The MyLink Master thread

[CoHPhasor]

I did discover a pet-peeve today when using the MyLink:

This pertains to Android devices, not necessarily iOS devices.
I like the turn-by-turn navigation on my DroidX and use it often.
Decided to laminate my window sticker (yes, I do that) by heading to the Kinko's.
I used my phone to get the nearest location and told it to use the T-B-T directions.

Normally in Android turn-by-turn it talks to you so you don't have to look at the device.
I noticed it wasn't speaking. (sometimes malfunctions) Once I got to a light I turned up the volume just in case.
I notice instead of it saying "speaker volume" it was "bluetooth headset".
In a shot of inspiration I change sources to BT audio and it was playing one of my MP3's and just then a direction command was spoken - through the radio.
Apparently because I allowed BT to be on while using the car the turn-by-turn directions are fed through the BT audio source only.
I have yet to find a way to make them separate. (I was listening to FM before that and it's what I wanted)

Why do I really hate this? On short trips I've ALWAYS hated T-B-T on my Android, it warns and speaks way too much. (great on the highway but terrible on surface streets)
It just kept interrupting music pissing me off.
(I always yell when it speaks too much anyway; "Shutup bitch! I'm turning already!!")



The other issue I fond is the fader, it's the most idiotic design ever. (I'll get a pic soon)
It has a '+' shape (F,R,L,R) and a tiny dot in the center.
You can drag the dot around in the zones but there are NO ARROWS or VALUES so there is absolutely no way to be precise or reproduce conditions in another vehicle.


Make no mistake, still love MyLink, just dislike these features. (Hopefully BringGo hits soon and I won't need T-B-T anymore.)

 

[doreo]

im almost sure my radio does that too, not mylink, think its a andriod thing, cant do 2 different audio. but i can be wrong

 

[CoHPhasor]

^ Yea, I think Google wants to make *sure* you hear the directions and assumes interrupting other audio the phone is outputting is the best way.

Although I don't disagree with that, they should be checking to see if BT audio is *actually in use*, as well as I should be able to change the level of yapping that that silly bitch does.
I mean, on a surface street I'm coming to a light;
*pause audio*
"Make a right turn in 100ft"
*pause audio*
"Turn right onto 'x'"
*pause audio*
"Make a right turn, stay in the right lane"
*pause audio*
"Make a left turn in 500ft"

That is literally a 30 second timespan approaching an intersection I sat at the redlight for.
I think it's a social experiment about road rage by Google called "What would it take" lol!

Like I said, on the freeway it's not too bad.
*pause*
"In 2 miles take exit 'x'
(then 500ft before exit)
*pause*
'Take exit 'x', stay in the right lane'
*pause*
'make a right onto 'x' rd'
*pause*
'stay on 'x' rd for 2 miles'
^This is over the course of maybe 3 minutes, so, not as bad.
These are examples of Android's TBT and in no way has anything to do with MyLink.
(Unless that's where your audio is channeled)

 

[laborsmith]

MyLink and TuneIn

Anybody know anything about this: GM pairing its MyLink Radio with TuneIn app on Spark, Sonic RS | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com


September 11, 2012 at 9:02 am
GM pairing its MyLink Radio with TuneIn app on Spark, Sonic RS

By Melissa Burden
The Detroit News
2 Comments

Detroit — General Motors Co. said Tuesday that it will enable its Chevrolet MyLink Radio to run a popular radio station app in its Spark and Sonic RS vehicles, giving buyers another infotainment option.

GM said TuneIn, which has 40 million monthly active listeners in 230 countries and gives users a network of more than 70,000 radio stations across the globe, will be able to operate through the vehicle's MyLink Radio. The app will be free, said GM spokesman Scott Fosgard.

Spark and Sonic owners would download the app on their smartphone and connect it to the MyLink Radio to listen to live local, international or Internet radio stations. TuneIn will be available in the first quarter of 2013 on the Spark 1LT and 2LT models and on the Sonic RS. The Sonic RS goes on sale this fall.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120911/AUTO0103/209110378#ixzz26DJ4d4RF

Looks to me like a version of Stitcher but not being certain of just what Stitcher is I could be wrong (and probably am).

Laborsmith

 

[Johnny Alien]

TuneIn has been available for awhile as a phone app. Basically it streams popular radio from all around the country. I use it all the time and it's a great app. I don't really understand why this is a big selling point for MyLink. I can currently stream the app across to my radio via bluetooth or aux jack. As I can with pandora too. Basically the current radio does all of this minus the on screen navigation and touch screen.

 

[CoHPhasor]

It sounds like what Stitcher does.

It seems like it's just a different community.
I imagine before it's said and done there will be ~50 like it lol!
Can't believe "iHeart Radio" isn't in the list right out of the gate.

