UConnect is effing worthless (help send a message to mopar)

[HawtDogFlvrWtr]

So I was looking through the supported phone site for our re2 and rb5 head units to see if any of the phones supported metadata over Bluetooth or this elusive "Text Messaging" feature that they boast about on the uconnect website, and I'm not surprised to say, that NONE of the phones support this feature. NONE. I've sent off a message to Dodge/Chrysler/Mopar about how they've left 200, dart, ram, journey, and 300 customers with a head unit that's not capable of doing something that ALL vehicles with Bluetooth have been accomplishing since 2005 (at least), and also explaining that it's a safety concern because we have to pick our phones up and unlock them to get basic song information. I'm tired of driving friends around and them asking where the song information is displayed on this kick ass 8.4 inch head unit, only to reply "yea, it doesn't support that in 2015".

I've already put in a complaint, but it would be nice if ALL of you did the same thing. Perhaps if we bitch enough, they will do the right thing and add it. It appears to have been in their previous versions of the head-unit firmware, so the hardware is there.

http://www.chrysler.com/chryslercares

*UPDATE 1* GOT AN EMAIL RESPONSE FROM CS

Dear Christopher,

Thank you for contacting the FCA Customer Assistance Center.

It has been determined that the concerns raised regarding your uconnect
needs further review.

We have referred your concerns to a uConnect Specialist for follow-up. A
Case Manager will contact you by phone within approximately one business
day addressing your issue.

I appreciate your patience and understanding as we further look into
matter with you.

Thank you again for your email. Should you require additional
assistance, or have any new information to provide, please reply to this
email message or call 1-800-CHRYSLER (1-800-247-9753).


Sincerely,

Jody

Customer Service Representative
FCA Customer Assistance Center

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*UPDATE 2* Got an email back from the main CS person, which said it wasn't a feature... right.

Dear Customer:
Case #: 28337244 VIN: 2C4RC1BG9FR514202 Vehicle Description: CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY TOURING WAGON
Hi Christopher, This is Sherri from Uconnect Case Management and I have been assisgned to your file. I understand your concern about the song title not being shown and this being a safety issue and I understand your concern and frustration that it is not available. I will forward your concern to the engineers but currently this is not a feature we currently have. Please contact me if you have any further questions or concerns. My office hours: Monday – Friday 11:00 am till 7:30 pm EST Your case number is: 28337244 The Uconnect Case Management telephone number is: 877-855-8400 ext my direct extension: 4718746 also for your convenience you can reply to this email. Regards, Sherri
To reply to this email, please use the link below:


Sincerely,
SHERRI
Customer Assistance Center

-------------------------------------------------------

*UPDATE 3* My response back to Sherri:

Sherri,

It's funny you should say that it's not a feature you currently have, when the feature WORKS if you're using a phone that's at least 4 years old. The bluetooth song information appears if you're using an android phone that's version 4.1 or less and apple devices that are using IOS 7.1 or less. The problem is, your uconnect devices have never been updated to work with the newer (and I use the word "newer" very, very loosely, as the newest phone that works in this manner with your uconnect devices is 4 years old) hardware. While you can search your site for supported phones for the HTC x8 on sprint, it says it's not supported but in fact, it does work. Also, the Samsung galaxy s3 on verizon (but i'm sure it will for all carriers) also works as i've tested it personally. The x8 is a phone made in 2013, but it's a windows phone who are known to only support older versions of bluetooth drivers. The s3 is about 4 years old and if you leave the older version of android on it, works perfectly with your head-unit. The problem is, using these antiquated devices for your mobile needs, leaves you in a situation where you're using an insecure phone that's no longer being updated by the manufacture. Also, it means that you're not eligible to the latest data rates like LTE. The update to the uconnect unit is trivial as the bluetooth function was merely changed during the 2.1 transition to 4.0. The uconnect Bluetooth adapter already support 4.0 as I can see what it negotiates at when connecting to a mobile device. The problem is, the AVRCP bluetooth standards changed from 2.1 to 4 and your device doesn't conform to those changes, as it's requiring 4.0 devices to pass the metadata information in the 2.1 standard which is impossible.

