Before it launched, I read about Cadillac’s new CUE (Cadillac User Experience) infotainment system with much interest. Dotted with words like “advanced,” “sophisticated” and “cutting-edge,” the initial press releases on this new system got the gadget-loving side of my brain salivating more than Homer Simpson in a bacon factory.
All that drooling was for a good reason: Turns out, there’s a lot right about how this CUE thing works.
On a recent test drive, I introduced my Android Smartphone to the CUE system in one Cadillac ATS via Bluetooth, after which point they became fast friends.
As in any other car, the pairing of phone to vehicle means drivers can handle phone calls, browse their contacts and stream music from internet radio or other apps directly into the car -- no wires required.
However, it’s not the functionality itself, but rather how it all comes together at your fingertips that makes CUE so impressive.
The central screen, for instance, is made of glass -- not plastic. It feels firm, solid and substantial. It vibrates out a little “click” sensation with every button press to confirm your inputs. Slide, expand and pinch gestures are all usable in most screens. It feels intuitive and natural, and reminded me of interfacing with my Motorola Razr phone.
When quickly browsing through various functions, some in-car systems lag harder than a Commodore 64 trying to play Doom 3D. With CUE, swapping between screens is seamless, smooth and instant. They’re all vividly colored and animated nicely.
You feel and see the thing responding to you instantly. And, unlike Audi’s MMI, Mercedes’s COMMAND, or (and especially) BMW’s iDrive, CUE doesn’t overload you with a cluttered sub-menu of icons and fields or buttons around the border of the display. Left alone, all of that secondary stuff fades away, leaving only vital data on the display until proximity sensors detect your reaching for the screen, and display the additional stuff a half-moment before your digits hit the glass.
That’s if you use your fingers on the screen at all. Buttons on the steering wheel allow for nearly full system control using only your thumbs. Manipulated thusly, a secondary full-colour screen in the instrument cluster reflects your choices, many of which are repeated in the optional head-up display.
Or, you can use your voice. And when you do, CUE doesn’t require filling in the blanks in a rigid speech template. Rather, it dissects what it hears and makes a usually accurate guess before engaging the selected radio station, phone call, or navigation routing to the nearest sushi joint.
Entering an address is similarly slick. Forget individual screens or fields for “city,” “province” or “street name.” With CUE, you simply type in an address (or partial address) the way you’d see it on an envelope and it does the rest. CUE actually “thinks” and the advanced intelligence here works to take the load off the driver.
It’s ultimately a smart, sexy, seamless, powerful, and truly evolved information and communications hub. This is how in-car infotainment should be. Learning curve? Sure. However, if you can operate an iPad or Nintendo Wii remote, you’ll have it down in about 20 minutes.
All that drooling was for a good reason: Turns out, there’s a lot right about how this CUE thing works.
On a recent test drive, I introduced my Android Smartphone to the CUE system in one Cadillac ATS via Bluetooth, after which point they became fast friends.
As in any other car, the pairing of phone to vehicle means drivers can handle phone calls, browse their contacts and stream music from internet radio or other apps directly into the car -- no wires required.
However, it’s not the functionality itself, but rather how it all comes together at your fingertips that makes CUE so impressive.
The central screen, for instance, is made of glass -- not plastic. It feels firm, solid and substantial. It vibrates out a little “click” sensation with every button press to confirm your inputs. Slide, expand and pinch gestures are all usable in most screens. It feels intuitive and natural, and reminded me of interfacing with my Motorola Razr phone.
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| 2013 Cadillac XTS (Photo: Cadillac) |
When quickly browsing through various functions, some in-car systems lag harder than a Commodore 64 trying to play Doom 3D. With CUE, swapping between screens is seamless, smooth and instant. They’re all vividly colored and animated nicely.
You feel and see the thing responding to you instantly. And, unlike Audi’s MMI, Mercedes’s COMMAND, or (and especially) BMW’s iDrive, CUE doesn’t overload you with a cluttered sub-menu of icons and fields or buttons around the border of the display. Left alone, all of that secondary stuff fades away, leaving only vital data on the display until proximity sensors detect your reaching for the screen, and display the additional stuff a half-moment before your digits hit the glass.
That’s if you use your fingers on the screen at all. Buttons on the steering wheel allow for nearly full system control using only your thumbs. Manipulated thusly, a secondary full-colour screen in the instrument cluster reflects your choices, many of which are repeated in the optional head-up display.
Or, you can use your voice. And when you do, CUE doesn’t require filling in the blanks in a rigid speech template. Rather, it dissects what it hears and makes a usually accurate guess before engaging the selected radio station, phone call, or navigation routing to the nearest sushi joint.
Entering an address is similarly slick. Forget individual screens or fields for “city,” “province” or “street name.” With CUE, you simply type in an address (or partial address) the way you’d see it on an envelope and it does the rest. CUE actually “thinks” and the advanced intelligence here works to take the load off the driver.
It’s ultimately a smart, sexy, seamless, powerful, and truly evolved information and communications hub. This is how in-car infotainment should be. Learning curve? Sure. However, if you can operate an iPad or Nintendo Wii remote, you’ll have it down in about 20 minutes.