I've had my TL for a month now and have decided to abandon my s56 bluetooth in favor of a hands-free installed car kit. I usually leave my phone charging in the console. Here are my reasons:
1. Dialing recognition is poor. Many times I must repeat the numbers a second time before HFL gets it correct. Nav screen should have a keyboard.
2. Since phone is out of sight , I don't see list of missed calls or if voicemail is waiting. Not on the MID. MID should show text message, voicemail indicator, missed call list ...
3. Forget about calling office voicemail. I do this manually. HFL needs to support pauses.
4. It's a pain to even retrieve wireless voicemail - constantly saying "Send 7" to delete message. Send "yes" to confirm. Need that on-screen keyboard again.
It's a shame because the sound quality through the speakers is great and auto-shutoff of radio is nice feature.
My $.02.
David

 

I tend to agree with your last few points. However, I have found the voice recognition to be quite good. At the beginning it wasn't, then I realized that if I said the numbers more quickly I had fewer problems. I am actually surprized at how quickly I can say them and have them recognized.

 

I noyiced that too. If you say the number slow it gets all messed up but if you say if fast then it always gets it. Funny how that works.

 

I always figured they would have a touch pad show up on the navi screen. I guess now I'm glad to have Verizon cause I hate voice dialing.
With all the problems people have with voice dialing it seems as if it would be safer to just dial the phone like usual.

 

If the Siemens doesn't work out. Get a Sony Ericsson T610/T616/Z600/T630/etc and most of the problems you're experiencing will vanish

 

I have a Siemens S55 and have no problems with the voice recognition. Like everyone stated above, you have to say the numbers quickly.

 

just wondering david if you have an accent? please don't get me wrong but i think that the voice recognition was made specifically for american english. so if you have a slight 'twang' in your voice, you might have problems.....


my .02

 

Born in the Bronx - raised in Queens - that's a definite YES - but there are alot of us here in New York. Truth is my worst voice regognition problem is setting up the phonebook. Also - how does changing phones solve any of these problems? I thought it is a function of HFL - not the phone?

 

You're right. So far, 04TL has no way to do those things you've mentioned above. And, this bluetooth feature is only able to transfer your voice/battery life/signal strength/dialing-recieving numbers. It's still long way to go.

But, I don't expect 05TL will allow you to operate all those features, either. I really wish we can get them in our car...

Anyway, this HFL still makes my life easier. I can use/call/receive my calls without using headset or buying the additional kit to install.

This is not the best system yet, but the very good/useful one.

 

Today's voice recognition software has shifted from methods in the past. Today, it figures out what you said based on transitions between letters and words, not on each letter and/or word spoken individually with pauses. It's following the flow of our grammar/english to pick out the words as we speak them. If you've used Dragon Naturally Speaking or IBM's ViaVoice, same thing, says to speak flowingly, not pausing for words, and the recognition goes way up when you do it. Just FYI

 

One thing I've done for voicemail is to speed dial the number/mailbox/password with my handset and then transfer the call to the HFL. I have my handset in a simple mount on the dash.

I can then use the handset's keypad for the other voicemail commands.

With HFL, I agree that the promise was bigger than the reality.

 

i agree, in the TL, you have to rattle them off quickly, in our 745i you have to say them very s l o w l y

 

What I'm struggling with is the time it takes to setup the HFL system with a large list of phone numbers. I actually prefer to set them up in the Nav unit as a Personal Address and hit the send button to make a call. I'm sure later models will have some integration with a PDA or allow the use of the phones internal phone book. A keypad on the Nav unit that dials directly would also be beneficial. The concept is great but practical implementation needs some work.

 

Regarding practicality, and more out curiosity.
ppl have mentioned setting up an address book. Does this mean that you can say the name of a person to call and it makes the call? Is it that smart ? Usually i know the name of the person i want to call not the number.

 

Guys,

You need to adjust the mic: I used these instruction.


"Ok. Here's one I learned from an MDX owner. Press and hold the Map/Guide button. While holding it, press and hold both Menu and Cancel. Hold all three in for about 3 seconds, and the Nav diagnostic menu comes on. From here, you can see all sorts of interesting info, as well as set up some things you probably should not fool with.

For example, under GPS Navigation, you can see in real time which satellites you are tracking. Here in the Northeast, I generally used 5 simultaneously, but have had as many as 8. It looks like there is room for 12 as advertised, but I can't see 12 at a time here. Probably better down south.

You can reset your microphone level to how you talk. I did that by accident, but I think it works better now anyway. You can calibrate for new different radius tires (I didn't even want to press that button), as well as see the status of many of the cars other systems that are tied in to the nav computer and otherwise.

Then there is a trip computer of sorts, that somehow provides the data to the main trip computer. I haven't yet figured out all the codes. Part of the problem is that it measures in metric. I think it measures your speed in, believe it or not, millimeters per second. Need to play more though. Looks like you can also use this screen to save a log to a PC card (the slot is on the unit in the trunk). I don't know what data is saved, but maybe you can use it to track where your kids actually bring the car .

My guess is, if you mess something up with this screen, you will not be covered under warranty, so play at your own risk! My friend said that some info is saved here also that will help them diagnose a problem, which can be erased if you are not careful. Someone needs to get hold of a service manual so we can see what everything is here."

I found them on this site.

Neil

 

Does anyone know how to actually reset the mic level. It seems to be activated by tapping the voice command button but I have no idea how to proceed after that.