Split-screen absence and suggested update
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 379
Likes: 267
From: Florida
Split-screen absence and suggested update
Just sharing here a Twitter exchange I had yesterday and today with Lexus regarding the lack of a split-screen function on the NX’s 14-inch display (i.e. map/music, etc/etc.). Even my LC’s tiny screen and my wife’s midsize RX screen offer this capability. If you feel similarly, a little backup on Twitter and other feedback sites could prove helpful to the cause.
From me: @Lexus, much looking forward to picking up my fully loaded NX350 Luxury, but very bummed by your decision not to include split-screen capability in that huge 14-incher. That's a foolish waste of useful geography. Android can split your screen. Why can't you? We need an OTA asap.
To me: Hi, Xxxxx. We are so excited for you to be behind the wheel of your new NX - we know you're going to love it! We do appreciate your honest and candid feedback regarding the split screen functionality and will be sure to note it for future consideration.
From me: @Lexus Thanks for the swift response. There is a good bit of similar chatter about this on social media. It is a relatively easy OTA fix and I’d like to suggest an escalation of attention to it.
From me: @Lexus, much looking forward to picking up my fully loaded NX350 Luxury, but very bummed by your decision not to include split-screen capability in that huge 14-incher. That's a foolish waste of useful geography. Android can split your screen. Why can't you? We need an OTA asap.
To me: Hi, Xxxxx. We are so excited for you to be behind the wheel of your new NX - we know you're going to love it! We do appreciate your honest and candid feedback regarding the split screen functionality and will be sure to note it for future consideration.
From me: @Lexus Thanks for the swift response. There is a good bit of similar chatter about this on social media. It is a relatively easy OTA fix and I’d like to suggest an escalation of attention to it.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 379
Likes: 267
From: Florida
Right. That’s my point and the point made by reviewers. If you have and connect Android Auto, you can split the screen. But not every owner has that. And oddly, Lexus’ newest and most sophisticated native UI on the NX won’t let you split that huge screen. It’s all map or all audio or all something else.
Driver
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 70
Likes: 14
From: WA
I know it's not an answer, nor does it preclude my agreement with you, but if you can afford a $40k+ car, you probably have a phone that is either Android or Apple based and can therefore split the screen and take advantage of better than native features with either....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 379
Likes: 267
From: Florida
Serious question: Can my iPhone 12 (see, I can afford one) split the screen through Apple CarPlay and give me a map on one side and, say, XM radio on the other side? I have seen no previous evidence that it can. If so, I’m good to go.
Last edited by redhot47fl; Jun 29, 2022 at 06:01 PM.
Trending Topics
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 437
Likes: 225
From: Canadian Pacific Coast
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 379
Likes: 267
From: Florida
From the Autoblog review:
“Unusually, though, there is no home screen, nor the ability to split the screen to show two sources – for instance, Google Maps on the left and radio information on the right. This would be one of the aforementioned missed opportunities, especially on the 14-inch unit, as split-screen functionality is usually a key benefit of a widescreen format. Not only do rival brands like BMW and Genesis offer this, so do the widescreen displays of Lexus Remote Touch and some Toyotas.
“According to Technical Communications Lead Chris Pedregon, the decision to only show one thing at once was to highlight the new natural voice command functionality and to "minimize the touch-touch-touch" of using a touchscreen. She also noted that people did not like that the old Lexus NX only had a split screen. Another Lexus representative noted that secondary information, say that radio information, can be shown in the instrument panel.
“That's the argument, here's the refutation. First, saying "Hey Lexus" followed by a command can be just as frustrating and/or futile as it is with any other voice recognition system. Second, this argument implies that touchscreens are only used to control things, but they also display information. Being able to simultaneously see nav directions and that it's Lord Huron playing on Sirius 28 is easier, quicker and safer than pressing an icon to go between screens or asking, "Hey Lexus, what band is playing?"
“The old NX had a much smaller conventional display less suited to being split that was controlled by Remote Touch. Apples and rotten oranges. And what about the instrument panel readout? Other cars offer that and split screen functionality, and furthermore, is it really the best idea to stuff even more secondary information next to vital info like speed? What if I like keeping track of fuel economy or miles to empty?”
https://www.autoblog.com/2021/10/07/...inment-review/
“Unusually, though, there is no home screen, nor the ability to split the screen to show two sources – for instance, Google Maps on the left and radio information on the right. This would be one of the aforementioned missed opportunities, especially on the 14-inch unit, as split-screen functionality is usually a key benefit of a widescreen format. Not only do rival brands like BMW and Genesis offer this, so do the widescreen displays of Lexus Remote Touch and some Toyotas.
“According to Technical Communications Lead Chris Pedregon, the decision to only show one thing at once was to highlight the new natural voice command functionality and to "minimize the touch-touch-touch" of using a touchscreen. She also noted that people did not like that the old Lexus NX only had a split screen. Another Lexus representative noted that secondary information, say that radio information, can be shown in the instrument panel.
“That's the argument, here's the refutation. First, saying "Hey Lexus" followed by a command can be just as frustrating and/or futile as it is with any other voice recognition system. Second, this argument implies that touchscreens are only used to control things, but they also display information. Being able to simultaneously see nav directions and that it's Lord Huron playing on Sirius 28 is easier, quicker and safer than pressing an icon to go between screens or asking, "Hey Lexus, what band is playing?"
