Modern infotainment systems

benji79

I’m driving a 2014 car so not a problem at moment.

But does anyone else dislike modern infotainment systems in cars? I find in nearly every modern car I look at the screen is raised higher than level of dash

I’m not small but it irritates me a bit. I find the screen catches my eyeline as I’m driving. Prefer the older models which are integrated/built in

Not a major big deal but does anyone find it similar

benji79

benji79 wrote: »

I’m driving a 2014 car so not a problem at moment.

But does anyone else dislike modern infotainment systems in cars? I find in nearly every modern car I look at the screen is raised higher than level of dash

I’m not small but it irritates me a bit. I find the screen catches my eyeline as I’m driving. Prefer the older models which are integrated/built in

Not a major big deal but does anyone find it similar

Buy an Audi, then you can press a button and it disappears

colm_mcm

benji79 wrote: »

I’m driving a 2014 car so not a problem at moment.

But does anyone else dislike modern infotainment systems in cars? I find in nearly every modern car I look at the screen is raised higher than level of dash

I’m not small but it irritates me a bit. I find the screen catches my eyeline as I’m driving. Prefer the older models which are integrated/built in

Not a major big deal but does anyone find it similar

They’re designed to be more easily seen

freddieot

Button on my Skoda turns it off too. Don't undersatnd why you would want to though. I think they are great.

I would expect it's more at eye level to stop you looking down when changing radio stations etc. as in older vehicles and moving your view further away from the road.

benji79

colm_mcm wrote: »

They’re designed to be more easily seen

Definitely works for me so. But because it’s seen more I actually find it more distracting if that makes sense. Bit of a personal thing. Maybe I’d get used to it quick if I was driving with one everyday

FGR

I don't mind the positioning of the infotainment but I don't like the trend of removing physical buttons and dials altogether.

It's much easier to reach down and adjust the volume/sat nav and the likes with a dial than having to look at a touchscreen. It gets worse when wearing gloves.

Don't get me started on integrating climate controls into the infotainment..!

maddness

FGR wrote: »

I don't mind the positioning of the infotainment but I don't like the trend of removing physical buttons and dials altogether.

It's much easier to reach down and adjust the volume/sat nav and the likes with a dial than having to look at a touchscreen. It gets worse when wearing gloves.

Don't get me started on integrating climate controls into the infotainment..!

You won’t be driving a newer Audi then. Three big screens which look great until you have to use them.

kirving

When I'm driving at night, particularly on unlit motorway, it's lovely to just knock off the screen and turn down the dash dials for a much more relaxing commute.

Eoinbmw

The other halves Focus has a tablet stuck to the dash literally and no feckin cd player!
Its ****e!

Eoinbmw

Eoinbmw wrote: »

The other halves Focus has a tablet stuck to the dash literally and no feckin cd player!
Its ****e!

CDs, where you buy them? No car or van comes with a cd player these days, get with the times! You'll get a USB port and Bluetooth for Spotify etc from your phone or Apple carplay/Android auto on some

corks finest

kirving wrote: »

When I'm driving at night, particularly on unlit motorway, it's lovely to just knock off the screen and turn down the dash dials for a much more relaxing commute.

Same

mfceiling

maddness wrote: »

You won’t be driving a newer Audi then. Three big screens which look great until you have to use them.

Wife has an A7 and the infotainment system is useless and I mean useless.
I connect my android phone via the usb cable with my Bluetooth on and depending on what way the wind is blowing, or how the sun is shining in the sky is the way the car will decide on connecting to it.
Instantly my phone will show it's connected....the car however may give me the option of android auto. It may however tell me to connect via the usb (it will be). It may say the phone is not connected (it is). It may say Bluetooth cannot be found. It may allow me to play music via the Audi mmi system or it might stop anything working (turning the volume up or down is "currently unavailable".

4 different android phones and the car has been the same on all of them.

Also sometimes when you increase the fan speed via the digital buttons it "sticks" at that speed. The car will not allow it to go back down, even if you turn the car off the fan will still start again at the high speed. You can click it back to 1 but instantly it will shoot back up to 6.

Technology for the sake of it.

Stay off your phone when you are driving but hey look there's a huge touchscreen to play with when you are driving.

ednwireland

worst thing i had was a peugeot 2008 rental - had a dial on the dash but you had to click through about 3 screens to turn the fans up or down.

im sure there are good ones out there but i havent driven one

cml387

The problem is Bluetooth in my opinion. It just is completely randomn if it will connect, how it connects, and what happens when/if it connects.

This depends on the phone type, car type and , it seems to me, the weather and the time of day.

