Sources: Cadillac CUE Infotainment System To Receive Improvements, Siri Eyes-Free In March
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As expected, the Cadillac User Experience (CUE) infotainment system will receive its first major update over the course of the next few weeks, GM Authority has learned. Said to roll out sometime in March, the update is said to enhance the system’s stability, address complaints, and add a handful of new features. Since its inception, CUE has been criticized for being slower and more sluggish than expected.
Performance Improvements
The update is expected to improve the overall performance of the infotainment system, including the speed with which it reacts to inputs and touchscreen gestures and capacitive controls.
CUE has also been widely criticized for its lack of hard buttons and knobs, a point of contention that goes well beyond the promise of a software update.
Navigation Updates
The update is also expected to deliver improvements to CUE’s navigation functionality. While mapping data will remain unchanged, engineers will have increased the amount of street names that CUE will display, while improving the system’s routing ability.
New Features: Siri Eyes-Free, Expanded Contact Syncing and Device Compatibility
Luckily, the update will also delight users by bringing some new features to CUE. For starters, the update will enable hands-free voice assistant functionality that’s increasingly found on today’s newest smartphones.
One of the most prominent automated voice assistants, Apple Siri, offers a version meant to be used specifically in a vehicle without looking directly at the phone. Named “Eyes Free”, the functionality will allow Siri to be accessed via a button on the steering wheel, with the personal assistant being capable of solely responding to certain commands, while disabling the iPhone’s screen for questions that can’t be communicated to the driver via the car’s audio/speaker system. The same functionality was announced for Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment systems several months ago, starting with the Spark and Sonic.
In addition, CUE will be compatible with other smartphone voice assistants, as long as the device utilizes the proper Bluetooth profile stacks (features, in non-geek-speak).
Rounding out the new features is an enhanced contact/address book synchronization, which is being expanded to 3,500 contacts from today’s 1,000; the update will also broaden the amount of USB media players recognized by the system.
The Update Process
Cadillac’s dealer body will administer the update to compatible vehicles — a process that differs from those of competitors, which offer updates to infotainment systems on USB drives or as downloadable software that’s then installed by the user. Cadillac dealers are said to expect the update and installation instructions later in February, while letters notifying customers of the update will be mailed in early March.
The update will be available to buyers of all 2013 model-year Cadillac vehicles equipped with CUE, including the ATS, SRX, and XTS. Customers will be offered loaner vehicles while the update is applied.
The GM Authority Take
These all seem like worthy and welcome improvements to CUE, even though the system will remain button- and knob-less… for now.
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So will this shorten the time it takes the voice commands to perform? Because reviewers have criticized that the current voice commands are slow
David, it’s my understanding that the speed/performance of the entire system will be improved, including recognition of vice commands, touch gestures, etc.
Alex here is something you might want to look into
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/02/spied-2014-cadillac-cts-in-the-flesh/
I like the look of the front end but not the back so much.
@DVINE59 Hmmm… what should I be looking into? I wrote that article 🙂
I cant get the CUE system to take verbal commands. Out of approximately 1500 verbal commands dealing with addresses, intersections, or POIs we have only been able to set two addresses using verbal commands. We have had instructions and help from no less than six employees at the dealership where we purchased the car. This is completely frustrating and my wife does not even want to drive this car at all. She prefers to drive her 2012 Buick Enclave. Does anyone else have any comments concerning this problem? Cadillac says that my car has all the new software updates after taking it back to the dealership three times to no avail. Any comments on tjhis problem would be greatly appreciated. My phone# is9722798908. Thanks Earl Harris
Hello Alex Luft what about a follow up comment on my first posting on this website?
Earl — could you start a discussion in the GM Authority Forum about the issues you’re experiencing?
It’s a more appropriate forum (no pun intended) for support, as it allows us to focus on your particular issue.
Simply click “FORUM” at the very top of this page.
Hope to see you there,
Alex
Very nice to see!
Since a lot of customers have wifi why not allow customers to update their cue via wifi over night. iPhone does this android does this come on GM this is 2013
@Hafeez H That’s a good idea that I’m sure we’ll see at some point in the future. Right now, very few vehicles have Wi-Fi routers in them, and none of those (that I know of) can apply a software update to the vehicle’s telematics/infotainment system(s) using the technology. With time 🙂
Does anyone have the password for Cadiapps? I can not update myCadillac app. I have changed every app to my name/password by canceling the apps and then reinstalling them. But Cadillac does not know the password????
@Dr. Dave this is the first time I’m hearing about a password for myCadillac. When does it ask you for one?
The iPad that I got with my new XTS is requesting updates for myCadillac and OnStar. When I click on the “update” button, it opens a screen entitled Apple ID Password with the:
[email protected] which asks for a password.
I have not found the password anywhere in the system or the Cadillac literature that came with the XTS. My dealer Moore does not have the password. I called directly into to Cadillac and asked the lady for the password. She said that she did not know it and was unable to find it. So what is the password for the [email protected] ? Without the password, I can not update these programs and several others that were loaded onto the iPad.
Dr David Meyer
[email protected]
PS: Will I be notified when the update to CUE is available. I love the system (the reason that I bought the XTS) but it is sometimes a little slow on responding!
David — that makes sense now.
What it’s asking you is the user name/password for Cadillac’s Apple ID. I doubt that is something Cadillac will give out, so I recommend deleting those apps, and re-installing them from the App Store (they’re free) under your own Apple account. Does that make sense?
As for the CUE update — we’re told Cadillac will send letters/emails sometime in March.
Yes, I have deleted Adobe and the CUE app and reloaded them with some difficulty, especially the CUE one. However myCadillac app is not on the apple system so can not be reloaded. Now how much can the update of myCadillac program be changed since it just an communication vehicle to the local dealer, Moore. However, the OnStar program already has significant maintainance data recorded in it and I am not sure that the data will not be lost by dumping it. Any ideas on that?
David — myCadillac is in the Apple App Store. Here’a the direct link to it:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mycadillac/id398605251?mt=8
Generally, app updates tend to either fix certain bugs, add new features, or deliver some other form of functionality (such as device-based compatibility) — so it’s always a good idea to get the latest app updates. You can always find what the update is offering by looking at the “Description” section of the app details page; this page should contain a “What’s New” section.
For instance, the latest update to the myCadillac app (dated October 4, 2012) brings the Owner Manual for the 2013 ATS.
Let me know if installing the myCadillac app works for you.
Alex
GM Authority
Just got my ATS last week and noticed that “Spoken Street Name Guidance” during navigation is very limited. It will speak major highways and interstates but very few regular streets or avenues. On all other GPS units built into previous cars, this worked 100% of the time. Will this be upgraded in the new release?
Bob — this is something I noticed as well. I’m not sure if this will be fixed with the upcoming updates, since details haven’t been publicized yet. Should know more soon.
I’ve just had the March Cadillac XTS Cue update. No Siri Eyes Fee! The dealer did not even know what I was talking about when I complained it was not there. Not impressed, not happy!
if I DO NOT NOT HAVE NOW, WILL THE NOW, WILL I BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD THE APP SO THAT I WOULD HAVE IT?