Is your Pioneer AVIC-F Series navigator acting up?

We aren't suggesting that these problems are widespread or anything, but a fair number of users over at AVIC411 seem to be having all sorts of issues with their (admittedly pricey) F-Series navigators. According to owners, the issues range from complete lock-ups to distorted voice commands to quirky iPod interactions -- and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Have any of you taken the plunge only to find a litany of problems after installation? Or is your unit humming along just fine? Chime in below and let us know what's up.

[allislost @ Jun 17th 2008 3:33AM]

umm... the navigator is nice and you could also use it... as a hat.

[Steve @ Sep 1st 2008 1:00PM]

I've had an Avic-z3 for a year and notice none of these problems, but i think I've sped up my unit by swapping the hard drive with a 200GB 7200 speed drive. The new series seem a step back without a hard drive, and most of the problems are a result of that. My boot up takes about 5 seconds, and the bypass i put in scraps the warning screens for NAV and front seat video. i slapped a direct tv mobile antennae on the roof ($2800) and now I get 250 channels nationwide. Scrap the f series and get a unit with a hard drive, like the z3. the next most attractive option is the nakamichi japanese unit, but it will cost $3000

[A.C.E.R. @ Jun 17th 2008 3:35AM]

Buy me one and I'll let you know how it works out.

[David L @ Jun 17th 2008 4:02AM]

Overall it's a very nice product, but there are a few problems that I've seen so far. It's incredibly slow to react. Whether it's just touching the screen to change AV sources/options or the initial startup, there is a significant delay. After starting your car, you cannot change any controls until about 1 mile down the road. The pioneer's bluetooth is an above par interface and the phonebook transfer is a huge step above the ancestral AVIC-D3. Besides a microphone sensitivity control, a 'contacts' button is also missing from the menu while accessing your phone (although there is one on the main menu, pictured above). The navigation on the unit IS improving but it is also the main reason for the slow startup since it no longer runs from a nav dvd. Both english speaking voices are choppy and a tad annoying and I would really like to see an in-dash nav unit that says road names (like the new tomtom series). One great improvement is the ipod/usb connector. You can connect your ipod (just like the past few series of pioneers) but there is also a standard usb connect for those who would like to go above and beyond their ipod/phone. Unfortunately I found a glitch when my sansa mp3 player died after I turned my car off :/ It's good to see that pioneer has an inexpensive unit with a memory card slot but it's too little too late with an SD card. Save room with a micro SD and expand the screen a little more!
Besides a few bugs that can be worked out by the user and a screen that needs to be calibrated over and over before it's finally saved, the new pioneer F series has my vote... until the next series is previewed

[phobic99 @ Jun 17th 2008 6:02AM]

I was really looking forward to buying one of these. Quite a shame about all the problems.

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Jun 17th 2008 9:43AM]

Yeah it's too bad that firmware fixes don't come out often either!

[pentavolvo @ Jun 17th 2008 8:14AM]

Im an installer and have seen most of the same issues David L has posted about. The D3 was a great unit especially when pioneer started to blow them out for cheap. This new F series is garbage, the new Kenwoods are far superior

[STiDriver @ Jun 17th 2008 1:17PM]

I bought the AVIC-D3 with iPod cable and Bluetooth unit (it "works" with the iPhone, but i can't download my phone book, and you can't add things to the phone book manually (lame!) so i have 6 phone numbers stored and that's it).

For $400 with the $200 rebate, i'm feeling pretty smug since everything works as advertized, other than the goofiness associated with the iPhone bluetooth and i'm getting XM this week.

The iPhone-as-an-iPod works without a single hitch on this unit. Plus, the hack to make all functions work at all times (watch a DVD, enter an address) regardless of the handbrake setting is easier to do than actually hook up the handbrake.

Get your hands on an AVIC-D3 instead of this apparently bug-laden unit. You'll love it.

