[jaffab]

I was bored today, so spent half an hour trying all the possible things I could think of with my Android Samsung S4, just to see the difference between what was possible between Bluetooth (via EBT) and wired (via USB cable)...

I assume (correct me if I am wrong) that the usb cable will provide the same functionality as a snap in connector.

So, the results are (differences in blue):

EBT
Bluetooth music streaming = yes
Album art display = no
Alert (via icon, no popup) on SMS = yes
Email receipt alert (phone email, not connected drive) = NO
Bluetooth stream ability to jump to specific playlist = NO
Bluetooth stream ability to jump to specific Album/track = NO
Bluetooth stream ability to jump to jump forward/back a song = YES
See Diary = NO
Run apps = NO
See contacts = YES
Dial via voice, search, list, last called, redial = YES
Voice command to Google Now = YES

Via cable
Bluetooth music streaming = NO
Stream via plugged in device = YES
Album art display = NO
Alert (via icon, no popup) on SMS = yes
Email receipt alert (phone email, not connected drive) = NO
Stream ability to jump to specific playlist = YES
Stream ability to jump to specific Album/track = YES
Stream ability to jump to jump forward/back a song = YES
See Diary = Yes
Run apps = YES (currently, only facebook and twitter - interface is poor, not worth the effort)
See contacts = YES
Dial via voice, search, list, last called, redial = YES
Voice command to Google Now = NO


So, for the effort of digging my phone out and plugging it in, I just get the added value of being able to search and select music on my phone via the BMW menu controls.

Surprised how awful the apps were, and surprised that album art and emails still dont work via USB cable.

Also interesting to note with the phone plugged in, Google Now integration failed to work (for me).

Also worth noting, with the above setups, the OFFICE menu has two sub-menu options of TODAY (at the top) and MESSAGES (3rd menu option down) - the only difference between the two is TODAY shows a sub menu of message (SMS) numbers which you then select to show the message details, whilst MESSAGES just goes straight into messages - which is a fairly pointless menu structure (IMHO).

The big disadvantage of plugging in a phone via USB (and dock?) is that once plugged in, the settings for the phone in the car are changed to switch off media by BT. This means if you decide on the next journey to play music via BT, you have to manually go back into the device config in your car menu, and reactivate streaming on the device otherwise music wont play.

[steve@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by jaffab

I was bored today, so spent half an hour trying all the possible things I could think of with my Android Samsung S4, just to see the difference between what was possible between Bluetooth (via EBT) and wired (via USB cable)...

I assume (correct me if I am wrong) that the usb cable will provide the same functionality as a snap in connector.

So, the results are (differences in blue):

EBT
Bluetooth music streaming = yes
Album art display = no
Alert (via icon, no popup) on SMS = yes
Email receipt alert (phone email, not connected drive) = NO
Bluetooth stream ability to jump to specific playlist = NO
Bluetooth stream ability to jump to specific Album/track = NO
Bluetooth stream ability to jump to jump forward/back a song = YES
See Diary = NO
Run apps = NO
See contacts = YES
Dial via voice, search, list, last called, redial = YES
Voice command to Google Now = YES

Via cable
Bluetooth music streaming = NO
Stream via plugged in device = YES
Album art display = NO
Alert (via icon, no popup) on SMS = yes
Email receipt alert (phone email, not connected drive) = NO
Stream ability to jump to specific playlist = YES
Stream ability to jump to specific Album/track = YES
Stream ability to jump to jump forward/back a song = YES
See Diary = Yes
Run apps = YES (currently, only facebook and twitter - interface is poor, not worth the effort)
See contacts = YES
Dial via voice, search, list, last called, redial = YES
Voice command to Google Now = NO


So, for the effort of digging my phone out and plugging it in, I just get the added value of being able to search and select music on my phone via the BMW menu controls.

Surprised how awful the apps were, and surprised that album art and emails still dont work via USB cable.

Also interesting to note with the phone plugged in, Google Now integration failed to work (for me).

Also worth noting, with the above setups, the OFFICE menu has two sub-menu options of TODAY (at the top) and MESSAGES (3rd menu option down) - the only difference between the two is TODAY shows a sub menu of message (SMS) numbers which you then select to show the message details, whilst MESSAGES just goes straight into messages - which is a fairly pointless menu structure (IMHO).

I'm guessing you don't have nav professional since the album art doesn't show up on Bluetooth. If you have the professional nav on your 2014 model, they will show up and you will also be able to search and browse as if the cable is plugged in.

[jaffab]

Sorry to say, I DO have pro nav. :-(

I get album art from the same song files when copied to a USB stick or downloaded to my collection, just not from my phone (via EBT or cable).

So should it get album art via EBT/cable? Does anybody else using an S4? What version of android? Maybe its the music player on android I am using?

[aksi]

I have a question. If you connect your phone via usb, does the car automatically accepts phone signal too? which means, I don't have to have BT on to have the phone integrated to the car for receiving/calling/talking through the car speaker?
Sorry,, new to BMW

[jaffab]

I think it still needs BT for phone functions.

[aksi]

Originally Posted by jaffab

I think it still needs BT for phone functions.

thank you.