[Phil A]

I have not got to try it yet with the iPhone. I downloaded the Pandora app but may not use it for a month or so (until the free satellite radio goes away - want to sign up for Pandora as I can use it with home devices too). I believe it does it wirelessly. I want to try XM from AOL Radio for he heck of it and if I get a chance in the next couple weeks I will. Backed up with A/V projects.

I have used the Nav (but have not paid much attention as it only has been a handful of times) and have to run out to the gym and may try it on the way home

 

[Phil A]

No street names - just tells you where to turn and it will override what is in the iMid display and show you a diagram

 

[Tuktanuk]

I'm looking at the 12 CR-V as well. Info I came across is as follows in regards to Bluetooth.
Pandora Streaming - Streaming and control (Steering and iMID) with the iPhone only. Streaming w/out control (phone control only) on Android.
SMS Text message read- Android only
Navigation spoken street names. No information as of yet. I'll be sure to test it when I go back for another test drive next week. If what Phil A says is true; that's a bit of a downer as well. I thought the goal for all of the tech in cars was to keep the driver focused. Not having spoken street names just means more glancing at the nav unit.As far as the limitations with A2DP Bluetooth protocols; WHY Honda went this route is vexing.... Not sure what the business model for limiting Pandora was; I just know it was a real bad move. Don't play favorites Honda... either go all in or stay out. It's not enough of a hassle w/Pandora on my Android to make me steer clear but it is a bit of an annoyance. In retrospect, I guess having Pandora streaming at all is a good thing considering my wife just bought a loaded Crosstour and I can't stream to that at all (unless I buy a Bluetooth gateway).

 

[Phil A]

Perhaps it is in the set-up. I've only used the Navigation a handful of times. Still getting used to what has been posted about the Nav system elsewhere that it locks out touch control when moving (so even A passenger can't do it) I know you can say 'Destination' and then it pulls up the info individually (city, street, number). Not sure yet (have not gotten that far) if you can say it all at once. For example, if you say a street name, it will pull up several (anything that can possible sound like it).

It was probably an iPhone thing. How many docks or home A/V receivers only work with the iPhone vs. with working with something else. I have an iPhone. I have downloaded Pandora but have not signed up for an account yet. Basically anything I listen to on XM I can get through AOL Radio for free. So I may try that too after the 90 days are up. I'll probably look into that in a month or so as well as the Pandora. I do prefer just plain good internet radio (I am a crazy audiophile). The Pioneer 1120 receiver I have in the office system as internet radio and most of the programmed stations are the best MP3 rates (320bps) that I have programmed. Most of the time it is Linn Jazz or Classical (Linn is a Scottish co. that makes audiophile equipment and also has a record co. with its own artists). I've yet to try internet radio on the secondary basement system receiver (which I believe can also do Pandora - have an Onkyo 1008). I have a Squeezebox Touch in the main system connected to an outboard DAC and I can tell you that internet radio at 320bps on a good recording really sounds nice. Not quite CD quality but really nice. I also have an iPod Classic (160GB) for the CR-V on the USB input. I put a bunch of 320bps MP3s I had made from an old digital device as I had 4,300 songs and I'll probably rip stuff I have not as yet in iTunes (I am not going to go crazy with the car). With the iPod, the entire music collection shows up on the Nav display and you can select by artist, album. playlist, etc. I have not figured out as yet if there is an easier way to navigate than the touch screen.

 

[Phil A]

I downloaded the AOL Radio App for the iPhone (I believe some of their 234 stations are XM stations). I tried a bit this AM streaming via Blue Tooth. Sounded good. All the display shows is BTA (Blue Tooth Audio). I did not try the USB but would guess that might show the artist and song info. I'll probably try more stuff over the next couple of weeks and if I get a chance sign up for Pandora (as noted I have the App but have not used it). I have multiple home devices that can do Pandora too.

 

[mwachel]

I have had my 2012 CRV EX-L Navi since mid Dec 2011. I have messed with the iphone 4 and the feautures a lot. Here is what I have found.

-Pandora will stream bluetooth and will show all info. You control skipping songs and pause play from the steering wheel. Thumbs up/down do not work through the car and it doesn't display album art.

-Pandora through USB works well and you get thumbs up/down as well as album art displayed.

