Just ordered the Tesla style radio for my Raptor...

VLOCRPTR said:

I just installed mine yesterday and have not had any of the issues above.

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Then you are not using them with polarized sunglasses, you have not tried CarPlay using your factory USB ports, and I doubt you have hit the majority of the buttons in a day. I am sure over time the software will get better and the glitches will be fixed but I was told by Walt, the polarization will never be fixed and that the only way to use CarPlay was via the white USB adapter you have to string from under your dash. Once you do find issues, it will be interesting to see how well they support you. In the end Linkswell bashed Android for their lack of support when they were really not much better.

When using my truck as a commuter Waze is my favorite app. I like the way the factory deck now fades Waze alerts in and out restoring your radio, iTunes or Satellite radio. There was no multi tasking on my unit, meaning you could not be running radio and Waze at the same time you had to toggle back and forth between Waze and Radio with a cumbersome UI all the while tilting your head at 45 degrees or removing your glasses.

I hope it is much better for you than my experience, I would give it a couple weeks of full use before you tell everyone all the issues are fixed.
d

dnewman9 said:

Then you are not using them with polarized sunglasses, you have not tried CarPlay using your factory USB ports, and I doubt you have hit the majority of the buttons in a day. I am sure over time the software will get better and the glitches will be fixed but I was told by Walt, the polarization will never be fixed and that the only way to use CarPlay was via the white USB adapter you have to string from under your dash. Once you do find issues, it will be interesting to see how well they support you. In the end Linkswell bashed Android for their lack of support when they were really not much better.

When using my truck as a commuter Waze is my favorite app. I like the way the factory deck now fades Waze alerts in and out restoring your radio, iTunes or Satellite radio. There was no multi tasking on my unit, meaning you could not be running radio and Waze at the same time you had to toggle back and forth between Waze and Radio with a cumbersome UI all the while tilting your head at 45 degrees or removing your glasses.

I hope it is much better for you than my experience, I would give it a couple weeks of full use before you tell everyone all the issues are fixed.
d

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You are correct given some subltelty.

1) I already knew about the factory USB port and CarPlay ahead of time (another user here posted such and I found it browsing the Internet,) so I planned on adding a quick connector I purchased on eBay to allow me to connect my iPhone. Would be nice if they added that port to the unit optionally. Oh well.

2) I took my polarized sunglasses out to the truck and yep, you are correct...they definitely do what you suggest. I'm not sure how this becomes "dangerous" as you declare -- but since I don't understand your threat model other than the fact that you must be concerned that you have to take your eyes off the road as you stare at the unit or potentially lift your glasses, I'm assuming that's it. My high-tech answer to that one is either:

a) try a cheap stick-on polarizing filter from eBay and see if that will essentially negate the effect or
b) use the option you mention above and tilt my head about 5 degrees and I was able to see

The effectiveness of 2b might he due to my height or the prism in my glasses, so I don't want to assume. I also don't spend a lot of time staring at the screen. When using Nav, I listen to the voice prompts...

I'm not a shill for them or anyone else, but I'm sorry your expectations weren't met.

I had a 4" ****** little screen that had no navigation. Now I have a larger one that does a bunch of other cool stuff for which there are likely trade-offs.

Perhaps those trade-offs surprised you or you find that for the price point they are too large, but a lack of research ahead of time for a niche product falls on the consumer.

Besides the fact that you sound really angry (at me,) I don't think I ever "...[told] everyone all the issues are fixed." If I have issues, I'll post them.

ACTUALLY, I do have an issue. The clock keeps reversing 12h our of synch (AM to PM, etc.) on startup. It's really annoying. I think they posted a firmware fix for that so I am going to try it.

VLOCRPTR said:

You are correct given some subltelty.

1) I already knew about the factory USB port and CarPlay ahead of time (another user here posted such and I found it browsing the Internet,) so I planned on adding a quick connector I purchased on eBay to allow me to connect my iPhone. Would be nice if they added that port to the unit optionally. Oh well.

2) I took my polarized sunglasses out to the truck and yep, you are correct...they definitely do what you suggest. I'm not sure how this becomes "dangerous" as you declare -- but since I don't understand your threat model other than the fact that you must be concerned that you have to take your eyes off the road as you stare at the unit or potentially lift your glasses, I'm assuming that's it. My high-tech answer to that one is either:

a) try a cheap stick-on polarizing filter from eBay and see if that will essentially negate the effect or
b) use the option you mention above and tilt my head about 5 degrees and I was able to see

The effectiveness of 2b might he due to my height or the prism in my glasses, so I don't want to assume. I also don't spend a lot of time staring at the screen. When using Nav, I listen to the voice prompts...

I'm not a shill for them or anyone else, but I'm sorry your expectations weren't met.

I had a 4" ****** little screen that had no navigation. Now I have a larger one that does a bunch of other cool stuff for which there are likely trade-offs.

Perhaps those trade-offs surprised you or you find that for the price point they are too large, but a lack of research ahead of time for a niche product falls on the consumer.

Besides the fact that you sound really angry (at me,) I don't think I ever "...[told] everyone all the issues are fixed." If I have issues, I'll post them.