[LeadfootGSR @ Jun 17th 2008 8:55AM]

I have one and it has been a huge let down. The product was never tested for quality. For example, the female voice say "drive 4 comma 2 miles" when it should say "drive 4 point 2 miles." How does a mistake like this make it to production? The GPS voice also tends to be very staticy. The Bluetooth is useless when the car is in motion; people on the other end of the phone cannot understand what you are saying, and telling the system to play an artist results in nothing happening. Even making a call when the car is parked results in the other person having a really hard time understanding you.

iPod touch and iPhone both lack the ability to display video....yet it works for all the previous versions as well as the iPod classic. Also, expect to wait 2-3 minutes once you connect your iPod for it to be fully functional.

Finally, and most ridicules, is the long start up time. It takes it over one minute to become fully functional after you start your car. Music does start playing after about 30 seconds....but you cannot change the station or track. All you can do is turn the music up or down until it’s done booting up. This means you cannot just jump in you car, enters the address in to the GPS and be off and running. Rather you get to wait like an idiot for the headunit to start. What I find really amusing is that it takes 2-3 minutes for the backup camera to start working. Kind of defeats the purpose of even having one.

I would recommend everyone avoid this headunit!

[Greg Combs @ Jun 17th 2008 10:04AM]

I still love it, but hell yes I've got issues ... my primary problem is that voice-dial-by-name isn't functional even though it's in the quaint promo videos as well as the manual. Pioneer did say they're working on a firmware update right now.

[Greg Combs @ Jun 17th 2008 10:07AM]

Here is my list:

1. There is no voice-dial-by-name, contrary to the video advertisements.

2. Selecting a name in the contacts list dials the first number for that contact it finds. This is contrary to the videos where when a contact is selected, the unit finds all the numbers for that contact and asks you to pick. This doesn't seem to happen. Which brings me to my next point...

3. Updates for my contacts from the iPhone it doesn't *really* erase the old and write the new. I had an old/bad home number for a contact, and whenever I would dial him it wouldn't ask whether I wanted to call him at home or on his cell ... it kept picking home. So I deleted the home number from my iPhone, then told the F90BT to re-sync the address book. It said it would delete the existing info, which sounded great. After it competed the update, the number stored for my contact was still the bad home number, which shouldn't even be there. There appears to be no way to delete contacts from the unit once they are added.

4. Rear view camera doesn't activate until the unit is fully booted up, which means it's useless when leaving your driveway in the morning.

5. Noisy bluetooth audio on the other end of the line ... We hear things just fine in the car, but the person We're talking to can't understand me much of the time.

6. There were no trim rings or cages included in the shipping box, is this normal industry practice?

7. No voice controlled navigation ... i.e. "Set destination to Home" doesn't work ... although this is more of a feature request than a bug.

8. The unit seems to ignore the preset up/down selections from steering wheel remotes ... this is very annoying. Volume up/down and seek up/down work just fine.

9. Every time the ipod is plugged in it re-catalogs the voice recognition database ... It should store this information from one drive to another.

[DrkSandman @ Jul 14th 2008 2:10PM]

So, I have a unit on the way. Sure wish I had read these reviews before, but it is what it is. From what I gather from everything I had read, this unit has some flaws that hopefully can be fixed.

The one gripe that I see over and over that makes me scratch my head is the 3 minute boot up time. Sure, that is annoying, but do you people not warm your car up in the morning? Maybe it is just me, but I can wait 3 minutes before taking off. Especially if it is for a road trip or something.

Americans (and yes, I am one (and proud)) have this insane appetite for instant gratification. If I go get a burger, it's hilarious to see people appologizing for the "long wait" when all I waited was five minutes.

The bluetooth and voice recognition issues bum me out, but I think I will enjoy the unit nonetheless, and wait for a firmware update to fix some issues. Too bad Pioneer let something get out to the public with so many issues.

[cinaali @ Jun 17th 2008 10:50AM]

I recommend not buying one until at least 1/2 of this list is fixed. P.O.S!

1. No voice dial by name.

2. Selecting a name in the contacts list dials the first number for that contact it finds. This is contrary to the videos where when a contact is selected, the unit finds all the numbers for that contact and asks you to pick. This doesn't seem to happen.

3. No MSN as I thought would be on F700-BT.
4. Noisy bluetooth audio on the other end of the line ... We hear things just fine in the car, but the person we're talking to can't understand me much of the time.

5. No voice controlled navigation ... i.e. "Set destination to Home" doesn't work ... although this is more of a feature request than a bug.

