I will ask my Buddy from High School who is a GM Engineer. He worked on the Volt Project but I'm sure he can get me some info on this subject

Right. It's just saying *some* of the code used is open source. And based of the license of those programs, you have to release the code you used. This is actually very common among all manufacturers today. Why pay someone to write new code from scratch, when you can use open source code to get you like 90% of the way there and just code the rest?

Looking at the URL it sends you to, it appears it's just basically running Linux under the hood. So yes, you can get all the source code for all the individual packages/modules that were originally open source to begin with. What you won't get is any proprietary source code (which there is undoubtably some).

Basically you are getting some slightly modified Linux base packages. You wouldn't be able to compile your own firmware with just that.

It is interesting though it's saying Bosch provided the software. So we now have Panasonic making the hardware, and Bosh making the firmware for GM? Or they just made the base OS and GM customized it. Hard to say.

MyLink is using Blackberry's QNX Operating System, Ford is switching to this OS as well.

Odd. The sources at that Bosch link (which if anyone wants to see them is http://oss.bosch-cm.com/gm.html ) definitely show a Linux kernel being used for something. And I thought QNX had it's own kernel. I know QNX is a unix-like OS. That is about my limit of knowledge of QNX.

But that just goes to show that all of us (including me) don't really know what is going on under the hood. We can speculate on what it can/can't do based on the somewhat limited information out there and the lines being fed to us by GM's front line customer service reps. But none of us can say for sure what the '14/'15 MyLinks are capable of.

Unless one of us is a GM engineer that specifically worked on the MyLink. Which they probably wouldn't post here in fear of being chased with fire and pitchforks. Heck, I haven't even seen the GM customer reps chime in here or on the other thread. Probably because there is nothing they can do in this situation (vs when someone complains about a mechanical/dealer issue and they chime in).

On Chevrolet's web site it claims that MyLink has internal memory to store the index file so that the unit does not have to re-index every time the car is started. Mine re-indexes every time the car is started and takes about 10 minutes to do this which is very annoying. So I took my Impala in for service and inquired about the internal memory of MyLink. The dealer contacted Chevrolet Technical Assistance and was told that they could neither confirm or deny that statement, as if a Lawyer was standing behind their back. I believe that everyone at GM has been instructed to stay very quiet about Mylink for anything beyond basic information.

As far as QNX, this is what Wikipedia states about it:

QNX (/ˌkjuː ˌɛn ˈɛks/ or /ˈkjuːnɨks/) is a commercial Unix-like real-time operating system, aimed primarily at the embedded systems market. The product was originally developed in the early 1980s by Canadian company Quantum Software Systems, later renamed QNX Software Systems and ultimately acquired by BlackBerry in 2010. QNX was one of the first commercially successful microkernel operating systems and is used in a variety of devices including cars and mobile phones.

I contacted GM a month or so back and started a thread about it. The disturbing news one. GM Rep basically said they had nothing planned at this time but that doesn't mean anything. Why I am pissed is when my free onstar ends I don't plan on continuing it because it's too expensive. I purposely bought the car without nav in hopes carplay would be there so I can have free nav. Oh well, I don't really need a nav it's just cool to have in emergencies and I can just use my phone. Like I said, I will email my highschool buddy who is an engineer at GM

I just emailed my buddy, this was his response so far. My question was about making a software update to Mylink so we can use Apple or Google

"I can ask around. I do not know if there is a plan for that."

Oh, but wait. GM doesn't want me to hang on to my car that long. They would rather I buy/lease a new one every 3 years.

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well, yes, this is what they want...I mean, right? You make good points though about the other things. Whichever car company figures out this "high tech" piece best will have a big advantage.

For me, the MyLink works well, its a little slow, but nothing terrible. Easy to navigate through the screens and does everything i need, well. For many buyers, infotainment/technology is a top selling point, and IMO, GM does a better job at it than the competitors that customers are cross-shopping.