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Alpine Introduces $900 Infotainment System With Wireless CarPlay
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Wait for iPhone 8 and get the first car stereo that comes with a wireless charger.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.
as with all these Chinese type things they throw every feature under the sun into it, but the UX is usually (always) terrible and the UI has icons that look like something from a 2003 Symbian phone (or a 2010 Android phone seen as they looked dated for years)
If it runs down your battery too much, then just charge it. How is this a problem?
Except my wife's car, all my other cars do not have steering controls either.
What is worse is that some of the aftermarket CP units cannot do Siri using the steering control adapters.
One thing I like about this unit, that other units don't have is a physical button for Siri, so you can use it without looking at the screen.
Getting Siri to work is another story.
That's interesting. I use CarPlay now but am not particularly happy with it for all the reasons you mention. Which android radio do you recommend?
[doublepost=1483709799][/doublepost]I have the Alpine 007 and it's okay, but the microphone, which I mounted on the sun visor close to my head, is so extremely noisy that it's unusable. I basically cannot interact with Siri because of noisy characteristics of the microphone pickup. Can't make phone calls either because the sound quality is so bad. I can hear it myself if I make a simple audio recording. Interestingly if I disconnect the iPhone, taking it out of CarPlay mode and forcing it to use the iPhone's internal microphone, the sound quality is much better. But then of course I'm not using CarPlay. Any ideas what the problem might be?
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[doublepost=1483709799][/doublepost]I have the Alpine 007 and it's okay, but the microphone, which I mounted on the sun visor close to my head, is so extremely noisy that it's unusable. I basically cannot interact with Siri because of noisy characteristics of the microphone pickup. Can't make phone calls either because the sound quality is so bad. I can hear it myself if I make a simple audio recording. Interestingly if I disconnect the iPhone, taking it out of CarPlay mode and forcing it to use the iPhone's internal microphone, the sound quality is much better. But then of course I'm not using CarPlay. Any ideas what the problem might be?
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How is this device limited? It's not limited to BMWs; the article was just saying that so far, only BMW has implemented wireless carplay.
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Link? Without something to back that up it sounds like you're just making things up.
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Not necessarily. Subaru still hasn't implemented CarPlay in any meaningful way (1 or 2 models). My dealer said it's because they buy their crappy dash hardware in advance and are very slow to get new hardware and do the software for it. Because they suck at tech, basically.
Not sure it's really needed my car has Bluetooth where I can answer calls if needed while controlling my music etc. hardly a must have.
Charging the phone though wireless is one thing which would be great
Charging the phone though wireless is one thing which would be great
Apple Prevented Volkswagen From Exhibiting Wireless CarPlay at CES
Is there anything else you need?
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Are you talking about Wireless CarPlay? or just CarPlay in general?
I think so too, the tech is interesting.
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Carplay could be so much, and yet, it's too little. Coming from the dawn of carputers, I was so excited about this when it got announced that the let down of actually using it, is enormous. I used to have an old iBook matched to a touch screen running a self made interface about 15 years ago in my Jeep and it could still put carplay to shame today. I had a griffin powermate for volume (and many more) controls all amplified and subwoofered. The customisable interface gave me shortcuts to apps, programable macros and anything else I wanted to program into them. Behind the scenes, it was OS X so if I could install it there, I could run it on my interface. Was it safe? As safe as I made it. It was my responsibility to use it safely. Hate that apple purposefully removes features because somebody might be stupid enough to use it unsafely.
I totally agree. I was really excited about the potential of CarPlay, but now that I have used it for over a year, it is a big let down. It could have been more.
Honestly, I prefer my non-CP head units as they have a lot less bugs, and pretty much can do most things that CP does.
I agree, but this may have been due to auto companies and maybe even federal law requirements.
Very far from the truth, actually. The UI's are much nicer than they were a few years ago. A lot of Android customization has been stripped, the settings menu is very concise and well organized. Sounds like you're stereotyping (hah, pun not intended) something because of the country it comes from. In any case, enjoy what works for you.
Fairly clean UI if you ask me. Might not be everyone's cup of tea (design is subjective), but it doesn't look like something out of 2003...
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I have no audio issues as you speak of, maybe it's a personal problem.
Secondly when you switch songs on Android Auto, it shows a visual notification on top to what song you're changing to. CarPlay? Nada. Use your ears. The navigation system in my Hyundai goes a step further and split screens GPS / music onto one screen, so you don't need to change screens to operate both apps. CarPlay needs basic improvements and I'm sure we'll get them over the next few years.
Car systems are designed for the lowest common denominator (there are plenty of those on the road). Who's to say I can't use YouTube while I wait for my girlfriend to get out of work while sitting in a parking lot? The answer should be no one. As long as you use technology responsibly in a vehicle (I do), there's no reason for specific features to be omitted. The problem rests around liability. Both Google and Apple have to make sure they aren't scapegoated for killing people, so they designed a very restrictive OS for vehicles.