6. The unit seems to ignore the preset up/down selections from steering wheel remotes ... this is very annoying. Volume up/down and seek up/down work ok.

7. Every time the ipod is plugged in it re-catalogs the voice recognition database ... It should store this information from one drive to another.
8. THE TIME IS ALWAYS WRONG!!!
9. Slow Boot Up

10. Text to Speech say comma instead of point

11. User interface reacts very slow to input, especially when first starting up
12. I-pod wont connect 2 times in a row. If I'm listening to my ipod, then turn off car, when I turn the car back on it wont connect unless I disconnect the ipod cable and reconnect.

13. Ipod videos don't start where they were left when I turn the car off and on.

14. Sometimes ipod video takes a couple minutes to start playing.

15. Occasional freeze when navigation is guiding you through a route. Button input doesnt work during this time. Eventually system will get moving again with or without restart.
16. Screen will not disappear that says “Parking break is not installed correctly.”
17. Updates for my contacts from the iPhone it doesn't *really* erase the old and write the new. I had an old/bad home number for a contact, and whenever I would dial him it wouldn't ask whether I wanted to call him at home or on his cell ... it kept picking home. So I deleted the home number from my iPhone, then told the F90BT to re-sync the address book. It said it would delete the existing info, which sounded great. After it competed the update, the number stored for my contact was still the bad home number, which shouldn't even be there. There appears to be no way to delete contacts from the unit once they are added.
18. Rear view camera doesn't activate until the unit is fully booted up, which means it's useless when leaving your driveway in the morning.

[Cary G @ Jun 17th 2008 11:10AM]

Wow. I was just about to order one of these for my wife's SUV. I may have to rethink that........

[Jimmy Jones @ Jun 17th 2008 11:59AM]

Welcome to Gadget 2.0 gadget lovers...like me! This is a perfect example of what happens when a gadget is packed with tons of multi-features... video, audio, nav, av in/out/ msn, interwebz, camera. u name it...jeez...the list goes on...

What happens with all the mesh? a complete fiasco.

I wish some1 here could reason with me

[JoseB @ Jun 17th 2008 1:00PM]

This makes me very sad :( I was about to order the F900BT next week to redo the audio in my car, my iPod currently stays connected in my car so that doesn't bother me too much, but the slow response / boot time and poor BT audio quality is really holding me back at this point...

[mrpysnik @ Jun 17th 2008 7:56PM]

My girlfriend has a regular, single din pioneer head unit that freezes her ipod after disconnecting it - even if she goes through the proper disconnect procedure. And she had the same problem on a different model in another car.

[Dan G @ Jun 18th 2008 12:16AM]

I have the F90. Most of the bad you hear is true. But the good features of the system are amazing. EXCEPT... Pioneer is going to HAVE to do something about the display brightness. The display resolution is awesome -- crystal clear. But it is so dim as to be completely unreadable on a sunny day. I mean completely. Can't read the map, can't even tell what radio or XM channel you're on. That bad. I hope there's a firmware fix for that out...? Please, Pioneer, if you read any of this, fix the display!!

[Paul Christensen @ Aug 5th 2008 12:33AM]

I agree. the display is terrible. it is completely washed out
in daylight, and it makes it UNSAFE!!!!!!

the unit is almost junk compared to the avic z3.

[cboh3k @ Jun 18th 2008 2:30AM]

I had my F900BT installed last week and it has been nothing but problems. The installer said they just got them in so they are not sure of what they are supposed to do.

The directional arrow on mine points to the rear of my truck. Called Pioneer and they said they have had some problems with these units and I need to return it right away and get a fresh one.

It does not do 3/4 of the things Pioneer shows on thier site. It changed from 3d to 2d while driving and got lost.

This unit is far from being ready for release.

[Eddie @ Jun 19th 2008 4:59AM]

ok, FIRST THINGS FIRST... THIS IS THE ONE TO GET!!! all the issues i've been hearing of are all ISOLATED WITH WHAT I'M ABOUT TO WRITE. I bought my Avic Pioneer F90BT... and LOVE IT!