Eoinbmw

[Deleted User] wrote: »

CDs, where you buy them? No car or van comes with a cd player these days, get with the times! You'll get a USB port and Bluetooth for Spotify etc from your phone or Apple carplay/Android auto on some

I must have over 400 CD albums lol!
The problem with streaming is the sound quality is inferior no matter what quality of speakers in the car!

benji79

Eoinbmw wrote: »

The other halves Focus has a tablet stuck to the dash literally and no feckin cd player!
Its ****e!

Ya that’s basically how I feel. It looks like a mini iPad has been stuck on the dash in a lot of cars.
As many have said it’s to stop you looking down but for me it’s more distracting. Because it’s on corner of eyeline I find I’m glancing at it more and more aware of it. In older cars I don’t think I’d be looking at it as much

Comhrá

benji79 wrote: »

Ya that’s basically how I feel. It looks like a mini iPad has been stuck on the dash in a lot of cars.
As many have said it’s to stop you looking down but for me it’s more distracting. Because it’s on corner of eyeline I find I’m glancing at it more and more aware of it. In older cars I don’t think I’d be looking at it as much

Here's how Audi ruined an otherwise nice dash with their fixed 'tablet'

Not the easiest to use while driving.

corks finest

Comhra wrote: »

Here's how Audi ruined an otherwise nice dash with their fixed 'tablet'

Not the easiest to use while driving.

FFS that's just ugly and too big, I've a 7inch pioneer integrated jobbie and it looks good in my old 2012

benji79

Comhra wrote: »

Here's how Audi ruined an otherwise nice dash with their fixed 'tablet'

Not the easiest to use while driving.

I’d hate that to be honest. To me it just looks like something sticking out in the way

The_B_Man

Surprised thats in the 2020 A4. Looks like the C7 Audi A6.
The C8 (2019-) has the 2 built-in screens lower down so its not blocking the drivers view. It looks a lot better IMO. That car has a really nice interior.

I have the standard VAG infotainment in mine and I think its a decent height.

useless

Is that 2020 Audi A4 screen fixed or does it disappear into the dash like in some of their older models?

_Kaiser_

What I don't understand is that, if we can be fined and given points for fiddling with touchscreen phones while driving, how can these touch-only infotainment systems be allowed?

_Kaiser_

cml387 wrote: »

The problem is Bluetooth in my opinion. It just is completely randomn if it will connect, how it connects, and what happens when/if it connects.

This depends on the phone type, car type and , it seems to me, the weather and the time of day.

The problem there is that a lot of these systems (even newer ones) may be using older versions of BT chipsets or have not been updated with the software/updates in years - especially in second hand cars.

People need to start thinking of these things like laptops-on-wheels with all the software quirks, bugs and continuous patches and fixes needed.

fryup

What I don't understand is that, if we can be fined and given points for fiddling with touchscreen phones while driving, how can these touch-only infotainment systems be allowed?

yes exactly,

they're a distraction, wonder how many crashes have been caused by them?

ohnonotgmail

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

What I don't understand is that, if we can be fined and given points for fiddling with touchscreen phones while driving, how can these touch-only infotainment systems be allowed?

the offence is holding a phone.

AndrewJRenko

FGR wrote: »

I don't mind the positioning of the infotainment but I don't like the trend of removing physical buttons and dials altogether.

It's much easier to reach down and adjust the volume/sat nav and the likes with a dial than having to look at a touchscreen. It gets worse when wearing gloves.

Don't get me started on integrating climate controls into the infotainment..!

I'd swear that manufacturers will held liable at some stage for the danger resulting from replacing physical knobs and buttons with touchscreen controls. It's amazing that this isn't illegal.

AndrewJRenko

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

the offence is holding a phone.

Holding or supporting with any part of the body - so having the phone on your lap, as many drivers do, is an offence.

_Kaiser_

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

the offence is holding a phone.

I'm sure if I was caught tapping away on a phone in its cradle beside the dash I wouldn't be let off?

Comhrá

useless wrote: »

Is that 2020 Audi A4 screen fixed or does it disappear into the dash like in some of their older models?

No, sadly it's fixed. I was on the points of buying a new A4 last year but that big screen was the deal-breaker for me. There were a few other things about the facelifted A4 I didn't like besides the big 'tablet' but I couldn't come to terms with it's 'in your face' appearance.

liamog

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

I'd swear that manufacturers will held liable at some stage for the danger resulting from replacing physical knobs and buttons with touchscreen controls. It's amazing that this isn't illegal.

