Volvo is making a big deal out of the fact it is bringing Prime Video to its car, with YouTube
to come later.
But we’d rather watch Prime at home in the comfort of our loungeroom.
The app will be available to download in models with the built-in Google operating system.
However, YouTube will be embedded in the OS.
That’s hardly surprising considering Amazon is one of Google’s biggest competitors.
Guess Google couldn’t quite go the extra mile.
The news follows last year’s announcement that Volvo’s announcement will soon be using
Epic Games’ photorealistic visualisation technology in its cars.
The result will be an infotainment system that will be more than twice as fast as its
predecessor, while graphics generation and processing inside the cabin will be up to 10
times faster.
Whether recharging, waiting to pick up your loved one, or cherishing a quiet moment away
from the in-laws, Volvo says it’s got you covered.
Your Volvo car is now better equipped to keep you entertained by introducing Prime Video
to Google Play for download in all markets where Google apps and services are available.
Volvo Cars is among the first carmakers to offer Prime Video in its cars.
YouTube will become available as a preinstalled app starting from September 18 with a
gradual rollout via over-the-air update (OTA), market by market.
“Adding access to services such as Prime Video and YouTube in our cars bolsters the
continuously growing list of software and applications to make lives for our drivers better,”
Volvo’s Erik Severinson said.
“We are delivering on our promise of building cars that grow with our customers over
time.”
Both apps will be available in Volvo cars with Google built-in globally — except China,
South Korea, and Vietnam.
Availability of the features and services mentioned above may differ between markets.
Volvo doesn’t say whether the on-line subscription that comes with the car will cover the
cost of streaming Prime or YouTube content.
What it does say is that in certain markets data necessary for streaming these services
(and other digital services) may not be provided with your vehicle by Volvo Cars, in
markets where it is provided, it is subject to certain terms, conditions, and limitations.
Of course, with an eye to safety, access to video streaming will only be available when the
car is fully stationary.
That implies the car will probably need to be in Park with the handbrake applied, which
kind of rules out traffic jams.
