Is there anybody here who might know how one could contact the responsible party in GM regarding MyLink software, particularly the firmware integration that allows Android Auto to function? I ask because I have it on good authority that Android Auto is capable of supporting turn by turn directions in the HUD from somebody who is knee deep in developing software for this platform.

As I understand it, and this makes perfect sense from a software development standpoint, when Android Auto starts up it queries the car's firmware essentially asking for a list of what services and functions it supports. If the firmware says it supports turn by turn in the HUD then Android Auto will note that and send out message to the HUD for turn by turn directions. IOW Android Auto is already capable and programmed to do this! However the Vette (or perhaps better stated the MyLink system) does NOT report back that the vehicle is capable of doing turn by turn directions in the HUD even though is can.

So it seems that all that needs to be done is to get in contact with the proper people and ask them to properly report the turn by turn capabilities of the system and viola! Turn by turn directions in the HUD courtesy of Android Auto. Of course, there'd probably be a required update of the firmware.

The problem I have, as a mere mortal, is how to identify, contact and request that this be done.

Now I know that GM people don't frequent the forums as much as they used to and I'm sure GM support people (what are they called again) is clueless as always but I'm posting this on the hope that somebody, somewhere, might know...

(Hey you can't blame me for trying...)

 

If Chevy were to do this (assuming your info is correct) it would be for a future version of MyLink and 99.9% chance it would not be offered as an update to existing MyLink units. But, keep dreaming.

 

How do you know that? Or are you just speculating?

 

Well, I have to say that my Cadillac CTS has turn directions in the HUD already. I'm not sure it's the same 'turn by turn' you're wanting because it's not via the Android interface, but it definitely takes the turn information from the on board Nav system and throws it up on the HUD in an abbreviated display. So if we really are talking apples and apples here, it's already been done--by GM.

 

Exactly what Mschuyler said, but on my Camaro SS. However, as mentioned, it feeds off my actual NAV unit my car is equipped with and has nothing to do with my IPhone feed. I'm sure it's possible, but as Zymurgy said, it won't be backwards compatible. Not much in the tech world is as they want to sell the latest and greatest

 

Did you check the system info on the MyLink, might have the software devloper info/contact.

 

My 2017 C7 with nav does the same.

 

Go to Corvettes at Carlisle this week and ask the Corvette Team!

 

Op, try this number. I did several months ago with a different issue and they were very helpful.

"Hey MAXXPSI,

Have you tried contacting our Infotainment Team? Although they might not have an immediate solution for you, they could point you in the right direction. Please feel free to give them a call at (855) 478-7767.

If you need anything else, you can reach our team via private message.

Corey K.
Chevrolet Customer Care"

Edit: Go to posts 13-17 in the below CF link to send via private message.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...lurry-hud.html

.

 

Ditto .......... Using the factory nav.

 

Well normally I don't see what mshuyler says because he's on my ignore list but since somebody quoted him - Yes I know it works in the factory nav. Why else do you think I'm asking for it? Just a pie in the sky idea I came up with?!? There is nothing wrong with wanting that same functionality from AA and as I understand it it's doable already - AA already has the code. It's the lack of a answer to the probe of "What functionality do you offer" that is in GM's control and has not been implemented.

You're right, it has nothing to do with any iphone feed nor do I give a rat's *** about iphones. I'm talking about AA here and the first A is Android (though iphone users of carplay may benefit from this too).

And it has nothing to do with being backwards compatible either. GM is never backward compatible. Plug an Android phone into a 14 or 15 and try to get it to work. That's not backward compatible either!

And just wanting to sell the latest and greatest as you speculate is a totally off base claim too. If that was the case, why do they support AA or CP at all?!?

 

Oh yeah, just fly out from California to Pennsylvania and ask a bunch of gearheads about software. Now that's a plan...

 

I spoke with them before. They don't know squat, hence my post here.

 

This is *NOT* about the factory nav. I know about the factory nav! That's why I specifically inquired about ANDROID AUTO - not factory nav. Did you even read my request?!?

This TL;DR thing is going too far...

 

Speculation mixed with years of history.

 

If as you say "have it on good authority that Android Auto is capable of supporting turn by turn directions in the HUD from somebody who is knee deep in developing software for this platform" I would think they know whom you should talk to.... Unless of course they are only ankle deep.

 

The dude I know writes an app that allows OBD2 information to be displayed in AA. Here's an example: . . And while he knows how AA operates from a technical perspective, he can't even get his app in the Play store because Google won't allow it. What makes you think he'd know the proper higher ups in GM? IOW he's knee deep in the technology not knee deep in the aristocracy of upper GM management nor internal GM staffing.

 

Understand... I understood "this platform" to mean the AA in the C7.

 

So ignoring all the BS in the thread :-)

The request as I read it is focused on AA but in my mind as an 35 year IT manager with no direct experience with automotive stuff. If something were to be done here it would likely apply to NAV output from either platform (AA or iPhone). Default would be to display turn by turn info in the HUD from the built in NAV. But if another NAV was in use from any platform and it provides that data, use it.

I'm not sure of course if they have standard API's in that industry though. This would be the challenge I think in that there is a lot of custom iconography that is displayed. If GM is doing some custom stuff, interfacing with other NAV apps could be problematic to the point where it could be a liability for them (imagine a wrong arrow being used).

My best guess would be they are staying away from this for liability reasons as well as the fact that keeping it out could increase subscription services. Doesn't help and may be things you were already thinking.

As far as answering your question. AskTadge seems to be the best way to get answers for things like this. Outside of that I have found it VERY difficult for individuals to get deep technical answers out of large corporations. Heck, I work for one that has 100,000+ employees in the tech industry. We have mega contracts with other corps and even with that it is tough still to get good access to the real developers.

So my suggestion would be to try and figure out where this stuff is developed (may not be GM) and use tools like LinkedIn to try and find some internal contact to get your foot in the door.

 

Thanks mountainears. As it was explained to me, much like say SMTP, you connect to the service and then issue a call saying "OK services, what capabilities do you support?". The service responds with it's capabilities. So, for example:

The SMTP server at outlook.com supports pipelining, starttls, etc.

When AA queries the head unit, if it responds saying it can do turn by turn in a HUD then AA will make calls saying stuff like "There's a left turn 2 miles ahead". The headunit would then display that in any way that it wants. There's no iconography involved or rather the iconography displayed would be the iconography that it has for left turn ahead, etc. The driver would see the same images they currently see with the factory nav in their HUD. If the service does not say it does turn by turn then AA never interacts with it to give it the turn by turn info. That's why it seems to me a very simple bug to fix, basically, when queried about the functionality you support, include that you support turn by turn directions, and that that functionality could be done with a simple firmware/software update.

As I understand it, AA already has this necessary functionality and works on other cars - maybe even GM cars.

I agree with you about the near impossibility of getting in direct contact with the actual software developers in large companies. Occasionally good software developers lurk in forums such as these and act upon such suggestions, hence another reason for my post. I recall, back in the day, HP not supporting a new CD Writer in a PC (this is back in the 90's). Instead HP pointed to a web page where it would report the status of driver support essentially telling all their customers to keep monitoring the web page. I simply did a view source on the web page and contained in comments were the names and email addresses of all the engineers who were working on this driver... So I emailed them directly! And it worked! They got the driver out quickly only because they were directly notified.

Sadly HP engineers do not put their email addresses in the comments of web pages anymore (but we all know that firstname.lastname@hp.com works - if you can get their names...)

I thought about Ask Tadge but I fear that there's just not enough vette guys who care that much about turn by turn in the HUD through Android Auto...