2013 COLOR TOUCH RADIO FAQ

A. IntelliLink is the Buick and GMC infotainment brand. This site supports owners of those vehicles. The media system retains all of the capabilities of today’s entertainment units, including AM/FM/SiriusXM² tuners, CD player with MP3 playback, auxiliary inputs and USB inputs.³ Front and center is a high-resolution, full-color touch screen display that makes the new media system more usable, informative and attractive. IntelliLink combines Bluetooth⁴ audio streaming from smart phones with a wireless connection that is integrated through Bluetooth. This connection builds on the usual, hands-free phone capabilities already offered in most Buick and GMC products. In addition, IntelliLink allows drivers access to two popular Internet radio services through their smartphones. IntelliLink’s touch-screen (steering wheel control works well here as an alternative to touch screen) and enhanced voice control interfaces allows handheld phones to be safely stowed while driving. Finally, IntelliLink allows drivers to listen to their own “self-created” stations through Pandora¹ and Stitcher^®1.

A. No, SiriusXM’s channels are satellite-based, so there is no need to pair your phone to use the feature. However, you do need to pair your phone to take advantage of the more advanced features IntelliLink offers.

A. Yes, a subscription is required. IntelliLink is just the interface that allows you to access the channels. Most 2013 models come with 3 months of SiriusXM Satellite Radio standard. For more subscription information and a complete list of channels, click here.

A. SiriusXM NavTraffic and Weather is included as part of the standard 90-day SiriusXM Satellite Radio trial period. After the initial 90 days, these features must be added on to the SiriusXM Satellite Radio subscription. Additional fees may apply.

A. IntelliLink uses song information from the device to fill in the blanks on screen. Make sure the music on your device is up-to-date and accurate.

A. No, IntelliLink only allows you to access music through your connected/paired device. The system has built-in memory, but not a hard drive. The integrated memory is used to store the list of the songs on your connected device this way the system will remember the list every time you connect that device.

A. IntelliLink supports a large variety of song file formats, including MP3, WMA, and AAC. It also supports the following playlist files M3U standard and extended, iTunes, PLS, WAX, ASX and RMP.

A. Make sure your playlists are in the supported format. Your playlist will not work if the music in the list is not on the connected device.

A. We recommend that there are no other files on your device when playing music or downloading any data. Any other files could interfere with the system properly indexing your music. We recommend that your USB thumb drive be formatted before loading music and pictures. Some USB thumb drives have special security or encryption software; this software may prevent the device from being recognized. In addition, the system might not support that format of device (i.e. Microsoft Zune).

A. IntelliLink supports most smartphones and MP3 players that can be plugged in via the USB port. It also supports many different brands of USB flash drives.

A. To take advantage of all the features IntelliLink has to offer, a smartphone running iPhone OS, BlackBerry^®, or Android platform is required. Most Bluetooth-enabled phones are compatible with the IntelliLink system, but some features may be limited.

For a list of Bluetooth-enabled phones⁴, click here.

A. IntelliLink allows you to pair up to ten different devices. These can be smartphones or other Bluetooth-enabled phones⁴, and even such Bluetooth-enabled devices as an iPod^® Touch.

A. While the IntelliLink system has highly accurate voice-recognition software, it recognizes a list of many commands as well as most names. However, at times there could still be names or nicknames that the system cannot recognize.

A. The Pandora app is available at no extra cost. However, if you would like to enjoy an ad-free experience, a Pandora One subscription is available. Data rates do apply. Visit pandora.com for more information.

A. Bookmarks are shortcuts back to a specific artist or song. Once you add a bookmark, you will be able to access that song or artist through the Pandora audio menu online. Simply scroll through and find the one you’re looking for.

A. Safety is of the utmost importance when driving a motor vehicle. Therefore, certain features may be inactive when the vehicle is in motion. If this happens, the buttons will turn active again upon putting the vehicle in park.

A. Currently, the IntelliLink system only allows you to pull in stations that you’ve already created via the web or your smartphone when it is not connected to the IntelliLink system.

A. Please make sure the iphone has the latest Pandora app, the phone is unlocked and no apps are running in the foreground (you can see home screen).

A. Ads help Pandora pay the bills. Advertising support for free listener accounts helps cover the costs associated with offering a lot of great music for free. If you would like to enjoy an ad-free experience, a Pandora One subscription is available for a yearly fee.

A. If you are an OnStar⁵ subscriber and use Turn-by-Turn directions, those directions will overlay any active screen on the right-hand side. This means that you may not be able to use the Thumbs-Up/Thumbs-Down icons or see some of the album art while in Turn-by-Turn mode.

A. Some Stitcher stations may not support certain features, which is why the icons are grayed out or in active. If you can not change to the next pod cast you may be at the end of a station list. Select another Stitcher station from the menu to continue listening

A. Depending on the quality of your connection, it may take the IntelliLink system about 30 seconds; once acquisition is complete, you’re ready to listen to your show.