First for the most prevalent issue... STARTUP TIME... ok, i got remote startup and it takes me at least 30 seconds to get to my car... ISSUE FIXED, LOL.. so utilizing remote startup where ur car will be all ready to go in a minute anyways isn't an issue. warm in the winter, and nice and cool in the summer.

Next... All the other issues, IF issues, are minor... and can be relatively fixed if not completely fixed with the new software update. As far as navigation goes, my old pioneer was one that came out and i hated it... no warranty cause it came with my car.. acura rsx, bought june 2007... and the ribbon didn't work.

BUT WITH THIS IT SITS IN THERE PERFECTLY WITH NO REAL MAJOR CHANCE FOR ISSUES, AND THERE'S A 2-YEAR WARRANTY "IF" ANY...

Getting back to it... I just got this cause I needed a new navigation cause my other one sucked- and so why not get the best? THE MSN DIRECT ALONE, WITH CURRENT GAS PRICES, TRAFFIC AND HOW PRETTY THE SCREEN IS.. IS WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. VOICE ACTIVIATION IS A COOL FEATURE, BUT JUST THE 3D MAPPING IS WHAT SELLS THIS THING "FOR ME"...

otherwise... it's just a freakin nav that most people have, but way better... IN A NUTSHELL.. I LOVE THIS THING AND WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE... ISSUES NOT REALLY BIG.

[Robert @ Jun 19th 2008 8:18PM]

I just bought the AVIC - F90BT, but haven't installed it yet. I won't be back in twon until 2nd week in July. Should I take it back? is there another navigation system that compares? Thanks

[Teledatageek @ Jun 19th 2008 8:33PM]

Well holy smokes. My F700 was installed today. I'm already having buyers remorse - which I will remedy if necessary.

1. Delay on start up - What the hell is that all about?! It's flash based, shouldn't it be quicker.

2. It doesn't work with my Blackberry 8330. Constantly disconnects. Uh, I don't think it's the Crackberry.

3. Weird limited voice commands. Not anything like I expected.

I have to say that I'm highly disappointed. I have put my wife's install on hold and unless there's a quick solution, this Pio is being pulled!

What's does everyone think the best unit is to handle Navi, Bluetooth, XM, backup cam (this is actually pretty cool on the Pio), HD Radio (not a necessity), SD Card (I like this too, but haven't tried yet).

[greg @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:45PM]

I bought the F700 and was really pumped about getting full ipod integration, nav, and a fully integrated Sirius (i had a old fm transmit version)

then i got it and have found these things to be true:

1. it looks great, the screen is gorgeous

2. the touch sensitivity works great, i RARELY have to mess with multiple missed presses or anything

3. the startup takes FOREVER and is really annoying

3. i think the nav works great, havent had any problems, though can you turn of the voice guidance, id rather just have the map in front of me and keep listening to my music un-interrupted

4. the display of sirius info is REALLY BUGGING ME you can only display artist or song name cant sit and have both seen at the same time without scrolling through the disp options (this is my number one issue right now, b/c it would be so easy to fix on the software side and should have been realized)

5. the "play artist ____" feature actually works alot better than i though it would but you have to wait forever for it to rebuilt the voice library every time you start your car which is annoying

6. i get a "your parking break in improperly connected" warning evertime i drive and initially switch to map but it doesnt seem to affect funtionality at all, i took it back to my installer and they said it was clearly and easily attached as it should be. Anybody else having that?

7. The BT connects to my old samsung flipper quite easily and i can voice dial contacts easily which is great but they can barely hear me, while i can hear them just fine. I have the mike right where they said to put it, on the visor, so that is annoying. (Maybe a new iPhone will connect and work better, though its obviously a mic issue)

And has anyone talked to pioneer about any of these things and heard about any plans to fix them?

[mcassels @ Jun 24th 2008 1:36PM]

I have the avic-f900bt with all modules listed below. I have the same issues as everyone else does. After making 37 phones called to pioneer I finally got a phone call back from the helpdesk management. He seems to think that it’s a state of the art unit with only a few minor inconveniences.

Mark had no ETA on any type of fixes or updates. He would not even confirm that they were working on one. If you guys would like I can go in to the details. But I would strongly recommend that you guys call him and open a case with him so that the issues will get addressed.

