USB player missing playlists, genre, etc., and other shortcomings
08-06-12, 11:56 AM
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USB player missing playlists, genre, etc., and other shortcomings
I’m surprised (and a little dismayed) that the music player in my new GS provides access to music on a USB drive only by “folder”, “artist” and “album”. What happened to other standard access mechanisms such as “playlists”, “genre”, “composer”, etc.? It would seem a simple programming enhancement to add additional categories since the player reads all the files on a USB drive to build the folder/artist/album lists each time the car is started (and I believe such capability was included in previous Lexus media systems).
I know I can access my music in the car by using these categories on my phone over BT, but I don’t understand why the music player on my phone is so much more sophisticated than the music player in my expensive car!
Unfortunately, there are additional shortcomings in the music player, e.g., always reverting back to “folder” mode when the car is turned off, a surprisingly repetitive (i.e., non-random) randomizing algorithm, and not treating multiple albums for an artist as a holistic collection when paying music randomly. These may seem like trivial issues, and in a first generation music player they would be. But, sophisticated music players have been around now for more than 10 years, and the expected features and functions of such systems are both well understood and standardized. There are similar surprising shortcomings in the radio interface and the navigation system, but those are for other notes.
Fixing these sorts of issues would seem straightforward, if not trivial, since most of the media and navigation systems are software based. But I doubt they will be fixed unless Lexus receives clear and sufficient feedback (comments, criticisms, expectations, suggestions) about them from its customers. I tried to do that through a dealer service department (in writing no less), but it was clear that they are neither expected nor encouraged to pass such communications along. As a new Lexus owner, are there any serious customer feedback mechanisms in place where such comments should be directed?
I know I can access my music in the car by using these categories on my phone over BT, but I don’t understand why the music player on my phone is so much more sophisticated than the music player in my expensive car!
Unfortunately, there are additional shortcomings in the music player, e.g., always reverting back to “folder” mode when the car is turned off, a surprisingly repetitive (i.e., non-random) randomizing algorithm, and not treating multiple albums for an artist as a holistic collection when paying music randomly. These may seem like trivial issues, and in a first generation music player they would be. But, sophisticated music players have been around now for more than 10 years, and the expected features and functions of such systems are both well understood and standardized. There are similar surprising shortcomings in the radio interface and the navigation system, but those are for other notes.
Fixing these sorts of issues would seem straightforward, if not trivial, since most of the media and navigation systems are software based. But I doubt they will be fixed unless Lexus receives clear and sufficient feedback (comments, criticisms, expectations, suggestions) about them from its customers. I tried to do that through a dealer service department (in writing no less), but it was clear that they are neither expected nor encouraged to pass such communications along. As a new Lexus owner, are there any serious customer feedback mechanisms in place where such comments should be directed?
Last edited by dvdsmith; 08-06-12 at 06:46 PM.
08-06-12, 01:19 PM
#2
I’m surprised (and a little dismayed) that the music player in my new GS provides access to music on a USB drive only by “folder”, “artist” and “album”. What happened to other standard access mechanisms such as “playlists”, “genre”, “composer”, etc.? It would seem a simple programming enhancement to add additional categories since the player reads all the files on a USB drive to build the folder/artist/album lists each time the car is started (and I believe such capability was included in previous Lexus media systems).
I know I can access my music in the car by using these categories on my phone over BT, but I don’t understand why the music player on my phone is so much more sophisticated than the music player in my expensive car!
Unfortunately, there are additional shortcomings in the music player, e.g., always reverting back to “folder” mode when the car is turned off, a surprisingly repetitive (i.e., non-random) randomizing algorithm, and not treating multiple albums for an artist as a holistic collection when paying music randomly. These may seem like trivial issues, and in a first generation music player they would be. But, sophisticated music players have been around now for more than 10 years, and the expected features and functions of such systems are both well understood and standardized. There are similar surprising shortcomings in the radio interface and the navigation system, but those are other notes.
Fixing these sorts of issues would seem straightforward, if not trivial, since most of the media and navigation systems are software based. But I doubt they will be fixed unless Lexus receives clear and sufficient feedback (comments, criticisms, expectations, suggestions) about them from its customers. I tried to do that through a dealer service department (in writing no less), but it was clear that they are neither expected nor encouraged to pass such communication along. As a new Lexus owner, are there any serious customer feedback mechanisms in place where such comments should be directed?
