I still don't understand why they didn't just use Google Maps, that would have made everyone happy. I mean no offense to the developers of Bringgo, but it's just not comparable to Google Maps. I don't know but I feel like going with an unknown and inchoate app instead of a world class navigation app was kind of a silly move on Chevy's part.
BringGo Master Thread
- Thread starter Eranthe
- Start date
Macehammer
New member
Because google maps aren't stored in device, and euro countries data costs are $$$...
Macehammer
New member
And because what if your stuck somewhere w/o a data connection?
Chevrolet Customer Care
New member
rgdave,
I apologize and thank you for your patience and feedback, as the BringGo developers are aware of the smartphones compatibility concerns.
Vanessa,
GM Customer Service
Fellow Android users, we're screwed on this. I just got a call back from GM Support. Basically, the response is that the vehicle is operating fine, the problem is with my phone, and there's nothing that GM can or will do, because, like it says on the website, phone compatibility is not GM's responsibility. (Of course, because Bringgo wasn't released back when I bought my Sonic, I didn't have a way to check compatibility now, did I?)
That same GM Bringgo website, though, does still say "Compatible smartphones include ..." and lists the Galaxy S3. I don't see anything on there that says "But not the Verizon version" or "SGH-I747 model only."
So at least we know where we stand. Engis is really only concerned with the iPhone (not a big surprise, since their roots are as an iPhone app developer), GM probably isn't going to do squat to pressure Engis to expand Android compatibility, and Android users shouldn't count on Bringgo working unless you want to root your phone.
That same GM Bringgo website, though, does still say "Compatible smartphones include ..." and lists the Galaxy S3. I don't see anything on there that says "But not the Verizon version" or "SGH-I747 model only."
So at least we know where we stand. Engis is really only concerned with the iPhone (not a big surprise, since their roots are as an iPhone app developer), GM probably isn't going to do squat to pressure Engis to expand Android compatibility, and Android users shouldn't count on Bringgo working unless you want to root your phone.
rodslinger
Member
We're no more screwed than an iPhone user that wants an app that isn't in the app store. (been there too) Just root the phone, change the device ID and download the app from the play store. You could be up and running in about ten minutes.
Would be an interesting scenario to Lemon Law the car due to the manufacturer not being able to make something work that says should work. Try this route. Make three trips to the dealer for the same issue. After the third "failure" of them to get it to work fire off the certified letter to GM requesting the "final repair attempt".
Of course it would be easier to just root the phone and be done with it.
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key1cc
New member
Update since I last commented earlier in this thread.
My Android "Droid Bionic" phone continues to work with thr BringGo app without issue. I have not owned a car with navigation before nor have I owned a GPS, but I like the BrinGo App and for me it is doing all that I expected and then some
I also got the opportunity to try out the "Tune-In Radio station" app that came with it. I simply downloaded the free version of TuneIn from the appstore onto my phone. I get in my car and the phone automatically syncs and I get to select Tunein and get any type of music I want. So far I may be the lone happy camper with a stock unmodified android phone that works....but the important thing is I am a happy camper.....So I will be the first to say it....
Thanks BringGo and Chevy. The end product exceeds my expectations.
Of course I my be your only fan.....but look on the bright side....there is huge potential upside from where you stand now. Good luck in resolving some of the issues others have. I would love to see this succeed so we can add even more apps down the road to my-link....I'm sure you didn't make that big screen just to house a couple apps
....Key1
laborsmith
New member
Leave it to Chevrolet Customer Service to hang their consumers out to dry and expect nothing will come of it.
It is my certain belief that Chevrolet bears the responsibility of making a program they have not been shy about advertising work. Their responsibility to find someone who can get the job done if Engis can not.
It is our responsibility to do what we can to hold the management of Chevrolet to this standard. I am at present still in the Chevrolet internal remedy stage. Once those internal remedies are exhausted and there if there is no relief, then to GM I will go.
