the biggest development in our business model since introducing OnStar as standard across all GM products several years ago. It represents a quantum leap forward in our plans to grow our business and provide a strong new revenue base for GM and OnStar from which we can further develop our core offerings in the factory-equipped market.”

OnStar will offer the mirror in the United States through Best Buy, its first strategic retail partner, beginning in spring 2011. The product will also be available through other selected consumer electronics retailers. The mirror will be priced at $299, plus installation (expected to cost between $75 and $100). A range of service plans will be available, starting at $18.95 a month or $199 a year.

“We’re proud to be OnStar’s first strategic retail partner for this innovative offering, which is one more way Best Buy can help our customers stay connected whenever and wherever they want,” said Lisa Farrell, senior vice president and general manager portable electronics customer solutions group at Best Buy. “We provide a one-stop solution for consumers. In addition to purchasing the device at Best Buy, we offer our customers the convenience of having it installed by our Geek Squad Auto Techs – all at one location.”

Ingram Micro will serve as the key distributor of this product and is the main contact for interested retail outlets.

Currently, the OnStar mirror is certified to work on 99 percent of the top 20 selling non-GM vehicles over the last 10 years, or approximately 55 million cars and trucks. OnStar expects to certify additional models in the months ahead.

Key features of the OnStar mirror include:

• Automatic Crash Response. An accelerometer built into OnStar the mirror detects the sudden shock of an impact from the front, side, or rear of the vehicle and automatically calls an OnStar advisor. If the driver doesn’t respond, or responds to say there has been a crash, an OnStar advisor will direct emergency responders to the exact GPS location of the vehicle.
• Link to Emergency Services. By pressing OnStar’s red emergency button, drivers are immediately connected to a specially trained emergency advisor for assistance in situations occurring inside or outside of their vehicle.
• Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance. If the vehicle is reported stolen to local law enforcement, OnStar subscribers can call 1-888-4-OnStar (1-888-466-7827) from any phone. OnStar advisors, available 24/7, can attempt to locate the vehicle through the mirror’s internal GPS and provide the location to law enforcement.
• Turn-by-Turn Navigation. With OnStar’s most popular service, drivers can press OnStar’s blue button and ask OnStar advisors for directions to a specific location or ask the advisor to find a point of interest such as a gas station or nearby restaurant. The directions are then downloaded to the OnStar system, which provides spoken turn-by-turn directions for reaching the destination.
• Roadside Assistance. In non-emergency situations, drivers can push the blue button or call 1-888-4-ONSTAR for help with problems such as keys locked in the vehicle, a flat tire, or running out of gas.
• Hands-Free Calling. OnStar allows drivers to make hands-free, voice-activated calls either through a Bluetooth connection to the driver’s mobile phone or through prepaid packages of minutes purchased through OnStar.

All these services are available directly through the OnStar mirror, without requiring the driver to bring along a mobile phone or even own a mobile phone. In the event of an accident, emergency services are alerted even if there is no mobile phone in the vehicle, the phone is damaged in a crash or the driver is unable to use a phone.

OnStar is now in its ninth generation of technology. The first-generation OnStar product in 1996 was comprised of 38 individual components and could take up to four days to install. Now all of the technology required to deliver the OnStar experience fits inside a rearview mirror weighing only 23 ounces, and professional installation is expected to take less than an hour. This requires removing the vehicle’s current rearview mirror, replacing it with the OnStar product and running an electric power source to the new mirror.

For more information on OnStar’s innovation, the new OnStar mirror and a list of the compatible vehicles at launch, visit www.onstar.com.

About OnStar

OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of connected safety and security solutions, value-added mobility services and advanced information technology. Currently available on more than 40 MY 2011 GM models, OnStar soon will be available for installation on most other vehicles already on the road through local electronics retailers, including Best Buy. OnStar safely connects its more than six million subscribers, in the U.S., Canada and China, in ways never thought possible. OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is a recipient of the 2010 Edison Award for Best New Product in the technology category. More information about OnStar can be found at www.onstar.com.

SOURCE General Motors

RELATED LINKS

http://media.gm.com

Reevu helmets use mirrors to display a rear view image at the top of a bike helmet, which helps bikers to keep their eyes on the road ahead of them.  The optic materials are a reflective bulletproof polycarbonate material according to the manufacturer.

