Improve "Infotainment" Controls

[zigdog1]

I'm sure it's listed elsewhere but the Radio/Infotainment controls need a lot of clean-up. Seriously, it took my about 10 minutes to figure out how to tune the radio! Some suggestions:

1) Group the controls the same on the touch-screen and on the panel - i.e. Back - Home - Favs are next to each other on the screen but all over the place on the panel - they should be in the same three-button grouping there too.

2) Be consistent - Source does something slightly different on the touch screen than it does on the panel. Same with Config. The Phone button on the steering when and dash also function differently. I'm sure I'll figure it all out but its frustrating at first.

[drbruns]

I believe they have made major modifications (mainly reducing the number of buttons) to the button configuration on the center console for MY2013.

[ShannonVolt]

I agree, that could improve. The whole user experience is just different not necessarily completely negatively.

[kubismatik]

It is not intuitive. At least for me. I must be missing something obvious because nobody else has the same problem: When I connect my iPhone with USB cable, car infotainment takes control. I am able to select shuffle to get songs randomized but when I don't like the one that is just playing I can't find the way how to skip to the next one. I know it must be something natural, simple and intuitive but I can't find anything to do it with one touch.. anything I do I get a list of songs to select from which really isn't practical to use while driving.

[drbruns]

If you roll the wheel on the right side of the steering wheel, it should advance to the next song in your shuffle. Just be sure to roll it with your thumb and not press it down, as this will change the audio source.

[Tpfairbanks]

I agree the infotainment system controls unbelievable, makes me wonder how the QC is on the rest of the car. I love my Volt but man the infotainment mess...let me tell you.
1. Auto button once you hit it you have to hit at least 3 buttons to get the climate the way it was before, why not just press it again to turn it off?
2. Radio button there isn't one! to to switch sources is a minimum of 2 buttons to get where you are going you are or 5 if you use the source button (why can't you just get rid of the AM from the source) but you can get to the tone and clock in 1 button. Yeah i change the time everyday because the time always changes and the tone i adjust whenever i open the windows because it just doesn't sound right.
3. AS, they for got the extra S what is the point of this button what is wrong with Fav and why not use preset? touch screen
4. Factory reset home page, I use this everyday too I'm sure glad i can't get rid of that button.
5. I'm sure there is more but what is the point...i hope they move the infopainment designer to muffler bearing design or some thing where their work will be appreciated.

[kavolt]

i have to agree!!! this system is BY FAR the most frustrating, counter-intuitive, clunky, slow system i have encountered in 4-5 cars with voice command and\or steering wheel controls. I cannot believe the system is so awful on an otherwise fantastic car. i can't believe they didn't put more thought or effort into getting it right on such a "techie" vehicle. you just expect it to be great since the rest of the car is so advanced. it's like a finding a hair in your favorite dish at your favorite restaurant. it just ruins the experience.
isn't the point of the steering wheel buttons to keep your hands on the wheel? if i want to listen to my music on usb, i can toggle to usb with the source button. great! but then to scroll through folders, you have to hit the little up or down arrow on the touch screen, then select the folder you want with the screen, then scroll through the songs with the screen, then select the song with the screen. USELESS AND FRUSTRATING! if i'm missing something and there is a way to do it with the steering wheel buttons only, some please enlighten me.
the bluetooth voice phone interface just makes my blood boil. i have to wait for a ready beep, the wait for "the voice" to repeat what i just said, wait for another beep to confirm yes or no, then wait for "the voice" to say ok and tell me which phone (mine or onstar minutes) is going to use. JEEZ!! by the time all that happens, i can dig my phone out, dial the number by hand, and already be talking to the other person. i think the best system i used was a toyota rental (2010). i had it figured out without the manual in less than 5 minutes. after you're paired, hit the call button, after the beep, say "call john smith", the screen shows you what it heard. if correct, hit the call button again and it dials. if not, hit end call, and the system prompts you to try again. hit the end button twice to cancel the operation. period. simple and easy. if we could set a default phone in the settings it would eliminate "the voice" telling you which phone it was going to use. i try to use the volt system, get irritated and just give up. then i try it a few days later, thinking i'll get used to it, but after 3 months it still drives me nuts. even tried using bluetooth and voice to bypass the car and voice dial on my phone. as soon as the phone responds, "the voice" just says goodbye and terminates the operation. not to mention the lack of bluetooth streaming. we have bluetooth phone, how hard would it be to have bluetooth streaming? it's pretty much standard on most cars over 30k for the last year or more.
i love my volt, and when people ask me, i love to sing it's praises. but the whole infotainment experience rates a 3 or less. we have this beautiful screen with so much potential. it would also be nice to personalize it a little more. for instance, why is the clock so small? i would like the option to make it more prominent.

GM ENGINEERS; PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE RELEASE SOME TYPE OF UPDATE OR UPGRADE FOR THIS SYSTEM. I WOULD EVEN BE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT!!! IN THIS DAY AND AGE, AVAILABLE OR OPTIONAL SOFTWARE UPDATES ARE A GIVEN. ESPECIALLY WHEN A SYSTEM PERFORMS SO POORLY.