ACTUALLY, I do have an issue. The clock keeps reversing 12h our of synch (AM to PM, etc.) on startup. It's really annoying. I think they posted a firmware fix for that so I am going to try it.

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I am definitely not mad at you, I would like to make sure everyone who buys this goes into the purchase eyes wide open. If anything my concern was your comment "I just installed mine yesterday and have not had any of the issues above."

In reality you did see the polarization issue, and I would imagine the more you use the unit, the more you will see the bugginess of the UI.

My dad was almost killed when a 16 year old girl glanced down at her phone to text and ran her ~79 Jeep Grand Cherokee into my dad's parked car at about 45mph. He still suffers from eye damage and neck and spine pain.

While I am no prima donna, I am very sensitive to the technology in our vehicles that take our focus off driving. The polarization issue combined with a complex UI with defects mean when you want to use Waze as my example you have a process of removing glasses, navigating to applications, launching Waze, navigating back to Radio and putting your sunglasses back on. That also hopes the unit does not launch some random other feature which mine did regularly. I have several videos to show this.

In my eyes that is just as complex if not more, as looking down to your phone to text. In addition the screen is so full of features, the odds of you doing it out of the corner of your eye and not hitting some unexpected feature is unlikely. While I was not happy with the factory nav, I do have new found respect for it as the simplicity of navigation, true multi tasking of features and reliability is IMHO way better.

Again, nothing personal, I just do not think Linkswell deserves the support until they make the product right. In my case they have gone completely radio silent, will not fix the issues I reported, nor help me out in any way. I essentially have a ~$1100 brick in my office.

Thanks for posting about radio reception being poor, truck USB not working and HVAC integration being iffy.

I'm sorry but the rest of this stuff goes with the territory.

1. If your glasses polarization conflicts with the device polarization, change glasses. Buy a pair of non-polarized Serengettis.
2. If you want a simple, easy to navigate interface don't buy a raw Android based system which has a 12 inch screen and everything on apps.
3. If you want 110% stable system buy a truck with Sync, don't buy a brand new Android based system.
4. If you are not tech savvy and expect everything to work with perfect GUI out of the box, don't buy a raw Android based system.

Kahuna said:

Thanks for posting about radio reception being poor, truck USB not working and HVAC integration being iffy.

I'm sorry but the rest of this stuff goes with the territory.

1. If your glasses polarization conflicts with the device polarization, change glasses. Buy a pair of non-polarized Serengettis.
2. If you want a simple, easy to navigate interface don't buy a raw Android based system which has a 12 inch screen and everything on apps.
3. If you want 110% stable system buy a truck with Sync, don't buy a brand new Android based system.
4. If you are not tech savvy and expect everything to work with perfect GUI out of the box, don't buy a raw Android based system.

Click to expand...

First, let me get my disclaimer out of the way: I know forums can come off very direct, my goal here is not to pick a fight with forum members, I do however want to make sure a vendor with a crappy product does not take advantage of another member here.

That being said
Thanks Dr Phil, but it's not that simple. If your expectations are not met lower your expectations?

Companies should be held accountable for delivering on a product that is not viable. This was a $1200 (with tax and shipping) investment in a product sold by the supplier as a direct replacement for the factory radio. It is not. Read their web page they do not advertise the following:
1. The UI is complex and not intuitive.
2. The device will not multi task.
3. The software is buggy and will be fixed eventually maybe never.
4. Your screen will appear black if you wear polarized sunglasses.


For all of you reading this thread, you have two options, take my advice and pass. Or Take Kahuna's and have low expectations and they will be met. I do not want any of you to loose money like I did.

Here are a couple things to reinforce my point.

BTW, I forgot to mention, since you no longer have a volume dial, tune dial, or driver or driver and passenger side HVAC control, you are doing this all via the gui. Turning on your seat heat or ac is all done via the gui. If your wondering what all those numbers are on the video above, those are individual presets for radio stations. Outside of a few metro areas that have that many radio stations, this is by far overkill, unless you are into HAM radio.

I saw Phoenix selling their 2/64 unit now for 969.99. Any positive updates on the product.

https://www.phoenixautomotiveinc.co...usion-mondeo-2013-2014-2015-ram-2gb-quad-core

9 months in and I'm still very happy with this setup and would definitely do it again. Everything is working fine with the exception of two things- 1- the time- its an hour off. Can't fix it without it going back to an hour off. In the spring when daylight savings moves forward the time will be right. 2nd- the temperature. Mine just displays -46'. Other than that its great. Again, I wouldn't do this if you have the full 8" Sync system. However, if you have a truck like mine or VLOCRPTR its a great upgrade over the 4" screen.

FWIW I have polarized sunglasses and CAN see the screen so I'm not sure whats up with that. I'm also used to where the buttons are so I can make adjustments without taking my eyes off the road.

Your mileage may vary!

WHAT THE ****.... AM I BUYING THIS THING TO REPLACE SYNC 3 OR NOT.....DECIDE

xBX said:

WHAT THE ****.... AM I BUYING THIS THING TO REPLACE SYNC 3 OR NOT.....DECIDE

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Is this a rhetorical question?