Voice Control and Speech - Issues and Questions

[readerr0r]

That map data is provided by Sensis (Telstra), and the most up to date versions are at least a year old at best. Mapping Australia is a relatively large task compared to other countries and the uptake is relatively low compared to European countries. If I get my way my next car will have a Google Maps navigation system integrated into the car. Audi Connect offers this, and even some Korean cars are planning Android based infotainment systems.

For the record a lot of us Mk6 owners on the forum purchased various optional systems and retrofitted them ourselves for considerable savings. I've personally retrofitted RNS510, bluetooth, MDI, reversing camera, sports steering wheel (GTI style with DSG paddles) and pedals, etc (a friend helped with some of those).

The discover pro (ie. the 8inch screen the Golf 7 doesn't get) does have the ability to use google traffic and street view. It doesn't look like its been activated here on the Skodas with it, but with Audi talking about Audi Connect comming to Aus early 2014 cars maybe there'll be a software update then (and finally the option for the 8inch screen on VW's)?

Mobile online services for the Golf

[veew]

My position with VW Aust. was that I expected voice control to come standard with my Golf Highline because that's what thier advertising material said when I purchased the vehicle. In my defence, I was able to prove my case because I fortunately kept a copy of the VW brochure that I was given by the dealer. So the dealer installed the Voice Control fix as a warranty claim (I paid no additional money above that of the original cost of the vehicle).

Do you still have the brochure advertising the VCM as a feature. I'd like a snapshot of it just for my own records.

VeeW: I don't think that the voice control fix that I got installed on my Golf is related to any Apple product. I've only had a short play with the function since I got the car back from the dealer but it seems to use its own software. I don't have an IPhone to check how this type of phone integrates with VW's Voice Control (if at all)

It doesn't sound like it is since you don't have an iPhone to check it out. I thought activation of the VCM was to enable it to activate Siri on pressing the button which would allow you to control music selection from there.

I'd be interested to hear your review of the system the more you use it, would like to know if it is worth having/paying ~$400 as reported on some threads.

[DV52]

Do you still have the brochure advertising the VCDS as a feature. I'd like a snapshot of it just for my own records.

veew: A guy who calls himself (or herself) pologti18t has already included a copy of the brochure that you requested on this forum. I have never embedded a VWWatercooled link into one of my replies before, so hopefully my virgin attempt below will work. The particular post that you want is on the tenth page of the thread (assuming that you have set-up your profile to see the earlieast post on the first page ). If the link sends you to the wrong page then the date of the pologti18t post is 23-04-2013, 05:21 PM. My appology for the complication - there's probably an easier way to do this.

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f197/mk7-golf-australian-specifications-prices-base-comfortline-highline-84598-10.html

You need to go to page 36 and read the section called "Discover Media audio and satelite navigation system". There is a clear reference to the voice control function as a standard feature on the highline series in this section. Please be aware that this version of the brochure was printed in April 2013. I have seen a later version of the same brochure that has the voice control words deleted.

[veew]

Awesome, thanks for that!

[vdubberd]

Interested to know if anyone else has had success with getting the voice control activated under Warrenty? Or if they had to pay, at what cost?

I recieve my new golf in the coming weeks and am curious as to whether I should push for this to be activated with the dealer

[DV52]

Do you still have the brochure advertising the VCDS as a feature. I'd like a snapshot of it just for my own records.


I'd be interested to hear your review of the system the more you use it, would like to know if it is worth having/paying ~$400 as reported on some threads.

I've now had a decent play with the voice control utility on my Golf mk7 and my observation is that it's a functionally rich application.
Since the fix got installed, I now have a new Voice Control option on the car's set-up screen as shown below

At the highest software level, voice control appears to be able to fully mimic any of the function keys that are on either side of the display unit. The picture below shows the possible commands that enable the user to access the function keys by voice. Note the red-microphone symbol at the top LHS



Once the user selects Radio for example, saying the word "Station"provides the next screen. Speaking the number shown in red (on the LHS) selects the station



If the user selects Sat Nav, the following sub options are available



If the user says "new destination" for example, the next screen that appears is the normal table that invites you to manually enter the address of the new destination. Voice control does not allow the user to enter the new destination by saying the address. You have to manually enter the address by typing in the information.

