Tag Archives: infotainment

‘Polestar 2’ Super Bowl Commercial By ‘Volvo’ Was So False & Bogus; Polestar 2 Is TOTALLY Compromised.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on February 14, 2022

Click to ENLARGE. Base article from ‘Slash Gear’ (here is the link).
The Google software the Polestar 2 runs is TOTALLY & UTTERLY compromised. Same as that on this Volvo S90. Refer to my post from just 3 days ago.

There was a time when I thought I could trust Swedes. They were honest, decent people.

OK. Volvo is no longer SWEDISH. That must be the problem. They use the same name but they are now Chinese owned. I guess the Chinese don’t mind lying.

This Super Bowl commercial for the ‘Polestar 2’ by Volvo was INSULTING. It was totally & utterly BOGUS.

Making fun of ‘dieselgate‘ — i.e., VW and their false diesel emission claims.

Well Volvo & Polestar have ‘Googlegate‘ — total fricking failure of the entire bloody infotainment system.

‘No Compromise’ my frigging foot. Volvo & Polestar are so totally COMPROMISED that this commercial was beyond a JOKE. It was fraudulent. In some countries you can get prosecuted for False Advertising. This commercial would have qualified.

I have said it before, I will say it again: Volvo LIES.

Volvo USA lies.

Volvo dealers lie.

Volvo salesman lie. (I have never dealt with a Volvo saleslady so I cannot say whether they lie or not.)

Volvo lies.

Do NOT buy Volvo.

Buying a 2022 Volvo XC60 from ‘Volvo Cars of Exeter‘ was the WORST mistake in my entire life! That is saying something. They totally screwed me. Yes, they duped me. I was a fool. I trusted them. My fault. Never again.

2022 Volvo XC60: Finally The Media Acknowledges That The Google-Based Infotainment System Sucks.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on February 11, 2022

Click to ENLARGE. Link to full review at ‘Road Show’.

NOT an 2022 Volvo XC60 review but the S90 & XC60 share the same diabolically disastrous Google-based Infotainment system.

I am so glad that FINALLY, FINALLY somebody in the media had the decency & integrity to point this out. Thank YOU, Mr. Craig Cole. You are a hero.

The Infotainment system basically does NOT work!

That Volvo pushed these cars out is criminal. I hope they will have to pay for it.

I have this nagging feeling that my XC60 will KILL ME because the bloody infotainment system drove me to beyond distraction. MY ONLY hope & wish is that I do NOT harm anyone else. It is fine if I wrap the car around a tree & die. That will be the PRICE I had to pay for for my stupid decision. I won’t even mention my loathing for the guys who sold me this car knowing that the software was faulty. And bloody, frigging Volvo. I never thought I would end up buying a car that would kill me NOT because of my carelessness BUT because the software was faulty.

I hate, I really, really, really detest my 2022 Volvo XC60. I just can’t tell you how much that frigging car bugs me or how much I loathe Volvo & the bastards who sold me this car.

‘Google’ No Longer Even Bothering To Copy Across ‘Android Auto’ To New ‘Android 12’ Phones.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on January 2, 2022

Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com

Click to ENLARGE. My NEW & old Google Pixel phones.
Click to ENLARGE. From ‘Google’.

Yes, I had known that Google was phasing out ‘Android Auto‘.

I did NOT need Android Auto to connect & use my Google Pixel 5 with my new (as of November 2, 2021) ‘Volvo’ ‘XC60’. The phone connected directly to Volvo’s (error-prone) Google-based infotainment system. That was also the case, yesterday, with my new Pixel 6 Pro. Just added the phone directly.

I hope I got my years right! SMILE. It is easy to overlook one. I got 1999 right away, BUT forgot 2000. Yikes. So, please check out my math. I will update the second chart if I have it wrong.

When I had asked for the APPs to be copied over I noticed the gap. I had to check on the old phone to see what was missing. Ahhh! Android Auto. I was slightly concerned that I might not be able to connect to my Volvo. It was NOT an issue.

So, a heads up just in case you run into this.

Android Auto is on the way out.

OK? Got that.

2022 Volvos, With Google Android ‘Infotainment’ System Has NO Option For An ‘Always On Display’ ODOMETER!

2 Replies

by Anura Guruge
on November 17, 2021

Click to ENLARGE. I kid you NOT.
Click to ENLARGE. Only way to check the odometer is to display trip computer on top of map.

