OnStar users now sending Google Maps directions to their cars, definitely living in the future
By Darren Murph 
posted July 1st 2010 5:50PM
posted July 1st 2010 5:50PM
posted July 1st 2010 5:50PM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
I don't particularly like GM vehicles but On-Star is pretty darn cool.
I was trying to find a major sporting goods store (Cabela's - a *huge* store) in another town. I followed Google Map instructions on my mobile and ended up in some residential neighborhood. Called the store and told them my dilemma. "Yeah, that happens a lot. We've called Google about it but they don't seem to care." Turns out I was on the wrong side of the freeway and about 3 miles from the actual destination.
I'm sure we can all relate to the bounty of bogus information on Google Maps. I was at a Five Guys burger place and pointed out to the manager that the website provided on Google Maps for that Five Guys location was www.burgerking.com. Ouch.
So if you're a business relying on Google to get customers to your doorstop, well, sucks for you. :(
@ArhcAngel
I don't particularly like GM vehicles but she is pretty darn hot.
@HotFuzz
Try looking at a map before you leave next time. It worked up until a few years ago.
@ArhcAngel
ORRRRR buy an android phone, get free google maps navigation (which is the same thing that you get on google maps on your computer) and you don't have drive a stinkin' GM!
if you REALLY want to use your computer, you can email the maps directions to yourself, tap on the link on your phone and it opens up in maps and gives you navigation. If you want to directly PUSH them to your phone, wait for gingerbread awesomeness.
@HotFuzz
If your company is registered with Google you edit your own info online. I've done it for people I've made websites for and it's very simple. "Calling" Google? What is this you speak of?
This just in! America's intelligence level is now rated as 'Too stupid to remember where they placed their multi thousand dollar item!'
@Archon Yeah and reading and listening comprehension has hit rock bottom. Since nowhere does the article list anything about find your car using Google Maps.
@KAL326
Why did you downrank him? He was at least honest about himself.
@Archon Funny, whenever you hear about a motorist that got into trouble because they were blindly following their GPS and not using their eyes it seems to always be in Europe. The UK typically.
Google is always in the news. Google FEW!
Why send maps to your car as needed? Just always have them in the car.
GM FTW!
@jam1n
shes hot
@jam1n
She's cooler than you.
Wait, whose vehicle has its own vehicle to send directions to? I'm glad my car isn't searching on Google maps and beaming directions to other cars.
Please correct the grammar of the following sentence:
For starters, it's Canada Day, but secondly, today marks the first day that turn-by-turn capable GM vehicles as old as 2006 can search for destinations using Google Maps and have those destinations beamed directly to their vehicles
@dogbertrulez
Easy way to say you don't actually know what's wrong with it, huh?
How is this thing connected to their server? Are they using 3G with unlimited data plan?
@matejdro
IIRC OnStar uses CDMA networks--Verizon in the US and Bell in Canada. The cost of using the network is worked into the OnStar subscription fee.
@Mike What if you go outside canada or US and want navigation?
@matejdro
How many people drive from Canada or the US to Europe or Asia? The shipping cost and the regulatory paperwork pretty much prohibits it.
That said, I don't think it works in Mexico (unless OnStar have signed a roaming agreement with one of their networks), but I think the number of people who drive to Mexico regularly is fairly negligible. Using OnStar to track stolen cars driven to Mexico could be tricky, though.
Haven't BMWs had this feature for a while?
@Maxipad Sure, but not everyone owns a BMW and this is cool tech news for OnStar.
@Maxipad BMWs and Mercedes (as well as many PNDs) have had this feature for almost 2 years now
@lawrencek is there some sort of software update for iDrive that I could use? My mother has a BMW with iDrive, it's a 2005 model.
ummm...can we just start sending random maps to the vehicle listed in the pic above?
I don't get this functionality.
My car was had a search feature that found places I wanted to go and directed me there ages ago. And I don't have to pay a monthly fee.
And let's not pretend Google isn't storing every place your car goes. That's what they do, build extensive profiles of each person and sell that product.
I don't like the idea of relying on a system like this when the means exists to just have a GPS in your car with every POI I want to visit. You can get a GPS that does this more seamlessly for $80.
Seems like a lot of leg work to actually get the directions. I hate to see if you was in a rush.
Chuck Norris voice scares OnStar voice.
OMG!!! Now I can totally ditch that in-car navigation system/portable GPS that let me search the diections right in the car and instead go home, boot up my computer, go online, search things up on google maps, 'beam' it to my OnStar (in a GM car, no less) and wait for the info to sync, and then go to my destination. AWESOME FUTURE DEVICE!!!
@AvengerLE Yes because trying to use the awful search feature, POI lists, and on screen keyboard could never be worse than a Google search and a few clicks.
@AvengerLE u just got poned my friend
@natey1 high five google ftw
@natey1 Well, obviously u got ur whole life planned well ahead. You never have to spontaneously search for anything while on the road. Good for you.
@flex10
Poned?
@natey1 Let me intro a new term for you. Its called "sarcasm". Google that.
@flex10 I think you need a lesson in sarcasm as well.
@AvengerLE
sorry, this is drastically less convenient than google.
Even if you're at your home, it's easier to just get in your dang car and search.
I have a pretty lousy cheap GPS and it's a lot easier to type in where I wanna go or search for it, than it would be to google it and send it to myself.
Onstar is constantly a solution looking for a problem. Ugh. And the way it's marketing is so annoying. I saw one where some GM SUV is compared to a Toyota, and half the bullet point comparison is 'does it have this On Star feature? No. Does it have that On Star feature? No.' That's your proprietary brand, GM.
Toyota has something better, and anyone can get Onstar functionality from a cell phone or even free with a good credit card.
I really don't want that stupid thing in my car when I won't subscribe anyway. Navigation shouldn't be subscription based.
It doesn't work for my car in Canada, of course neither does the Mapquest feature for beaming directions to OnStar vehicles.
Real innovation from GM! Good for them!
I assume this integrates with in-car GPS maps?
To use this service you need to have the turn-by-turn subscription, which is $10/month on top of the base subscription for the other onstar features.
I can't really justify spending that much on turn-by-turn directions.
This would have been exciting back in 1999.
Question is can I use my google maps equipped smart phone to find a location, then have that beamed to my Onstar equipped 2009 or later GM, so that the "intelligent voice recognition" can ask me if I'd like those directions now?
I wish that GM would sell Chevy cars with LCD NAV. I'm not a fan of Onstar, but to get NAV, you have no option... aftermarket units don't integrate with the wheel buttons. If Onstar is that great GM, why don't you sell it based on it's merits, not on "well, that's the only way you can get nav". The stolen car recovery is pretty cool though. However, at $695/year, it's a bit expensive. My insurance deductible is $500. Nav from my phone for free and $500 deductible, I can't justify Onstar for me. 1st year is free, if I keep the car for 7 years, i would pay $4170 for Onstar for the remaining 6 years.
Lol! My big sister has that laptop. But why did they say in small print at the beginning that you need anti-lock brakes system installed to get this google maps feature?
This is old tech, we've been doing this to BMWs for years.
@LEDfoot
That's what GM said when BMW added night vision.