- Rivian R1S and R1T house owners now have entry to a local YouTube app inside their automobiles.
- This, together with SiriusXM and Google Solid performance, is a part of the most recent 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 when you had been caught charging on a gradual DC stall, you had very restricted multimedia choices on the built-in middle touchscreen.
Some house owners discovered intelligent workarounds corresponding to utilizing a USB reminiscence stick to look at pre-downloaded movies, however that’s now not wanted, because the California-based startup is lastly rolling out options which have been promised for over a 12 months.
A local YouTube app, a local SiriusXM app, in addition to Google Solid performance, are rolling out proper now as a part of the software program model 2024.47, which is accessible for each the first- and second-gen R1S and R1T.
The replace was introduced again in Could when Rivian mentioned it might come “quickly.” Nicely, it’s lastly right here, which implies house owners can watch YouTube movies on the automotive’s middle 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 car’s audio system.
On the subject of Google Solid, you’ll be able to consider it as having a built-in Chromecast within the automotive. When you’re unfamiliar with the tech, it principally means you need to use a smartphone as a distant to forged content material, together with video, to the automotive’s display. The content material is pulled from the web by the automotive, however you want a smartphone to manage issues like subtitles or select episodes from a TV sequence.
Google Solid and YouTube on Rivian EVs
Movies can solely be performed whereas the automotive is in Park. Moreover, whereas video streaming apps that supply Google Solid performance embody Netflix, Amazon, Prime, Disney+ and Max, Rivian R1S and R1T house owners can not at the moment forged content material from the Netflix app.
Issues get slightly extra sophisticated when how Rivian is bundling these new options. The YouTube app and Google Solid performance are a part of the corporate’s Join+ know-how package deal which prices $14.99 monthly 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 Reside Cam and precedence software program updates.
The SiriusXM app on Rivian EVs
SiriusXM satellite tv for pc radio, however, is separate from the Join+ bundle and desires a subscription purchased straight from SiriusXM, which prices between $9.99 and $24.98 monthly.
Rivian mentioned all clients may have “a short lived preview of the Google Solid and YouTube options that may be streamed by way of Join+,” and {that a} free trial subscription to SiriusXM will probably be provided.
In addition to these new options, the most recent 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.
