Default information screen

[Kenneve]

Does anyone else think as I do, that the startup procedure on the info screen is a mess.
It seems to have been designed, without any thought for the real world.
In theoretical use one would start the car and then wait for the safety message pop up, which you would then cancel and set the required screen, before driving off.

In the real world, you start the car and immediately drive off. Some time later you realise that the screen is blank and then have to press the menu and the cancel button, usually whilst driving!! Which in my book is a safety hazard.

Would it not be better to dispense with the start up procedure and have screen show what was there on the previous journey, thus avoiding the need to press any buttons?

Yes, I know your going to say 'It's an EU regulation or a Elf & Safety issue' but surely it would me more safe, not to have touch the screen at all?

[trebor1652]

Or even more safe to wait a few seconds, press the cancel set your screen and then drive away.

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

[andruec]

The warning is stupid. Also the screen doesn't go completely blank. If you look in the top right under dim light you can just about make out the time.

Now if I'd been the programmer I'd have had the screen show a full size clock (analogue or digital) by default but apparently that's not what Honda/Pioneer decided. No they thought it would be best to leave the time just barely visible in the top right because 'yah boo sucks' as far as I can tell.

The infotainment unit is pathetic. It does its job but is a classic case of why hardware manufacturers (Honda/Pioneer in this case) should not be allowed to specify or budget for software. And of course this weekend we all have to manually activate Daylight Savings Mode because Honda/Pioneer managed the neat trick of implementing something that, despite knowing the time zone and the date and despite being perfectly capable of compensating for DST, requires human intervention. Presumably, again, because 'yah boo sucks'. Idiots.

[trebor1652]

Can't please all the people all of the time.

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

[andruec]

Can't please all the people all of the time.

Lol, true. But I'm a computer programmer with over three decades of experience so I know how good the infotainment unit could've been. There's too much half-arsed poorly thought out software around and we shouldn't tolerate it.

[trebor1652]

I think that about Windows.
The years they have been making operating systems and they still can't get it right, patches updates and don't get me started on how long it takes to get started.

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

[culzean]

Yes, I know your going to say 'It's an EU regulation or a Elf & Safety issue' but surely it would me more safe, not to have touch the screen at all?

Having a touch screen in a vehicle is bad enough,  but IMHO screen should be locked when car moving, (and the car does know when it is moving). Car makers fit them to attract younger buyers who are lost unless they have a screen to play with,  but little thought has gone into the safety aspect.    As usual legislation lags technology by years because very, very few of our politicians have a background in science, engineering or technology,  they are all lawyers or bean counters.

[culzean]

I think that about Windows.
The years they have been making operating systems and they still can't get it right, patches updates and don't get me started on how long it takes to get started.

For a while now I have been using a Raspberry Pi 3 as a browser (Chrome) and it has Libre open office as well (will open and edit Microsoft Excel, powerpoint, word etc and also PDF) - all with a free download of Raspbian OS (based on Linux) https://www.raspberrypi.org/?s=raspbian

You need to add keyboard, mouse and monitor (HDMI input if possible as Pi3 is HDMI output,  otherwise an adapter is needed) - I had stuff lying around so no big drama.

Has a great ad-blocker built in as well,  which is why I prefer it to  our Windows computer,  boots up very quickly as well. 

https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/    cheap as chips and very useful indeed - I did get Raspberry Pi for Dummies 3rd edition at the same time as it makes everything easy to start up and gives info on what you can (loads) and cannot (not much) do with the little beast.   https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119412005

[peteo48]

Can't please all the people all of the time.

Lol, true. But I'm a computer programmer with over three decades of experience so I know how good the infotainment unit could've been. There's too much half-arsed poorly thought out software around and we shouldn't tolerate it.

I don't have your expertise and background knowledge but I completely agree it could have been much better. There is stuff out there that IS better. My portable TomTom satnav for instance. Wonder what the issue is here - cost?

[andruec]

Can't please all the people all of the time.

Lol, true. But I'm a computer programmer with over three decades of experience so I know how good the infotainment unit could've been. There's too much half-arsed poorly thought out software around and we shouldn't tolerate it.

I don't have your expertise and background knowledge but I completely agree it could have been much better. There is stuff out there that IS better. My portable TomTom satnav for instance. Wonder what the issue is here - cost?

I think hardware manufacturers just don't pay much attention to software. Most of them see it as unimportant, possibly an inconvenience. That allows for all sorts of decisions that you don't get with hardware such as:

* Employ as few programmers as possible or farm it out to a third party (lowest bid wins).
* We don't care what it looks like as long as it mostly works.
* It doesn't matter if it's not ready, just ship it so we can move onto something else.
* If there are serious bugs we can patch them later (they may or may not bother).

There are exceptions to this but they are rare. Apple is the most obvious example (at least until very recently) but unfortunately it likes to operate a walled-garden ecosystem and charge too high an entrance fee for me.

It's understandable that a vehicle manufacturer wouldn't put much effort into an infotainment unit. But they don't have to. I'm sure someone said that Honda went to Pioneer for the head unit. In itself that is a sensible decision. Car manufacturers should make cars. Audio/visual manufacturers should make audio/visual equipment. Unfortunately for that to produce a good result Honda still have to take it seriously. I think it's more likely that they saw it as 'fobbing it off to Pioneer' and were vague in their requirements and tight fisted with the budget. Pioneer in turn saw no reason to go all out on the project and couldn't afford to anyway.

The end result is a 'red headed stepchild'. Honda have ticked the 'must have modern audio device' box on their list and are happy. Pioneer got paid for their efforts and are happy.

[peteo48]

That explanation certainly convinces me. I think it would convince anybody who has worked for a large organisation.

[guest7504]

I think it was designed by a committee, it's said that a camel was a horse designed by a committee!

[ColinS]

I think it was designed by a committee, it's said that a camel was a horse designed by a committee!

I personally like the "Auto Kneel Down" facility, so that you can get on easily.  They should have fitted that to the horse.

[peteo48]

I think it was designed by a committee, it's said that a camel was a horse designed by a committee!

I personally like the "Auto Kneel Down" facility, so that you can get on easily.  They should have fitted that to the horse.

A rare case of the "committee" getting it right for a change

[guest7590]

My 5th Jazz. Tearing my hair out now. Never bothered with the screen but had music on a USB stick and just pressed the on/off button and it worked. The screen was off but a digital clock moved over the screen like a screen saver. I messed around with it last weekend to change the clock and since then the screen is active. I cannot switch it off. When I turn the audio off a large message appears on the screen that it is off. Anyone know how to deactivate the screen yet still play USB music? I did find a tip on here about traffic info (TA) and you can cancel it using the middle phone button (down). You’re invited to touch the screen normally but it’s hard when driving. Hope someone helps with the screen issue......