I think (I could (as ever) be wrong) that most mature drivers like to see the odometer, every once in awhile, to see where they are in terms of the age of their car.

So, yesterday, during which I spent about 7 hours in the car, I kept on trying to get it to display the odometer alongside the trip meter. I had no luck. As ALWAYS, I thought it was just I being my usual inept self. Never occured to me that the folks at Volvo could be even more inept than I. In the 1970s, at IBM, we were taught: “You can’t make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenuous“. Well, all I can think is that Volvo must have turned that adage on its head & hired a motherlode of …

Appears that (for a pleasant change) it is not my ineptness.

Volvo really does NOT have an option for displaying the odometer — outside of the trip computer.

Smile.

No compass. Sirius XM display freezes. Does this remind you of ‘Windows XP’?

You can just see the Volvo folks telling you: “OK, power off, roll down all the Windows, now wait 3 minutes, roll up all the Windows, sit sideways, stick your finger in the cigarette holder … now recycle power, keeping your finger in the lighter …” Caveat emptor.

2022 Volvos, With Google Android ‘Infotainment’ System — ‘Sirius XM’ Screen FREEZE Problem (Rather Serious).

4 Replies

by Anura Guruge
on November 17, 2021

I have an update, November 20, 2021, with a SECOND screen freeze. I have a YouTube video for this one. So, you might want to check that too.

Click to ENLARGE. It can FREEZE on any channel. Another had it FREEZE on Channel 75.
Click to ENLARGE. The ‘LP cover display’ also goes haywire. Rotates through 4, & only 4!
Click to ENLARGE. This, for now, is the only way to see what is playing! NOT GOOD.

Yes, it appears that I am NOT the only one that has encountered this infuriating Sirius XM screen FREEZE problem on new 2022 Volvos with the new Google Infotainment system. Remember that Sirius XM support was only added a few weeks ago. So, this software is new.

I drove my XC60 for 230 miles yesterday. Sirius XM worked fine. Favorite ‘selection’ is different to what it was in 2021 BUT it worked & you could live with it. I finished the day with Sirius XM on Channel 17 ‘The Bridge’.

This morning the DISPLAY was STUCK on it.

You can change channels BUT the display is FROZEN.

Clearing the screen, switching to radio, or other APPs, doesn’t clear it.

I also, later in the day (like at 6:30pm), did a hard/soft RESET of the display, i.e., holding the HOME key down for about 2 minutes. You first go through the ‘screen cleaning’ mode & then the display goes black, displays ‘Volvo’ & eventually the whole display (& the center console map) are ‘refreshed’.

In my case, this hard/soft RESET did NOT clear the FREEZE.

I am now told to do it again. I will tomorrow.

I think I am going to need a software update to fix this.

I will keep you posted.

2022 Volvos, With Google Android ‘Infotainment’ System — Accessing The Trip Computer.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on November 5, 2021

Click to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE. What it says on the online electronic ‘User Manual’.

Yes, there is a Trip Computer but getting to it is not obvious. In older Volvos you used the ‘menu’ like icon to activate the trip computer. That does NOT activate the trip computer in new 2022 models with the Google ‘infotainment’ system. The above picture should explain that. Once somebody tells you about it — as did my trusty salesperson — you are all set. The electronic manual is not of much use.

So, just remember ‘OK’ button to activate the trip computer — the ‘menu’ button to turn it off!

Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com

2022 Volvos, ‘Android’ Phone Integration With Google Android ‘Infotainment’ System — Without ‘Android Auto’.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on November 4, 2021

Click to ENLARGE. Main APP screen. Photo on my 2022 Volvo XC60 B5 AWD (Polestar).

Android phone integration & support is built-in so to speak — given that the ‘Infotainment’ system is from Google & totally Android-based.

One of the very first things you have to do (after you select the language of choice etc.) is to sign into one of your GMAIL accounts — just like if you were setting up an Android phone. I used the same Gmail as I use as my primary on my Pixel 5.

Once Bluetooth was enabled & paired, the XC60 immediately recognized my Pixel 5. Didn’t have to do anything. Receiving calls, making outbound calls & notifications ALL worked first time, without any problems. It was very smooth.

