Command Center Navigation Greatly Improved!

7089 Views 22 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Ira, Jun 16, 2013

rex

Discussion Starter · Nov 16, 2012

The iPad Mini fits perfectly in place of the command center.

With Siri, I am set. I can even use it over the bluetooth (but that takes the place of my phone, so I only do this when I want to hear the Economist read to me on a long trip)... or I have to do a skype call, or GotoMeeting on the road...

Any other creative solutions?

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Fabulist

· #2 · Nov 16, 2012

rex said:
The iPad Mini fits perfectly in place of the command center.

With Siri, I am set. I can even use it over the bluetooth (but that takes the place of my phone, so I only do this when I want to hear the Economist read to me on a long trip)... or I have to do a skype call, or GotoMeeting on the road...

Any other creative solutions?

Very creative. I guess as long as you just need spoken directions, you can do the same thing with an Iphone. Like yourself, I already use my iphone to listen to the melodious English voices reading me the Economist and use Siri to call numbers or to read and send texts. With an iphone, you also still have access to the environmental controls.

rex

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 16, 2012

You mean those environmental controls do something

I do like the command center energy /mpg screen, but the nav is to many clicks, and the voice is annoying as it interrupts to tell when to turn, when i am listentng to something over audio... I'd like to have the option to turn it on or off... So I just find the nav apps on iPad better and was delighted that the mini just fits so nicely.

I've been putting the iPad mini "flat" rather other than for navigation. I was using my iphone for nav, but it is a little harder to see on the smaller screen, rspecially when using plug share map to find EV plugins.

Since you a doing a lot of the same things I am with apple, any other apps or use cases you particularly like while in the car?

Fabulist

· #4 · Nov 16, 2012

rex said:
You mean those environmental controls do something

I do like the command center energy /mpg screen, but the nav is to many clicks, and the voice is annoying as it interrupts to tell when to turn, when i am listentng to something over audio... I'd like to have the option to turn it on or off... So I just find the nav apps on iPad better and was delighted that the mini just fits so nicely.

I've been putting the iPad mini "flat" rather other than for navigation. I was using my iphone for nav, but it is a little harder to see on the smaller screen, rspecially when using plug share map to find EV plugins.

Since you a doing a lot of the same things I am with apple, any other apps or use cases you particularly like while in the car?

You probably already know about this, but I like using Internet radio apps (e.g., Pandora) to stream music and listen to it via BT, which works great. Also, when my local PBS station has a pledge drive, I stream other stations via the NPR app. (I give a big contribution to my local station KQED every year but you still have to listen to the pledge drive). I don't do anything with Video in the car while I am driving for safety reasons (the only exception was that I streamed the video of the unveiling of the Atlantic on my iphone while I was driving home) but I suppose you can do that as well.

Bert Yetman

· #5 · Nov 24, 2012

When I first got the Karma (March) a strange female voice said something I didn't catch. I decided it came from the Nav system. I have never heard a voice since. At the 5000 mile check and 510 install, I reported this. At pickup time they told me nothing was wrong with the Nav system, but still no voice. Any suggestions?

Fabulist

· #6 · Nov 24, 2012

Bert Yetman said:
When I first got the Karma (March) a strange female voice said something I didn't catch. I decided it came from the Nav system. I have never heard a voice since. At the 5000 mile check and 510 install, I reported this. At pickup time they told me nothing was wrong with the Nav system, but still no voice. Any suggestions?

You are probably hearing the speeding warning, or as we affectionately call her, the Speed Nag. It's a programmable feature of the the Nav. system and warns you when you exceed the local speed limit by a set amount. You can turn her all the way off from the Nav Settings menu. I leave her on but have set a fairly high threshold of 20 MPH over the local speed limit.

Here is one of the threads where this feature is discussed. And another.

Bert Yetman

· #7 · Nov 25, 2012

Fab,

One of the first things I did with the Karma was turn the Speed Nag off. Sounded like my wife! But...why don't I hear spoken info from my nav unit? I understand its there.

Bert

Fabulist

· #8 · Nov 26, 2012

Bert Yetman said:
Fab,

One of the first things I did with the Karma was turn the Speed Nag off. Sounded like my wife! But...why don't I hear spoken info from my nav unit? I understand its there.

