Bluetooth - don't get me started
Too late.
OK let's just say it's grossly premature to remove the analog headphone jack.
I have heard a glimmer of hope that there is a new bluetooth standard.
That said, here's the typical experience now, colored by my experience of traveling with a 10 year old (on different trips).
With headphone jack:
Hand headphones and tablet to 10 year old. 10 y.o. plugs in and starts listening, happy for the entire 7 hour trip.
With bluetooth headphones
Hand headphones and tablet to 10 year old. Explain that they need to be synced first. Explain where the menu is (much pain without being able to refer to it while driving). Tell him to turn on the phones and hold down until the sync button is started. But is the tablet looking for them first? Is Bluetooth even enabled on the tablet? Tablet not syncing. What's wrong. Did we get it within the sync period? Try again? Were the batteries charged? Eventually have to pull over and sync at the next stop.
Batteries end up running out. We're done.
Bluetooth to tablet car experience (2015 Subaru)
Connect tablet. Is the car syncing? Bluetooth enabled? Hit connect on tablet. Car says connect all? Car's touchscreen is a bit sensitive. Miss it. Have to start over. Is car still waiting for a connection?
Go to change volume. Volume knob is right next to touchscreen. Inadvertently hit touchscreen and change to radio (and bump radio off of the right station and out of tune).
Fix and continue playing my podcasts.
Car has a pause button (a bit laggy). No fast forward, rewind, or track information.
Wife plugs in her phone to charge. Car takes over and begins playing her music.
On another trip: Leaving the house. Car syncs to wife's phone, which is still in the house, in the upstairs bedroom. Wife is at her bedroom desk, on the phone to her work. Car's audio and handsfree take over the phone connection. I hear the other side say, 'Hello? Are you still there?'. I stay silent and try to transfer it back. I click on 'bluetooth' again to try and connect to my tablet. Car immediately resumes handsfree to wife's phone. I'm done.
How it should work:
A nearby device can connect within 10 feet or so of the connection (NFC comms?). LED's flash on both sides. Push a button to acknowledge connection. Secure connection established. No assumptions made on reconnection. Phone/tablet asks whether you should reconnect when coming out of sleep / powering on car etc.
OK let's just say it's grossly premature to remove the analog headphone jack.
I have heard a glimmer of hope that there is a new bluetooth standard.
That said, here's the typical experience now, colored by my experience of traveling with a 10 year old (on different trips).
With headphone jack:
Hand headphones and tablet to 10 year old. 10 y.o. plugs in and starts listening, happy for the entire 7 hour trip.
With bluetooth headphones
Hand headphones and tablet to 10 year old. Explain that they need to be synced first. Explain where the menu is (much pain without being able to refer to it while driving). Tell him to turn on the phones and hold down until the sync button is started. But is the tablet looking for them first? Is Bluetooth even enabled on the tablet? Tablet not syncing. What's wrong. Did we get it within the sync period? Try again? Were the batteries charged? Eventually have to pull over and sync at the next stop.
Batteries end up running out. We're done.
Bluetooth to tablet car experience (2015 Subaru)
Connect tablet. Is the car syncing? Bluetooth enabled? Hit connect on tablet. Car says connect all? Car's touchscreen is a bit sensitive. Miss it. Have to start over. Is car still waiting for a connection?
Go to change volume. Volume knob is right next to touchscreen. Inadvertently hit touchscreen and change to radio (and bump radio off of the right station and out of tune).
Fix and continue playing my podcasts.
Car has a pause button (a bit laggy). No fast forward, rewind, or track information.
Wife plugs in her phone to charge. Car takes over and begins playing her music.
On another trip: Leaving the house. Car syncs to wife's phone, which is still in the house, in the upstairs bedroom. Wife is at her bedroom desk, on the phone to her work. Car's audio and handsfree take over the phone connection. I hear the other side say, 'Hello? Are you still there?'. I stay silent and try to transfer it back. I click on 'bluetooth' again to try and connect to my tablet. Car immediately resumes handsfree to wife's phone. I'm done.
How it should work:
A nearby device can connect within 10 feet or so of the connection (NFC comms?). LED's flash on both sides. Push a button to acknowledge connection. Secure connection established. No assumptions made on reconnection. Phone/tablet asks whether you should reconnect when coming out of sleep / powering on car etc.
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