Alpine Introduces $900 Infotainment System With Wireless CarPlay

[MacRumors]

While wireless CarPlay implementations have been supported since iOS 9, the functionality has so far been limited to BMW models. That will change next month, however, as Alpine has introduced a new aftermarket system with wireless CarPlay that will be available in February for a suggested price of $900.

The wireless support enables drivers to connect an iPhone to CarPlay via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to make and receive calls, access text messages, play music, get directions, check traffic conditions, and more. Previous standard and aftermarket CarPlay configurations have required connecting an iPhone with a Lightning cable.

Alpine's new iLX-107 in-dash receiver, which debuted at CES 2017 this week, features a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, LED backlighting, and standard AM/FM radio functionality. Alpine offers five other aftermarket CarPlay systems with screen sizes ranging from 7-9 inches, priced from $900 to $4,000.

While the iLX-107 has a $900 list price, resellers may offer it at cheaper price points as seen with previous Alpine models. Prospective buyers looking for cheaper options should consider aftermarket systems without wireless CarPlay from Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood, JVC, JBL, Sony, and other manufacturers.

Article Link: Alpine Introduces $900 Infotainment System With Wireless CarPlay

 

[44267547]

The fact that it remains exclusive to a BMW model, makes it somewhat limited. At least compared to the other competitors. But the price point between $400 and $9000, I can only imagine what the upgrade options must cost or screen sizes for that matter. Then you have to consider the install.

 

[Juicy Box]

While wireless CarPlay implementations have been supported since iOS 9, the functionality has so far been limited to a single BMW model.

Limited by Apple for some reason.

 

[HiVolt]

Wireless AirPlay was announced with iOS9. The fact that it's only now starting to roll out means there were either serious problems with it, or Apple for some reason wanted the wired version to be rolled out wider at first? Either case, fail...

 

[Juicy Box]

The wireless support enables drivers to connect an iPhone to CarPlay via Wi-Fi to make and receive calls, access text messages, play music, get directions, check traffic conditions, and more. Previous standard and aftermarket CarPlay configurations have required connecting an iPhone with a Lightning cable.

I would enjoy wireless CarPlay, but I would worry about the bugs. CarPlay is buggy sometimes, and sometimes the only way to fix it is to unplug it and re-plug it again.

How would this work for wireless CP? I guess you might be able to turn off WiFi.
Another question, can you easily change what phone is connected to CarPlay? Example, if I sometimes drive my Wife's car. Now, I just plug it in, but with wireless, will there be an option on the screen to choose what phone to connect if my wife and I are in the same car?

 

[_Refurbished_]

Car play itself is designed poorly. It's limited due to safety and you have to switch between apps to use GPS / music simultaneously. Not to mention, it only supports Apple Maps.

Android Auto is, for many reason, the superior product. Apple's UI choices in recent years (CarPlay / Apple TV) leave much to be desired.

Since I have an iPhone and not an Android, I am purchasing an aftermarket Chinese Android radio, which offers WAY more functionality than any name brand radio does:
Waze / GMaps / YouTube / Apple Music / Spotify / Pandora / Weather Radar / Web browser / Shazam / Rear Camera support....the list goes on.

Steering wheel controls work, they're cheaper, sometimes they can be fitted to look stock, and have larger, higher quality multi-touch displays that can be seen clearly in the daytime. They also self-dim at night.

I was excited about CarPlay, but Android has won this battle for my money.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

hooray, wireless CarPlay! I can have a new entertainment system built now

 

[Juicy Box]

Car play itself is designed poorly. It's limited due to safety and you have to switch between apps to use GPS / music simultaneously. Not to mention, it only supports Apple Maps.

I was excited about CarPlay at first, but after using two different aftermarket CP head units, I am mostly disappointed in it.

It is very limited in functionality, I guess because of safety. The supported apps are very limited. I believe the only navigation app supported is Apple Map, which sucks.

I think I would like it a lot more if Waze was supported.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Looking to go this route.

Installed a Pioneer AppRadio 3 a couple years ago. Allows me to use Waze, Pandora, and other apps from the 7" touchscreen but does require it be plugged in. Pioneer abandons all support and updates for their products quickly though and it hasn't seen an update in years. Looking to go the CarPlay route so I'm not limited by the stereo updates.

 

[ortiz3m]

My question is the 2v preouts....does that support faster charing for an iPhone like the iPad charger does?

 

[Juicy Box]

My question is the 2v preouts....does that support faster charing for an iPhone like the iPad charger does?

I'm not sure where you saw this, but I would bet money that they are talking about pre-out audio for amps and stuff.

 

[zaxxon72]

AM/FM... and what about regions that are not stuck in the past and have rolled out DAB(+)?

 

[fridgeymonster3]

Can't you just have the safety mechanisms bypassed? I've had that done in my past two cars for the navigation system. My latest car wouldn't let you adjust gps anyway besides through voice unless stopped. Annoying as hell when you have kids in the car and a willing spouse to hit the buttons.

 

[larrylaffer]

It would be nice if Alpine would actually update the firmware on the ILX-007 at least *ONCE* to fix some of the bugs before forcing this new stuff on us.

 

[Juicy Box]

Can't you just have the safety mechanisms bypassed? I've had that done in my past two cars for the navigation system. My latest car wouldn't let you adjust gps anyway besides through voice unless stopped. Annoying as hell when you have kids in the car and a willing spouse to hit the buttons.

Well, it depends on what you are talking about. If you are talking about setting up BT, then maybe.

What limits CarPlay is not safety features while moving, it is the whole system. It is designed with safety in mind, whether you are driving or not.