If that does not work, it will be interesting to find an arbitrator that does not drive a vehicle with MyLink or its competitors installed. Once an Arbiter is selected, to Arbitration I shall go.
Is this inability or outright refusal a black mark on the company. Of course it is. Is their refusal to date to get something done expected. No, it is neither expected nor is it comprehensible. In fact, it is dumb. Already I am thinking of Plaintiff scenarios where the argument is "I was trying to use smartphone navigation because the well advertised MyLink BringGo navigation was not available to me and did not see the cow in the road."
I know my example is extreme (and dumb) but you get my drift.
No, I am not willing to hit a cow standing in the road just to test my thesis, but rest assured if Chevrolet continues on this path someone inadvertentloy will. And this thread will be introduced into the case as evidence that Chevrolet had affirmative knowledge of a problem and so far is declining opportunities to rectify it.
My two cents.
Laborsmith
It is my certain belief that Chevrolet bears the responsibility of making a program they have not been shy about advertising work. Their responsibility to find someone who can get the job done if Engis can not.
It is our responsibility to do what we can to hold the management of Chevrolet to this standard. I am at present still in the Chevrolet internal remedy stage. Once those internal remedies are exhausted and there if there is no relief, then to GM I will go.
If that does not work, it will be interesting to find an arbitrator that does not drive a vehicle with MyLink or its competitors installed. Once an Arbiter is selected, to Arbitration I shall go.
Is this inability or outright refusal a black mark on the company. Of course it is. Is their refusal to date to get something done expected. No, it is neither expected nor is it comprehensible. In fact, it is dumb. Already I am thinking of Plaintiff scenarios where the argument is "I was trying to use smartphone navigation because the well advertised MyLink BringGo navigation was not available to me and did not see the cow in the road."
I know my example is extreme (and dumb) but you get my drift.
No, I am not willing to hit a cow standing in the road just to test my thesis, but rest assured if Chevrolet continues on this path someone inadvertentloy will. And this thread will be introduced into the case as evidence that Chevrolet had affirmative knowledge of a problem and so far is declining opportunities to rectify it.
My two cents.
Laborsmith
rodslinger
Member
Realistically Bringgo just needs to release the app to all devices like 99.5% of all the other developers out there. I'm not sure what their testing procedure is but I'll never expect them to be able to test all devices under all scenarios. They need to just release the app and work out the biggest bugs first. Stop trying to certify one device at a time.
They indicated to me my device was not certified and did not pass their test criteria although everything is working perfectly for me. From what I've seen on mine and others that have spoofed their deivce to download withouth any (or minimal) issues I think they are being WAY too cautious.
GM... Your competitors will pass you (again) at this rate of progress. Stick a boot up Bringgo's ass.
They indicated to me my device was not certified and did not pass their test criteria although everything is working perfectly for me. From what I've seen on mine and others that have spoofed their deivce to download withouth any (or minimal) issues I think they are being WAY too cautious.
GM... Your competitors will pass you (again) at this rate of progress. Stick a boot up Bringgo's ass.
rodslinger, I'm frankly terrified of rooting. Kind of weird, because I'm really comfortable with (Windows) computers. Among friends and co-workers I'm the 'go to' guy when something screws up on their computer.
I found a forum thread on Phandroid started by another 'scared to death of rooting, but want to take the plunge' Verizon Galaxy S3 owner. Rooting concerns (4.1.2) - Android Forums It's giving me confidence. The rooting guide it references at xda - [GUIDE] Root for Jelly Bean 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 OTA ***UPDATED 3/5*** - xda-developers has a GREAT step by step video in it. So after I've watched the video a few more times, and have cleared my plate for a couple of hours, I'll probably take the plunge. And once I've done it, I'll wonder what took me so long. Sort of like having sex --- scared to death of it before you do it the first time, but then you're a changed man after that. OK, I realize I'm stretching it there. But there is a pea**** strutting thing about 'having root' in the smartphone world.
