New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Siri 'Eyes Free' Mode Coming to Chevrolet Spark and Sonic in Early 2013

Tuesday November 27, 2012 5:23 am PST by Eric Slivka
Back in June, Apple announced that it was working with car manufacturers on a new "Eyes Free" mode for Siri that would integrate with voice command buttons found in an increasing number of car models to allow users to interact with Siri without needing to look at their devices' screens. As part of his iOS 6 presentation at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference, Scott Forstall displayed a slide showing that Apple was working with BMW, GM, Mercedes, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota, Chrysler, and Honda on the initiative.


GM reportedly confirmed soon after that it would be bringing Eyes Free Siri to the Chevrolet Spark and Sonic within the following 12 months, and the company today announced more details on that integration. The announcement notes that Siri will be included as part of the MyLink system on several Spark and Sonic models beginning in early 2013.
In the Spark and Sonic RS, owners can use Siri in Eyes Free mode to:

- Make voice-activated, hands-free calls to Contacts on their iPhone
- Play songs in the iTunes library, and even switch music sources automatically from AM/FM/XM radio to iPod mode
- Listen to, and compose and send an iMessage or text message to a phone number or anyone in saved Contacts
- Access Calendar and add appointments
- Minimize distraction even more by keeping the screen of the iPhone from lighting up, even when Siri answers simple questions such as game scores or the dates of national holidays
- While in Eyes Free mode, Siri will not provide answers to complex questions that require displaying a web page.


[ 56 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
iapplelove
85 months ago
I actually find Siri to be most useful in a car.she works through BT just fine but seems like its only going to get better.
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
burtx
85 months ago
Sweet thumb ring.
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
Confuzzzed
85 months ago
When will it come in decent cars though?
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
evansls
85 months ago
eyes free solutions

If only Apple would create/enable a remote that I could be use with my iPhone then it could be easily attached to my steering wheel like this then all cars could have eyes free Siri, too.



See remote on right of steering wheel



** edit. For those asking what this is called. There are 2 models. I think these have been discontinued, but you can find them outside of amazon if you google the name a bit. I prefer the auxilary version over the bluetooth version. It works great even for non ipod music apps like Mog (which is what I use) for example.

Kensington LiquidAUX Bluetooth Car Kit with Remote
http://goo.gl/KuxSw

Kensington LiquidAUX Auxiliary Car Kit with Remote
http://goo.gl/zkqoV
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
ncaissie
85 months ago

So, my Toyota Corolla is an 'Apple car' otherwise I wouldn't have bought it?

Good logic there.

The Spark is too small a car for me, but the Sonic looks like a nice replacement car for my Corolla if it works better with my iPhone.

Image (http://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Vehicles/Baseball%20Card%20Library%20Current%20Vehicles/2013_Sonic_Sedan/01_images/2013-chevrolet-sonic-sedan-LTZ-baseball-card-GAN-233x77.png)


You know you’re a fanboy if you replace your car so it works better with your iphone. LMAO
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
kirky29
85 months ago

Why in the world would Ford not get with the program? Common Ford, you need to be more Apple like :D


Ford have Ford SYNC, which is pretty impressive!

http://www.ford.com/technology/sync/ (http://www.ford.com/technology/sync/)
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
Rot'nApple
85 months ago
Will 'Eyes Free' be something that dealerships can install in already purchased cars? I just bought a new vehicle and if it serves me well as my last, then it will be a decade before I even think of looking at cars...
/
/
/
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
RedRaven571
85 months ago

When will it come in decent cars though?


I hear if you buy the Siri unit, Chevy will throw in a free Volt......

.....and a fire extinguisher.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
BornAgainMac
85 months ago
I don't understand why you have to buy a new car to get this feature.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
davidwes
85 months ago
Eyes Free all the time

I love siri, but it really needs to be eyes free just in general.

The amount of times I have to look at the screen when using siri is mind boggling. If I'm using Siri, it's probably because I CAN'T look at the screen - either in a car (with no bluetooth), or running???

Seriously, I'm in the car with Siri. I give it an address and it starts guiding me (I haven't looked at the phone yet). Now I ask it how long till I arrive - It can't answer that - you have to look at the screen. Is there traffic - It can't answer that - you have to look at the screen.

How about Weather forecast? Siri will only SHOW you the weather, not tell you. If I could look at the phone, it would have been faster to just press the weather button. I was asking Siri specifically because I COULDN'T SEE the screen.
Rating: 2 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]