I know I can access my music in the car by using these categories on my phone over BT, but I don’t understand why the music player on my phone is so much more sophisticated than the music player in my expensive car!
Unfortunately, there are additional shortcomings in the music player, e.g., always reverting back to “folder” mode when the car is turned off, a surprisingly repetitive (i.e., non-random) randomizing algorithm, and not treating multiple albums for an artist as a holistic collection when paying music randomly. These may seem like trivial issues, and in a first generation music player they would be. But, sophisticated music players have been around now for more than 10 years, and the expected features and functions of such systems are both well understood and standardized. There are similar surprising shortcomings in the radio interface and the navigation system, but those are other notes.
Fixing these sorts of issues would seem straightforward, if not trivial, since most of the media and navigation systems are software based. But I doubt they will be fixed unless Lexus receives clear and sufficient feedback (comments, criticisms, expectations, suggestions) about them from its customers. I tried to do that through a dealer service department (in writing no less), but it was clear that they are neither expected nor encouraged to pass such communication along. As a new Lexus owner, are there any serious customer feedback mechanisms in place where such comments should be directed?
I did all the Lexus feedback & suggestion survey online & by mail long time ago for many many time since my very first Lexus back in 2006 (I've been owned 6 Lexus total but now only 1) and haven't seen a single improvement. In fact, I seen the newest 4GS missing some very basic detail for a mid-luxury sport sedan. I'm surprise that Korean car makers pay attention to minor details & tweaks & listen to their customer feedback, sure they will overtake Japanese in the near feature.
08-06-12, 02:12 PM
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Your experience is discouraging. With Lexus's attention to quality I also expected an equal attention to details. Many people misquote Mies van der Rohe as saying "the devlil is in the details", but what he really said was "God is in the details" -- Lexus would do well to remember that quote (in either form!).
My first surprise with a missing (obvious) feature was the fact that the media system does not adjust/increase the volume setting as speed and noise increase. When I ask about that (assuming I had just not figured out how to set it properly) and told the service manager that a 1987 Mercedes I owned and my current 1992 Mercedes do that very well, the response was more or less "you're kidding".
I started to fill out the new customer Lexus feedback survey, but quit when I realized that the questions didn't ask and provided no way for me to convey what I liked/disliked about the car in any detail.
My first surprise with a missing (obvious) feature was the fact that the media system does not adjust/increase the volume setting as speed and noise increase. When I ask about that (assuming I had just not figured out how to set it properly) and told the service manager that a 1987 Mercedes I owned and my current 1992 Mercedes do that very well, the response was more or less "you're kidding".
I started to fill out the new customer Lexus feedback survey, but quit when I realized that the questions didn't ask and provided no way for me to convey what I liked/disliked about the car in any detail.
Last edited by dvdsmith; 08-07-12 at 04:41 AM.
08-06-12, 02:21 PM
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My first surprise with a missing (obvious) feature was the fact that the media system does not adjust/increase the volume setting as speed and noise increase. When I ask about that (assuming I had just not figured out how to set it properly) and told the service manager that a 1987 Mercedes I owned and my current 1992 Mercedes do that very well, the response was more or less "you're kidding".
I started to fill out the new customer Lexus feedback survey, but quit when I realized that the questions didn't ask and provided no way for me to convey what I liked/disliked about the car in any detail.
I started to fill out the new customer Lexus feedback survey, but quit when I realized that the questions didn't ask and provided no way for me to convey what I liked/disliked about the car in any detail.
08-06-12, 04:59 PM
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If it has ASL I can't find it -- the service people have told me that it doesn't have it (plus it is not referenced in the Owner's Manual index)! Perhaps that is really the point of this thread -- Lexus should spend money adding features to the software systems, not removing them! As they say in poker -- it's Jacks to open, a nice exterior and good marketing don't cut it!
Last edited by dvdsmith; 08-07-12 at 04:54 AM.
08-06-12, 05:41 PM
#6
If it has ASL I can't find it -- the service people have told me that it doesn't have it (plus it is not referenced in the Owner's Manual)! Perhaps that is really the point of this thread -- Lexus should spend money adding features to the software systems, not removing them! As they say in poker -- it's Jacks to open, a nice exterior and good marketing don't cut it!