For that matter, I'm disappointed that MyLink doesn't have HD radio tuning.

 

[Johnny Alien]

That's my point though. Any app will work with the radio. Just open it, play it and stream it through Bluetooth. The only difference is you don't get a touch icon on the screen. I can use TuneIn with the current standard radio and I have.

 

[laborsmith]

It sounds like what Stitcher does.

For that matter, I'm disappointed that MyLink doesn't have HD radio tuning.

HD radio is available on Cue and I believe at least some versions of Intellilink, if not all. These versions seem to come with three years of XM standard. XM is a GM company just as Sirius was started by Ford.

My understanding is HD radio was developed in part by over the air stations to compete with XM and Sirius (or vice versa) so it seems telling to me that GM offers HD w/ 3 years of XM but does not offer it w/ 3 months of XM.

I had an after market HD radio and enjoyed the transmission and so I too am disappointed the Chevy versions of MyLink do not offer HD radio.

Laborsmith

 

[seanp1]

Cool.. just downloaded the TuneIn app for my android and will test this out when my is delivered...should be today.

 

[CoHPhasor]

HD radio is available on Cue and I believe at least some versions of Intellilink, if not all. These versions seem to come with three years of XM standard. XM is a GM company just as Sirius was started by Ford.

My understanding is HD radio was developed in part by over the air stations to compete with XM and Sirius (or vice versa) so it seems telling to me that GM offers HD w/ 3 years of XM but does not offer it w/ 3 months of XM.

I had an after market HD radio and enjoyed the transmission and so I too am disappointed the Chevy versions of MyLink do not offer HD radio.

Laborsmith

HD Radio is a progression of use of the radio broadcast segment of the public spectrum.
Basically, "regular" radio is analog and HD is digital.
Just as public TV broadcasts are now digital, so too will radio.

The amount of bandwidth an analog station uses is much more than a digital station.
The idea is to shrink the amount of bandwidth current stations use so that more/different things can use airspace.

It's a problem to me because if, like TV, there is a set date when analog transmission will cease and I'll be forced to have HD radio it instantly makes MyLink obsolete.
(Which is ironic as "expandable" systems are meant to hedge you against such obsolescence)

Of course my biggest problem is that MyLink lets me control VEHICLE FEATURES, which is very much something I like to have and if I end up replacing it I lose the features.

 

[laborsmith]

When the over the air tv transmissions made their change, the FCC required there to be a bo which enabled the analog receiving tv to receive the hd transmission. Whether there would be such an apparatus required for radio receivers or not, I would think such will be available, and may be already is.

I am certain as long as fm and am radio stations exist there will be a way for their transmissions to be received.

Laborsmith

 

[CoHPhasor]

Unfortunately, when the TV switch happened, you *could* still use an analog TV but it was a deal-breaker of a caveat.

You had to get a separate box that would connect to your TV set, you have to control that box to change TV stations.
Such things have happened in TV for years; VCR's, DVD players, cable boxes, etc.
You would set your TV to channel 3, or if available, the composite Video In(aux) connector.

If there were such an adapter for you car stereo it would be such a huge, huge PITA.
How would you install it? Open your dash, yank the radio, take the antenna plug and put it into the aftermarket unit then plug it into your radio.

How would you control it? You'd have to be able to see the unit because you would change stations on it, so maybe slung under your dash?
You would have to tune your radio to a specific station.
Conversely, if you have a more modern radio like MyLink it would likely be funneled in through the AUX connection.
I hate this because things like station callout/song info would be lost as your radio is no longer the tuner.

There are other things at work here, I just figured I'd voice my concern over the lack of HD - Not everyone will be so against it.

 

[bigmahlman]

Mylink mods and *******

Lets talk about ******* the mylink.

What would you like to see the mylink do that it cant now?
What do we know about the mylink that might help us mod/hack it?

and go!

 

[Bogus]

We want to watch movies while in drive!

 

[rodslinger]

I have seen the rear camera option on the menu of other MyLink display radios. I'd like to see that enabled (if not) and a way to add such camera. At least find the video in pinouts.

 

[Bogus]

I have seen the rear camera option on the menu of other MyLink display radios. I'd like to see that enabled (if not) and a way to add such camera. At least find the video in pinouts.

I second this!

 

[bigmahlman]

I think both should be possible we just need someone who knows what they are doing to pull out the radio and take a look

 

[Larry]

We know that it's running Windows CE operating system. That helps with *******/modifiying.

 

[bigmahlman]

We know that it's running Windows CE operating system. That helps with *******/modifiying.

Any idea what version?

 

[Bogus]

Windows? That should be cake then!