There was a case in Germany, he crashed the car whilst trying to change the level of the automatic wipers, it was all managed in a menu on the touchscreen. He was given a 1 month ban and a €200 fine.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53666222

colm_mcm

Some day we’ll have the technology to have touch screens on the wiper stalks for adjusting the variable interval.

AUDI20

In fairness a lot of the adjustments on touch screens should only be done when the car is stationary. If you think the screen in the Audi A4 is ugly, its looks a lot better than that hideous one in the Tesla, The Mercedes C Class also has a fixed screen on the top of the dash.

Eric Cartman

portrait oriented screens always look awful in cars, hate Tesla and Volvos obsession with them.

Buddy Bubs

Apart from being a bit dated, I like the screen in my a6 which I can make disappear with the touch of a button. I can dim it too if I want. If I've a decent drive at night time I stick on a podcast or a Playlist, turn the lights on speedo and consoles to the dimmest setting and put the screen away.
Screens are actually the one thing that makes a car dated now, cars from mid 2010s with slightly older screen and infotainment technology look dated only because of that.

AndrewJRenko

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

I'm sure if I was caught tapping away on a phone in its cradle beside the dash I wouldn't be let off?

The most recent mobile phone offence laws require you to be holding or supporting the phone. The previous laws outlawed making a call or sending an SMS or MMS message.

Outside of that, the Garda could try and go for careless driving, but that might be more tricky in Court.

Bizarrely, there is no law to prevent you from watching a football match on your phone or having a Skype chat on your phone while driving, once you're not actually holding the phone.

liamog wrote: »

There was a case in Germany, he crashed the car whilst trying to change the level of the automatic wipers, it was all managed in a menu on the touchscreen. He was given a 1 month ban and a €200 fine.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53666222

Good to hear that the fine stuck. But it's amazing that there no ISO or NSAI standard around these devices, to stop them selling cars with touchscreen controls.

AndrewJRenko

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

The most recent mobile phone offence laws require you to be holding or supporting the phone. The previous laws outlawed making a call or sending an SMS or MMS message.

It's also illegal to be accessing information on your phone with it in a cradle

AndrewJRenko

Deleted User wrote: »

It's also illegal to be accessing information on your phone with it in a cradle

Don't believe so - here's the legislation;

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2006/act/23/enacted/en/print#sec3

AndrewJRenko

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Don't believe so - here's the legislation;

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2006/act/23/enacted/en/print#sec3

The RSA say otherwise:
https://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Campaigns/Mobile%20Phone/RSA_Mobile_DL.pdf

fryup

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Bizarrely, there is no law to prevent you from watching a football match on your phone or having a Skype chat on your phone while driving, once you're not actually holding the phone.

well the law is an ass then

AndrewJRenko

Deleted User wrote: »

The RSA say otherwise:
https://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Campaigns/Mobile%20Phone/RSA_Mobile_DL.pdf

Interesting. I've been through the legislation a few times over the years and I've never seen anything of that nature. If I'm right, it wouldn't be the first time that the RSA overreached.

I am open to correction though.

colm_mcm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Bizarrely, there is no law to prevent you from watching a football match on your phone or having a Skype chat on your phone while driving, once you're not actually holding the phone.

There are plenty laws that cover bad driving without being that specific.

mikeecho

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The RSA say otherwise:
https://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Campaigns/Mobile%20Phone/RSA_Mobile_DL.pdf

It's only illegal to hold a phone or send an SMS or email

It's ok to have the phone in a holder and send a Viber, WhatsApp, TicTok etc.

I don't believe anyone has been prosecuted for sending an SMS or email while driving *

* Except in the case where a death was caused, and the drivers phone was forensically examined.

mikeecho

mikeecho wrote: »

It's only illegal to hold a phone or send an SMS or email

It's ok to have the phone in a holder and send a Viber, WhatsApp, TicTok etc.

I don't believe anyone has been prosecuted for sending an SMS or email while driving *

* Except in the case where a death was caused, and the drivers phone was forensically examined.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The law is quite vague, doesn't specify SMS or email but mentions fax and includes

“ interactive communication function ” includes—

(a) sending or receiving oral or written messages,

(b) sending or receiving facsimile documents,

(c) sending or receiving still or moving images, or

(d) providing access to the internet;

fryup

i suppose it's so vague that it could be interpreted in a certain way if it came to court

AndrewJRenko

Deleted User wrote: »

I wouldn't be so sure about that. The law is quite vague, doesn't specify SMS or email but mentions fax and includes

Here's the law that refers to SMS and MMS messages;

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/si/178/made/en/print