08-06-12, 06:29 PM
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You are right -- it does have ASL (though I don't have ML)) and ASL is supposed to adjust "volume and tone according to the vehicle speed, wind noise or other noise" (page 475 in the Owner's Manual). Nonetheless, it does not appear to do anything in response to speed or noise -- i.e, we are constantly having to turn the volume up as speed increases and down as it decreases in order to maintain a (reasonably) constant level of sound. And the dealer service people did tell me it does not have automatic volume control (perhaps that was just a language disconnect because I didn't use the proper acronym!).
What I think the system appears to do is play all tracks at a fairly constant output volume level regardless of how they were recorded (i.e., sound output leveliing, not a trivial feature). But, that is not the same thing as maintaining constant volume relative to ambient noise.
I hope I'm wrong and mine is just broken -- then I could get it fixed!
What I think the system appears to do is play all tracks at a fairly constant output volume level regardless of how they were recorded (i.e., sound output leveliing, not a trivial feature). But, that is not the same thing as maintaining constant volume relative to ambient noise.
I hope I'm wrong and mine is just broken -- then I could get it fixed!
Last edited by dvdsmith; 08-06-12 at 06:49 PM.
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08-07-12, 05:35 AM
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I test drove a GS and spent along time playing with the ML and voice control. Compared to my 06 Acura RL and my 12 MDX, there are many shortcomings in the software for the audio. The Lexus has only rudimentary voice control for the audio. In the Acura I can say XM radio preset #, play xm channel #, or even an artist or track from the HDD, iPod or usb. I can also tell it to set the temp to a specific degree, either driver or passenger, change fan speed, etc. There is no hard drive on the ML system, and also the presets do not list the XM station name just #.
All of these are fairly easy software adjustments.
On the flip side, the album art is kinda cool.
All of these are fairly easy software adjustments.
On the flip side, the album art is kinda cool.
08-07-12, 05:49 AM
#9
You are right -- it does have ASL (though I don't have ML)) and ASL is supposed to adjust "volume and tone according to the vehicle speed, wind noise or other noise" (page 475 in the Owner's Manual). Nonetheless, it does not appear to do anything in response to speed or noise -- i.e, we are constantly having to turn the volume up as speed increases and down as it decreases in order to maintain a (reasonably) constant level of sound. And the dealer service people did tell me it does not have automatic volume control (perhaps that was just a language disconnect because I didn't use the proper acronym!).
What I think the system appears to do is play all tracks at a fairly constant output volume level regardless of how they were recorded (i.e., sound output leveliing, not a trivial feature). But, that is not the same thing as maintaining constant volume relative to ambient noise.
I hope I'm wrong and mine is just broken -- then I could get it fixed!
What I think the system appears to do is play all tracks at a fairly constant output volume level regardless of how they were recorded (i.e., sound output leveliing, not a trivial feature). But, that is not the same thing as maintaining constant volume relative to ambient noise.
I hope I'm wrong and mine is just broken -- then I could get it fixed!
On the 4GS, there is no such indicator, and while ASL is set to ON, I do not notice ANY difference in volume regardless of ambient noise.
I do plan to bring that up with the service team when I go for the next servicing - but I'm glad that I'm not the only one who noticed that.
08-08-12, 07:36 AM
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I test drove a GS and spent along time playing with the ML and voice control. Compared to my 06 Acura RL and my 12 MDX, there are many shortcomings in the software for the audio. The Lexus has only rudimentary voice control for the audio. In the Acura I can say XM radio preset #, play xm channel #, or even an artist or track from the HDD, iPod or usb. I can also tell it to set the temp to a specific degree, either driver or passenger, change fan speed, etc. There is no hard drive on the ML system, and also the presets do not list the XM station name just #.
All of these are fairly easy software adjustments.
On the flip side, the album art is kinda cool.
All of these are fairly easy software adjustments.
On the flip side, the album art is kinda cool.
08-09-12, 04:40 PM
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Page 150 of the GS's navigation system manual contains information on the expanded voice commands. Voice commands may be used to control the audio system.
08-13-12, 09:11 PM
#13
they have drastically reduced the voice commands from previous years. I'm assuming they reduced certain commands not used often. some of the commands removed were used though, like resume suspend guidance, i'm hungry, it's hot in here. no idea why they would remove them. we can file complaints on lexusnavigation.com
Posted from ClubLexus.com App for Android
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