 

[341328]

Yeah... well done Alpine! Hopefully rolled out more and more in other cars. Will go well with a built in wireless charging solution in next iPhone.
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I would enjoy wireless CarPlay, but I would worry about the bugs. CarPlay is buggy sometimes, and sometimes the only way to fix it is to unplug it and re-plug it again.

How would this work for wireless CP? I guess you might be able to turn off WiFi.
Another question, can you easily change what phone is connected to CarPlay? Example, if I sometimes drive my Wife's car. Now, I just plug it in, but with wireless, will there be an option on the screen to choose what phone to connect if my wife and I are in the same car?

Good points!

 

[Sharkey311]

Will I be able to buy this for a 2015 Mazda3?

 

[philipfreire]

I wouldn't get too excited about Alpine's latest CarPlay. Major let down IMO.

I own the ILX-007 for a while now and I would like to chime in on my personal experience. You can take it for what its worth. I don't care. Maybe this could help someone make a decision.

1. The touch sensitivity on this screen annoys me. Half the time you have to press it harder.
2. Why is it only CarPlay? Why couldn't they do what Sony did and include android as well?
3. For any car audio guy out there - this still has 2v pre outs. What a joke. 4v is standard.
4. It looks the same. Thats good and bad. The good - still looks sleek.. The bad.... see those touch buttons for volume up and down.. lol unless you have steering wheel buttons, good luck. your going to take your eyes off the road to find it each time... then get annoyed when your pressing it just to raise it from 4 to 17 in volume... and then when it doesn't actually register your touch you'll be extremely annoyed.
5. Im not sure about the ILX-107, but the ILX-007.... no natural scrolling and no pinch to zoom. if this ends up being the same then you can bet your ass that they used the same lower spec hardware. which means your paying such a premium price for a product that does nothing but mirror your iPhone and its hardware is not even sufficient to keep up with apples standards.
6. This is now on apples side... CarPlay is great for music and talking and maps... want to use another map? yea right. want to watch videos? nope. not even in park mode.. your SOL. i find myself picking up my phone and actually looking through the music library because i feel more distracted and wasting time looking at the ilx-007... i can do it faster on the iPhone...


its a love hate relationship with CarPlay in general..... its great but you can clearly tell theres a lack of r&D involved...

 

[fridgeymonster3]

Well, it depends on what you are talking about. If you are talking about setting up BT, then maybe.

What limits CarPlay is not safety features while moving, it is the whole system. It is designed with safety in mind, whether you are driving or not.

Ahh. OEM navigation systems seemed to be tied to moving / not moving and that can be bypassed so they think the car is parked and it's fully functional.

 

[jlo1158]

Looking to go this route.

Installed a Pioneer AppRadio 3 a couple years ago. Allows me to use Waze, Pandora, and other apps from the 7" touchscreen but does require it be plugged in. Pioneer abandons all support and updates for their products quickly though and it hasn't seen an update in years. Looking to go the CarPlay route so I'm not limited by the stereo updates.

I had the AppRadio 2. I had one phone that it worked fairly well with. My other phones were a pain to use. Now I have the Pioneer AVH-4100NEX. It works extremely well with any phone I've connected to it. I just purchased a AVH-4200NEX for my son. He hasn't installed it yet. He has to get the rest of his connectors. Hopefully it will work as well as the 4100 does.

 

[commanderclif]

Help me out here. I had a rental car, (a Ford compact, base model) while my car was in a body shop that I was able to bluetooth connect to the Ford/Microsoft whatever it was in-dash and play music and podcasts. I wasn't making any phone calls. It was pretty nice that I'd start the car and my podcast would just auto start playing.

So I've been thinking a CarPlay receiver was going to be something I needed to put in my Nissan but then I started seeing everything about wired connection. I already wire to play music/podcasts so none of that for me but seriously there isn't an alternative that allows me to CarPlay wirelessly??

 

[Juicy Box]

Help me out here. I had a rental car, (a Ford compact, base model) while my car was in a body shop that I was able to bluetooth connect to the Ford/Microsoft whatever it was in-dash and play music and podcasts. I wasn't making any phone calls. It was pretty nice that I'd start the car and my podcast would just auto start playing.

So I've been thinking a CarPlay receiver was going to be something I needed to put in my Nissan but then I started seeing everything about wired connection. I already wire to play music/podcasts so none of that for me but seriously there isn't an alternative that allows me to CarPlay wirelessly??

This article is about the alternative you are looking for.

Am I not understanding what you are asking?

 

[Pman17]

I wish my Pioneer would do wireless Apple Car Play. My phone keeps randomly disconnecting to CarPlay while driving every time! I have to keep my phone between my legs to unplug and plug the phone back in. It's been a complaint for years by many and Apple still hasn't fixed it. I also think Apple has been terrible with supporting CarPlay. They didn't do much to the iOS 10 update. They only support a few third party apps. They need to open it up to developers.

 

[jlo1158]

I wish my Pioneer would do wireless Apple Car Play. My phone keeps randomly disconnecting to CarPlay while driving every time! I have to keep my phone between my legs to unplug and plug the phone back in. It's been a complaint for years by many and Apple still hasn't fixed it. I also think Apple has been terrible with supporting CarPlay. They didn't do much to the iOS 10 update. They only support a few third party apps. They need to open it up to developers.

Just out of curiosity what Pioneer do you use? I have the Pioneer AVH-4100NEX. So far with Android Auto the only problem I've had is replacing a defective cable or two. Also changing the connection may not solve the problem.

 

[bbbb4b]

Oh yeah, That's exactly what I want; is to sit in a chair with my iPhone, and use the most battery draining features of it, all while being 6 inches away from a charging source, and not charge it.