Software update upgrades select 2013-2015 Fiat Chrysler vehicles with Siri Eyes Free
Fiat Chrysler on Friday issued a free software update to owners of some 2013-, 2014-, and 2015-model vehicles, giving them access to Apple's Siri Eyes Free, which enables voice commands to an iPhone by tapping a button on the steering wheel.
Drivers with a Uconnect 8.4 touchscreen display can go to the Uconnect website and enter their 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number, which in turn will let them download the update to a USB drive for installation. The installation process can take up to 30-45 minutes, and will only work while a vehicle is parked.
Compatible vehicles include:
Siri Eyes Free is increasingly being supplanted by CarPlay, which incorporates Siri in a more elaborate platform alongside dash-based app controls. That shift only began happening en masse in late 2015, though, and most older vehicles can't be upgraded without an aftermarket dash interface.
Eyes Free can handle tasks like making phone calls, getting directions, and playing music, the main drawbacks being less complex options and no real third-party app support.
Drivers with a Uconnect 8.4 touchscreen display can go to the Uconnect website and enter their 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number, which in turn will let them download the update to a USB drive for installation. The installation process can take up to 30-45 minutes, and will only work while a vehicle is parked.
Compatible vehicles include:
- 2013-2015 Ram 1500, 2500 & 3500
- 2013-2015 Dodge Viper
- 2014-2015 Dodge Durango
- 2015 Dodge Challenger and Charger
- 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee
- 2015 Jeep Renegade
- 2015 Chrysler 200 & 300
Siri Eyes Free is increasingly being supplanted by CarPlay, which incorporates Siri in a more elaborate platform alongside dash-based app controls. That shift only began happening en masse in late 2015, though, and most older vehicles can't be upgraded without an aftermarket dash interface.
Eyes Free can handle tasks like making phone calls, getting directions, and playing music, the main drawbacks being less complex options and no real third-party app support.
Comments
Now Honda needs to offer an upgrade for 2015-2016 CR-V owners (and other models with their Display Audio system) to add CarPlay. Some owners were selected for a beta test, but it closed and died.
Funnily enough, one area where Tesla is lacking creativity and taste is design. From the "generically-futuristic" design of the Model 3 (Siracusa quoted my thoughts exactly on its design), to the Aston Martin ripoff design of the Model S, to the embarrassing Tron-like TESLA logo to the horrendous "T" insignia. You think I'm being overly harsh don't you? Design takes no prisoners. If Apple make bad design choices I'm just as critical.
This is an area where Apple can be beat them in my opinion. Just look at the level of detail in the Apple Watch bands. There's no way I see Apple making a car where reviews and owners such as Marco Arment can say "the interior of my M3 is nicer". We know how anal retentive Apple are about these details. I'd imagine switches and leather stitch detailing would be tirelessly worked on until they were perfect. Apple knows more than anyone if their car interior was not on par or better than an equivalent BMW it would be terrible news for their brand. What Apple needs to worry about more is on the technology side. They need a superb electric drivetrain, and a great base chassis etc., for which to build their design prowess upon. Self-driving will be a huge area of focus, but it's still a few years away yet. Don't mind what Elon claims—it's likely to be a legislation nightmare.
Battery technology and cost, drivetrain, chassis, software, exterior and interior design, quality and consideration. These will be where the car race is for the next 10 years and beyond. Nevermind that Chinese blow-hard concept car toting idiot who claims his car will be internet first and hardware last. A car is very much a hardware product. And a Chinese Internet-first car is basically driven by his government
“Google can buy every automaker out of petty cash. And Apple — they made a net profit of $24 billion in one quarter. This is nonsense. What are we defending? What?”
http://www.driveuconnect.com/contact-us/ You will need the last 8 numbers of you VIN#
Every time I go the site and put in my id number it comes back that my software is up to date. No updates available.
Anyone else have same issue?