FYI, I found out through several local stores that pioneer has pulled the units out of the distribution warehouses. Mark did confirm this but he was still in denial that there where issues he said it was a common practice. ( I don’t think so)

[e-mail]
800 421 1404, option 2 and option 4 ask for Mark Passmore. It did take him 3 business days to return my call.



AVIC-F900BT
GEX-P920XM
CD-SB10
ND-BC20PA
GEX-P10HD

[Mike G @ Jun 25th 2008 10:04AM]

I just bought and had an AVIC-F900BT installed in an 03 Honda Pilot. I expected a few problems and am not as annoyed as some with the issues. The really big issue is the microphone clarity, neither the BT calls (which sound distorted and has static that sounds like road noise) or the Voice Recognition seem to work well, but they do work. The boot up is slow, but if you put in a good splash image it's not that bad. The reverse camera image only takes about 5-10 seconds to pop up for me.

Overall I'm impressed with the navigation functions and touch screen. The interface on the AVIC-F900BT is very easy to navigate once you get the hang of things. I like the way it's able to switch back and forth between navigation commands or phone calls to the audio source you're listening to. Being able to put in an SD or CD with your own audio or video is great. I tried some avi and mp4 videos and it worked surprisingly well. I've had more problems with Treos and iPhones than the AVIC using my own videos.

The system definitely has some flaws and issues, but the dealer that installed mine claims there's and update coming out in a couple of weeks that is supposed to fix both the microphone issue and the slow start up. Given all the things the system is capable of, I'd give it a 8 out of 10 stars and am hoping the update comes soon.

[Heather @ Jun 27th 2008 12:31AM]

I had the AVIC F700BT installed in my car about 2 weeks ago. After several trips back to the installer to have issues "fixed", and several calls to Pioneer to figure out what was going on I finally decided to have the unit removed from my car. My main issues were: 1) Very slow start up 2) A message appeared everytime I was driving that informed me that the parking brake was improperly connected. 3) The bluetooth was very noisy to people on the other end of the line - I could hear them fine but they couldn't understand what I was saying. I understand that other people were having problems with voice recognition, but I never even tested that out!
After several calls to Pioneer and getting no real answer that any of these issues would be resolved soon I decided to have the unit removed from my car. When I took the unit back to the installer to be removed he told me that he had installed about 10 of these units in people's cars and ALL of them were having issues. Go Pioneer! Way to put a product on the market that is full of bugs.

[Bill @ Jul 1st 2008 7:52PM]

Hi All:

I had the AVIC-D3 for a while, and got rid of it. I could go on and on about all the problems, but suffice it to say that Pioneer simply didn't express any interest in fixing them. Just like what you're all seeing with the new F-Series. And by the way, it's been 17 months since the map disk was burned to DVD for the AVIC-D3, and there's been no update, and no expected update at all. No software update has been issues, and the map data is at least two years old, if not older...

If history with the AVIC-D3 is any guide, the F-series problems will linger.

By the way, the problem your F-series users have reported with the voice speaking the word "comma" aloud instead of "point" as in "7 point 2 miles" is really funny. Pioneer had similar quality control issues with the AVIC-D3. For example, the word "dialed" in the phone display was spelled wrong! LOL How does that get into production? Couldn't they hire a summer intern as spell checker???

[Teledatageek @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:24PM]

My F700 is being ripped out next week and a Kenwood being put in its place. Good riddance....

[jaarso @ Jul 4th 2008 11:40AM]

Which Kenwood are you getting?

[Teledatageek @ Jul 7th 2008 6:06AM]

I'm getting a Kenwood DNX8120

[James @ Jul 15th 2008 12:55PM]

BIGGEST P.O.S. ----
Yadda yadda yadda - this unit is nothing but a problem/headache. I am a pioneer retailer and have instructed our sales staff NOT TO SELL this unit. PIONEER NEEDS TO FIX IT. Kenwoods units are much better and have not had even 1/8th the issues that the pioneer units have. But if you like having to go to your local stereo shop to complain about a new problem with the pioneer unit than plan on being there twice a day for the next two weeks. And they still can't do anything to fix it because PIONEER is not resonding to E-mail or tech support calls. --- only buy this unit if you like you salesperson and want to marry them because you will have a long term relationship that is all ROCKY.