As you can see Google Maps is also built in. My XC60 has maps in the display behind the steering wheel. So, I can have two maps, one with horizontal orientation & one with portrait.

I haven’t even bothered with Android Auto. Not sure what I would need it for. So, I am just giving you a heads up.

Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com

2022 Volvos, With Google Android ‘Infotainment’ System, Now Have ‘Sirius XM’ — I Know; I Have It On Mine.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on November 3, 2021

Click to ENLARGE. Photo on my 2022 Volvo XC60 B5 AWD (Polestar).

Sirius XM is there for sure. I have it. I used it. It works well. I listened to it, non stop, for just over an hour yesterday — driving home in my new 2022 Volvo XC60 B5 AWD (Polestar).

The Over-the-Air (OTA) update to include it might not work. You might have to take your 2022 Volvo to a dealership & ask them to update the software.

As I had pointed out in this post, on October 29, 2021, Volvo had said it was sending out an OTA update to include support for Sirius XM. Appears the OTA might not have worked or it has rolled across that many customers as yet.

But, it appears that Volvo dealers got a new update around October 28, 2021. That had Sirius XM.

So, any dealer installed updates as of around October 28, 2021 will have Sirius XM.

Check with your Volvo dealer.

This is a GREAT relief. I am glad.

Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com

2022 Volvos, With Google Android ‘Infotainment’ System, Will SOON Get ‘Sirius XM’ Radio, AT LAST, Via An ‘Over-The-Air’ (OTA) Update. Hallelujah!

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on October 29, 2021

Click to ENLARGE & read here. Link to ‘Carscoops’ original.

Finally. About time. So many ‘poor’ Volvo 2022 XC40 & X60 customers will be so happy & relieved. Volvo dealers can also now stop having to show them how to get Sirius XM in their Volvos using their phone. I, for one, would not have been happy. In a way it is a blessing, is disguise, that I still haven’t got the 2022 Volvo XC60 I ordered on August 15, 2021.

Click to access my August 6, 2021 post.

Volvo, as you can see from my above post, has said, since August, ‘November or December’ for the Sirius XM support. Well, it will be Monday in 3 days — i.e., Monday. So, Volvo is on track.

What we don’t know is how these OTA updates will work — & how effective they will be.

What kind of Internet connection will you need to get the OTAs? We still don’t fully know.

OTA is the right way to go. Yes, I have much OTA experience with my Google Pixel phones & my Garmin smartwatches. OTA works well with them. With Volvo? Still an unknown. Knowing Volvo they probably will do their utmost to screw up a few times to begin with.

I can just see it. “Yes. Yes. It is OTA but your car needs to be within 2′ of a Volvo dealership with a Volvo technician seated in the car“. Oh! Volvo!

Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com

Volvo 2022 ‘Android Automotive Infotainment System’ Does NOT Support ‘Google Maps’ Satellite View. Sacré Bloody Bleu!

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on October 21, 2021

Click to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE & read here. From ‘CNET‘. Click here for link to original.
Click to ENLARGE. Posts on THIS Blog. Use blog’s SEARCH to locate & read.

This is pathetic. Volvo was taken to the cleaners by Google.

Amazing.

Google Maps without satellite view! My dealership (who I will not name right now) never informed me of this, THOUGH they, to their credit, told me about the LACK OFF Android Auto/Apple CarPlay & Sirius XM. I found the compass debacle on my own. Now this.

My disdain for Volvo continues to grow.

The Dealership (that will remain unnamed for now) keeps on ASSURING me that the 2022 Volvo XC60 I ordered on August 15, 2021 (& paid a HEFTY deposit for) will be delivered — as promised — on November 15, 2021. On September 14, 2021, a month into the order, we had agreed on November 15 as the drop-dead date. Well, let’s wait & see.

No satellite view. No compass. Yes, you don’t need any navigation in Sweden. Big country BUT not that many roads!

Sweden has 82,800 miles TOTAL of public roads!

Just the State of Massachusetts has 77,730 miles. New Hampshire, where I live, has 33,391. So, just MA & NH together, has more roads that ALL of Sweden. Hence, why Volvo doesn’t understand the need for decent navigation. In Sweden you can navigate just by the stars!

I am NOT amused. IF I do, by some miracle, get my XC60 on November 15, 2021, I will still not be a happy camper. SMILE.

Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com