Radio integration of 2016

im debating about whether to upgrade the stereo to jbl. I'd rather go aftermarket on the stereo when an appropriate dash kit becomes available. However if other parts of the car are being integrated into the stereo I'll just opt for the jbl system and be done.

Anyone know if much else besides sound/phone is controlled or displayed through the factory radio? I will be adding the tech/premium package. I'm assuming the blind spot warning might be.

 

I am curious about this as well. Is the jbl a 6 or a 6.1 system?

 

If you're so inclined you can read the navigation system manual. It should have the answers.

https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInf...7U.html&locale=en&openSource=TechinfoPrelogin

On a related note, I was pleased to see that it doesn't seem to have the annoying lag that a lot of systems (cough CANYON cough) have. I can't link the video directly because i suck at the internet. The video about the nav system is buried in the review. See if you can find it.
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/08/17/2016-toyota-tacoma-first-drive-review-video/

the video shows some of the default "apps" and I didn't notice any that were specific to the vehicle. I do know the backup camera shows up on there.

 

The one nice feature you would lose by going aftermarket is the ability to display your radio/music info on the driver display screen (the screen between the speedometer and tachometer).

I've been driving a BMW for the last 2 years that has a nice big infotainment display, but no color driver display screen. One complaint I have is that when I have the navigation up on the big screen, I cannot see any specifics about the music that is playing. If I choose the split the screen in half, then the map becomes really tiny.

So I see this as something I would use often, having the navigation map on the radio screen and having the music info on the smaller driver display. I don't know what others like to do, but I prefer to have the map displayed on the big screen even when I'm not actually using the navigation for directions.

 

Not necessarily. Aftermarket integration manufacturers are working on interfaces to retain more aspects of modern connected cars. The possibilities being explored could potentially result in even more options for information to be displayed on that screen and the radio itself, and more customization options. How would you like to be able to set the color theme of that screen from your aftermarket radio? It's not that far fetched. I would still prefer aftermarket, just based on the fact that it opens up more doors for sound quality and customization.

 

I'm sure all of that is possible, but the problem is that currently there is no standard among manufacturers when it comes to those screens, and the aftermarket head units do not have an output that feeds any music metadata, so they would have to start making them like that, and then there would have to be separate adapters for each vehicle as they all have different size screens and capabilities. It's not as easy as integrating steering wheel controls.

I've yet to see an aftermarket head unit that can even integrate it's clock with the rest of the vehicle. Everyone I know who has an aftermarket head unit, even the most up to date ones, their clock is always a minute or two off from the car's clock.

 

The JBL system is a $600 upgrade over the "lower" package. To me, it isn't worth it putting in my own system.

 

The interfaces are not being designed to take complete control of the gauge cluster screens, only to give it the pieces of data needed to display certain things. The range of interfaces vs. vehicle applications actually narrows as vehicles become more data-driven. For instance, all Toyotas and Lexus will speak the same general language and have similar hardware connections, so only one interface will be needed with different firmware versions available for that same part number. Easily flashed over by the end user or a technician at the end of the final sale. These kinds of things are already in development and production. Head units can already sync information form vehicle systems... Maybe they haven't crossed the impassable, inconceivable milestone of integrating a vehicle systems COSC certified time clock, but I'm sure they'll get there one day . And aftermarket radios are already being designed and made to work with said interfaces, communicating with vehicle data from the OEM infotainment features and unlocking more features from the OBD circuit.

Kenwood and iDataLink are just a couple of the companies that come to mind....