1 - WOW! There a ton of Entune problems identified in the TSB. Hopefully Toyota has decided to put better systems in their cars moving forward.
And those are the identified ones. Who knows what else might be triggered by connecting a new or updated device. For what it’s worth, Entune 3.0 ditched
Blacberry QNX OS for an Auto-Grade Linux OS. On the other hand, Ford ditched
Microsoft-Automative for QNX and it's was deemed as an improvement…
2 - I forgot to mention that my auto mechanic (non-Toyota guy that I regularly go to when our warranties expire) indicated that he checked the service bulletin and saw that stalled reboot was a known issue. That's why I was particularly annoyed when the service guy at Toyota didn't seem to have a clue what I was talking about. The TSB gives clear instructions on how to update the system -- why wasn't my Toyota service rep able to figure this out????
Some of them are up to it, others are rather full of it. Especially when it comes to electronics. I own an old yet reliable Nokia “smart phone” (as “smart” as they were many years ago). When I bought my Corolla, the tech tried but failed to pair it and deemed it incompatible. It’s not the case and I had no trouble pairing it myself. The thing is they are no computer technicians and firmware suppliers will work on identified bugs. But if there is no one to identify them… So they’ll simply propose to change the head-unit while the problem might have another source.
3 - With a few more Google searches, I saw that Toyota has started offering updates online. However, when I checked on available downloads I got messages that I had to take the car in to Toyota to get the update. Helpful but not helpful.
The name of the site says it: “Toyota Multimedia and Audio System Updates
for Entune App Suite”. It updates apps – and eventually the OS if and as required by the app – but not the OS itself.
4 - I spend a lot of time in my car and need a good integrated system to take hands-free phone calls. It's a safety issue and a legal issue -- if consumers buy a car with the expectation that it will have certain safety features, then those safety features should last more than 2.5 years before completely failing.
You are right, but it's still covered by the same warranty as other systems in the car (or the owner, after warranty ended…), no more no less (well, less in some cases like for Hyndai-Kia Canada…). The problem is not hands-free phone itself. For 2014 MY, this feature existed even in the basic non-Entune radio. It’s rather all those others fancy features some want with it. Indeed, when a failure occur, it also apply to hands-free calls…
5 - I get it that electronics need constant updates and software eventually becomes obsolete, but not in 2.5 years!!! I've had iPhones and iPads that I've kept for years and the only problem I've had is that they no longer can accept software update due to lack of compatibility -- eventually I've needed to upgrade to newer units, but they didn't completely stall and stop working when newer versions came out!!
Actually, some home/personnal devices will freeze, crash or behave erratically over an update or even original firmware glitches. iOS 11 was loaded with bugs that did so . Windows 10 could kill the sound of your computer. But why would this device be affected and that identical one be OK? Because bugs are often triggered by a specific configuration, use of a combination of key, etc. If you don’t happen to use them, you’re OK, otherwise…
Granted some crack eventually find a convoluted way to sqirt the problem and a patch is eventually available. And we’re talking firms working on their own eco-system and releasing it when they are “good and ready”. Car systems, on the other hand, are always on catch-up mode, dealing with a multitude of apps updates and new devices over a 2.5 years period. Everything may go well for some but that’s a lot of bug triggering opportunity depending on how one use the head unit! The reset button (holding “power”) or the battery trick might work for some bugs, not all.
All in all, that might explain why techs would rather simply change the head-unit… to no good since the conditions that triggered a problem might be met again. That’s to explain – not excuse – why the fancier the car system, the higher the risks. And they say autonomous cars are almost here…Yeah, right !
Toyota (and apparently other manufacturers) need to figure out a way to conveniently deliver software updates to consumers over longer periods of time. I'm not forced to go to the Apple store and pay to have my iPhone updated every time new software is released -- nor should I have to return to Toyota to get my Entune software updated. It's 2018, guys, figure this one out!
That I don't understand either. Those systems have existed for what, 8 years now ? Tesla manage entire cars updates over the air... And maybe using open source firmware would allow cracks to identify problems much faster.