[damian @ Aug 6th 2008 2:55PM]

Hello everyone,

I know most of you are all upset with the avic f series navigation but just to let you know ther is a software update on the way that will adress most of those issues, especially bluetooth connectivity and sound qulaity.

It is a unique piece of equipment and will be satisfying once it is updated.

[Jose @ Aug 11th 2008 11:09PM]

I just installed the F_90 BT and the only issue i have is the slow startup. I just put a custom splash screen so like MIKE G said "its not so bad". My installer actually put my mic. in the corner of the windshield and its out of the way. Kinda hidden actually and everyone i call says i sound loud and clear. I did get one from the batch that alreay come with the update installed so maybe thats why my unit works a bit better. The ipod works like a charm and and the nav. does say; e.g. 4 "point" 5 miles instead of the "comma". Backup camera kicks in in about 1 1/2 seconds to at most 3 seconds. I was asked if i wanted a generic camera or the pioneer camera and of course i selected the pioneer camera for better compatibilty. Navigation works pretty good and everything sounds good when recieving instructions. Also like the smart zoom and the changing illuminaton colors. Almost any color possible and a scan option for constant changing of colors. All in all, 9 out of 10 for my

[Spank @ Aug 18th 2008 1:49PM]

The Pioneer AVIC-F series is just garbage. I tried to give it a chance, even after the firmware update, and it's still not a solid unit. The Bluetooth doesn't work with Blackberry phones, the UI is absolutely atrocious, and a $150 handheld TomTom is 10x the navigation system of a Navi. The firmware update did address the issue with long startup times, but it still takes a good half a minute for the unit to be fully operational.

"As is the case with other computers, the length of time to boot up an AVIC F-Series system is largely due to the numerous demands (navigation, entertainment, information, connectivity, compatibility, etc.) placed upon it."

Horseshit. It's 2008. Stick a CPU in there that can handle the job.

Pioneer makes fantastic single DIN decks, but for the price, their nav units are a joke. Go with Kenwood or Alpine.

[Jose @ Aug 26th 2008 10:07PM]

like i said, I have the f-90 and its the shit. I have a 4GB mem. stick w/900 songs and i-pod plus and music video dvd w/30 videos. Love the radio and connects right to my phone as soon as i turn it on. Mic. works great plus the rear-view cam is badass,navigation is pretty good too. Custom backround pic. and custom illumination lighting. Really cant say anything bad bout the radio. It was what i expected

[Eric @ Aug 27th 2008 9:54PM]

According to the pioneer website: "With some exceptions, most all AVIC F-Series systems purchased after July 28, 2008, should already have the free firmware update installed."
The only problem left seems to be the boot up time and there's appearantly not much they can do about that, but that remote start-up idea mentioned above sounds good!
I have a few questions for you guys since I am planning to buy an F90BT and I trust YOU more than my retail salespeople!
1. Can you play video from iPod? If yes, What iPod do you use?(the compatibility chart does not mention the ipod video)
2. Any body is using the XM Sat? Does it work well with F90BT?
3. Can you download music or video To the F90BT? If yes, from what source( CD, DVD, iPOD, SD card)
4. Did anyone try connecting iPhone to F series? Did it give the infamouse message of " This device is not compatible"?! Were you still able to charge the phone? How about using the ipod of iphone on F90BT?
Thanks so much
Eric

[Domenic @ Sep 3rd 2008 9:14AM]

I've had the F700BT for 3 weeks. Purchased it at Futureshop and they have a 30 return policy. I'm really thinking of returning it. Below are some comments, some positive, some negative.


I consider it to be slow to respond. Pressing the screen sometimes responses quickly, sometime takes upto 5 seconds.

It has crashed on me a couple of times, and I've had to turn it off and back on. A real pain when your driving down the highway.

Although the sound quality is good, it does have more hiss than I'd expect, especially if you turn the treble up.

MP3 player works OK. I have an 8 gig usb stick plugged in always. However, you can only have one folder level. IE. you can't have a folder with in a folder. My MP3 collection on my computer is organized by Artist First Letter, Artist, Album and the song. So the MP3s are typically 3 levels down. I had to resort my collection for the car, and now I have to maintain two collections. Mind you, the PS3 and my Pioneer DVR have the same issue, so I car deck, ps3 and DVR share the same collection. BTW 32Gig USB memory sticks are available, and they will be comming down in price.

