What makes your infotainment system unique

[gromaudio]

We've created a poll for those who own or have used infotainment systems. We'd love to hear what you have to say about your system!

[Jesda]

Aux input is all I need.

The rest doesnt matter to me. I refuse to take calls in the car, hands-free or not.

[AZhitman]

Agreed - I like an aux cord in anything I drive.

Second would be Bluetooth.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Most...

Actually ALL infotainment systems are trash. Terrible design, terrible UX, terrible UI, static layouts, lack of update support, complete lack of multitasking capability... I've never ever used one that was good. I've used less terrible ones and more terrible ones.

The only thing I need it to do is play my music. Bluetooth is ideal since bitrates for 4.0 mean any digital music sounds exactly the same as over an aux cable when played on car speakers. And if I'm syncing over bluetooth, I expect the system to control my phone responsively, and to show as much data as is available about the audio being played on the infotainment screen.

[Bubba1]

Aux input is all I need.

The rest doesnt matter to me. I refuse to take calls in the car, hands-free or not.

Yep ^

[EdBwoy]

USB for me. Same purpose as an AUX cord, fewer wires and frees my phone up. Easy to update files and unlikely to be outdated soon.

AUX is also good the few times we need to play something from a phone or when I have a passenger.

[frapjap]

My subaru Impreza system is unique in that:
- it never displays/updates anything past the first song over bluetooth. Minor nuisance.
- when using the bluetooth function for calls, call waiting does not work and immediately hangs up on the person after notifying me with a brief "beep" that someone else is buzzing in. Very frustrating. Would be more so if I were a traveling sales person.
- it loses its connection anytime I switch between the radio and bluetooth and has to "discover" my device each time.

As such, the aux cord does the job of my infotainment system 99.9% of the time. Calls go through the speakers, as does music, and its more reliable.

Funniest thing is that my 2013 subaru has a much better bluetooth system vs the 2015 one. What'd they mess up?!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah if it has USB and plays music reliably when you plug your device in, I'm generally pretty happy.
I try not to take calls when I'm driving anyway, as there's often too much road noise in my cars, so I usually can't hear anything.
My Corvette has apple car play and while it's nice, the navigation and voice volume can't get loud enough and I have no idea why. I turn it all the way up and you can still barely hear it. Go figure. Music and everything else through the USB cord plays just fine.

[gromaudio]

My subaru Impreza system is unique in that:
- it loses its connection anytime I switch between the radio and bluetooth and has to "discover" my device each time.

Funniest thing is that my 2013 subaru has a much better bluetooth system vs the 2015 one. What'd they mess up?!

In such case maybe the manufacturer has a firmware update, I would check with them (perhaps through the dealership?) .

[gromaudio]

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience and intake on the infotainment system idea.

I already asked in a different post, but will ask here as well. How many use Google Maps or Waze often? You probably use your phone for it. Is there a value to have Google or Waze maps on your factory stereo display? In your opinion, will it provide safer experience?

[EdBwoy]

... How many use Google Maps or Waze often? You probably use your phone for it. Is there a value to have Google or Waze maps on your factory stereo display? In your opinion, will it provide safer experience?

I believe there are some cars that come with a way to sync google apps. I am a Google user, so I bet it would be nice to have a stable/safe/secure screen to show maps, read messages, access phone log & address book (this really sucks in my car).

Are you guys thinking of this as a form of screen mirroring whatever is on my phone; or would the head unit be an independent tablet that needs regular updates for the map apps?

[gromaudio]

I believe there are some cars that come with a way to sync google apps. I am a Google user, so I bet it would be nice to have a stable/safe/secure screen to show maps, read messages, access phone log & address book (this really sucks in my car).

Are you guys thinking of this as a form of screen mirroring whatever is on my phone; or would the head unit be an independent tablet that needs regular updates for the map apps?

Our solution is more of an integration with existing touch screen in the vehicle. Basically Android run car computer that connects to the back of the stereo and integrates with the car system seamlessly, for car stereo and steering wheel controls and touch screen integration.

The apps such as Spotify, Pandora, Web Radio, Sound Cloud appear on the car stereo display (touch screen), you can use the touchscreen as you would normally use, to operate the apps and select the music to play. In addition there is the Google and Waze Maps integration, the maps and directions are displayed also directly on the car stereo display.

Voice recognition technology is used to start navigation or search for the music to play.

[EdBwoy]

Neat. That's something I'd be interested in.

This is what I'm reminded of: first-major-mod-t555998.html. And by the attention on the thread, I bet quite a lot of people would like it if it were easily installed & affordable

[gromaudio]

Neat. That's something I'd be interested in.

This is what I'm reminded of: first-major-mod-t555998.html. And by the attention on the thread, I bet quite a lot of people would like it if it were easily installed & affordable

That is quite a tech mod! Our aim is to provide the solution that is easy to install and use, user friendly with intuitive UI, that provides safety and convenience much needed in the car. With the OTA updates we can make sure that the system is not being locked with the functionality, and keeps improving, bringing the modern tech to the vehicle.

Here is the quick demo:
https://youtu.be/NNd3zUMBDfk

And we started beta-test program for the Nissan/Infiniti owners that reside close to SF Bay Area, where our R&D garage is.
http://gromaudio.com/vline/beta/nissan_vline_beta.html

[OriginalWheelman]

I have an electric Focus and Ford claims I have a 'unique version of Sync' but as far as I can tell it's the same as normal Sync cut I also have a picture of my car that shows when my battery is charging or discharging. #Yay TBH. I could live without it. When I get in my 25 year old Toyota, I don't feel like I'm missing anything. Google Maps navigation is fine for most things, and I have an aux cable so I don't need Bluetooth. I could take it or leave it.