Aftermarket CarPlay Support Faces Technical Hurdles, Uncertain Future

[mdelvecchio]

apple has a huge opportunity here in the aftermarket segment. they best not squander it or else google will dominate in-car entertainment systems

...for google devices, maybe. but that has little bearing on iOS devices -- and im not about to drop the best mobile experience in order to get better in-car experience.

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Don't expect car manufacturers to retrofit this into their existing models. Even if every customer agreed to pay $4,000 to have a CarPlay system adapted to their one to three year old car it would still suck. The dashboards, buttons and other design elements of the vehicle just wouldn't be right for this.

you have a misunderstanding of what CarPlay is -- it is *not* about controlling the car's climate controls. it's purely music, maps, messaging. music and messaging is already published via APIs in Siri Eyes-free mode. maps is the new piece.

aftermarket head unit use case has nothing to do w/ knobs and whatnot (other than your steering wheel controls, which head unit makers already support via adapter kits). its a slide-in touchscreen that can interact w/ CarPlay running on your iOS phone. perfect scenario, and nothing too out there.

in a few years everybody will have it and these threads will be a joke.

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Okay, this idea hit me last night...

To extend Apple into the older car or aftermarket stereo arena, they need a tiny AirPlay fob that plugs into the aux port found in almost any car or aftermarket car stereo made in the 5-10 years.

These cars/stereos are already wired for aux input, the port is industry standard. The fob would need a controlling chip and wifi chip and little else.

Sure, no CarPlay features, but a way to elegantly AirPlay from your iOS device into your older car would be awesome. And at 40 bucks, the margins would be into the 100s of percent.

Someone do this.

thats absurd. its 100x easier and cheaper to just plug your iOS device into that same aux line-in via the headphone connector. people do this every day.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Ok, help me out then. I have an iPhone and a car with an aux port. Tell me how to play my music through the car stereo without wires and/or a $100+ modulator?

you cant wirelessly -- you need to plug your headphone jack into it if youre referring to a mini-phono aux port, or the USB port if thats what youre referring to.

you may want it wirelessly, but thats what car audio BT is for. if you dont have that then youre asking for magic. nobody is going to invent some new wireless fob do what any $5 mini-phono cable or BT-enabled stereo can do.

 

[LordVic]

Ok, help me out then. I have an iPhone and a car with an aux port. Tell me how to play my music through the car stereo without wires and/or a $100+ modulator? Bonus if my wife or other passengers can tap in also.

what car model? it matters. some headunits have the capability with cheap aftermarket addons, and some do not. Really depends

 

[ng-design]

I do hope they get the kinks worked out

I typically only buy a car every 10 years and I'm planning on buying a new one in 2015. Compatibility with CarPlay will be a strong consideration in my purchasing decision, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will all be smoothed over by spring of 2015.

Further more, as CarPlay advances over the years, I hope they will continue to develop compatibility with older models. I'm not going to upgrade my car every 2 years the way I do with my iPhone!

 

[512ke]

Do not worry you worriers. Solutions will appear. There is money to be made. Carplay will become available sooner than you think.

 

[b-dogg]

Ok, help me out then. I have an iPhone and a car with an aux port. Tell me how to play my music through the car stereo without wires and/or a $100+ modulator? Bonus if my wife or other passengers can tap in also.

Search Bluetooth streamer / receiver on Amazon. You'll pick one up for $25. They charge over USB and last for 6 weeks. Pair your iPhone with that and stick it into your aux in port - job done!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FLL2ZTW/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1394832767&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

But I'm going the while hog like this legend here:

http://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=333035

Basically buy a blank facia, then a cheap $100 BT stereo single din with a USB port to charge the iPad mini 3G and play the music via the USB port, then fibreglass around it. The Sony unit hides behind the iPad mini and can be controlled by an app on it. Plus, the iPad can be dismounted easily and hidden when not in the car. You can pair the BT from the Sony with your phone for hands free calling and also control from the steering wheel stalk.

Bonus feature: find my iPhone now finds your car: stolen or lost in the carpark!

 

[JHankwitz]

My Toyota already connects and controls my iPhone music app automatically, so I have my music, audiobooks, etc. already. Anything more would be too distracting to operate or suck too much data from my data plan. I'm very surprised that it allows me to surf the iPhone controls on my Toyota's screen since it doesn't let me do very much with the GPS or anything else when the car is moving.

 

[b-dogg]

My Toyota already connects and controls my iPhone music app automatically, so I have my music, audiobooks, etc. already. Anything more would be too distracting to operate or suck too much data from my data plan. I'm very surprised that it allows me to surf the iPhone controls on my Toyota's screen since it doesn't let me do very much with the GPS or anything else when the car is moving.

