Disappointed in iPod integration

I use an iPod (Classic model, though I've also tried with an iPod Nano 5th generation model) with lots of music on it with my 981 with PCM . This has the direct USB socket in the glove box. The integration leaves much to be desired and I wonder where some of these issues (some are outright bugs, some are feature requests) can be reported? When I "fast scroll" to navigate the list of songs or artists or albums, the order of letters goes A, B, C, T, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, U, V, W, Y, Z - T is in the wrong order, and seems to coincide with the fact I have entries starting with "The" that are listed after entries starting with "B" ​ - Q and X are missing, despite the fact there are entries that start with those letters. ​ It can take ~15s for the PCM to load the list of songs and artists, and it does this every time it needs to navigate the list. Very annoying Songs with various characters like a star, or Chinese, Korean, or Japanese characters show up as garbage: [?] on screen I listen to podcasts and audiobooks that have chapter marks. There seems to be no way to skip ahead by chapters and it's a PITA to hold down the ffwd button for a minute to get to where I want to in the book or podcast. These may seem minor, but music is a big part of making driving enjoyable for me, the audio options I chose specifically for this integration were on the higher price side, and to have annoyances like this is really disappointing when other makers like Audi, BMW, and even Ford have far better integration that includes almost the whole experience from the iPod, including album art, full display of titles and albums, etc. I'm glad the PCM is able to have updates done to it and hope these suggestions are able to be implemented. Now how would I go about getting them to the right folks to see them as customer-reported issues?

three avenues: 1. Report them through your dealer. They have ways to feed it back to PCNA/Porsche 2. Call 1-800-Porsche 3. Write a letter to PCNA or Porsche AG.

I agree the PCM is an absolute joke for the price. Coming from a generation that grew up with smart phones and the like, it feels like a relic. I would've gladly paid the $3-4k to have a modern, forward thinking PCM reminiscent of what you see in Audis, and even Fords like you said. I wouldn't pay $1000 for the current PCM .

Ugh, that is disappointing. I was hoping the PCM interface would have improved over the 3.0 version in my 987.2.

I'm hoping that VW will correct this in the future. They can easily pull much better tech from their other brands. I can understand the Boxster not being a tech marvel, but the fact that the Panamera and Cayenne make due with this same PCM is frightening. It's so limited and poorly designed compared to their competitors. iPod /smartphone integration should be flawless in a $60-100k vehicle in 2013.

Note this is with the version 3.41 software. And I realized I also forgot to mention the inability to use "full text search", and "play more from" from an iPod is also very disappointing. And all these functions are available in iPod integration. Porsche choose not to implement them for some reason. Sound like contacting PCNA is the right course. Thanks.

I agree it is very disappointing indeed,I have also become frustrated trying to play from the USB stick, as the on-screen menu is impossible to easily use,finding albums and tracks is a nightmare. On my Audi I can slot in a SD card and the albums are all displayed in alphabetical order and clicking on then displays the album tracks, why cant Porsche simplify and make the system user friendly,its surely not to much to expect from such a prestigious brand.

VW has a website that is used to offer downloads for firmware updates to their systems...but AFAIK, it's only for VWs: Volkswagen Zubehör. Software updates and instructions Maybe there is/will be something similar for Porsche?

Porsche offers PCM updates via a CD-ROM. Suncoast used to sell them for around $35, but you can always go to your local dealership and they'll update your PCM for free.

For someone who has the jukebox function, can you chime in here with what version of PCM software you have?

One of my biggest disappointments in the stereo!

what is wrong with it? Lacking power? Or speakers? Or just functionality? I never even turned it on during my test drive so I guess I'll be surprised... Wondering though if a speaker swap would do the trick.

What I don't get is why you have to spend on an infotainment package to get PCM ? I mean for those who only need ipod integration (like myself) you need to spend $3-4K to get it which is insane.. I mean I have goggle maps which gets me through when I would use the NAV and satellite radio is not for me either and I hate the antennae so thats why on my new Cayman there will be no infotainment. SS-

I completely agree. I will hate not having built in bluetooth. I could at least do with a USB hookup in the center console. It's ridiculous for a 2014 model to be lacking like this. I'm not paying $3K+ for navigation and a bunch of other stuff I don't want just to get those hookups.

Bose system kicks butt. I've heard past Boxster stereo options were not good but I have no facts.

Oh quit your griping! Your iPod integration is better than mine in my 987.1. Oh wait, I don't have ANY AT ALL!

At least some of you are able access to your files in the Jukebox via a jump drive, or through your ipod . My iphone 5 does not connect, nor does a jump drive containing .mp3 files. I think I will be calling Porsche N.A. for advise. I will say however that the bluetooth function works awesome! And I was shocked how good the sound is via bluetooth with the Bose radio. It's by far better than any other vehicle I've seen/heard. Frankly, this function is much more important to me than Jukebox, but it still bugs me that I can't get music saved onto the PCM hard drive!

I've got PCM 2.1 which does not have iPod integration and ended up integrating a Dension Gateway 500. With PCM it functions quite nicely and I never even have to touch my iPod as its stored in the truck where the CD changer was located. All the controls you'll ever need can be accessed through your navigation screen and you have a real digital connection. It's a shame that the factory connection functions so poorly as described but with the Dension, you can retain the stock appearance of the car which was important to me. The UI may take some time getting used to but I'm very happy with the end results.

Reinforces my decision that the base stereo system in the 981 was the way too go. Btw, in my opinion it sounds pretty good with my pandora streaming from my iPhone 4s to a very inexpensive Bluetooth adaptor.

You don't get any artist or song info on the stereo with that, right?

Correct. Not on the car LCD screen..but it does show up on iPhone screen.

When i attache my iPhone 4 it Even Shows the Covers. My Dealer told me that copying Songs to Jukebox is only possible from a Stick or a Hard Drive but Not from the phone Itself (Oh do i hate Auto correction :crazy

You have the PCM , though, right?

Stick/jump drive doesn't work for me either...

i have a complaint as well. i have done what i did in my A3 and GMC pickup....stream music via bluetooth thru the aux port. works great and with a little creativity and this BT device BlueTrip Aux - for iPhone and smartphones | Griffin Technology it is a pretty hidden setup. my complaint is that there is limited volume when running through aux. if i play cd or radio, i can just about blow out the windows, with aux it is about 60% of the other modes volumes. anyone else experience this??

Do you know if PCM firmware has been updated si ce they announced the new MY2014 options including online services, CDR plus, etc.?

Interesting concept- some video would be very helpful. How do you keep the iPod charged? I'm wondering whether you could do the same without the PCM as the touchscreen is standard anyhow (or get a CDR audio if you need Bose and USB). Would the Dension Gateway 500 be able to mirror the iPod screen to the centre console real time 1:1? If that's the case, then you could have SatNav and Streaming Radio and MP3 Music controlled from the Centre Console, which would be a mirror of the iPod sitting in the trunk. That would give a better user experience and save 3-4000k in the process. Would this work?

My 981 does not have the USB socket. It only has the jack. (I have the Bose sound system but no navigation.) I have very little control over what I am listening to.

The best way to let Porsche know what you think of their sound system is to reem them on the half dozen surveys you will get, if you are the first owner. I agree with others that something as universal as ipod /MP3 integration should be seemless and standard on cars of this caliber. I simply cannot believe that the cost of such integration, spread over the entire fleet lineup, would be that significant. Its a major selling point for the Scion, Hundai, Ford crowd. I guess we love the car more than we love the stereo, and are willing to overlook it at the time of purchase. But it becomes a little annoyance at post purchase.