onstar

Car Tech Live 183: CNET drives the 2011 VW Jetta (podcast)

Is texting the biggest road hazard? Not even close. Red lights are getting longer. Are we just over hybrids? OnStar gears up for a major relaunch. And we drive the new 2011 Jetta.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) Episode 183 Show notes

• Major recall for Toyotas that do anything but run away

• Honda Fit hybrid, aka, the new Jazz

• CNET review of the new 2011 VW Jetta

• Is driving while texting overblown as a hazard?

• Why red lights are getting longer

FLASHBACK! Buzz Out Loud 1262: Apple raises the bars (podcast)

You say Flashback, I say Unicorn of Rock! Go!

There's a fix coming for the iPhone 4's antenna problems: Apple will make the signal strength meter go higher, no matter what. Seriously? Yes. Also, Steve Jobs did not say, "It's just a phone," Microsoft doesn't care which way you insert your batteries, and there is no space dust on Hayabusa.

Car Tech Live 180: New Ford Fiesta--Worth the wait? (podcast)

OnStar to show up in retail stores, Chrysler backs away from hybrids and electric cars, can technology end crashes in intersections, and we drive the new 2011 Ford Fiesta--was it worth the wait?

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) Episode 180 SHOW NOTES

? Porsche 918 hybrid gets the green light--bring $500 grand.

? Chrysler scales back on electric cars for now

? OnStar soon coming to retail stores?

? CNET review of the 2011 Ford Fiesta

? CNET drives the production-ready Nissan Leaf

Car Tech Live 178: Taming the 2011 Shelby GT 500 (podcast)

GM takes OnStar Mobile wall to wall, Nissan promises an electric sports car with the heart of the Leaf, Honda pulls the trigger on a plug-in hybrid, 2011 BMW X3 is a major redesign, ethanol fuel for cars may be on shaky ground, and we corral the 2011 Mustang Shelby GT 500.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 178 SHOW NOTES

• Honda to bring plug-in hybrids to the U.S.

• 2016 is showdown time for Ethanol

• Nissan Leaf to spawn a sports car

• Vibrating seat to warn drivers about other cars… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1262: Apple raises the bars (podcast)

How foolproof is home test-taking software?

Links from Wednesday afternoon's episode of Loaded:

Google, Intel, AT&T, and others form the Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group, or BITAG.China forbids crowdsourced maps with new mapping licenses.GM OnStar users can email their in-dash navigation systems Google Maps directions.New software claims to prevent cheating in at-home tests, although I've got some ideas if you really do want to cheat.

Car Tech Live 168: Is OnStar about to kick Sync's ass? (podcast)

Researchers show cars can be hacked wirelessly. OnStar strikes back--can it use Android to whip Ford Sync? The latest Garmin Nuvifone is minus the fone part. The most powerful Porsche. Ever. And we drive the Infiniti FX35 "High-StyleUV".

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 168 SHOW NOTES

• Researchers take control of a car wirelessly

• OnStar hopes Android will allow it to beat Ford Sync

• Garmin Nuvi 295W is a Nuvifone without the pesky phone

• Porsche GT2 RS is the most powerful ever.

• 17 hottest concept cars so far in 2010… Read more

Buick LaCrosse surprises with luxury, value

We haven't seen a desirable Buick in so many years that our expectations were very low when the LaCrosse arrived in our garage. Yet this car turned out to be one of the better luxury sedans we've driven, especially at its price. The cabin tech suite includes a navigation system with excellent traffic avoidance features and a Harman Kardon audio system with exceptional audio quality.

The soft suspension rides over bumps well, while the direct injection 3.6-liter V-6 delivers ample, efficient power. The LaCrosse is truly a car that will make people give Buick another look.

Read our review of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse CXS. … Read more

OnStar mobile app puts the Chevy Volt in your pocket

Updated: CNET video added.

The Chevrolet Volt hasn't even hit the sales floor yet and there's already an app for that. On Tuesday evening, Chevrolet and its OnStar telematics system announced working smartphone apps for the Motorola Droid, Apple iPhone, and BlackBerry Storm that will allow Volt owners to connect to their vehicles wirelessly to access remote features via smartphone.

The Chevrolet Volt OnStar smartphone app will let users know if the Volt is plugged in or not and whether it's charging on 120V or 240V. Users can also schedule charging times to get the lowest off-peak … Read more

Chinese drivers turn to Onstar

Drivers in China can now subscribe to OnStar. The service welcomed its first subscriber earlier this month. Chinese subscribers receive 14 services through Shanghai OnStar Telematics. Some of the services include: automatic crash response, emergency services, automatic airbag response, vehicle diagnostics, stolen vehicle location, remote door unlock, turn-by-turn navigation, destination download.

The service is available throughout mainland China in Mandarin Chinese. Worldwide, OnStar has more than 5.6 million customers and has performed 253 million customer interactions to date.