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OnStar made their MyLink application available today at the iPhone store, and I thought I'd share my experience with it. Maybe it will inspire some 2010 owners to try it and report back 
After downloading both applications (I downloaded MyChevrolet last night) I ended up with 2 icons:
icons
The MyChevrolet application has some useful applications:
main page
Let's get over the simple ones first, the pictures should be pretty much self explanatory:
roadside asistance
parking reminder
schedule service
locate a dealer
owner manual
profile settings
Then there's one that I which my parents had for everything (their car, their computer, their TV): it is a list of every indicator with an explanation:
lights and indicators
light description
Now, about that OnStar app...
The first time you try to use it it will tell you you need to install MyLink, and if you accept it will take you directly to the app store to get it, once you do and download it, this is what you'll find:
sign in
To which, of course, you type your information and get a pretty standard EULA
eula
Which once you accept leads you to the device registration:
registration
Now here's the first true annoyance: asking to register your device causes the app to send you an email with a confirmation code, pretty standard stuff. So you may think, I'll get out of this app, go to my mail, copy the registration, get back to the app and paste it, right? Well, as long as you have your ONStar password memorized that's OK, because as long as you don't register, every time you enter the app, regardless of the "Keep me signed in" setting, it will take you back to the sign in screen.
I personally use 1Password to keep all my passwords secure and synchronized, and as a consequence most of my passwords are very long random sequences of characters, so I have to copy my OnStar password before I enter the app, and then I have already forgotten the registration code . Yes, I solve this with pen and paper, no big deal, but I thought I'd let you know.
Once you enter the magic code, the app starts:
registering
Then it will ask for a nickname for your first vehicle (I assume it will do this for every vehicle, should you have more than one)
Finally it will take you to the app. Here I'll let the pictures do the talking too:
gas and oil
tire pressure
remote
hands free calling information
roadside assistance
command history
Vehicle Information
The only think that probably needs clarification is the status section, which will simply display "Processing" "Sending" or the date and time of the last event for each one of the remote functions, so eventually you can tell when the last time was that you locked your car from your phone. Perfect for people like me, who have to re-check that something was done.
Overall impressions: I really like these apps. they are solid, I got no crashes (which is unusual for first versions) and I'm VERY excited to be able to see how much gas I have BEFORE I agree to drive to lunch at the office
I hope this is just the beginning of more functionality. I would like the app to be able to add destinations and settings to the virtual advisor, as well as store phone numbers to the car and plan routes.
I hope this was useful.
Daniel
After downloading both applications (I downloaded MyChevrolet last night) I ended up with 2 icons:
icons
The MyChevrolet application has some useful applications:
main page
Let's get over the simple ones first, the pictures should be pretty much self explanatory:
roadside asistance
parking reminder
schedule service
locate a dealer
owner manual
profile settings
Then there's one that I which my parents had for everything (their car, their computer, their TV): it is a list of every indicator with an explanation:
lights and indicators
light description
Now, about that OnStar app...
The first time you try to use it it will tell you you need to install MyLink, and if you accept it will take you directly to the app store to get it, once you do and download it, this is what you'll find:
sign in
To which, of course, you type your information and get a pretty standard EULA
eula
Which once you accept leads you to the device registration:
registration
Now here's the first true annoyance: asking to register your device causes the app to send you an email with a confirmation code, pretty standard stuff. So you may think, I'll get out of this app, go to my mail, copy the registration, get back to the app and paste it, right? Well, as long as you have your ONStar password memorized that's OK, because as long as you don't register, every time you enter the app, regardless of the "Keep me signed in" setting, it will take you back to the sign in screen.
I personally use 1Password to keep all my passwords secure and synchronized, and as a consequence most of my passwords are very long random sequences of characters, so I have to copy my OnStar password before I enter the app, and then I have already forgotten the registration code . Yes, I solve this with pen and paper, no big deal, but I thought I'd let you know.
Once you enter the magic code, the app starts:
registering
Then it will ask for a nickname for your first vehicle (I assume it will do this for every vehicle, should you have more than one)
Finally it will take you to the app. Here I'll let the pictures do the talking too:
gas and oil
tire pressure
remote
hands free calling information
roadside assistance
command history
Vehicle Information
The only think that probably needs clarification is the status section, which will simply display "Processing" "Sending" or the date and time of the last event for each one of the remote functions, so eventually you can tell when the last time was that you locked your car from your phone. Perfect for people like me, who have to re-check that something was done.
Overall impressions: I really like these apps. they are solid, I got no crashes (which is unusual for first versions) and I'm VERY excited to be able to see how much gas I have BEFORE I agree to drive to lunch at the office
I hope this is just the beginning of more functionality. I would like the app to be able to add destinations and settings to the virtual advisor, as well as store phone numbers to the car and plan routes.
I hope this was useful.
Daniel
