AWaterbug

New (to me) Lexus owner and first time poster, here, so please be gentle!

I'm thoroughly enjoying this modern vehicle, but there are some software features and issues that I have questions about. I didn't see them in the FAQ or in the previous 5 pages of posts, so here goes:

1. Are there ever software/firmware updates for these cars? I don't care about the nav system maps, since I will only ever use my iPhone for navigation; I'm asking about the actual software.
2. Is there any way to leave the Audio/music/now playing info up on the navigation screen? If I go to the Audio page, it shows the current track, etc., but then if I don't do anything for ~10 seconds, it goes back to displaying the map.
3. Is there any way to summon Siri on my iPhone from the steering wheel? On some GM vehicles a long-press of the Talk or Speech button will summon Siri on a BT-connected iPhone, but on my RX it just brings up the Lexus voice system. I want to bypass that completely and interact directly with my phone.
4. Customizing Park Assist allows me to change the warning distance for the rear sensor; is there any such setting for the side/front sensors? Park assist is a useful feature when I'm parking, but not so useful when I'm going through the drive-through. I don't want to have to turn the feature entirely off and then forget to turn it back on.

Thanks!

BertL

1. Sometimes, but In my experience they are not generally provided just because you ask or because you see it in a website somewhere like say PC software. You need to have a specific problem or there be a specific issue, e.g. with your sound system or something else, and it will be re-flashed as part of warranty or service -- not just because you want it. (My previous BMW and present MBZ have the same policy.)

2. IIRC, yes, but I have to go look up the detail where that option is. I personally like the timeout. Seem to remember a very old post on that but could be something from my dreams... Will work on that tonight or tomorrow morning if someone does not come up with the answer before.

3. No on Siri. My 2013 RX with some of the mid-life Gen3 enhancements does not have it either. We are hopeful CarPlay will be in the 4th Gen.

4. Park Assist is all on or all off.

We're glad to try and help here, and this is a friendly group of folks, but as you've found, previous threads and use of search is an invaluable tool some of use a lot. Also, now that you are a Lexus Owner, if you ever get to the point where you would like someone to sit in your car and show you something, when you're at a Lexus Dealer, you can have a Technology Specialist help you... They are a free service to owners.

BertL

2. See if changing "Auto Screen Change" from ON to OFF does what you want. p343 of your 2011 manual. To get there, press Menu -> Setup -> General -> Auto Screen Change OFF.

litzdog911

I thought you could summon Siri in the 2015 model on your iPhone with Navigation option?

BertL

OP has a 2011, so definately does not have it. I'll have to reasearch the 2015. I'd be really interested if Lexus put in an update like that .... certainly not the modus operandi I've known from Lexus in more than 20 years of ownership, and that would be a GREAT example they are moving a little more quickly putting newer technology into YTY changes like is fairly standard from MBZ and even BMW. THANKS for the pointer!

litzdog911

According to this press release, the 2015 RX450h does feature Siri Eyes Free Mode ....

Lexus RX 450h also features available Siri® Eyes Free Mode technology licensed from Apple®. Compatible with the iPhone® 4S and iPhone 5 models forward, Siri lets you call contacts, select and play music from iTunes®, get turn-by-turn navigation through Siri and Apple maps, and much more.
To help you keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, Siri can read notifications and calendar information and allow you to add reminders, calendar appointments and notes.

http://pressroom.lexus.com/releases/...play+audio.htm

sandy14

The 2015 RX 350 has this feature too.

NateJG

...then talk to her thru the car's Bluetooth connection. She's ignorant of the car, however. it's not too inconvenient, given I usually have the iPhone in my shirt pocket (upside down so the button is thumb-ready).

At least that's how I do it on my 2013 h w/nav.

BertL

Thank you. Appreciate the update and taking one thing off my to-do list for this morning! That's a great way to start my day. Looks like Siri Eyes Free may be in the 2014's as well.

As other poster's have said, Siri Eyes Free Mode is a great step forward on recent RXs to allow one to verbally communicate with your iPhone, but Apple CarPlay is the thing I'm personally after, integrating my iPhone with the in-car display and opening up the possibility for Lexus to use Siri for even more onboard Infotainment control in the future. Unfortunately, when I checked with my SA last year, I can't add either to my refreshed Gen3 2013 RXh without purchasing a new vehicle :-) ...but FWIW, after this year's tax return, I plan to have Mercedes-Benz Drive Kit Plus installed on my 2014 SLK which will integrate my iPhone and Siri with the onboard Nav display -- aka a "first gen" implementation of CarPlay. Perhaps Lexus will also one day design their vehicles and allow upgrades like Honda and other brands have with this type of emerging technology.

litzdog911, Thanks again for the pointer!

AWaterbug

Thanks! That worked just as expected. If I'd had my owner's manual in a single-page PDF I might even have found that myself

But until I assemble that PDF, I have you!

AWaterbug

Too bad on these ones. There's no way that Siri Eyes Free or CarPlay would ever make it all the way back to the 2010 models, but what I've wanted since 2011 (e.g. since Siri was first released) was something much simpler--just pass along a long-button press and then get out of the way.

I had an amusing/frustrating trip to the LA Auto Show in 2012, and very few automakers had any clue as to what to do about Siri (or Google Now Voice or Cortana). Some of the employees even insisted that what I was asking for was "impossible" or "requires deep collaboration between Apple and us that might take a few years." Then I told them that my $29 Jabra BT/FM speakerphone does it.

I'm not asking Lexus (and other automakers) to do more; I'm asking them to do less! But I suppose it's difficult to get any automaker's electronics department to accept a management directive of "I know this infotainment system is your life's work, but please shift gears and reduce the entire system to five button presses."

Anyway, I'm just griping because this has been my pet peeve since 2011! My 2011 RX works tolerably with Siri; I just have to have the phone plugged in so I can use Hey Siri and not touch it.

Other than that, the only other issues are that 1) the command itself gets interpeted as a "phone call," and once my transaction with Siri is finished, it occasionally takes 2-3 seconds for the system to switch from "phone" mode back to "audio" mode, and it clips the first few seconds of the song. It doesn't do this every time, but it's often enough to be annoying.

I'm pleased to hear that Toyota/Lexus is finally getting onboard with the 2014/2015 models.

AWaterbug

Yes, this works, but it requires taking my hands off the wheel. I rather dislike the mouse/joystick button thingy in my car for the same reason. I want as few reasons as possible to take my hands (and attention) off the wheel.

I also keep my phone in a belt holster when it's not in my windshield-mounted cradle, so getting to the button is very inconvenient.

I should clarify that 90% of the time I have my phone in the cradle, plugged into power, so the lack of a "Siri button" is just an occasional inconvenience. But for very short trips to the grocery store, etc, I'd like the option to keep my phone in the holster and still be able to use it over BT.

Cruiter

Secured in your car or in your belt holster is the safest place. Google what happens when airbags hit phones and GPS devises mounted on the dash or w/s. Lots of injuries that could have been avoided. Note; airbag deployment is not something you plan to happen.