Now for the hard bit; what is this new functionality worth? My long held (personal) view is that money has a negative value proposition; the more that you have, the less that you value it! The reported cost of $400 for voice control may seem a trivial amount to some, or it may be viewed as a king'sransom by others. So I'm going to take the coward's way out in answering this question - you decide!

[Ryan_R]

Worth noting that the functionality is pretty much exactly the same as what I've got in my Mk6 (RNS510)

[veew]

Cheers DV52 for the pictures and observations. Certainly it seems like an easy enough system to use. I'll find out in 4 months if I'll have the system installed without charge prior to delivery of my car.

[angelus512]

4 pages in and we haven't established whether this system can be software installed on Comfortline or whether it actually requires hardware upgrades?

[jdbrown1953]

4 pages in and we haven't established whether this system can be software installed on Comfortline or whether it actually requires hardware upgrades?

Yes what needs to be established is for what model what has to be done to activate this feature. For example does the Comfortline range need hardware and software installed and how long would this take? Does the Highline range need only a software upgrade? Answers to these questions will help forum members in their decision making. Over to the forum

[DV52]

Yes what needs to be established is for what model what has to be done to activate this feature. For example does the Comfortline range need hardware and software installed and how long would this take? Does the Highline range need only a software upgrade? Answers to these questions will help forum members in their decision making. Over to the forum

jdbrown1953: Galvanised into action by your valkyrie like call-to-arms, I thought that I might have a look at the VAG COM coding status on my Golf (now that the voice control function has been activated on my car). But, even before I got-out my trusty VCDS cable, it struck me that such an exercise would be futile. As those of us that have invested in Mr Ross's equipment to use on our MkVII Golfs will attest, the capability of VCDS software version 12.12.0 is severly limited when used on the "AU" chassis.

Now I'm the first to admit that I'm a rank novice when comes to matters VCDS related, but the autoscan file from my car (using the latest version VCDS software) says that 5 of the 14 controllers in my Highline Golf do not have labels. Crutially, the missing controller support labels relate to the areas when I would have thought that a fruitful search might bring some results (i.e, address 17 instruments, address 5F-information electronics). To add insult to injury, many of the pages that are available for the AU chassis are written in German. Mr Ross is aware of this problem and he has indicated that he will correct the matter "in the fullness of time".

I've read on one site that Audi's voice related function can be accessed on "Elecronics1" tab and then the "77-Telephone" module. I tried this on my my Golf only to be presented with an error message saying that this module was not supported.
If one of the more VCDS knowledgeable folk on this forum can suggest where I might look, I'd be happy to have a peek at the coding. Over to you!

[veew]

Angelus512: Have you chased your dealer up with regards to this feature yet?

Yesterday I called a few dealers and the service/parts centre in Adelaide who were all unaware of a fix being available for the Golf 7. I just got off the phone with VW Customer Care (cheers AJD for copying the email in Post #20) who informed me the VCM is now available as an accessory. The Voice Control Module is a SOFTWARE update therefore the Comfortline does not require any hardware installation.

The customer care consultant informed me that all dealers and service/parts centres were made aware in communications that were sent out. He was unable to quote a cost and I assume it is up to how much the dealership/service centre wants to rape you to install a program via SD card or CD.

I'm hoping mine is nice enough to install it free of charge when I have it delivered in 4 months time.

[Ryan_R]

Best just to wait for those label files and let someone else be the pioneer who potentially stuffs something up

If you see someone else (i.e. from Germany) say something like 'go to module 77, byte 5, and enable bit 2' then you could give that a shot without having the label files if you trust them.

[angelus512]

@Veew
Seems you have the answer its a software update for the comfortline which is great. I think I'll hang back a bit and see people's first hand experiences with how "useful" the system is and $cost associated before bothering to much.

However I'm curious does this bluetooth system "impose" its spoken commands on any phone? Like as example my phone is an iphone 4 (not 4s) so no Siri. I refuse to upgrade my phone until they make a larger screen....

[AJD]

Interested to know if anyone else has had success with getting the voice control activated under Warrenty? Or if they had to pay, at what cost?

I recieve my new golf in the coming weeks and am curious as to whether I should push for this to be activated with the dealer

I was just quoted $416 to install the software by a local dealer - in my mind, not worth the cost, the effort or to give VW the satisfaction of charging me for their screw up.