[MidnightInLA]

So I’ve had my P8 since the end of May. (Only have 600 miles on it! 😂)

I realized today that I never set up my Google User Profile on it. My questions are:

1. Could this be why I haven’t received the OTA update?

2. Is it better to set up a new gmail account to use specifically for the car or use the one I’ve already had for years ?

(My apologies if there is already a thread on this.)

 

[Stephen Cerruti]

1. My gut says no.
2. It depends. I'm a Google guy. My home is Google, my phone, my TV and music all Google. By using the same account Google knows my voice, my playlists, my home, work and commute and all my favorite places. If we put in the same search for restaurants we'll get different results. Google will prioritize places that fit my profile.

But, I pay for this with a loss of privacy. If you are an underworld crime boss or an investigative reporter you probably shouldn't own this or any modern car but you certainly shouldn't use your regular Google account.

Most people fall somewhere in between. Just realize you can always give more privacy away but you can never get it back.

 

[MidnightInLA]

1. My gut says no.
2. It depends. I'm a Google guy. My home is Google, my phone, my TV and music all Google. By using the same account Google knows my voice, my playlists, my home, work and commute and all my favorite places. If we put in the same search for restaurants we'll get different results. Google will prioritize places that fit my profile.

But, I pay for this with a loss of privacy. If you are an underworld crime boss or an investigative reporter you probably shouldn't own this or any modern car but you certainly shouldn't use your regular Google account.

Most people fall somewhere in between. Just realize you can always give more privacy away but you can never get it back.

That makes sense. I don’t use Google for anything other than searches online, Google drive, and my one gmail account. lol I am definitely not a crime boss or reporter, so that’s of no concern. But after watching The Great Hack I am concerned a bit about privacy and data points on me. I knew that this car had Google on it, but I truly do not like Tesla’s and other than that I fell in love with this car in every other way.

I think maybe a new email account would suffice. Thanks for your reply. Hoping I get the update soon. 🤞🏼

Does anyone happen to know what features I’m not getting by not having set up my Google profile on the car yet (if any)?

 

[BainbridgeIsland]

Does anyone happen to know what features I’m not getting by not having set up my Google profile on the car yet (if any)?

Pretty sure you won’t be able to use the Google Play store to download or update apps, without an account.

 

[MidnightInLA]

Pretty sure you won’t be able to use the Google Play store to download or update apps, without an account.

Ahh that makes sense. Speaking of apps, which ones are good to have on the car? I’m an Apple/Mac person so the android stuff is all new to me.

My other car is a 2014 Acura MDX and it doesn’t have app capabilities so this is all super new to me.

 

[Stephen Cerruti]

Speaking of apps, which ones are good to have on the car?

Your main apps available now are for media.
Music: YouTube Music, Spotify (edit: is there a Spotify app?)
Audio Books: Libby
Podcasts: Pocket Casts

There is also the ChargePoint app that's slightly better than Google Maps for station information and can be used to initiate charging at ChargePoint, EVgo and other network partner stations.

 

[BainbridgeIsland]

Music: YouTube Music, Spotify (edit: is there a Spotify app?)

Yes, the Spotify app is what I use most often in the P8 for music.

 

[MidnightInLA]

Your main apps available now are for media.
Music: YouTube Music, Spotify (edit: is there a Spotify app?)
Audio Books: Libby
Podcasts: Pocket Casts

There is also the ChargePoint app that's slightly better than Google Maps for station information and can be used to initiate charging at ChargePoint, EVgo and other network partner stations.

Out of the ones you listed, I can only see myself using the ChargePoint app. I use Spotify now, but just have it hooked up through the Bluetooth which works wonderfully.

 

[BainbridgeIsland]

Here's the current list of Google Play Store apps available for Volvo XC40 Recharge:

 

[DeaneG]

If you use Google maps on a pc or phone, signed in under the same google account as the car, then your maps search history in the car will be the same - just tap the search box in the car to bring up your recent maps searches from anywhere else. Just be careful what you search for.

 

[MidnightInLA]

If you use Google maps on a pc or phone, signed in under the same google account as the car, then your maps search history in the car will be the same - just tap the search box in the car to bring up your recent maps searches from anywhere else. Just be careful what you search for.

That makes sense about the maps and emails. What would be something you wouldn’t want to search for on maps? I’m curious.

 

[Stephen Cerruti]

That makes sense about the maps and emails. What would be something you wouldn’t want to search for on maps? I’m curious.

The location of your next crime scene. Not directly connected: To find suspects, police quietly turn to Google

 

[DeaneG]

What would be something you wouldn’t want to search for on maps? I’m curious.

A friend was on a business trip with a colleague, and when the colleague plugged his phone into the rental car, the car displayed some of his recent searches, which included looking for gay bars. OK but it was probably more info than his colleague had intended to disclose at the time.