It has taken 7 years of intense research and development to perfect the rear view system that is fitted into every Reevu helmet. The patented multiple mirror system that is fitted within every Reevu helmet is a unique achievement of creative thinking and technical excellence. The mirror system is manufactured from a reflective polycarbonate material rather than glass. Unlike glass, this material is almost impossible to break and is lighter, providing additional safety and comfort to the wearer.

Put simply, this system effectively ‘bends’ the light around the shape of the head – all within the moulding of the helmet – to provide a clear view of the road behind.

Early prototypes were met with absolute astonishment. It is so stunningly apparent from the first moment a Reevu helmet is worn that it will really make a huge difference to the safety of the wearer on our roads.

With rear view motorcycle helmets now in full production, this unique technology is transforming the comfort and safety of those who wear Reevu helmets.

- Reevu

It looks like they retail for a little under $400 USD.

Our prayers and thoughts go out to the families and friends of the three Tesla Motors employees killed in the tragic plane crash Wednesday morning.

“Three Tesla employees were on board a plane that crashed in East Palo Alto early this morning. We are withholding their identities as we work with the relevant authorities to notify the families. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Tesla is a small, tightly-knit company, and this is a tragic day for us.”

- Elon Musk, CEO

A twin-engine Cessna plane crashed into a East Palo Alto, California (just south of Oakland) neighborhood shortly before 8:00am just after taking off in heavy fog reportedly killing the pilot and 2 passengers on board.   The Cessna 310R is reportedly registered to a former Santa Clara company that was started by Doug Bourn, a Tesla engineer.  All three fatalities are reported to be Tesla Motors Employees.  No injuries from the ground were reported.

[via Mercurynews.com]

I’m not sure if this is the first time Top Gear has shown up on Netflix Watch Instantly; but it’s the first time I’ve seen it on there. That was an easy “Add to Instant Queue” for me.

For those of you not familiar with Top Gear, it may very well be the best TV show ever made – certainly, the best ever made about cars.

Those of us in the US have been relegated to catching it in syndication on BBC America, or for some who can’t wait, catching Jalopnik’s Top Gear YouTube Open Threads, or digging up torrents of the show after it airs on the real BBC across the pond.  I hope Top Gear on Netflix is here to stay.  If so, that’s one more reason that I can give myself to cancel my overpriced satellite service.  Most of the stuff I enjoy watching is available on either Hulu or Netflix nowadays – and now this is just one more.

Future Chevy Volt owners subscribing to OnStar will have expanded capabilities with OnStar Mobile late this year at the launch of the new Volt.  CES 2010 attendees were able to see first hand how the new application will give “check-up” ability to Volt owners.

☑  charging status
☑  charge scheduling
☑  battery indicator
☑  displays MPG
☑  remotely start and unlock doors
☑  text or email charging reminders

Supported smartphones are the Droid, iPhone and Blackberry Storm.

This is a very cool and useful technology.  Hopefully, GM will expand Onstar Mobile to other models in the near future.

Press Release

Chevrolet and OnStar Give Volt Owners 24/7 Connection and Control via Wireless Smartphone Application

• Chevrolet Volt First Electric Vehicle to Demonstrate Wireless Smartphone Application
• Volt showcases technology beyond the battery with OnStar Mobile Application
• OnStar created a mobile application for Volt that provides drivers custom services and added control
• Charging Volt is easy, convenient and efficient with OnStar Mobile Application technology

LAS VEGAS – Chevrolet and OnStar unveiled the auto industry’s first working smartphone application that will allow Chevrolet Volt owners 24/7 connection and control of vehicle functions and OnStar features remotely.

OnStar’s Mobile Application allows drivers to communicate with their Volt from Droid by Motorola, Apple iPhone and Blackberry Storm smartphones. It uses a real-time data connection to perform tasks from setting the charge time to unlocking the doors.

The Chevrolet Volt OnStar smartphone application is designed to enhance the overall Volt ownership experience with interaction and control never offered before on any electric vehicle. The application:

• displays charge status – plugged in or not, and voltage (120V or 240V)
• provides flexibility to “Charge Now” or schedule charge timing
• displays percentage of battery charge level, electric and total ranges
• allows owner to manually set grid-friendly charge mode for off-peak times when electricity rates are lowest
• sends text or email notifications for charge reminders, interruptions and full charge
• displays miles per gallon, electric only miles, and odometer readings
• shows miles per gallon, EV miles and miles driven for last trip and lifetime
• remotely start the vehicle to pre-condition the interior temperature

“The Chevrolet Volt ushers in a new era of automotive technology and calls for a new level of connectivity and control,” said Walt Dorfstatter, president, OnStar. “Nearly 6 million vehicles on the road today use OnStar to stay connected, and our new smartphone app will make that even easier for Volt drivers.”

