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Chevy debuts smartphone-inspired MyLink in Impala (pictures)

Chevrolet showed off a 2014 Impala at CES 2013, featuring its next-generation MyLink system, with smartphone-like icons and flexibility.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
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LAS VEGAS--Chevy launched the 2014 Impala at last year's New York auto show, but this is the first time the company is showing the next-generation MyLink infotainment system. MyLink encompasses Chevy's device connectivity, including hands-free calling, navigation, digital audio, and voice command. The Impala will be available this summer.
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The center 8-inch touch screen employs a smartphone-like interface, with square icons for navigation, phone, audio, and apps. Drivers can arrange the apps how they like, and save four in an upper strip that will be always available for quick access. The touch screen supports swiping and other gestures.
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MyLink comes with a number of preset themes, letting drivers choose a style more to their liking.
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The instrument cluster also has a center color screen, showing the same infotainment functions as on the center screen. Drivers can use thumb controls on the steering wheel to make calls, select music, and enact other commands. The new MyLink system also features natural language voice command.
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The system stores its maps on a flash drive, allowing for quick updates and route recalculation. The 3D maps shown here look very good. You can also see the four quick-access icons across the top of the screen.
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MyLink's weather app, with data brought in through satellite radio, shows a weather map and forecasts.
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MyLink plays music off of iPhones and other digital storage devices, and includes voice command for selecting music. The numbers along the bottom of the screen represent what Chevy calls Favorites, instead of presets. Anything, such as a phone number, destination, radio station, or music genre, can be saved to a Favorite. Drivers can customize the button names, as well, so they will always know what is saved in each Favorite. There are 60 Favorites available on the screen.
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At the push of a button, the touch screen rises, exposing a center bin with a USB port. Drivers can use this space to keep their phones. There are also two USB ports in the console.

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