Vinfast first automaker to offer Sony’s RIDEVU service

The installation of the radio in cars is generally agreed to have started in the 1920s by Chevrolet although it was only in the 1930s that the accessory began to be more common as it became affordable. Long-distance drivers must have appreciated having a radio for entertainment or ‘companionship’ to make the journeys less boring.

Since then, in-car entertainment has constantly evolved with new technologies and miniaturisation making possible more and more sophisticated audio systems. Then came the ability to also play video which was displayed on LCD panels, adding movies to music for entertainment.

With connectivity to the internet possible from the car, streaming services began to appear, making it unnecessary to carry or load content as it could come over the air for free or by subscription.

In time, when cars no longer require human involvement in their operation, the driver will have lots of free time and entertainment systems will become even more appreciated. Various companies are developing more advanced entertainment – or infotainment – systems.

One such system was presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) at last year’s CES in Las Vegas in the AFEELA prototype by the Sony Honda Mobility joint-venture company.

Developed for auto industry
Known as RIDEVU, this is a content service developed by SPE specifically for integration into vehicle infotainment systems.

It will offer motorists the opportunity to buy or rent hundreds of feature films and television series from the Sony Pictures library of premium content to stream anytime they want. SPE, as a major player in the entertainment industry, has over 2,000 titles in its library so there’s lots to choose from.

Multi-screen, OS compatibility
The innovative features of the service include multi-screen integration for both in-car screens and other personal devices (using Android, iOS, Android TV, Apple TV, or Linux).

It also has the most advanced video playback which can stream content simultaneously to 6 different screens and devices (or watched independently on each device).

RIDEVU’s Screen Manager gives users full control over playback on all connected displays, providing convenient parental controls directly from the vehicle’s dashboard. For safety, drivers can only watch movies via the RIDEVU app on the central screen while parked (charging, camping, etc.).

Passengers can watch movies on their mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) using the Screen Manager in the RIDEVU Companion app while the vehicle is moving.

Vinfast first in the world
While SPE has announced that RIDEVU will be offered by some automakers soon (Mercedes-Benz among them), the first one in the world to launch the service is Vietnam’s Vinfast Auto. The automaker is offering it in the US market on its VF 8 EV. It will be included as a complimentary service, made available when an over-the-air (OTA) software update is installed.

For 12 months, users can access RIDEVU’s library of regularly updated titles, with unlimited replays of up to 100 movies. After that, they can access premium titles by redeeming credits, purchasing, or renting directly through the app.

Peugeot i-Cockpit enhanced with ChatGPT