Filed under: Gadgets, Trends, Tech, GM
Taking OnStar for a test drive
TechnoRide
recently navigated using OnStar's new "Turn-by-Turn" navigation system to see how it worked. Turn-by-Turn
works by OnStar downloading a route's directions into the vehicle. Voice prompts are uttered where to go, turn, etc.,
like a standard navigation system. TechnoRide used a Cadillac STS as their test vehicle.The driver found the system worked. Voice prompts would notify when approaching a turn and which direction to go. But lack of visual cues, either maps or text, could make things confusing. And if the driver misunderstood the directions and had to turn around, OnStar would notify them, for example, to turn 'south' and leave it to the driver to figure out where 'south' was.
General Motors, which owns OnStar, plans to roll out the Turn-by-Turn option for all its 2007 vehicles. Pricing has not been announced thought it's expected to match a similar feature available on cellphones.
[Source: TechnoRide]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anonymous Coward 8:22PM (4/10/2006)
Is this the newest attempt to save GM? A million posts about OnStar?
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rayce 9:41PM (4/10/2006)
you will know what direction south is because all onstar mirrors also have a compass . onstar is a easy and reliable system and one of GMs greatest ideas .
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Leo 10:36PM (4/10/2006)
Another OnStar infomercial. OnStar must have had free food today.
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Eric Stanley 11:05PM (4/10/2006)
Yet more anti-GM blah-blah-blah. "...But lack of visual cues, either maps or text, could make things confusing. And if the driver misunderstood the directions and had to turn around, OnStar would notify them, for example, to turn 'south' and leave it to the driver to figure out where 'south' was."
Come on! First of all, the compass is on the mirror. Figure it out...
Secondly, if there were "visual cues" as you infer would be better, then you would complain because it distracts the driver or some other b.s.
It doesn't matter what GM does, you guys will find a reason to beat it up. If Honda or Toyota did the EXACT same thing you would love everything about it.
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Koba 11:30PM (4/10/2006)
Why doesn't GM offer reasonably priced navigation systems, instead of this half assed idea. Good for GM for getting a healthy comission from OnStar. Seriously tho, if I'm ever going to pay to not have to use a map (and my common sense), it had better be BETTER than a map. GM wants to make money, offer navi as an option for 500, and beat everyone else.
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Nat 11:49PM (4/10/2006)
I am growing weary of the assumption that anyone who criticizes GM/Ford is obviously a Toyota/Honda fan-boy. Besides, it wasn't even Autoblog that wrote this fool, it was TechnoRide.
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shiznannigan 12:34AM (4/11/2006)
I actually see one major advantage to this system. Regular navigation systems get their directions from a DVD, which can become outdated as roads change, and cost hundreds of dollars to replace. With this OnStar Navigation, as long as they (onstar) keep their database updated, you'll never have to worry about using outdated/bad directions.
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Eric Stanley 3:24AM (4/11/2006)
Nat,
Thanks for the clarification... as if I needed YOUR infinite wisdom (read: arrogance). We all know this wasn't an Autoblog original. Autoblog doesn't do much of anything original. What's more important is that if the article were more neutral in its report it would never have made it to Autoblog... it only got here because of its anti-GM slant.
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PJ 4:26AM (4/11/2006)
Eric, I think it's a little overzealous to claim there's an "anti-GM slant" to the posts around here. There just hasn't a lot of good news to report--GM has made some very poor decisions in the last couple decades, and is only now making a turnaround.
As for OnStar's semi-nav system, most any rival GPS system doesn't require you to "figure it out" when you're in an unfamiliar area. It gives you real directions, rather than directing you "South."
And it's fairly ridiculous to claim that people would complain about a visual display. Every rival nav system has a map, and navigating streets is much easier when you have that AND voice directions.
I just can't see how this article is at all anti-GM. This would be a half-ass nav system in any car, regardless of brand.
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caffee 6:06AM (4/11/2006)
If Toyota or Honda had brought OnStar to the marketplace these same folks would be pissing in their britches with praise. And for those of you that can't tell North from South, be careful when you go for a haircut.....
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caffee 6:15AM (4/11/2006)
PJ,
If people are as dumb as seems to be the assumption here, they really don't need OnStar or any other navigation device, what they need is a good second grade education.
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Kurt B 12:14PM (4/11/2006)
Apparently the mirror the controls are mounted on make you look like a clown..
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Nat 1:54PM (4/11/2006)
"What's more important is that if the article were more neutral in its report it would never have made it to Autoblog... it only got here because of its anti-GM slant."
So, how did you get here genius? (read: self-righteous-tool)
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Mr D 8:17PM (4/11/2006)
Maybe if one of your kids were driving a car with onstar and got in a wreck, air bags deploying and knocked out. Onstar can save their life. MAYBE THEN YOU WOULD BELIEVE....
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