Hasta La Gadget!

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services and Ferrari board member, is Apple’s do everything, fix any problem man. According to WSJ, he’s the guy who’s in charge of fixing Apple Maps and Siri. More »

If you’re looking at getting a 2013 Chevrolet Spark or Sonic LTZ / RS, you’ll be able to drag Siri along for the ride, provided that you have an iPhone 4S or later running iOS 6, according to GM. It’ll pair with Chevy’s MyLink entertainment system using Bluetooth, ensuring you avoid distractions via Apple’s new Eyes Free mode that lets you disable the smartphone’s screen via a steering wheel button. Using voice-activated commands, you’ll be able to prompt the system to make hands-free calls, play songs from your iTunes library, listen to and compose text messages and access calendar appointments. If you ask a question that requires a web page to be displayed, however, Siri will decline to answer — ensuring your eyes stay where they should.

The automaker also announced an upcoming version of MyLink for the Chevrolet Impala that will let buyers “skin” the instrument panel with four different themes: Edge and Velocity for the younger set, and Contemporary or Main Street aimed at “busy moms” or business types. It’ll also have an optional 8-inch touchscreen and let you link up to ten devices via Blutetooth or USB. Check the sources for info on all the new vehicles or the video after the break.

Continue reading Chevy launches iPhone Siri support for Spark, Sonic vehicles, aims to keep your Eyes Free

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Apple

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Via: Slashgear

Source: GM (1), (2)

Siri is hitching a ride in the 2013 Chevrolet Spark and Sonic LZ and RS, with support for the voice control system in the MyLink infotainment systems; meanwhile, an all-new version will debut in the 2014 Impala. The Siri functionality, announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2013, allows a Bluetooth-connected iPhone to play songs, switch sources from AM/FM/XM radio to iPod mode, trigger calls to contacts, handle messaging, and the calendar, all by verbal instruction. It’s not the sole preserve of big-bucks Chevys, either, with the car company opting to debut the tech in its more affordable models.

There’s also a new Eyes Free mode, which keeps the iPhone’s screen turned off and relies solely on voice feedback from Siri, so that the driver can stay focused on the road ahead. That also means that the sort of complex queries which would usually trigger a web search won’t prompt to look online.

In order for it to work, the iPhone or iPad must be running iOS 6.0 or above; then it’s a case of pairing it via Bluetooth with the MyLink system. The steering wheel “Voice” button triggers Siri from that point on.

Chevrolet Spark iPhone Siri integration demo:

However, there’s a more complex Chevrolet MyLink system incoming the following year, and which will debut in the new Impala. The next-gen system has a choice of four menu themes – contemporary, edge, velocity, and main street – for its standard 4.2-inch display or optional 8-inch touchscreen, and can hook up to ten external devices, use its own natural voice recognition system for calls, navigation, media, and more.

There’s a 60 station favorites system which spans AM/FM/XM radio, contacts, destinations, music, and other media, and support for both Bluetooth and USB smartphones. Connected versions will add city-level weather reports, and OnStar will spread from the traditional blue button to an on-screen dialog too; six months of premium Directions and Connections will be included. A microphone is suspended above the driver to avoid confusion from road or engine noise.

Chevrolet 2014 Impala with next-gen MyLink demo:

The Chevrolet 2013 Spark with Siri will go on sale early in the new year, priced from $12,995, while the 2014 Impala is due in the spring, priced from $27,535. The next-gen MyLink system will also be available in other 2014 model year Chevys, including full-sized trucks, SUVs, and the Corvette.

Chevrolet adds Siri to 2013 Spark; Previews next-gen MyLink is written by Vincent Nguyen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Apple’s Siri might have gotten off to a somewhat slow and shaky start, but Apple has since been working on its voice assistant software and we can only assume that improvements were made in the background. Well the good news is that if your language was not supported by Siri, perhaps an update in the future could be adding your language to the mix. According to their job listing for Cloud Services Engineering Interns, Apple has asked for interns who might be fluent in languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, Korean, Norwegian, and Swedish and to help work on making Siri available in the different parts of the world. Of course we’re not sure when this Siri update will be rolling out but we guess it’s still a step towards that direction and probably good news for those who speak either of the languages above and would like to get Siri up and running on their phone in their native tongue.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: NowNow jailbreak tweak for your iPhone replaces Siri with Google Voice Search, Siri could help purchase movie tickets in iOS 6.1,

Apple is testing versions of OS X 10.9 that include Siri voice control and Apple Maps integration, sources claim, though it’s unclear if both features will make it to the public release expected in 2013. Development of the new Mac OS was reportedly begun simultaneously with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, the current release, so 9to5Mac‘s sources claim, including a “MapKit” framework for coders to embed into their desktop applications much as they can do with iOS apps.

That framework is still in early testing, however, as is Siri support. The latter – familiar from the iPhone and, more recently, the iPad – would rely on the same servers as Dictation in OS X 10.8, though Apple could well choose to limit it to certain generations of Mac hardware.

Siri for the desktop has been well-requested since the digital personal assistant was first launched, though it’s perhaps only with the most recent update that it really grows in relevance for Macs and MacBooks. In its latest iteration, Siri gained the ability to open applications, something which could help cut down on mousing across OS X.

Exactly when OS X 10.9 may hit public Macs is unclear, though a Q1 2013 developer preview is likely if Apple follows the same sort of timescale as it did with Mountain Lion. That could then run up to a public release over the summer.

Apple mulling Siri and Apple Maps integration in OS X 10.9 is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.