I have not played any other music via my iphone.

PROBLEMS: Connecting the iPhone 4 (not sure about others) can be buggy.

- If my iphone 4 has wifi and bluetooth enabled the car will tell me the "phone is connected" every 2 minutes or so. Apparently from what I have found out is that the iphone 4 has a bug that if both bluetooth and wifi is enabled then bluetooth will disconnect and reconnect randomly. THIS IS AN IPHONE 4 PROBLEM NOT HONDA. Turning off wifi on my iphone fixes this. I have unlimited data so I don't mind leaving wifi off. My wife's blackberry works great.

- Connecting and getting Pandora up and running through the USB is a pain at times. It will sometimes come up "Unsupported" or just freeze up. Sometimes the sound works but the display says "Loading" forever. This is something that Honda needs to fix in the software. I have gotten to the point that I can connect it almost everytime with the magic combo:
1. Car started (phone NOT connected)
2. Audio source on FM1
3. Pandora running on phone
4. Plug phone in and wait for "Accessory Screen" on phone
5. Then change audio source to Pandora
That works 90% of the time. Sounds worse than it is. If you don't figure out the combo then it can be maddening. Again, Honda needs to fix this. I didn't buy the CRV for this but if it is included it should work as advertised.


When a call comes in the music mutes and a ring comes through the speakers. When the call is done the music comes back on. The phone info is displayed on the imid screen and Navi.

The Nav does NOT announce streets. That is fine with me but I don't use nav often. I only got it because the CRV I wanted had it.

So my overall impression for the CRV EX-L Navi with my iPhone 4: I love it but I think Honda needs to refine it considerably. Some features seem half baked.

That is my 2 cents. Now I just wish my 2011 Pilot had the imid!

 

[Phil A]

Thanks for the detailed info. I have the Pandora app but have not signed up yet. I am waiting to get the time to look at the receiver in my secondary basement system and program internet radio (I have a list of stations which I programmed on the office receiver) and it also can do Pandora (it's been on my to do list many months - was waiting for the CR-V which I also got in mid Dec). Does Pandora work flawlessly via Bluetooth? I'm fine not seeing the album art. I have 4,300 songs on the iPod which I connect through USB and I have not had the time to put additional stuff on it. I probably can put another 1,500 songs from what I have laying around and 6,000 songs is lots. I don't have wifi enabled on my iPhone 4 so I have not experienced that issue. The AOL Radio App from the few songs I've played seems to work nicely but it would be nice if something was on the iMid display other than BTA (Bluetooth Audio). I know the iPhone has an Internet Radio app for about $6. I'd get it except that 95% of the time when I listen to internet radio at home it is Linn Radio from Scotland (they make audiophile equipment and have an audiophile record label and they broadcast 3 stations, one jazz, one classical and one kind of a mix of genres and they are at 320bps and it sounds really good).

 

[mwachel]

Yes, bluetooth streaming of Pandora works flawlessly for me. I paid the $36 for a year of Pandora and that is pretty much all I listen to in the car now. The bonus of the USB is that your phone charges while using it. For quick trips around town I use blutooth. For longer trips I plug it in...I like to use the thumbs up and down buttons to "tune" my stations.

 

[Phil A]

I'll have to figure out if there is a better way of navigating (perhaps there is something in voice commands) through the iPod artists vs. the touch screen. For now, I have just one playlist and I guess I'll do more. It is easy to hit the bottom artist on the screen vs. the down arrow and be left to re-navigate.

 

[purceller]

We can't find this vehicle locally to see with our own eyes so I post these questions:

Will the bluetooth stream wirelessly or does it work via the USB and/or headphone jack only? Pandora or podcasts for example.

If playing Pandora, does the dash display show the songs that are being playing? How about controls such as skip the song, thumb up/down, etc.

When an incoming call comes in, does it display the name of the caller and/or phone number? Does it audibly say the name of the caller?

When using Nav, does it audibly state the name of the street to turn on? Our 2011 only says "turn right in 100 ft" and doesn't state the street name.

Thanks for the help.

Yes, bluetooth streams wirelessly great. I've streamed music from my iPhone 4s using both the iPod Music native iPhone app which in turn is streaming my music from iCloud via my wireless network and I also use Spotify (love this music service) which also streams music to my phone via my wireless data network and then to my car via bluetooth streaming.