And I agree ... they should release it for all Android phones 2.3 and above (or whatever baseline they set), make it a free trial (no stupid .99 trial), and if it doesn't work, well, then just uninstall it. I doubt it will break the phone. In my almost 4 years on Android, I've only come across a couple of apps that wouldn't work, and I just uninstalled. But at least those developers let me try. Users will be very quick to leave feedback in the Playstore if it isn't working on a certain device or Android version - you're seeing that with some apps that don't work on the newly released 4.2, but potential downloaders can see that right away in the feedback, and developers can see right away that there's an issue with a certain phone or Android version.
I think the problem Engis is having is working outside of the tightly controlled iPhone sandbox. Let Android users at it, and they'll give you the feedback.
I found a forum thread on Phandroid started by another 'scared to death of rooting, but want to take the plunge' Verizon Galaxy S3 owner. Rooting concerns (4.1.2) - Android Forums It's giving me confidence. The rooting guide it references at xda - [GUIDE] Root for Jelly Bean 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 OTA ***UPDATED 3/5*** - xda-developers has a GREAT step by step video in it. So after I've watched the video a few more times, and have cleared my plate for a couple of hours, I'll probably take the plunge. And once I've done it, I'll wonder what took me so long. Sort of like having sex --- scared to death of it before you do it the first time, but then you're a changed man after that. OK, I realize I'm stretching it there. But there is a pea**** strutting thing about 'having root' in the smartphone world.
And I agree ... they should release it for all Android phones 2.3 and above (or whatever baseline they set), make it a free trial (no stupid .99 trial), and if it doesn't work, well, then just uninstall it. I doubt it will break the phone. In my almost 4 years on Android, I've only come across a couple of apps that wouldn't work, and I just uninstalled. But at least those developers let me try. Users will be very quick to leave feedback in the Playstore if it isn't working on a certain device or Android version - you're seeing that with some apps that don't work on the newly released 4.2, but potential downloaders can see that right away in the feedback, and developers can see right away that there's an issue with a certain phone or Android version.
I think the problem Engis is having is working outside of the tightly controlled iPhone sandbox. Let Android users at it, and they'll give you the feedback.
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Isambard
New member
This x 11,000,000,000
Blue hedgehog
New member
Not only as someone els stated you need data service for google maps, but I've used google maps myself and think they suck. When you are not familiar with the roads (almost any time your going to use a nav app) it tells you stupid directions like, turn right, turn left, turn right. All this at a 5 way intersection and you wanted to make a wide right, and there was a turn lane for that turn. Instead now you waited at 3 lights to go 20 feet, and wasted 10 min. Not good directions as far as I'm concerned. By the way, I purposely went back to that intersection and used bringgo to navigate me through. It told me to make the turn normaly.
I do think bringgo does still need help in the routing department. I purposely missed an exit to see if it would recalculate. It did, but wanted me to skip the next exit, then get off, turn around and come back to the exit it told me to skip.
There was plenty of time and distance between when it recalculated and the next exit.rodslinger
Member
It is extremely nice being able to delete off the factory bloatware that the phone companies like to stuff on a phone. You would be suprised at how much better the Android experience is without all that extra crap.
Bringgo... Get your head out of your ass....
Red_RS
Member
Agreed. If they could make it "learn" from people driving in familiar areas and do updates so that the "learned" routes could be incorporated into the programming that would be great. Also, if I enter my address it thinks I live down the street. If I put my home as a point on the map then it assigns a much higher address than mine. One time it took me to my destination and told me it was on the right when it was on the left. If there was a way for it to learn or be user corrected then the next person going to that destination would receive the correct directions. Of course, there would have to be some way to verify...there are plenty of people who would purposefully "teach" it the wrong thing as a joke. :/
Mapping and navigation is a huge, very complex issue. I've had standalone GPS for years (Tom Tom or Garmin), suction cupped to my various windshields. Once a year you downloaded a map update (usually cost about $80) and hoped it was pretty accurate. They purchased their map data from NavTeq or TeleAtlas (since purchased by Tom Tom.) Addresses would usually map 'close', but seldom 'right on'.
