- Rivian R1S and R1T house owners now have entry to a local YouTube app inside their automobiles.
- This, together with SiriusXM and Google Forged performance, is a part of the newest software program replace.
- Each the pre-facelift and up to date fashions get the brand new options.
Rivian makes some very compelling adventure-oriented electrical automobiles, however in the event you have been caught charging on a gradual DC stall, you had very restricted multimedia choices on the built-in heart touchscreen.
Some house owners discovered intelligent workarounds equivalent to utilizing a USB reminiscence stick to observe pre-downloaded movies, however that’s not wanted, because the California-based startup is lastly rolling out options which were promised for over a 12 months.
A local YouTube app, a local SiriusXM app, in addition to Google Forged performance, are rolling out proper now as a part of the software program model 2024.47, which is on the market for each the first- and second-gen R1S and R1T.
The replace was introduced again in Might when Rivian stated it might come “quickly.” Nicely, it’s lastly right here, which implies house owners can watch YouTube movies on the automobile’s heart display with out having to make use of their smartphone. The identical goes for the SiriusXM app, which makes use of WiFi or mobile information to stream audio to the automobile’s audio system.
In the case of Google Forged, you’ll be able to consider it as having a built-in Chromecast within the automobile. If you happen to’re unfamiliar with the tech, it principally means you need to use a smartphone as a distant to solid content material, together with video, to the automobile’s display. The content material is pulled from the web by the automobile, however you want a smartphone to manage issues like subtitles or select episodes from a TV collection.
Google Forged and YouTube on Rivian EVs
Movies can solely be performed whereas the automobile is in Park. Moreover, whereas video streaming apps that supply Google Forged performance embody Netflix, Amazon, Prime, Disney+ and Max, Rivian R1S and R1T house owners can’t at present solid content material from the Netflix app.
Issues get slightly extra difficult when taking a look at how Rivian is bundling these new options. The YouTube app and Google Forged performance are a part of the corporate’s Join+ know-how package deal which prices $14.99 per 30 days or $149.99 per 12 months. Join+ additionally consists of an in-vehicle hotspot, satellite tv for pc photographs for the navigation system, Amazon Alexa instructions, Apple Music, Audible, Spotify, Tidal, TuneIn, Gear Guard Stay Cam and precedence software program updates.
The SiriusXM app on Rivian EVs
SiriusXM satellite tv for pc radio, then again, is separate from the Join+ bundle and desires a subscription purchased straight from SiriusXM, which prices between $9.99 and $24.98 per 30 days.
Rivian stated all clients could have “a short lived preview of the Google Forged and YouTube options that may be streamed via Join+,” and {that a} free trial subscription to SiriusXM will probably be provided.
Moreover these new options, the newest software program model consists of enhancements for the Freeway Help system on Gen 2 automobiles, new graphics for some sections of the infotainment system and a bunch of smaller fixes.
