Disappointing Hyundai response re: iPod flaws

[jcs]

What is important to one person is not always important to another. Please respect the interests and preferences of each person on this board and just avoid the threads that don't interest you. No need to add your negative comments if you have no interest in or value to the thread.

 

[Simonwpb]

Does the tech package read MP3's written to a DVD? Could be an alternative.

To test I ripped 50 songs as a Data DVD from iTunes, but alas they were not all in MP3 format, so the DVD only recognized the MP3 format songs (most were in M4P format which is protected AAC - not recognized) . Will try again by creating a MP3 CD.

There is a random play option for the disc, if the intent is to shuffle a playlist.

 

[cliffbig]

In the meantime, I always use my iPod to shuffle and I it setup to shuffle playlists now. I understand the convenience of doing it with the Genesis' interface. I guess I'm not there yet to be that bothered. But I agree that should have been cleared by Hyundai... give it time

You can't shuffle from the iPod once it's connected to the Genesis; the Genesis iPod connector overrides the iPod, locking you out of all iPod controls... and no matter what the settings were when you connected the iPod, it will block them out with the exception of all-song-shuffle (and even there, you have to go through several maneuvers to ensure that it works... and the same maneuvers don't work every time you try 'em!).

It's a major drawback from a company that's advertising iPod compatibility via their custom cable. And that's why I'm so frustrated that after they investigated it and verified that it was a flaw in the Lexicon system, their response to that was basically "too bad."

 

[BigElm]

There may be some light at the end of the tunnel...

Well, today I went to the Genesis tour in Atlanta, which sucked by the way but that's in a different thread I'll be starting in a bit...

Anyway, I mentioned to the guy about this iPod issue and he claimed that Hyundai is aware of the issue and is working on upgrading the software to fix it. Because of the fiber optics computer software setup in these vehicles, it's alittle more difficult than they anticipated. But nevertheless, they are working on it. The guy seemed to be aware of this issue. So either someone at HMA was blowing smoke or this guy was giving me what I wanted to hear.

In any event, he may be right as he was showing me the controls of the entertainment system.

We need to keep calling, emailing & harrassing HMA, so they realize their customers want results not excuses!!!

 

[cliffbig]

Great to hear! Let's hope that they stay with it.

(Not sure what fiber optics, which is a method of information delivery, has to do with the software that runs the system, but it's nevertheless good news if they are actually working on a fix.)

 

[Simonwpb]

iPod functionality is fast becoming a requirement not an option.

The only other work-around for shuffling I thought of was if you want to listen to a specific shuffle playlist just connect with a headphone jack and play from the iPod directly...you don't need menu integration to do this.

 

[cliffbig]

iPod functionality is fast becoming a requirement not an option.

The only other work-around for shuffling I thought of was if you want to listen to a specific shuffle playlist just connect with a headphone jack and play from the iPod directly...you don't need menu integration to do this.

It is an alternative, but the one must accept a tremendous degradation of sound quality and a loss of steering-wheel control functionality.

It's surprising that Microsoft, certainly no friend of Apple, has co-designed the most sophisticated and versatile iPod interface in any vehicle--the Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Sync system. One would think that others could either match that level of functionality or license the system...

 

[BaywayRic]

It is an alternative, but the one must accept a tremendous degradation of sound quality and a loss of steering-wheel control functionality.

It's surprising that Microsoft, certainly no friend of Apple, has co-designed the most sophisticated and versatile iPod interface in any vehicle--the Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Sync system. One would think that others could either match that level of functionality or license the system...

Hyundai was the second major manufacturer to license SYNC from Microsoft. Systems will start appearing in 2010 models. However, my sales guy did some checking and supposedly found the Lexicon system cannot be 'retrofitted' to SYNC.

 

[cliffbig]

Hyundai was the second major manufacturer to license SYNC from Microsoft. Systems will start appearing in 2010 models. However, my sales guy did some checking and supposedly found the Lexicon system cannot be 'retrofitted' to SYNC.

That's potentially great news--I hope your sales guy is right!

 

[Simonwpb]

We will have to wait and see if they continue to develop DIS for Genesis or develop a whole new generation of Sync for all models.

Note to Steve Jobs: why are you not developing an interface with partnerships in the auto industry? An iTunes/iPod extension in your car would be a major development for Apple that would ultimately sell more songs and hardware.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[realpix]

What's an iPod?

Well, no joke but I don't have one.

Have a pen with a 2 gig Flash USB Drive, a voice recorder, a fm-stereo radio and a mp3 player. And yes it writes also.

 

[enjoyingsilence]

Hyundai was the second major manufacturer to license SYNC from Microsoft. Systems will start appearing in 2010 models. However, my sales guy did some checking and supposedly found the Lexicon system cannot be 'retrofitted' to SYNC.

Nothing personal, But I'll believe that when I see it. A sound system is a sound system. It doesn't matter what's driving it.

Prima Facia: I could go buy a 09 Ford Flex Limited, with Navigation, that (in my opinion lackluster) Sony sound system, and SYNC. And remove the amp, and speakers, put my own stuff in. And keep the same navi unit, SYNC Computer Unit, and such. And the car would never know the difference.

The only thing you'd need to add is a sound processor, like the JL Clean Sweep, or a Rockford Fosgate 360.2 to clean up the signal from the headunit to your new aftermarket amp. Otherwise it would sound like bollocks. Worse than the rubbish it sounded like before.