Fair point. However, some in car systems are so frustrating, slow and beguiling that I'd crash out of confusion or frustration trying to get one to do what I want to do. Your Toyota sounds like a good job though.

 

[b-dogg]

why not tether your ipad to your phone when in the car and use the mini for maps?

No GPS chip in non-cellular iPads. It's a bummer.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

The whole issue of backwards compatibility is folly & I don't know why car manufactures would even open that Pandoras Box. The consumer cost of any upgrade is hardly going to be cost effective and unlikely to be 100% feature complete with the respective new car version.

 

[JoeG4]

My bet is on Apple not wanting CarPlay on aftermarket radios.

 

[iBreatheApple]

Eh... Aux/USB + Siri/Stereo controls are good enough for me.

 

[Swift]

Can someone please explain to me what specific "Technical Hurdles" they might have to overcome? Shouldn't it be as easy as installing a new touch screen radio will a cord that you can plug your iPhone into? It doesn't seem that difficult to me.

They don't know where the lightning plug manufacturers are located.

 

[TheIntruder]

This should come as little surprise, when, in 2014, aftermarket HUs still contain chips that can't read and parse music files on a USB volume in anything other than the FAT directory sequence.

Implementing an H.264 stream display, with bi-directional touch controls is gonna be a bit more challenging, especially when 12V is now mostly a niche domain of the hobbyists and the desperate.

Asking a dying industry to invest in and keep up in the latest technology is a tall order.

 

[Swift]

Bluetooth and AUX

I bought a brand-new Sony receiver from Crutchfield's, installed it myself, and now I charge the iPhone through the cigarette lighter and the sound comes from the speakers. Very nice, no trouble. I even use Maps to guide me. Audio only, or listening to music and then Siri interrupts when it's time for an alert, in time to change lanes.

 

[Itskorbitch!]

How hard could it be to make a 2012, 2013, or 2014 Ford, with Sync, CarPlay compatible? I feel like any car with a touchscreen should be able to use CarPlay with like a simple patch. LOL wtf type of "Technical Hurdles" can be holding the automakers back?

 

[WallToWallMacs]

Is this hysteria really warranted? a roll out of a technical specification to many different players each with their own vest interests whilst Apple ensures that their own products work in harmony. Sorry "technical hurdles, uncertain future' is nothing less than hysteria and fear mongering in much the same way that Macrumors editors started screaming hysterically about the 'lack of Intel processors on the road map so therefore Apple os doomed! doomed!' in an article slightly over a month ago.

 

[Tech198]

you see car integration for one,...you'll see 'em all.

Google's doing this too, and i guess Nokia may be in the game ??

(Maybe not *that* important)

I would welcome old car's from self install by the user..... why couldn't this happen ?

All you need is a touch screen and cable, a speaker, and while won't be going though our car's audio system, and far less practical, and won't be "in the dash", more like stand-alone touch screen like GPS's are, it would work.

Apple's getting manufactures at bay here.. Apple really needs to bring in Bluetooth connectivity, then this would be allot better.

On the other hand, siri is still improving, CarPlay won't work without "tethered" to our phone (so to speak), so does it charge as well over usb ? if not, then if your lost, you may be out for the rest of the night...unless you have a backup battery.

With Siri improving again, its not always great, so you may find your self taking the back streets, or driving in circles until you it understands you.

CarPlay needs work, but probably looks promising. just as long its compatible with all older cars, which would need to be self install... i don't see any other way.

 

[hipnetic]

Hacker solution to getting a CarPlay after-market head unit installed in your old Chevy:
Step 1: Buy a Ferrari.
Step 2: Remove CarPlay head unit.
...

But hey, here is some good news for those of us looking to get CarPlay in our car: I called my Toyota dealer to see if I was eligible to upgrade my 2013 Toyota Camry to a 2015 Toyota Camry-S w/CarPlay. They said that on June 15th, I will have fulfilled my 2-year commitment and will be eligible to trade in my 2013 Toyota Camry towards a 2015 Toyota Camry-S w/CarPlay. Of course, I will need to sign a new 2-year agreement.

 

[InfoTime]

Someone mentioned that they thought the auto maker should offer this as a free or really low cost update to existing vehicle owners. My entire post was themed in response to that idea.

From the looks of the original models, we are talking about a double-DIN head unit in a conventional car, with steering wheel or other secondary controls for the common functions. This doesn't seem like a system it would be hard to build an aftermarket stereo to mimic (the steering wheel controls are hard, but you just use whatever controls are there already; the other secondary controls just need to be installed and wired up).