A. Please make sure the iphone has the latest Stitcher app, the phone is unlocked and no apps are running in the foreground (you can see home screen).

For more information on Pandora^® Internet Radio, please visit www.pandora.com.

For more information on Stitcher SmartRadio™, please visit www.stitcher.com.

A. IntelliLink has high-accuracy enhanced voice control technology, however, there are some things that could interfere with the system understanding your command. Highway speeds, open windows and high fan speeds are just some of the possible things that could interfere with IntelliLink understanding your exact commands. Voice-recognition with background noise is extremely challenging. To remedy this, close all windows and reduce the fan speed to a minimum and retry issuing your voice command. If this still doesn’t work, it may be because you’re speaking too soon. Wait for the beep, then pause a brief second before saying your command. This gives the microphone time to open and prepare itself to receive the speech signal.

A. Because of our speech patterns sometimes we tend to run a string of numbers together, so they may not be as clear as they need to be. You can greatly increase the accuracy of the number, by slowing down and properly enunciating each number.

A. IntelliLink system lets you control almost the entire system from your steering wheel. To change sources from USB to SiriusXM, for example, simply press the SRC button down until you reach the desired source.

A. The SRC button is the button that changes your source. Although you are toggling it for previous and next stations, you can change your source only by pressing the button. Toggling it up and down will take you to the next or previous favorite station on your favorite-station list.

A. Pressing the Push to Talk button while a phone is paired with your vehicle will default to your paired phone. However, you can still access an OnStar Advisor by pressing the blue OnStar button on the mirror. Access OnStar Hands-Free Calling by pressing the white phone-icon button on the mirror. You can also press the push to talk button and say “OnStar.”

A. Yes, IntelliLink lets you organize the icons, so you can easily access the features you use most.

A. Yes, you can have up to 8 icons, and you control the amount you want to see. If you only want four shown, the other features will be removed from the page. However, no features are being deleted they will just be accessible by clicking your next homepage.

A. Yes, IntelliLink gives you the ability to have multiple homepages. This allows you to put everything you need at your fingertips, while features you don’t access as often will be on other pages.

A. IntelliLink can play standard audio or MP3 CD. It cannot play three-inch CDs.

A. The integrated CD player in the IntelliLink system functions as any other CD player does. Because of this, do not add a label to a disc. It may get caught and in the CD player. Do not use disc lens cleaner, as it may contaminate the lens optic, damaging the player. Insert only one disc at a time. And never play damaged or scratched CDs, as they too may damage the player.

A. Most Bluetooth phones work with IntelliLink. Older phones may not support all the features of IntelliLink, but can still allow you to make hands free calls. You can stream audio from any smartphone that supports Bluetooth Audio Streaming. And you can stream both Pandora^® and Stitcher^® if you use a smartphone that runs on the Android™ operating system. On BlackBerry^® smartphones, you can stream Pandora.^®

A. Apple devices that are connected through only Bluetooth only (USB not connected) will be able to play audio through Bluetooth audio streaming. But you will not be able to access the full menu navigation and voice search feature until you connect the device through USB. When the device is connected with USB and Bluetooth the Bluetooth Audio feature is disabled.

A. IntelliLink can recognize up to ten different Bluetooth-enabled devices. It will recognize the devices in the order in which they are listed on screen. If a device listed isn’t in the vehicle, IntelliLink will recognize this and immediately pair with the device that is in the vehicle.

A. IntelliLink stores up to ten Bluetooth-enabled devices.⁴ Simply access your settings to see the list of different paired devices. Scroll through the list to find the device you’re looking for. You can also press the push to talk button and say “Change Phone.”

A. If one device is paired, like a smartphone, and you would like to switch to a different paired device, simply go into the device list under Bluetooth Settings and select the Bluetooth-enabled device. You can also connect different USB devices³ to IntelliLink. Up to ten different Bluetooth-enabled devices⁴ can be paired with one connected through the USB at one time. You can also press the push to talk button and say “Change Phone.”

A. IntelliLink supports AVRCP 1.3 profile. This allows you to pair your Bluetooth-enabled device⁴ and see all of your song information on your IntelliLink screen. However, certain devices, like the iPod^®/iPhone^® utilize AVRCP 1.0 (iPhone 4S supports audio information with AVRCP 1.4), and while the music will play over the speakers, information about the current song playing is unable to transfer.

A. In most cases, the IntelliLink system will have no problems recognizing your USB drive.³ However, there are some instances where software on the drive may conflict with software in the system. If this happens, simply use a different USB or try formatting your USB drive before you use it.

A. We recommend that there are no other files on your device when playing music or downloading any data. Any other files could interfere with the system properly indexing your music. We recommend that your USB thumb drive be formatted before loading music and pictures. Some USB thumb drives have special security or encryption software; this software may prevent the device from being recognized. In addition, the system might not support that format of device (i.e. Microsoft Zune).

A. IntelliLink supports smartphones and MP3 players that are can be plugged in via the USB port. It also supports many different brands of USB flash drives.