| 09-26-2014, 02:53 PM | #1 |
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Does anybody really use the voice commands?
Not Siri, but the built-in BMW commands. The last 3 cars I've owned have all had a voice command system. In all 3 cars I used the commands for about 2 days, then get fed up with it and never used it again. My 2014 X5 was no different. If you use the voice commands, which ones do you use most often?
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| 09-26-2014, 04:15 PM | #6 |
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I use voice commands for the Nav and with the phonebook.
It understood my addresses most of the time. It seemed to misbehave mostly when other people were in the car and they thought that my car was retarded. New destination, then after the prompt, you say the full address including the city and state. Surprisingly it got stuff like Manchaca (pronounced Man-Shack) and Burnet (Burr-Nit) correct. Phonebook, "please say a name", then say the name. After that, I would usually use the iDrive to select past that point. I have a friend who's last name is Kao (K-A-O) and it caught it right every time. A Ford rental that I had wasn't so good at that one. |
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| 09-26-2014, 04:53 PM | #7 |
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I got so pissed using it and once I hit the steering wheel so hard I dented a roundel.
After that, I never used it again. |
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| 09-26-2014, 05:04 PM | #8 |
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This was an large area of discussion with the BMW engineers at the recent forum I attended. Of the 10 or 12 owners present, none really had an opinion on the option either way as I don't think it had been given much thought.
The engineer present in charge of this development at BMW (sorry I am bad with names) told everyone "You need to use this." The key is first using the word the delineates the action, such as "navigate too". Since then I have tried (for the first time) to use it in 4 different models, It has worked flawlessly. For navigation it is WAY better than trying to enter an address. Of course one has to be self aware of his or her speech habits. Talking to fast and/or a local accent can make the recognitions less reliable. |
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| 09-26-2014, 05:16 PM | #9 |
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You have to learn it. It does not learn from your speech. In that sense, it is unintelligent and cumbersome.
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| 09-26-2014, 05:33 PM | #10 |
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I've used it reliably to enter addresses. As others have said, it is uncanny in how well it works. I've also used it a few times to look up a phone number on my paired phone and it reduces the iDrive clicks down to 1-2.
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| 09-26-2014, 07:26 PM | #11 |
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When I use it to search my iPod it looks like it is working and pulls up the correct title, but it is ALWAYS the incorrect song once it begins playing. I never had this problem in my E70. Has anyone else experienced this?
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| 09-26-2014, 08:00 PM | #12 |
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I never use it. I just use my Note 3 (android phone) with Send To Phone (BMW Assist account needed - you have this for free for 10 years if you haven't enabled it yet). I just search with my voice or typing in any address in Google Maps, then select the Share button and select the Send to Car application from the list. It opens it up and I sent it straight to my car. It appears in BMW Assist Messages in your Connected Services iDrive menu. You can call them or navigate directly from within the message. It's really fast/easy for me. I do it all the time.
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| 09-26-2014, 11:13 PM | #15 |
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I use it for Nav some times and it's kind of hit and miss.
I just say "Enter Address" and say the full address, it's a bit slow, but when it gets it, it's suprisingly accurate most of time. Some times it doesn't get the house number correct, you'll have to manually correct. Certainly doesn't work as well as Siri or other smartphone based voice commands. I hope there'll be a way to retrofit Apple's car play once available from BMW. Not sure if it needs a touch screen to work. The new system in Mercedes doesn't seem to use a touch screen and it works fine. |
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| 09-27-2014, 07:57 AM | #16 |
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I use it for the "Navigate to" address by saying the complete address in one command. Long pauses or "uhh, umm" will mess it up. Talk with a normal voice level at a normal pace. It works best in quiet surroundings with no people talking, and without the A/C on full blast. I use the Google Maps "Send to" feature when I can since that is fool proof when it works.
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| 09-28-2014, 02:42 PM | #18 | |
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Quote:
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| 09-28-2014, 04:41 PM | #19 |
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Phone definately the most and saved addresses in the Nav. It's not perfect I agree, but seems to work well for me. I don't have much of an accent, maybe that helps.
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| 10-06-2014, 08:30 PM | #21 | |
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Quote:
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| 10-06-2014, 09:33 PM | #22 |
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I rarely use voice commands
I have attempted to use VC on a few occasions , such as " turn off command display" or "stop navigation". Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I wish BMW spent more time on ergonomics , rather than dedicating so much time to voice control. It's really easier to press a button , assuming it's well positioned than saying a VC!
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