One point of note for me is that I do get artist/song/album and artwork info displayed when streaming from these music sources via bluetooth, which was a nice surprise for me. As another posted commented, the main advantage of plugging into the USB is the charging aspect.

I just LOVE being able to listen to my music while my daughter is watching her movie on the RES using her wireless headphones during our school runs. Bloody awesome

Cheers
Eric

 

[vanz]

I only have the iMid and I don't get any info transfer from pandora over bluetooth to the screen. Only shows a number. What am I doing wrong?

Same goes for in phone music app. It just shows numbers.

I haven't connected through USB yet so we'll see how that looks. I have an iphone btw.

 

[mgcrv]

I am also having problems with Iphone 4G and 4S connectivity.
1) Bluetooth connection is not always reliable: You think it is connected and then randomly the phone will reconnect during the drive (i.e., you are told: XYZ phone is now connected). Also, for some reason, when connecting via bluetooth, it will turn Iphone volume down to zero. Once you change volume on phone - everthing works again. The volume control on Iphone is either off/mute or on (regardless of Iphone volume setting).
2) Connection via USB: This is preferred for seeing album artwork and using thumb's up/down for pandora (as mentioned above). Interesting, if you cycle through audio sources (e.g., FM, AM, XM) and back to USB) the connection doesn't work and neither controls on navigation or through Iphone don't work. You basically have to unplug dock connector and reconnect it to make it work. This also happens when you turn the car off and then back on again (i.e., unplug and then reconnect USB connector).

When dealer called Honda tech support on behalf - they told me they were aware of issue and Apple needed to fix it. I was dumbfounded at that response. Considering that Apple sold 37 Million Iphones in Q4 2011 - I don't think the are going to worry about fixing an application issue for Honda. I don't know if I am more disappointed that Iphone integration doesn't work as advertised -or- Honda's response. For now - we are stuck with the problem until Honda fixes it

 

[mwachel]

MGCRV:

It is the iPhone. If you want the reconnecting to stop...disable wifi on your phone. Sucks..but it is the iPhone 4 issue with the reconnecting. I assume the volume is also because my iPhone 4 does it as well and if you add that to the wifi crap...I am disappointed in my iPhone and it's bluetooth capabilities.

Just Google: "iphone 4 bluetooth disconnects" and see what pops up. Lots of reading material. Bummer. But still like the phone overall!

 

[vanz]

iphone connecting with USB is very faulty. I even turned off the wifi.

The two times I used it this morning, the volume cut off as I reversed and never returned. I thought it was a safety thing like how my audi lowers the volume, but when I went to put it in drive, it never recovered.

Besides turning off and on the car, I found out that the only way to restore the volume is to reset my phone...which is BS!

I'm just going to use the XM trial for the free 3 months...too bad they don't give you howard stern (XM premier channel) in this trial. Anyway I can get that?

 

[mwachel]

iphone connecting with USB is very faulty. I even turned off the wifi.

The two times I used it this morning, the volume cut off as I reversed and never returned. I thought it was a safety thing like how my audi lowers the volume, but when I went to put it in drive, it never recovered.

Besides turning off and on the car, I found out that the only way to restore the volume is to reset my phone...which is BS!

I'm just going to use the XM trial for the free 3 months...too bad they don't give you howard stern (XM premier channel) in this trial. Anyway I can get that?

Turning off the wi-fi is only to fix disconnecting bluetooth. Connecting with USB just sucks and I am not sure if it is the phone or the car. Two different issues.

 

[tgomez]

My iphone streams the ipod app and pandora through bluetooth. Both show artist & song info on the screen. I hand the phone to my daughter who is more than happy to press the thumbs up or down buttons on pandora (again, not connected to USB.)

I rarely use the USB because it freeezes up the screen.

My biggest gripe is that after connecting through bluetooth in my car, I have to reset the ring volume on the iphone when I get out of my car so as to not miss calls. This is REALLY annoying.

 

[mwachel]

I rarely use the USB because it freeezes up the screen.

My biggest gripe is that after connecting through bluetooth in my car, I have to reset the ring volume on the iphone when I get out of my car so as to not miss calls. This is REALLY annoying.

Amen brother! I hate that volume oddity.