Bert

@Bert: The Nav. system does provide turn-by-turn spoken directions. Make sure you have your volume turned up. The Nav. lady is on the same volume as the entertainment system, so if you turn down the radio to hear her better, you are in fact turning her off as well.

Stefan

· #9 · Nov 26, 2012

If you want to hear the NAV lady only, just switch the entertainment to AUX, having nothing connected.
In this configuration you can chose the NAV volume as needed.

Stefan

Bert Yetman

· #10 · Nov 26, 2012

Okay...I seldom use the radio when needing the NAV so I can better hear any commands, but that explains the lack of Speed Nag. Didn't realize they were on the same volume control.

Bert Yetman

· #11 · Nov 27, 2012

My apologies to the Speed Nag....I meant Nav Hag!

Dave_Car_Guy

· #12 · Nov 28, 2012

I agree with Rex - because I have now also started using Siri on my Iphone for navigation when driving in any of my cars, not just the Karma. The reason is primarily because the car Nav systems mostly do not allow for input while driving. And in all cases the voice command for Nav requires more levels of voice-menu input in than does Siri. One statement to Siri: "I need directions to..." and I get turn by turn directions, the map, the voice directions. Car manufacturers might eventually just license that more robust intelligence from Apple...

scottf200

· #13 · Nov 28, 2012

Dave_Car_Guy said:
<snip>Car manufacturers might eventually just license that more robust intelligence from Apple...

Chevy announces Spark, Sonic will be first to integrate Apple's Siri, debuts next-gen MyLink [w/videos]
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/chevy-announces-spark-sonic-will-be-first-to-integrate-apples/

Fabulist

· #14 · Nov 28, 2012

Speak to Me

Dave_Car_Guy said:
I agree with Rex - because I have now also started using Siri on my Iphone for navigation when driving in any of my cars, not just the Karma. The reason is primarily because the car Nav systems mostly do not allow for input while driving. And in all cases the voice command for Nav requires more levels of voice-menu input in than does Siri. One statement to Siri: "I need directions to..." and I get turn by turn directions, the map, the voice directions. Car manufacturers might eventually just license that more robust intelligence from Apple...

That's a great point and I wish the voice command button on the steering wheel invoked Siri, rather than the Nav system's own voice recognition system. I have wireless headphones that do that perfectly, so it is possible to do over BT.

In fairness, I have not really given the Karma's voice recognition system much of a chance but if it is anything like the one we have in our other car (MB ML350) it is more trouble than it is worth.

Stefan

· #15 · Nov 28, 2012

The Voice mode is fine for me... It is just very slow... as the CUI is.

It even takes the German umlaut very well

Stefan

Karma31

· #16 · Dec 18, 2012

Using an Ipad is clever but completely blocks the Command Center which I use while driving. I just use my iphone app GPS Drive which has voice directions and allows me to play my iTunes library over the Bluetooth at the same time.

smoothoperator

· #17 · Jun 16, 2013

This thing looks pretty cool

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_333ASTRDTB/Parrot-ASTEROID-Tablet.html#details-tab

Karma 2012

· #18 · Jun 16, 2013

This is the exact reason that I requested a video aux input port in 2011 for the command center. I believe it is possible to hack the monitor to duplicate your smartphone screen. At least that is what I was told when Fisker did the national tour/ test drive.

Harleyguy

· #19 · Jun 16, 2013

I dont know of an smart phone that has a video out I have access to a company that installs a external DVD player and hacks the factory screens from car manufactures that don't offer any form of media playing .

Ira

· #20 · Jun 16, 2013

Front Facing Camera

Harleyguy said:
I dont know of an smart phone that has a video out I have access to a company that installs a external DVD player and hacks the factory screens from car manufactures that don't offer any form of media playing .

There are small Bluetooth, wireless and USB video cameras available. Would it be possible to incorporate a forward camera function using the existing display? There's ample space behind the grill for a mini-camera. Perhaps the AUX mode could be used for that function?

I'm sure there are many of us who would like this ability, which could help avoid mashing the front bumper while pulling into a parking space with those big concrete tire stops.

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