Lexus Enform & Safety Connect
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: MD
Lexus Enform & Safety Connect
Just wondering if those of you who have used Lexus Enform & Safety Connect think it is worth the money.
I bought my '10 RX 350 used so I'm not privy to a free trial. Is it worth the money to add these features? My gut tells me that it'd be smart to go ahead and purchase the Safety Connect piece of the offering but that an extra $100+ for eDestination and Destination Assistance just isn't worth it.
What do you guys (and gals) think?
Thanks in advance.
I bought my '10 RX 350 used so I'm not privy to a free trial. Is it worth the money to add these features? My gut tells me that it'd be smart to go ahead and purchase the Safety Connect piece of the offering but that an extra $100+ for eDestination and Destination Assistance just isn't worth it.
What do you guys (and gals) think?
Thanks in advance.
CL Community Team
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,481
Likes: 198
From: San Francisco, CA
I did not renew it when my trial went up.
My thoughts on Safety Connect is that if I get into an accident, it is mostly going to be around people and not on a deserted road, therefore I do not need the automatic collision notification. Then the vehicle trace...I have never had my car stolen ever, knock on wood.
On eDestination, sure it was nice to have the call center and the ability to send destinations via my computer but I only used those features once or twice during my free trial and I only did it because I didnt want to waste my trial. I could have easily punched in my destinations into the nav, and also almost everyone has a smart phone with internet connection so what is the point of calling the center? Its not that hard to pull over and input your destination.
My thoughts on Safety Connect is that if I get into an accident, it is mostly going to be around people and not on a deserted road, therefore I do not need the automatic collision notification. Then the vehicle trace...I have never had my car stolen ever, knock on wood.
On eDestination, sure it was nice to have the call center and the ability to send destinations via my computer but I only used those features once or twice during my free trial and I only did it because I didnt want to waste my trial. I could have easily punched in my destinations into the nav, and also almost everyone has a smart phone with internet connection so what is the point of calling the center? Its not that hard to pull over and input your destination.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 281
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From: CA
RXSF makes good points, but I decided to renew for a second year. I really like ability to send destinations from my computer and iPhone right into the navigation system but I wish that option was not bundled with the call center service so as to be cheaper. I have not used the call center service much.
I also wish the Lexus iPhone app was integrated with the contacts on the iPhone such that I could select an address from my contacts list and send it directly to the car.
I'll re-evaluate again next year.
Terry in Sunnyvale
___________________________________________________
2003 LS430 UL (aka Betty)
2011 IS F ML (aka Jail Bait)
I also wish the Lexus iPhone app was integrated with the contacts on the iPhone such that I could select an address from my contacts list and send it directly to the car.
I'll re-evaluate again next year.
Terry in Sunnyvale
___________________________________________________
2003 LS430 UL (aka Betty)
2011 IS F ML (aka Jail Bait)
No, I don't play soccer!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,652
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From: NJ
I've used Lexus Enform only during the past two years. Destinations can downloaded from a computer or through an app in addition to while driving. It's like having a concierge at your disposal. I consider it well worth the cost. A year and a half ago, I was driving with home as the destination when I received a call from my brother saying my mother was rushed to the hospital. Since I didn't know exactly where I was or the address for the hospital, I dialed Enform and the address was quickly downloaded to my RX while I continued to drive. In fact the operator overrode the current destination (home). It's a small price to pay in a situation like that. As for Safety Connect, I hope I never need it but I'm glad it's there.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 281
Likes: 3
From: CA
Now Lexus could set things up so that your smart phone could sync to your on-line Efolders via your cell phone data service and also allow you find destinations directly on the phone and then download destinations directly to the navigation system via the USB connection in the car. You would still need your own cell phone data service subscription.
They could set up the car to use your personal cell phone for emergency calls and live destination help though I'd expect a subscription fee to pay for the people who are on call.
In fact, we could sit here and think up a million cool things you could do with your smart phone or iPad connected to the car via USB . . .
But, I think the approach of having the car's software in an external device would open up a pandora's box of complications for Lexus and the users. Problems I can think of would include:
1. The fact the car owner may not have a smart phone.
2. That multiple smart phone operating systems (Droid, IOS, MS) are in common use now and the software onboard the car would need to deal with them all.
3. That the smart phone software can easily be updated and versions of the smart phone operating systems change frequently but the software version in the car cannot (easily and transparently).
4. That this creates a path for viruses into the car's navigation system.
Ah, heck, you could just replace the on-screen display with an iPad. . .
Anyway, the sky's the limit but i suspect this kind of stuff to come more slowly to the car dash boards than to dedicated devices.
But having said all that and somewhat more to the OP's question, I do think Lexus could improve both their on-line (web-based) application and the Lexus Enform phone app to make it easier to move addresses from a Google search or contacts list into your Destination Folders.
Terry in Sunnyvale
___________________________________________________
2003 LS430 UL (aka Betty)
2011 IS F ML (aka Jail Bait)
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,285
Likes: 311
From: ON/NY
Of course, the EDestination and Call-in services require the car to have a connection to a cell phone network with both voice and data service which is a subscription service.
Now Lexus could set things up so that your smart phone could sync to your on-line Efolders via your cell phone data service and also allow you find destinations directly on the phone and then download destinations directly to the navigation system via the USB connection in the car. You would still need your own cell phone data service subscription.
They could set up the car to use your personal cell phone for emergency calls and live destination help though I'd expect a subscription fee to pay for the people who are on call.
In fact, we could sit here and think up a million cool things you could do with your smart phone or iPad connected to the car via USB . . .