OnStar’s real-time data connection also helps drivers maximize the environmental benefits of owning a Volt, even when not in the vehicle. The application’s intuitive Charge Status feature simplifies setting the charge time. Rather than using battery power, the application allows owners to start the Volt remotely to pre-condition the interior temperature using power from the grid. This preserves the battery charge for driving without gasoline.

When a charge command is activated, the Volt owner will receive a confirmation message on the application alerting the owner that a command has been successfully sent to the vehicle. If in view of the Volt, a green LED charge light on the dash will indicate the charge state.

Traditional OnStar features such as door lock, unlock and remote horn and lights – which have typically been accessible only through a call into the OnStar call center – will now be available via the application.

OnStar Mobile was developed from the ground-up by engineers in the OnStar EV Lab. In addition to this work, the team is leveraging OnStar’s connectivity to the vehicle to gather real-time data about development models of the Volt as they are tested. OnStar engineers then share this real-time data with the Volt engineering team to speed the development process and help ensure quality at the start of production.

Demonstration applications for the Motorola Droid and Blackberry Storm will be available at OnStarMobileDemo.com beginning 10 p.m., EST, January 5. The demonstration application for the Apple iPhone will be available on the iTunes store on January 6.

Volt’s OnStar mobile application will also be available on a mobile browser for other internet-capable phones. Volt drivers can also view and manage vehicle systems and commands from the vehicle, the internet or through a monthly OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics e-mail.

Volt owners can opt-in to receive a monthly OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics e-mail report with diagnostics on the unique characteristics of an electric vehicle with extended range, as well as the maintenance information current OnStar subscribers receive. OnStar will also provide the connection for the Volt owner website, which will allow many of the same capabilities as the mobile application along with more in depth information on the vehicle’s history.

The OnStar subscription for the Chevrolet Volt will also include the safety, security and peace of mind services currently available to OnStar’s subscribers including Automatic Crash Response, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Hands-Free Calling and Stolen Vehicle Assistance.

The Volt is an electric vehicle with extended-range capability. It is designed to drive up to 40 miles on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt’s lithium-ion battery is depleted of energy, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the total driving range to about 300 miles before refueling or stopping to recharge the battery.

OnStar Mobile Application will be available for Volt owners at launch. Production for the Volt is scheduled to begin in late 2010. Pricing has not been announced. For more information about Volt, visit http://media.gm.com/volt.

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is one of America’s best-known and best-selling automotive brands, and one of the fastest growing brands in the world. With fuel solutions that range from “gas-friendly to gas-free,” Chevrolet has nine models that offer an EPA-estimated 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway, and offers three hybrid models. More than 2.5 million Chevrolets that run on E85 biofuel have been sold. Chevrolet delivers expressive design, spirited performance and strives to provide the best value in every segment in which it competes. More information can be found at www.chevrolet.com. For more information on the Volt, visit http://media.gm.com/volt/.

About OnStar

OnStar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and communication services. OnStar is available on more than 30 MY 2010 GM models. OnStar is standard for one year on nearly all new GM retail vehicles in the United States and Canada. OnStar provides services to nearly 6 million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. Shanghai OnStar Telematics Co. Ltd., a joint venture between OnStar, LLC, Shanghai Automotive Industry Sales Co., Ltd. and Shanghai General Motors, provides services in China. More information about OnStar can be found at http://www.onstar.com/.

I remember being a 4 or 5 year old kid in the early 80′s and my grandfather told me that by the time I was old enough to drive we would be driving flying cars. Being the wisest man on the planet, I took my grandfather’s word as the gospel truth.  It wasn’t until later that I realized his disconnect with technology and, of course, wishful thinking.

It’s 2010, and I still want my flying car.  Terrafugia may be the first company to bring us a flying car that is registrable at state DMVs across the US.

It’s not quite the hovercar that I had imagined when my grandfather explained how it would work, which was further embellished when I saw Back to the Future III.  However, it’s very cool to see this thing take off and land.

Word is that it’ll be on sale next year for a cool $185,000.  I’ll probably hold out for my hovercar though.

[Car Advice]