“The old NX had a much smaller conventional display less suited to being split that was controlled by Remote Touch. Apples and rotten oranges. And what about the instrument panel readout? Other cars offer that and split screen functionality, and furthermore, is it really the best idea to stuff even more secondary information next to vital info like speed? What if I like keeping track of fuel economy or miles to empty?”
https://www.autoblog.com/2021/10/07/...inment-review/
Driver
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 70
Likes: 14
From: WA
I'm unsure about Sirius as I don't use it, but in my CarPlay set up (with no fiddling or research on my part), I'm able to display my map of the left hand side while the right displays the next direction stacked over the currently playing track.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 139
Likes: 88
From: MS
From the Autoblog review:
“Unusually, though, there is no home screen, nor the ability to split the screen to show two sources – for instance, Google Maps on the left and radio information on the right. This would be one of the aforementioned missed opportunities, especially on the 14-inch unit, as split-screen functionality is usually a key benefit of a widescreen format. Not only do rival brands like BMW and Genesis offer this, so do the widescreen displays of Lexus Remote Touch and some Toyotas.
“According to Technical Communications Lead Chris Pedregon, the decision to only show one thing at once was to highlight the new natural voice command functionality and to "minimize the touch-touch-touch" of using a touchscreen. She also noted that people did not like that the old Lexus NX only had a split screen. Another Lexus representative noted that secondary information, say that radio information, can be shown in the instrument panel.
“That's the argument, here's the refutation. First, saying "Hey Lexus" followed by a command can be just as frustrating and/or futile as it is with any other voice recognition system. Second, this argument implies that touchscreens are only used to control things, but they also display information. Being able to simultaneously see nav directions and that it's Lord Huron playing on Sirius 28 is easier, quicker and safer than pressing an icon to go between screens or asking, "Hey Lexus, what band is playing?"
“The old NX had a much smaller conventional display less suited to being split that was controlled by Remote Touch. Apples and rotten oranges. And what about the instrument panel readout? Other cars offer that and split screen functionality, and furthermore, is it really the best idea to stuff even more secondary information next to vital info like speed? What if I like keeping track of fuel economy or miles to empty?”
https://www.autoblog.com/2021/10/07/...inment-review/
“Unusually, though, there is no home screen, nor the ability to split the screen to show two sources – for instance, Google Maps on the left and radio information on the right. This would be one of the aforementioned missed opportunities, especially on the 14-inch unit, as split-screen functionality is usually a key benefit of a widescreen format. Not only do rival brands like BMW and Genesis offer this, so do the widescreen displays of Lexus Remote Touch and some Toyotas.
“According to Technical Communications Lead Chris Pedregon, the decision to only show one thing at once was to highlight the new natural voice command functionality and to "minimize the touch-touch-touch" of using a touchscreen. She also noted that people did not like that the old Lexus NX only had a split screen. Another Lexus representative noted that secondary information, say that radio information, can be shown in the instrument panel.
“That's the argument, here's the refutation. First, saying "Hey Lexus" followed by a command can be just as frustrating and/or futile as it is with any other voice recognition system. Second, this argument implies that touchscreens are only used to control things, but they also display information. Being able to simultaneously see nav directions and that it's Lord Huron playing on Sirius 28 is easier, quicker and safer than pressing an icon to go between screens or asking, "Hey Lexus, what band is playing?"
“The old NX had a much smaller conventional display less suited to being split that was controlled by Remote Touch. Apples and rotten oranges. And what about the instrument panel readout? Other cars offer that and split screen functionality, and furthermore, is it really the best idea to stuff even more secondary information next to vital info like speed? What if I like keeping track of fuel economy or miles to empty?”
https://www.autoblog.com/2021/10/07/...inment-review/
Also the hey Lexus command is absolutely useless. Half the time it can’t recognize the command and most times it can’t even be heard over what is playing as it does not mute anything when communicating.
!
10th Gear
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
Right. That’s my point and the point made by reviewers. If you have and connect Android Auto, you can split the screen. But not every owner has that. And oddly, Lexus’ newest and most sophisticated native UI on the NX won’t let you split that huge screen. It’s all map or all audio or all something else.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 960
From: Toronto, ON
It seems that the default music app is always going to be one of the split views, whether you have the 2 way split or even with the 3 way split screen. And with current AA it only has the capability of controlling music sources within AA only. However, there are indications that Google is working on adding functionality to AA to actually control the native radio within the vehicle. That would be a great improvement in my opinion. I don't know however should they release that function on a stable version, if that would require the vehicle manufacturers to update their infotainment firmware to support it.
10th Gear
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
It seems that the default music app is always going to be one of the split views, whether you have the 2 way split or even with the 3 way split screen. And with current AA it only has the capability of controlling music sources within AA only. However, there are indications that Google is working on adding functionality to AA to actually control the native radio within the vehicle. That would be a great improvement in my opinion. I don't know however should they release that function on a stable version, if that would require the vehicle manufacturers to update their infotainment firmware to support it.
