Infotainment systems

[Larryjb]

I was just checking out the recent Infotainment systems in the Chevys. Unless they put a few more critical physical buttons on it, honestly, this could be a deal breaker.

Sorry to compare this to the Expedition, but Ford has kept more physical buttons on this model. Other Ford models, they stripped out a lot of physical buttons but they did keep many of them on the Expedition. A few buttons are critical on the radio: AM/FM, presets, volume, on/off. I could accept these.

I often switch between 2 or 3 stations to get traffic reports or news.

 

[zolt11]

Maybe they will have some of the options you are looking for in a convenient form factor on the steering wheel, similar to current models. I do all my station changing, volume, next track etc via Yukon’s steering wheel paddles.


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[Larryjb]

Brian, that sounds like a possible solution.

Another possible solution I thought of this morning is an aftermarket head unit. However, I don't know what the consequences of that would be. Would an aftermarket receiver cause me to lose certain functions that could only be accessed through the screen? (For example, in the Ford systems, things like seat heaters, HVAC controls can be accessed only through the touch screen.) A second issue is that, upon a quick survey of available receivers, none of the screen based units had user-programmable station buttons like the 6 buttons on the NBS and older Tahoes. Most of the receivers that do have such buttons, they are so tiny their hard to find. This was my big beef of aftermarket receivers in the past. Also, most of the receivers that have such buttons have no screen so I would lose the backup screen. That's not such a big deal because I would be able to transfer my current screen which is built into my mirror to a new truck.

So, does anyone know of a receiver that actually has a touch screen that would work for any critical OEM features, but also has station buttons?

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Something I did notice on the current Infotainment models was the existence of physical |<< and >>| buttons. Do these cycle through stations? That could be acceptable too.

I'm not looking for a newer truck now because I just cannot afford to replace my current Tahoe yet. Besides, it's in pretty good shape. But I know that in 5 years or so I will be wanting something newer for towing, especially if I'm going to be towing across the country.

 

[cireallin]

Brian, that sounds like a possible solution.

Another possible solution I thought of this morning is an aftermarket head unit. However, I don't know what the consequences of that would be. Would an aftermarket receiver cause me to lose certain functions that could only be accessed through the screen? (For example, in the Ford systems, things like seat heaters, HVAC controls can be accessed only through the touch screen.) A second issue is that, upon a quick survey of available receivers, none of the screen based units had user-programmable station buttons like the 6 buttons on the NBS and older Tahoes. Most of the receivers that do have such buttons, they are so tiny their hard to find. This was my big beef of aftermarket receivers in the past. Also, most of the receivers that have such buttons have no screen so I would lose the backup screen. That's not such a big deal because I would be able to transfer my current screen which is built into my mirror to a new truck.

So, does anyone know of a receiver that actually has a touch screen that would work for any critical OEM features, but also has station buttons?

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

Something I did notice on the current Infotainment models was the existence of physical |<< and >>| buttons. Do these cycle through stations? That could be acceptable too.

I'm not looking for a newer truck now because I just cannot afford to replace my current Tahoe yet. Besides, it's in pretty good shape. But I know that in 5 years or so I will be wanting something newer for towing, especially if I'm going to be towing across the country.

Have you seen any decent after market head unit installs w/o getting into expensive customization? I've been considering it on my new Yukon just because it feels so much like my old Tahoe still. I just don't want to spend a ton of custom bezels and such.

 

[Larryjb]

I wouldn't know. I haven't seen any head units that appeal to me anyway. I'm so far out of the norm on touch screens I'm off scale. I was using a flip phone as of last year too as i can't stand touch screens for phones. The only touch screen I have and use is my tablet, and even then I prefer to go to my laptop for intensive work.

 

[UNOIT]

Why don’t you want to use iPads for the infotainment system?


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[Doubeleive]

steering wheel buttons work and a maestro rr interface keeps all your oem integration with a aftermarket deck including hvac controls, heated/cooled seats, etc
plus with android auto and carplay integration a great portion of it can be voice command.

 

[UNOIT]

steering wheel buttons work and a maestro rr interface keeps all your oem integration with a aftermarket deck including hvac controls, heated/cooled seats, etc
plus with android auto and carplay integration a great portion of it can be voice command.

That’s a good point.


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[Larryjb]

GM, I want a #@$!@#% normal radio! I don't want all that extra !@#$%#!

I see what my father is going through with his tablet. These screens do not respond well to elderly skin, they cannot be used with gloves unless you buy special gloves. I know this is the way cars are going. I hope this direction changes. I'm not necessarily opposed to having a screen in a car, but in general, it does waste a lot of valuable space.

Anoit, I want a simple interface to operate anything in a vehicle. In my Tahoe, I have an On/Off/Volume button, AM/FM, Aux button, preset station buttons. I need to be able to use these without taking my eyes off the road. My wife needs to be able to use them without having to have a technology lesson every time she wants to turn the radio on.

All you young fellas are great with this technology. I'm fine with it in the right places. Touchscreen technology is NOT appropriate for a motor vehicle operator. We talk about distracted driving all the time. Touchscreen technology REQUIRES us to take our eyes off the road and to mentally process various screens to make a simple change. As an example, we were driving a 2014 Explorer and the seat heater control was in a touch screen menu. I had it on, and my butt was getting too toasty while driving. I had to have my wife turn it off. If I were alone I'd be faced with a scorched butt causing an accident, or me fiddling to find out how to turn the heater off, causing an accident. That is not good.

I've seen how my father has adapted to technology. In the late 1970's built a small home computer. He built amateur radio equipment. He learned to program in Pascal. He was always at the forefront of technology and very good at it. Now, he messes all sorts of things up on a computer. He has a 1997 Tahoe and drives safely with it. He would absolutely hate these new touchscreens. My wife and I just entered our 50's. I can navigate computers and tablets quite well, better than some of the teenagers I teach at our school. My wife constantly hangs up on people using a smartphone. I got her a Blackberry Classic that has physical button for answering and hanging up which helped a lot.

Okay, I'll stop ranting again.

 

[ssmith11]

steering wheel buttons work and a maestro rr interface keeps all your oem integration with a aftermarket deck including hvac controls, heated/cooled seats, etc
plus with android auto and carplay integration a great portion of it can be voice command.

Do you know if there is a hack for the 2021 Yukon Denali to get the video playing in the back to show on the front display?