Then came along Google. They've invested only knows how much in mapping. They deploy vehicles with GPS and cameras that pull in data on everything from overpasses to exit change lanes. They've incorporated "Fix a Problem" feedback mechanisms into their mapping products - sort of crowd sourcing to improve nav and map accuracy. I'm in awe sometimes at how well Google Nav and Maps works. That's the reason there was such a backlash last year when Apple flipped to its own mapping product. It just didn't have the depth of Google. If your house number isn't in quite the right place, Google has a way for you to tell them that.
Love Google or hate 'em, when they set their sights on something, they have the bucks to make it work. And with nav/maps, they have.
The problem that Bringgo is facing is that they're likely licensing their mapping data from NavTeq or TomTom (TeleAtlas), and only plan to update maps once a year. That's the same limitation that in-dash nav faces --- licensed mapping data that isn't updated that regularly. But it will be interesting to see if that is competitive in the long term with the more dynamic Google mapping.
Static mapping works 98% of the time, and when it works, you don't notice it. But that other 2%, like when the address is off or a road has been closed, you do notice. And that's where Google wins.
I'm looking forward to getting Bringgo up and running, because I do like the idea of a larger map screen. But in the meantime, I have a cradle that keeps my Galaxy S3 pretty front and center. The Mylink screen size is about 7", the S3 is 4.8". The Galaxy Note 2 is 5.5", and the upcoming Galaxy 4 is 5". (The iPhone5 is 4"). So the screen sizes for smartphones that run Google Nav are closing in on Mylink.
So look at Bringgo from a Note 2 user's standpoint. Pay $60 for an app to get 1.5" of extra screen diameter, with likely less sophisticated and updated mapping data. iPhone users, with only a 4" screen, might flock to Bringgo, but S4 and Note 2 users? It's a toss up. I'm starting to think that GM should have thought about devoting that dash real estate used by Mylink for a great swivel cradle for next gen smartphones with bluetooth connectivity. Then you can run TUneIn or Pandora or whatever nav app you choose (that's FREE) in native mode from your phone and screw Mylink.
Then came along Google. They've invested only knows how much in mapping. They deploy vehicles with GPS and cameras that pull in data on everything from overpasses to exit change lanes. They've incorporated "Fix a Problem" feedback mechanisms into their mapping products - sort of crowd sourcing to improve nav and map accuracy. I'm in awe sometimes at how well Google Nav and Maps works. That's the reason there was such a backlash last year when Apple flipped to its own mapping product. It just didn't have the depth of Google. If your house number isn't in quite the right place, Google has a way for you to tell them that.
Love Google or hate 'em, when they set their sights on something, they have the bucks to make it work. And with nav/maps, they have.
The problem that Bringgo is facing is that they're likely licensing their mapping data from NavTeq or TomTom (TeleAtlas), and only plan to update maps once a year. That's the same limitation that in-dash nav faces --- licensed mapping data that isn't updated that regularly. But it will be interesting to see if that is competitive in the long term with the more dynamic Google mapping.
Static mapping works 98% of the time, and when it works, you don't notice it. But that other 2%, like when the address is off or a road has been closed, you do notice. And that's where Google wins.
I'm looking forward to getting Bringgo up and running, because I do like the idea of a larger map screen. But in the meantime, I have a cradle that keeps my Galaxy S3 pretty front and center. The Mylink screen size is about 7", the S3 is 4.8". The Galaxy Note 2 is 5.5", and the upcoming Galaxy 4 is 5". (The iPhone5 is 4"). So the screen sizes for smartphones that run Google Nav are closing in on Mylink.