Additionally, car manufacturers, well, manufacture what most consumers want. ATM most consumers want an additional 3.5mm line input, not solely iPod integration, or USB integration. The market is slowly drawing towards ALL 3 - iPod, line in, and usb. However, it will take a while to trickle down. It's by far, cheaper to add a line input to a car, than a USB port, or even iPod.

And to be honest, I seriously doubt, that the majority of the consumers who buy cars on the US market that don't have available HiFi stock stereo systems, such as the Lexicon, or Mark Levinson, etc... would be able to tell the audible difference in a Line Input versus a iPod connected to your car via the dock connector.



edit; I'm not calling anyone out. I was just pointing out some marketing points of view. Please no one take offense.

 

[zedbyers]

And to be honest, I seriously doubt, that the majority of the consumers who buy cars on the US market that don't have available HiFi stock stereo systems, such as the Lexicon, or Mark Levinson, etc... would be able to tell the audible difference in a Line Input versus a iPod connected to your car via the dock connector.

you are absolutely correct. only feature that i was exicted about was being able to tuck my ipod away in the armrest and have full function control of it through the DIS. it would seem we don't have that.......

 

[cliffbig]

That's potentially great news--I hope your sales guy is right!

And I demonstrate that apparently I can't read!...

Somehow, when I skimmed the prior message, I thought it said that the SYNC system could be retrofitted; now I see that it actually said it couldn't, so my post makes no sense.

And I think it's particularly crummy that we've been misled about iPod compatibility, Hyundai is going to do nothing about it, and the version that will offer compatibility won't work with the cars we've already bought.

If I had it to do over with, I'd seriously be looking at that Lincoln MKS instead... It's particularly galling to buy a car in part based on a feature that's crippled on the "upgraded" version of the vehicle.

 

[C-Russ]

Cliff, I can certainly share in your disappointment with the Ipod functionality expectations. I have an Ipod touch and it won’t play ANYTHING. When I plug it in , it says it’s an UNSUPPORTED DEVICE (haven't tried the Hyundai cable yet). Same with the Iphone. I had to move everything to USB key to play. And that doesn’t make me happy in the least to learn that as of now, there are no plans to “fix” that.

However, I think it is quite a stretch for you to (now twice) insinuate that you were possibly hoodwinked or mislead when buying this car, and that “had you known” you would have chosen another car. If this were truly a high priority on your list, I think you would have brought your ipod with you during the test drive.

That is my view for what its worth.

 

[enjoyingsilence]

to the original poster, and any others who have been unsuccessful using their iPhone with the cable.

What generation iPhone were you using

non 3G
or the new, 3G?

I ask, because unbeknownst to many people, there was a pin out change, in the Dock Connector at the bottom of the plug from the iPhone version 1 to version 2. This is why many car chargers, accessories etc.. did not work with the iPhone 3g when it came out.

If you turn airplane mode on, with a 1st generation iPhone, and connect it to the USB port WITH (e.g. not using the Hyundai Cable (ways around using that too)) a sync cable.. and it works.. that would likely explain it. Hyundai may have benchmarked version one iPhone during the software development for Genesis as the iPhone 3g was not available

I could be wrong about it possibly even working. It may not... However, it's a logical idea.

 

[cliffbig]

I think it is quite a stretch for you to (now twice) insinuate that you were possibly hoodwinked or mislead when buying this car, and that “had you known” you would have chosen another car. If this were truly a high priority on your list, I think you would have brought your ipod with you during the test drive.

There's no doubt I was misled--two different dealerships told me that the Lexicon system offered all the features of the standard stereo PLUS some. Neither had a tech package for me to test drive, so I tested the iPod on the Genesis they had. I was never told that functionality that was present in the entry-level model would be disabled in the upgraded model.

I don't believe that the dealers were intentional in misinforming me--I think that they repeated what Hyundai told them. Nonetheless, what I was told was misleading.

When I did gain access to the car I bought, with the the tech package, the only test I did then was to connect an iPod, test play a DVD-Audio, a CD, a DTS disc, an MP3 disc, and test the XM and HD radio. Because I had been told by two dealers (Ed Voyles and Woodstock/Cherokee Hyundai) that the tech package had all the functionality of the base unit plus better sound and more features, I had no idea I would need to re-test the functionality I had tested in the first car made available to me.

Would I have definitely bought a Lincoln MKS? Can't say--but I can say that had I been given correct information, I would have put more time into a closer comparison. The Genesis would not have been a slam-dunk must-buy if I had been given correct information up front.

 

[chuman]

I've been reading through this thread and I just wanted to share my observations as well as get some clarification on the problem. I have a 3.8L Premium Plus which gives me the 14 speaker Lexicon stereo (not quite the same as the 17 speaker monster in the tech package, but it will suffice). I plugged my iPod nano in with the Hyundai iPod cable (did not work without the cable, but that issue has been flogged in this forum sufficiently). From the stereo controls (I think this is called the DIS), I can play all songs or play lists just fine and even though you can't 'shuffle', I usually just hit the random button and it works fine on either all songs or within a play list. I'm not an iPod purist, so I don't know if this suffices as shuffling or not.

Cliff: Is the problem your are describing just limited to the tech package Lexicon? Or to the Premium Plus package as well? If so, I don't think I can replicate the problem on my end. Hope this input helps and interested in your response.

 

[jcs]

My understanding is that the problem only exists with the Tech Package.

 

[LanceB]

Not a shuffle guy so never noticed the issue - control is awesome otherwise and inpresses everyone I show - though I agree with earlier post that scrolling could be a lot faster. 17 speaker system is best car sound system I've ever heard and makes my 50+ mi. commute easier to take.