MINI Connected will soon get another streaming audio app to go along with Pandora and MOG. Stitcher focuses on news and talk radio content:
Stitcher is the leader in Internet Radio for the world beyond music. We deliver the latest news, politics, sports, business and entertainment on-demand to listeners on their mobile phones. The Stitcher app has been downloaded over 5 million times and offers the best programming from thousands of content providers including NPR, Fox and CNN. Stitcher is available for iPhone, Android and iPad and is being integrated directly into new Ford and GM vehicles.
The app is still in development. According to BMW Group PressClub USA:
When integration is complete, a simple update to the Stitcher iPhone app through the iTunes App Store will enable a host of Stitcher’s unique entertainment features to be integrated seamlessly into the car, where they can be easily operated using the already familiar BMW iDrive and MINI Connected systems. The prototype Stitcher app for the BMW Apps and the MINI Connected platforms will showcase the following unique capabilities:
Seamless integration and control of Stitcher’s services through the vehicle’s infotainment system, which enables easy searches for content, the ability to provide feedback (“More Like This” and “Listeners Also Like”), and fast forward and rewind control
- The ability to create or remove custom stations on demand
- High-resolution visual display featuring album art and convenient show/episode information, such as latest episodes, duration and whether the listener has already listened to the episode
Stitcher offers the following features:
- Personalized playlists of listeners’ favorite shows
- Stitcher recommendation of other programs based on listening preferences towards the discovery of new shows and content
- The broadest selection of podcasts and live radio on-demand
- Stitcher SmartRadio enjoys a 5 star consumer rating and #1 ranking in the iTunes App Store’s News category
Read the Engadget article and watch the video (showing the BMW version) BMW launches Stitcher integration at SXSW (hands-on video).