With that said, saying that it's a feature you don't currently have, is inaccurate. The true situation is, you don't currently want to support newer phones in relation to this feature, which is pretty crummy.

Thanks,

Chris

Edited December 9, 2015 by HawtDogFlvrWtr

[Lobitz68]

My phone texts...

[HawtDogFlvrWtr]

it displays text message information on your 8.4 headunit?

[jkeaton]

I don't text and drive.

[HawtDogFlvrWtr]

I guess I'm on my own with the whole "getting what I paid for" thing, then.

[jkeaton]

I don't drink and drive either.

[dhh3]

You don't mention which phone you are using. Uconnect only supports up to iOS7.1 if you are an Apple fan. After spending hours on the phone with both Apple an Uconnect 1.5 years ago, I have given up on any help from either of them. I figured out how to make a 32 SD card think that it is an iPod. It does everything that it is supposed to do, except display any art which I downloaded from iTunes. I can live with this. I hate this radio. Why did the get rid of the MyGigs? Why not an 8.4 MyGig?

[bramfrank]

My phone delivers text messages to the screen and offers to either display or speak them to me. It offers me only canned messages for replying. It would be nice to be able to edit those messages or to dictate replies.

Unfortunately as you indicated, the Bluetooth connection does not handle metadata for music, at least not with my phone.

I use a Galaxy S5 these days.

I love the uConnect - and so does the market. The interface is acknowledged by many to be the best in the industry.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/infotainment-system-reviews/chrysler-uconnect-review/

Edited December 7, 2015 by bramfrank

[xcaliber81]

My s5 active works perfect and I believe my wife's phone 6 does too

[RaptorsFan]

I just wish album art would display, hate seeing that grey question mark box where the art should be.

[dhh3]

All of my art displays except for a few that I downloaded from iTunes. Any file which comes from Apple becomes an Apple proprietary file and will only display on another Apple product. I even found a new iPod with 7.1 on ebay, and couldn't get it to work either. I screwed around with the SD Card for about a month, and finally got the effen radio to think that the card was an iPod.

Edited December 7, 2015 by dhh3

[bramfrank]

If I stick an SD card into the slot and have music on it everything works, including album art.

[HawtDogFlvrWtr]

Yes all of that works. The part that doesn't work is Bluetooth song titles on screen. All you get is the phone name. Also the text message stuff for the u connect doesn't work on modern devices. That's what I'm talking about. I intentionally didn't mention the features that work because there was no need to.

Edited December 7, 2015 by HawtDogFlvrWtr

[bramfrank]

Yes all of that works. The part that doesn't work is Bluetooth song titles on screen. All you get is the phone name. Also the text message stuff for the u connect doesn't work on modern devices. That's what I'm talking about. I intentionally didn't mention the features that work because there was no need to.

It works just fine with my Android 5.1.1 - that's modern.

And yes, the BT link is constrained when it comes to music - they only transfer the audio. They COULD transfer the meta data - perhaps one day in a release. But it would require both updated firmware in the radio and a compatible music player. So just plug in the USB connector - and your phone will get charged up, too.

[HawtDogFlvrWtr]

Connecting via usb will allow me to play MP3s that are on my phone. I'm referring to Pandora,podcasts and audio books that are driven by applications. It would be nice to see what chapter I'm on in a book without having to pick up my phone. Or the name of a song on pandora without having to turn it on. Perhaps I'm the only person on the forums that listens to an application and not just m3's.

[Marc Paulin]

Bluetooth metadata doesn't work with my Nexus 6P. Didn't work either with my Nexus 5 (on Android M) before I upgraded.

Before I bought my Journey last October, bluetooth metadata was not a problem at all in my old Ford Escape 2012.

[bramfrank]

As a group we know what the system does, but the comments are primarily aimed at the opening post . . . .

I'd love to see that data on screen too - nothing stops you from picking up your phone and calling Dodge to make your views known - they do not do product development nor feature enhancements based on what we chat about on the forum.

The CSRs WILL accept a suggestion and pass it up to development - whether that will result in anything is anyone's guess. But if you don't ask them they can't even say 'no'.