But, I think the approach of having the car's software in an external device would open up a pandora's box of complications for Lexus and the users. Problems I can think of would include:
1. The fact the car owner may not have a smart phone.
2. That multiple smart phone operating systems (Droid, IOS, MS) are in common use now and the software onboard the car would need to deal with them all.
3. That the smart phone software can easily be updated and versions of the smart phone operating systems change frequently but the software version in the car cannot (easily and transparently).
4. That this creates a path for viruses into the car's navigation system.
Ah, heck, you could just replace the on-screen display with an iPad. . .
Anyway, the sky's the limit but i suspect this kind of stuff to come more slowly to the car dash boards than to dedicated devices.
But having said all that and somewhat more to the OP's question, I do think Lexus could improve both their on-line (web-based) application and the Lexus Enform phone app to make it easier to move addresses from a Google search or contacts list into your Destination Folders.
Terry in Sunnyvale
___________________________________________________
2003 LS430 UL (aka Betty)
2011 IS F ML (aka Jail Bait)
Now Lexus could set things up so that your smart phone could sync to your on-line Efolders via your cell phone data service and also allow you find destinations directly on the phone and then download destinations directly to the navigation system via the USB connection in the car. You would still need your own cell phone data service subscription.
They could set up the car to use your personal cell phone for emergency calls and live destination help though I'd expect a subscription fee to pay for the people who are on call.
In fact, we could sit here and think up a million cool things you could do with your smart phone or iPad connected to the car via USB . . .
But, I think the approach of having the car's software in an external device would open up a pandora's box of complications for Lexus and the users. Problems I can think of would include:
1. The fact the car owner may not have a smart phone.
2. That multiple smart phone operating systems (Droid, IOS, MS) are in common use now and the software onboard the car would need to deal with them all.
3. That the smart phone software can easily be updated and versions of the smart phone operating systems change frequently but the software version in the car cannot (easily and transparently).
4. That this creates a path for viruses into the car's navigation system.
Ah, heck, you could just replace the on-screen display with an iPad. . .
Anyway, the sky's the limit but i suspect this kind of stuff to come more slowly to the car dash boards than to dedicated devices.
But having said all that and somewhat more to the OP's question, I do think Lexus could improve both their on-line (web-based) application and the Lexus Enform phone app to make it easier to move addresses from a Google search or contacts list into your Destination Folders.
Terry in Sunnyvale
___________________________________________________
2003 LS430 UL (aka Betty)
2011 IS F ML (aka Jail Bait)
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Of course, the EDestination and Call-in services require the car to have a connection to a cell phone network with both voice and data service which is a subscription service.
Now Lexus could set things up so that your smart phone could sync to your on-line Efolders via your cell phone data service and also allow you find destinations directly on the phone and then download destinations directly to the navigation system via the USB connection in the car. You would still need your own cell phone data service subscription.
They could set up the car to use your personal cell phone for emergency calls and live destination help though I'd expect a subscription fee to pay for the people who are on call.
In fact, we could sit here and think up a million cool things you could do with your smart phone or iPad connected to the car via USB . . .
But, I think the approach of having the car's software in an external device would open up a pandora's box of complications for Lexus and the users. Problems I can think of would include:
1. The fact the car owner may not have a smart phone.
2. That multiple smart phone operating systems (Droid, IOS, MS) are in common use now and the software onboard the car would need to deal with them all.
3. That the smart phone software can easily be updated and versions of the smart phone operating systems change frequently but the software version in the car cannot (easily and transparently).
4. That this creates a path for viruses into the car's navigation system.
Ah, heck, you could just replace the on-screen display with an iPad. . .
Anyway, the sky's the limit but i suspect this kind of stuff to come more slowly to the car dash boards than to dedicated devices.
But having said all that and somewhat more to the OP's question, I do think Lexus could improve both their on-line (web-based) application and the Lexus Enform phone app to make it easier to move addresses from a Google search or contacts list into your Destination Folders.
Terry in Sunnyvale
___________________________________________________
2003 LS430 UL (aka Betty)
2011 IS F ML (aka Jail Bait)
Now Lexus could set things up so that your smart phone could sync to your on-line Efolders via your cell phone data service and also allow you find destinations directly on the phone and then download destinations directly to the navigation system via the USB connection in the car. You would still need your own cell phone data service subscription.
They could set up the car to use your personal cell phone for emergency calls and live destination help though I'd expect a subscription fee to pay for the people who are on call.
In fact, we could sit here and think up a million cool things you could do with your smart phone or iPad connected to the car via USB . . .
But, I think the approach of having the car's software in an external device would open up a pandora's box of complications for Lexus and the users. Problems I can think of would include:
1. The fact the car owner may not have a smart phone.
2. That multiple smart phone operating systems (Droid, IOS, MS) are in common use now and the software onboard the car would need to deal with them all.
3. That the smart phone software can easily be updated and versions of the smart phone operating systems change frequently but the software version in the car cannot (easily and transparently).
4. That this creates a path for viruses into the car's navigation system.
Ah, heck, you could just replace the on-screen display with an iPad. . .
Anyway, the sky's the limit but i suspect this kind of stuff to come more slowly to the car dash boards than to dedicated devices.
But having said all that and somewhat more to the OP's question, I do think Lexus could improve both their on-line (web-based) application and the Lexus Enform phone app to make it easier to move addresses from a Google search or contacts list into your Destination Folders.
Terry in Sunnyvale
___________________________________________________
2003 LS430 UL (aka Betty)
2011 IS F ML (aka Jail Bait)
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