I put about 100gigs on MP3 on a 160 gig USB drive, (with one folder level), and it seem to work. The USB port was not powerfull enough to power my external USB drive that uses a laptop HD. An external power supply will solve the issue. BTW, a cheap Sony deck that I have powers my USB drive.

I really wish the MP3 player supported playlists. I have forders with different types of music. When I get in the car, I pick one of my favorit folders. When my woman gets in the car, I let her pick one of her favorit folders. If we both like the same sound, I have to put it on the USB stick twice. I know, some of you will say, just don't let her have a choice. Ya, I thought of that, but then I may not get noggie that night, (or what ever you want to call it).

I put a SD/Flash adapter in the front SD port, and when ever my son gets in the car, he pulls the flash card out of his cell phone, and plugs it into the 900BT. He loves this feature. Fortuantely, I like his music, so I'm OK with it.

You can get the navigation system to record your trip to a log file, and then export the log file to the SD or USB card. I found a site that will take those logs, and convert it to a google earth file, and you can see the trip on google earth. A friend that does a lot of motorcyle crusing loves this feature on his navigation system. They post their trip and other bikers folow the trip. I was hoping to find a log viewer that could show me were I've gone and the time at each location. I do onsite service calls, and sometimes I forget to record the time I get to and leave a customer site. The logs are in text format, so you can figure it out if you really need to.

Boot up takes between 1 and 1.5 minutes. Absolutely hate that I get in the car, put the key in and turn it to acc, wait 90 seconds, put in my route for the day, start the car, the unit goes off and I have to wait another 90 seconds before it comes on. If I keep the unit I'm going to have to build something to minimize the wait time by starting the unit up sooner.

A few have said that the long boot up is because of all the features. Not true. As a hardware designer, embedded system like this don't have to take 10s of seconds to startup. If they choose to use an MS OS, then ya, there will be all kinds of crap going on slowing the boot up. I can tell that part of the system is ready before the 60 to 90 seconds required for startup. Ah, it's probably bad programming on top of bad OS.

When the navigation system speaks, it cuts the music by default. I did find a setting that does not mute the music. It just took a while to get the volume setting right. You can't change the navigation volume while the care is moving.

Some have reported that they get a message about the a wiring issue. It's because your installer has not hooked one of the input leads to your parking break or some other signal that is on when your stationary, and off when moving. When I first put the unit in my car, jumperred the input so that the unit thought I was always stationary. Worked for a period of time, and then it figurred out that I was BSing it. Now it uses the Navigation to tell if I'm moving. Some told me that if I hook up the parking break again, it will learn that it's wired properly and will no longer put up the message.

I can understand why many function, like anytime you have to type in text, won't work if the car is moving. Safety. But there some simple things that I can't do when when the car is moving. Pulling over on the highway is much more dangerous. They need to rethink this.

I put some AVI movies on the USB stick, and 9 out of 10 worked. There was no list that you could use to pick the movie you want to watch. It starts at the first one, and then you have to press next, next until you get to the movie you want. I guess they are not expecting users to large USB sticks, or USB hard drives.

When I first got the unit, I set it up on my electronics bench using a 12V supply and test many of the features that way. I feed a standard audio and video signal into the external inputs, (there are two, a rear and front input), and was able to watch video on the unit. One of the things I plugged in was a TV tuner and was able to watch TV. So basically, you can use it as a video display. With the correct cable, you can plug in a video cam corder in the front input and watch your video, (just in case you can't wait to get home to watch your new video).

There is a third video only input for a camera that you can mount on the back of the car. It will switch to that camera when you put the car in reverse. But like someone mentioned. It's pretty useless because the thing takes so long to boot up.

In summary, I like the feature set that unit has, but the implementation is terrible. Too many bugs. I bought the unit with a future shop extended warranty, 4 years in total, but to think that I will have to live with bugs for 4 years, (because I'm not counting of Pioneer to fix them), make me feel uncomfortable about my purchase.

I think I'm returning it, and wait for the next version, or take a look at the Kenwood.