dmccombs

I just upgraded from a 2010 Rx-350 to a 2014 Rx-350. Overall, I like the changes I am seeing feature and function wise. I am hoping there are some 2013/2014 owners that can help with some questions.

1) I see a Update Maps option in the Nav Menu. Can we upgrade our own maps on the 14, or does the dealer still have to do this?

2) It appears that they removed the voice commands of Destination->Previous Destinations, and Destination->Address book. Is this correct? Is there some other way to use voice commands to chose a destination from our address book?

I do like that we can use the menus while driving to select address book destinations, but I would prefer to use voice commands for this.

3) I saw a youtube video where someone said you could use the voice command Launch Bing. It would be great to be able to use voice commands with Bing or the Pandora App. Is this possible?

4) I saw a post here on CL where someone said they could read texts on the RX screen though their Android phone. This don't sound right, but it would be cool if this is possible. Is it?

Thanks for your help....

dmccombs

I found a few answers and made a few comments in-line below in green.

dmccombs

I feel like I'm talking to myself, but what the heck, I'll keep going.

I guess I have given up hope for all but a solution to number 2.
The more I look at the this, the less happy I am with the way Lexus designed the voice command flow.

It looks like you can't select any of the following using voice commands:
a) Address Book
b) Previous Destinations
c) Presets

Why do they allow us to make Presets if you can't access it via voice? If I have to go to the mouse menus to use Presets, I could just go to the Address Book. What is crazy is that you can voice search by phone number? WTH, who search destinations by phone number???

It's like Lexus is forcing us to use the new tools (Destination Assist (fee), Siri (not everyone uses the iphone). The voice commands in the 2010-2012 worked better than my 2014.

falconer

Sorry I cant be of any real help on these issues other than to suggest that you stop by the dealership and have one of their tech guys answer your questions. At our dealership, we have an open invitation to stop by to have any questions dealt with. We had a minor issue that they needed our 450H for about 30 minutes. While we waited, the tech guy grabbed another vehicle and showed us a few shortcuts on the menu. These guys sometimes have tricks up their sleeves that you can not find in the owners manual. Might try it!

dmccombs

Falconer,

Thanks for the good suggestion. I did try this though. My dealership has 2 people that play this role in addition to their full-time job. 1 of them didn't seem to have any answers, and the other person, the Service Manager, couldn't be located when I stopped by yesterday. I had also asked some enform and enform apps questions when I bought the car, and no one in the dealership seemed to know the answers.

On the one hand, I am a bit frustrated, but on the other, I realize that my questions are more advanced/detailed. They would probably need to have a full time Technology Specialist to handle the advanced questions for each model, and each generation.

I would be happier if Lexus didn't remove prior voice commands in an effort to get people to use newer paid services. The voice commands I mentioned all worked in the 2010-2012 models.

Note: Overall, I am very happy with the 2014 RX, and I like most of the other changes Lexus made. There are lots of little improvements that add up to better overall experience.

mshumack

I have not fully explored all the voice commands yet, but I know you can say "Destination Home" and it will bring up the Nav guidance with the route entered to take you home. I think it will also work for "Destination Work" or "Destination Pub", etc. What ever you program in as a special POI.