So look at Bringgo from a Note 2 user's standpoint. Pay $60 for an app to get 1.5" of extra screen diameter, with likely less sophisticated and updated mapping data. iPhone users, with only a 4" screen, might flock to Bringgo, but S4 and Note 2 users? It's a toss up. I'm starting to think that GM should have thought about devoting that dash real estate used by Mylink for a great swivel cradle for next gen smartphones with bluetooth connectivity. Then you can run TUneIn or Pandora or whatever nav app you choose (that's FREE) in native mode from your phone and screw Mylink.
blue hedgehog, no mapping system is perfect. They vary a lot. I sell real estate in a very rural area, and am always mapping directions either for myself or my clients. Often addresses will 'take' in one system, but not another. The routes can vary wildly between Bing, Mapquest and Google. I also have Garmin in the car if I need it. In all of them, I wish there were more ways to set route priority options besides just "avoid tolls." And between Garmin and Google Nav, neither are really great at giving you rerouting options on the fly when you hit a snarl.
It's curious why GM didn't go with one of the bigger players in the nav space like Garmin if they wanted to have a 'killer' app/Mylink connection. GM threw its hat in the ring with a little company that probably doesn't have the resources to make this a category leader.
It's curious why GM didn't go with one of the bigger players in the nav space like Garmin if they wanted to have a 'killer' app/Mylink connection. GM threw its hat in the ring with a little company that probably doesn't have the resources to make this a category leader.
Macehammer
New member
iPhone.
Just sayin'
Just sayin'
fieldhouse
New member
Same here. I knew that MyLink was based on the same Microsoft platform as Ford Sync and so focused on the Sonic and Fiesta. The Fiesta didn't "fit" right, so going with the Sonic (for a lot less) seemed like a no brainer. Little did I know...
I'll one up this... The GM dealers I've talked to actually ENCOURAGED using an Android handset over an iPhone, citing many issues with iPhones and Bluetooth. How surprised do you think all their customers will be when they try to use their spiffy new android phone that they upgraded to after having Bluetooth connectivity issues with their iPhone...and now they can't get the new Nav app?
My PI0914 upgrade was the first done by my local dealership. I talked to the tech today that does all of their updates and he told me he essentially used my car as his training and then did all the cars on the lot a day or two later. Glad I could help GM train their staff
Better yet, just create ONE app for the iPhone and ONE app for Android that displays the phone's screen on the MyLink display and let the car owners decide which apps they prefer to run. Some people will already have Garmin or TomTom purchased or are in love with Google Maps, Waze, or even (gasp!) the new Apple map app. If GM wants to spend some time hooking in additional apps, great. But I can pretty much guarantee that whoever's making the decisions on which apps to (slowly) add to MyLink doesn't have the same taste in apps and doesn't understand that the smartphone app space is extremely volatile, constantly changing.
I FINALLY got my MyLink reflashed today. Apparently the first flash on 3/5/2013 must have been bad/corrupt/buggy because the reflash fixed the Bringgo launching issue. All is well now. Bringgo will launch (as long as my iPhone is plugged into the USB - yech) and TuneIn isn't grayed out anymore.
The tech told me that the MyLink bulletin download had been updated yesterday (3/21/2013) but the SW version appears to be unchanged. Still says SW part number: 13.02-95371037. That, to me spells disaster for GM customer support. How could GM's developers possibly think it's a good thing to not version control different update releases and leave no way to distinguish between a "bad" MyLink update performed in late February or early March from a "good" MyLink update performed in late march?
Blue hedgehog
New member
Rgdave
I agree no nav units are perfect but my garmin 96c that's over 10 years old does a better job routing and rerouting. I'm sure it will get better with future updates. It will get the job done. When I have no idea where I'm going I'm sure it will get me there eventually.
I agree no nav units are perfect but my garmin 96c that's over 10 years old does a better job routing and rerouting. I'm sure it will get better with future updates. It will get the job done. When I have no idea where I'm going I'm sure it will get me there eventually.
I agree 100%. Make the mylink screen basically a display/interface for your smartphone. There would be no need for any further updates. If you want a NEW app just download it.