[HawtDogFlvrWtr]

I got a response from the folks that i email blasted:

Dear Christopher,

Thank you for contacting the FCA Customer Assistance Center.

It has been determined that the concerns raised regarding your uconnect
needs further review.

We have referred your concerns to a uConnect Specialist for follow-up. A
Case Manager will contact you by phone within approximately one business
day addressing your issue.

I appreciate your patience and understanding as we further look into
matter with you.

Thank you again for your email. Should you require additional
assistance, or have any new information to provide, please reply to this
email message or call 1-800-CHRYSLER (1-800-247-9753).


Sincerely,

Jody

Customer Service Representative
FCA Customer Assistance Center

[bramfrank]

Ask and ye shall be answered.

Carefully describe the situation to the rep - be patient, he may not be a specialist.

Maybe they'll actually add the feature!!

[HawtDogFlvrWtr]

Yea I'm going to request that they call me and speak. I'm also going to record a video of the features that aren't working and compare them to my second vehicle that's 10 years old that does.

[redtomatoman]

Texting is a sore spot for me. I was told that texting would work when I bought my vehicle. Can we please have replies from those whose texting feature works? Phone and OS version. Please don't mention the Dodge website. I just want real world successes.

I bought this vehicle for the Pentastar and the cargo space, not as a dock for my phone. While it does piss me off slightly, I don't dwell on the uconnect system inadequacies.

Peace.

[Lobitz68]

it displays text message information on your 8.4 headunit?

Yep. I have a Galaxy Note 4.

[dhh3]

Just pray that Jody is not the incompetent Old Lady that I had the pleasure of speaking with last summer!

[HawtDogFlvrWtr]

Latest Response.. kinda bullshit, really

Dear Customer:
Case #: 28337244 VIN: 2C4RC1BG9FR514202 Vehicle Description: CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY TOURING WAGON
Hi Christopher, This is Sherri from Uconnect Case Management and I have been assisgned to your file. I understand your concern about the song title not being shown and this being a safety issue and I understand your concern and frustration that it is not available. I will forward your concern to the engineers but currently this is not a feature we currently have. Please contact me if you have any further questions or concerns. My office hours: Monday – Friday 11:00 am till 7:30 pm EST Your case number is: 28337244 The Uconnect Case Management telephone number is: 877-855-8400 ext my direct extension: 4718746 also for your convenience you can reply to this email. Regards, Sherri
To reply to this email, please use the link below:


Sincerely,
SHERRI
Customer Assistance Center

Edited December 9, 2015 by HawtDogFlvrWtr

[HawtDogFlvrWtr]

My response:

Sherri,

It's funny you should say that it's not a feature you currently have, when the feature WORKS if you're using a phone that's at least 4 years old. The bluetooth song information appears if you're using an android phone that's version 4.1 or less and apple devices that are using IOS 7.1 or less. The problem is, your uconnect devices have never been updated to work with the newer (and I use the word "newer" very, very loosely, as the newest phone that works in this manner with your uconnect devices is 4 years old) hardware. While you can search your site for supported phones for the HTC x8 on sprint, it says it's not supported but in fact, it does work. Also, the Samsung galaxy s3 on verizon (but i'm sure it will for all carriers) also works as i've tested it personally. The x8 is a phone made in 2013, but it's a windows phone who are known to only support older versions of bluetooth drivers. The s3 is about 4 years old and if you leave the older version of android on it, works perfectly with your head-unit. The problem is, using these antiquated devices for your mobile needs, leaves you in a situation where you're using an insecure phone that's no longer being updated by the manufacture. Also, it means that you're not eligible to the latest data rates like LTE. The update to the uconnect unit is trivial as the bluetooth function was merely changed during the 2.1 transition to 4.0. The uconnect Bluetooth adapter already support 4.0 as I can see what it negotiates at when connecting to a mobile device. The problem is, the AVRCP bluetooth standards changed from 2.1 to 4 and your device doesn't conform to those changes, as it's requiring 4.0 devices to pass the metadata information in the 2.1 standard which is impossible.

With that said, saying that it's a feature you don't currently have, is inaccurate. The true situation is, you don't currently want to support newer phones in relation to this feature, which is pretty crummy.

Thanks,

Chris