Internet integration Camry Hybrid XLE Entune

[lrahardja]

One of the neat feature in our 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE with Nav/Entune option is the internet integration. It includes three years of complimentary Entune with access to apps through data connection of our iPhone and Android smartphones. We found out that it can even connect to 2 phones simultaneously... one phone through bluetooth for hands free phone conversation while another connection for internet data through USB connection. It's neat that you could see the contacts are visible through the screen for easy dialing, etc.

It also provides other useful capabilities such as traffic condition for better route (in real time of course), weather including radar services, fuel prices around, sports, stocks, etc (I bet they won't put netflix on it).

Does anyone know how much Entune will charge after the 3 years trial period has expired? And why do we even have to pay when Toyota customers already pay for data through their wireless carrier?

Update - Toyota Entune website says after 3 years trial period, it estimates the cost will be $5 per month for apps and additional $5 per month for data(???). What's not clear is Entune has different pricing to provide data for certain applications such as NavTraffic and NavWeather. Go figure.

A lot will happen in 3 years, perhaps Toyota Entune will be free by then. Besides, do we really need to reserve our groceries from a car ahead of time?

[ukrkoz]

Originally Posted by lrahardja

One of the neat feature in our 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE with Nav/Entune option is the internet integration. It includes three years of complimentary Entune with access to apps through data connection of our iPhone and Android smartphones. We found out that it can even connect to 2 phones simultaneously... one phone through bluetooth for hands free phone conversation while another connection for internet data through USB connection. It's neat that you could see the contacts are visible through the screen for easy dialing, etc.

It also provides other useful capabilities such as traffic condition for better route (in real time of course), weather including radar services, fuel prices around, sports, stocks, etc (I bet they won't put netflix on it).

oh wow! and I have all this for free, with my Android phone connected to the headunit. what do I know...

[lrahardja]

Originally Posted by ukrkoz

oh wow! and I have all this for free, with my Android phone connected to the headunit. what do I know...

ukrkoz, can you help elaborate how do you integrate your Android phone to the headunit? What headunit are you referring to? Which year of TCH are you referring to? Do you mean simply use your Android phone and read the map on the phone itself? Thx.

[ukrkoz]

sure. 2007 TCH with nav system, and I do heartily despise that nav system.

simple. streaming goes through aux jack. same goes for phone calls, as then speakers work as your phone ones. you can fairly well speak straight, and phone mic will pick up and you can hear the caller.
I have Samsung Charge. That one has large enough display to be equal to about large size TomTom. Phone mount, of course.

It works very well. I never got lost, it always has the latest maps, you can set traffic warnings, and any parameters you want to. It is not limited to "you have to stop to punch destination". you can use voice dialing or voice address input. Google search has voice recognition also.

In a nutshell, it has all features of fancy nav system - and it's part of your cell phone bill anyway. Streaming is free with Tunewiki. Yes, it's a wire or two. Whatever, I'd still put it over a factory nav in a heartbeat.

[OlyCam]

Once I figured out that the iPhone needed to be connected to the USB (thanks board) everything worked well. I was particular interested Pandora and that works well for me.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I came from a freakin' jury-rigged setup with a handheld Garmin and an aux cables. It made me nuts.

[Tcnrp]

Originally Posted by OlyCam

Once I figured out that the iPhone needed to be connected to the USB (thanks board) everything worked well. I was particular interested Pandora and that works well for me. .

Do you have the iPhone 4s? If you do, then download the latest Entune app. No need to use the USB any longer. The trick is to launch the app on your phone before you turn on the power to your audio system.

[OlyCam]

Originally Posted by Tcnrp

Do you have the iPhone 4s? If you do, then download the latest Entune app. No need to use the USB any longer. The trick is to launch the app on your phone before you turn on the power to your audio system.

Sweet! Thanks for the tip.

[OlyCam]

In the for what it's worth category, I tried to connect to Entune without the cable and it didn't connect even when the app was open.

The only way my 4S will connect is with the cable. It's not a big deal because it will charge the phone, which is good. If it's a short trip and I don't want to mess with it, I just play my iTunes playlist (or Pandora) over the bluetooth connection.

That said, an update to Entune came out so they may have snuck a fix in. I'll try it tomorrow.