You said aftermarket. I'm not talking about aftermarket. I think Pioneer or Sony or Kenwood or someone could probably build a pretty decent unit to do CarPlay too.

I doubt anyone would be upset that they would have to pay money to get a new stereo head unit, with large touchscreen display, etc.

I don't think anyone would be upset either to buy an aftermarket unit. If they didn't like it their beef would be with Pioneer or whomever.

My contention is that the for the auto makers it's a lose - lose proposition. They couldn't make it free or cheap enough to cover their costs and make a profit. And they would be giving up something "shiny" that could draw buyers to a new vehicle. Plus, there would be a pretty good chance that the customer might not be happy with process or end result and be turned off to the brand and buying a different brand on their next vehicle purchase.

Again, I'm talking about say Honda doing this. Not Pioneer or Kenwood.

I can't think of any examples where an auto maker offered a replacement head unit or similar system upgrade.

And you get the Overreaction of the Thread award! Congratulations!

Pretty good one 'eh? (Where I said if you don't like it move to North Korea). That was mainly in response to the attitude of some posters that thought their car maker should make it a free or close to free upgrade - like they're owed something. Like the manufacturers aren't in business to make and sell cars at a profit and keep their customers happy.

 

[InfoTime]

Not sure i agree with this. I have a 2013 BMW my phone is already integrated to some extent through IDrive with Music, handfree calling, Telephone directory voice selection of contacts working. I do not have Siri, SMS Messages and Maps integrated. However, BMW offers a user software update through a USB stick. Unless carplay has a hardware specific piece that is required I can see a software update providing what is missing. The only thing that i am interested in that is missing would really be Maps. Do not use SIRI today and have no need to text when driving.

If it is something that can be handled by a simple software update then I hope other manufacturers can do a better job than Honda has recently with the Siri Eyes Free update.

The current generation Honda Accord (9th generation model, 2013, 2014's) can be upgraded to support Siri Eyes Free. The upgrade is "free". Sounds great huh?

Here's where it gets screwy:

• Some dealers witll install it free
• Some dealers charge an hour or two of labor - $100 to $200
• More dealers are clueless to the existence of the upgrade than there are dealers installing it.
• A handful of dealers doing the install can't get it right
• There's a ton of confusion about which models it actually works with.

When the update came out last November it was for all 2013 models and select 2014 models. Everyone was like "WTF - the NEW models don't all take it???". Yes, only EX-L and above trim levels can take the update. If you studied the cars as a serious buyer there were no differences between the 2013 and 2014 models. If you hang out at driveaccord.net and follow the main thread about it you'd eventually learn along with everyone else over the course of several months that there are hardware differences and there's a reason.

I bought a 2014 Accord Hybrid EX-L. I figured I'd be able to get the update. It's an EX-L, right? No. I "accidentally" found out my soon-to-be-purchased car wasn't compatible when I was calling Honda about something related. I'm not mad, I bought the car knowing it wouldn't take it. But talk about confusing.

Those that have gotten the update are reasonably happy with it. (Some even did it themselves, not relying on a dealer). My point is is that the rollout of this minor update has been atrocious. It only makes very minor changes to the existing hands-free / bluetooth integration that's already present in the vehicle.

I shudder to think how poorly things might go if Honda tried to do a bigger upgrade.

 

[StoneJack]

CarPlay in my opinion is more about maps, navigation, sound control of entertainment via Siri. It does probably require better integration with car computer (for air conditioning and other car controls). So a new car will integrate better. Having said that, an aftermarket CP compatible touch screens are also a solution, just not from likes of Kenwood or Pioneer, but maybe other ones (Alpine for example has a seamless integration with iPhone for music and calls).

 

[yg17]

I don't expect the automakers to retrofit CarPlay in older cars, but there is absolutely no technical reason that Pioneer, Alpine, Kenwood, et al, can't implement it in an aftermarket headunit that anyone could put in any car.

If this doesn't happen, it's because Apple won't allow it. The demand is there. There's no reason not to.

 

[hchung]

Ok, help me out then. I have an iPhone and a car with an aux port. Tell me how to play my music through the car stereo without wires and/or a $100+ modulator? Bonus if my wife or other passengers can tap in also.

It sounds like you want a bluetooth A2DP receiver that outputs with a headphone jack. Last time I got one years ago, it was like $35.

 

[gavinstubbs09]

Maybe 3rd party decks will have support for the 4s? That would be nice!