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Apple Announces "Eyes-Free" Siri

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Rebound, Jun 12, 2012.

  1. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Apple announce yesterday that a large number of car makers, including Toyota, will integrate Siri "push to talk" into their automobiles. Since Siri already works over the car's Bluetooth, this is likely just a simple button command they're adding. I wish there were a way to replace the utterly useless speech recognition of the 2012 Entune system with the push-to-talk of Siri, without buying a whole new car.

    If there's one thing that Entune proves, it's that the auto entertainment needs to be based around the smartphone, not lousy software in the in-dash unit. It a good bet that smartphones will eventually drive the in-dash display, somehow.

    http://iphone.appleinsider.com/articles/12/06/12/nine_auto_makers_partner_with_apple_for_eyes_free_siri_support.html
     
    #1 Rebound, Jun 12, 2012
  2. Logical

    Logical Junior Member

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    well said!!
     
    #2 Logical, Jun 12, 2012
  3. fattymoocow

    fattymoocow New Member

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    I am so excited for this except for the fact that I just bought my car and if they're going to be putting these Siri integration buttons in, I am just a little jealous that its not in my car. Hopefully they can just let us integrate a software update to our existing cars so that what buttons we do have for voice reconigntion will just use Siri instead of the current Toyota software that is so inefficient to use.
     
    #3 fattymoocow, Jun 12, 2012
  4. smurs

    smurs Junior Member

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    I'm sure the upgrades could easily handled in a 2012 (possibly other years) with a simple software update (via USB stick) to the entune system. Any word from Toyota on this specific issue yet? Perhaps they need beta testers?? ;)
     
    #4 smurs, Jun 12, 2012
  5. Logical

    Logical Junior Member

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    are you suggest that they beta test before releasing new features? Why start now, look how well the existing testing methods worked for UNtune. :)
     
    #5 Logical, Jun 13, 2012
  6. The Broz

    The Broz Junior Member

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    You touched on a point that I have been wondering about. Entune sure seems to be getting mixed reviews here. Assuming that Toyota makes an attempt improve the feature (not just the app list, but some users indicate connection issues with iPhones and Androids that are not out of date by any stretch), any idea whether these updates be more of an app update that you handle via your phone, or would they be more car-based (i.e. the 2013 models improve beyond what the 2012's were able to do).
    The reason I ask is that I will be in the market at some point and am debating the pros & cons of potential 2013 improvements vs. EOY close out prices on 2012's.
     
    #6 The Broz, Jun 13, 2012
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Seems like a fantastic feature. Currently, I have to press the HOME button on my iPhone to activate the voice control (no siri on mine. I have the regular "4") and navigate my music albums from there. It works well as my car just treats it as a "call" but it only works on cars with bluetooth audio streaming (on 2010/2011 models and DA audio units on 2012)
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Jun 13, 2012
  8. whipper25

    whipper25 New Member

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    With iOS 6 now supporting Bluetooth MAP, I don't see why Toyota can't issue a software update for the appropriate vehicles. I can see how they can update the vehicles with the voice activation button on the steering wheel.
    -Press once to activate normal Entune Voice Activation
    -Long Press to activate Siri (Eyes Free)
     
    #8 whipper25, Jun 13, 2012
  9. Logical

    Logical Junior Member

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    #9 Logical, Jun 13, 2012
  10. smurs

    smurs Junior Member

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    Oh that's totally depressing. :cry:
     
    #10 smurs, Jun 13, 2012
  11. mikedow

    mikedow Junior Member

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    Maybe I'm being too cynical, but I've always seen Entune as nothing more than a corporate deal between Toyota and Clear Channel. Otherwise, why wouldn't Toyota allow radio stations not owned by Clear Channel to be played? If Toyota fully integrates Siri, won't they be killing their deal with Clear Channel? All of this good news from Apple makes me very happy I did not give into temptation and trade in my 2007 Prius. I figure that whatever comes next had to be a vast improvement over Entune, but since I don't have first hand experience with Entune, I have to rely on what I learn from Prius Chat.
     
    #11 mikedow, Jun 14, 2012
  12. Vikinge

    Vikinge Junior Member

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    Whipper25 that sounds perfect. That is exactly what I tried when I picked up my 2013 Prius four yesterday, it does not function that way. How can we start a petition to have Toyota make that part of a software update
     
    #12 Vikinge, Oct 1, 2013
  13. MBRGuru

    MBRGuru Member

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    A phrase about wishing in one hand comes to mind. :) There's already a new generation of Entune systems now, so the old ones are probably in maintenance / bug fix only mode.
     
    #13 MBRGuru, Oct 2, 2013
  14. MBRGuru

    MBRGuru Member

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    And I forgot to mention, only a few 14' Lexus models have it. The new Toyota Entune system doesn't support it. That makes it even less likely the older Entune systems will be updated I bet.
     
    #14 MBRGuru, Oct 2, 2013
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