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Touche:
https://www.amazon.com/JOYING-Andro...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0H8XQYWET0Y1JS9NJ4ZB
Mind you there are many versions out there. These from joying have 2GB of RAM which is MANDATORY for 2016 apps like Apple Music. I'm returning my radio to get one of these because the 1GB of RAM doesn't work for modern applications. Unfortunately, options are limited until other manufacturers release their units with 2GB. We should be seeing all of the radios transfer to 2GB throughout this year, though. You can find radios with screens up to 10.1 inches, if you're willing to trade physical buttons for capacitive buttons (I'm not).
I have a Mazda 3 and the one that I originally purchased looks AWESOME when installed. Looks like it comes from Mazda. Like I said, though, I'm going to return it and get the Joying radio I posted up top because the Joying radio has insane performance for a car radio (view below)
Below is the radio I originally purchased, they make them for many vehicles. Just google your vehicle + android radio to see what "stock" looking options they have for your vehicle.
http://www.eonon.com/Android-Car-GPS/Vehicle-Specific-GPS/GA6163F.html
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That problem is already taken care of (by virtue of it not even existing) with the way it's handled right now.
Why have it rundown your battery at all? You're just sitting there; the phone's just sitting there; the direct connect adapter is just sitting there. All three together.
No potential drop of signal.
No data bottleneck.
No drain (and, indeed active replenishment) of battery.
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More stereotyping the icons used in Android - and you're right it looks more 2007. Sorry not for me, it's a horrible design UI, nothing matches, no clear design ethos. Showing the .mp3 file name, really?? The bubble background, the icons, the typeface, the skip/pause buttons - no thanks to all of it.
To be honest all car headunit UI's look hideous, even (or of especially) those in top marques.
But, that way has to be plugged in without given a choice to go wireless.
Why not be given a choice? If a wireless CP user finds that the issues you mentioned are a problem for them, which are assumptions btw, then they can switch back to the wired CP.
I would probably utilize both ways given the choice. Short drives, I would probably leave my phone in my bag/pocket, and long drives, or if my battery is running low, I would choose a wired CP.
I don't get what the problem is.
The new 5-series mentioned in the article linked will hit dealers sometime in the next month, but almost all 2017 model year BMWs now support wireless CarPlay. It is a $300 option.
Head units like Alpine also have safety measures like not being able to watch multimedia while driving, but it's easily bypassed and in case of crap hitting the fan, it "wasn't properly installed" or "it was tampered with". There's a standing joke that warnings needed today on devices are for the US citizens sake... they might sue if nothing said they couldn't dry their cat in an oven.
That is not really the case when it comes to CP.
It is not something that can be bypassed, because it is how the UI and the features(or lack of) are designed.
It is just a simplified version of things that you can already do on your phone. So, there is nothing to bypass.
There might be a few settings that are disabled while moving that can possibly be bypassed depending on the headunit manufacture, but the overall function of CarPlay limits what you can do no matter if you are moving or not.
I don't understand why you're continuing to argue against this. There are 7 billion people on this earth, all with different requirements and preferences. Many of us will have different preferences and needs than you do. We don't all use everything the same way.
To use wired, I'd have to find my phone from whatever bag or pocket I stuffed it and plug it in. Then I'd have to reverse the procedure when I arrive somewhere, unplug and stash it in my pocket. My trips are short and frequent, so I'd have to repeat this throughout the day.
Wired would be a big hassle; I'd have to have a cable dangling around, and there would be increased wear and tear on both the cable and the lightning port. It also increases the likelihood that I accidentally leave the iPhone in the car in plain sight for a smash and grab, or won't have it on my person if I need to look something up, make a call, use Apple Pay, etc.
And the big benefit would be that I wouldn't drain my battery for a 5 to 20 minute trip? I don't see why that's so helpful. I charge my iPhone about once every day and half. OH MY GOD I USED IT FOR 5 MINUTES WITHOUT IT CHARGING? Not a problem in the slightest.
Drop of signal? From 3 feet away? That's never happened to me with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. If that's happening to you, you have a serious interference problem or defective equipment.
Wired apparently works great for you. Fine. I have no interest in trying to change your mind--it really does sound better for how YOU use it. But wireless will be a nice option for those that prefer wireless, like me.
Why do people argue against additional consumer choices? This is a good thing.
That's ok; Apple does.
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Hey, it's not me making that "argument". It's Apple.
In any case; here's something you can try:
Take your phone: have Siri setup turn by turn directions to a 20 min destination.
Now have Siri start playing music on your phone.
Also have Siri engage you in a 20 min phone call.
When Siri tells you you have reached your destination, repeat this process in reverse.
When you get back home see how much battery is left.
Now tack on an additional 10% battery drain (due to what would be used up for the proposed wireless connection)
Let me know what you get.
Someday We will control our flying cars all day long on a single charge, with our cordless connected iPhones.
Right now what you are imagining is not practical. This 'ain't' streaming your music to some Bluetooth speaker.
1) By defining a specific use case, you've missed my point about how people have different needs and preferences. (And for what it's worth, I use Spotify, Podcasts, phone calls, and maps.)
2) A wireless data connection doesn't prevent you from plugging your phone in to charge. But a wired-only data connection does prevent us from wire-free use.
I am not making an anti-wired argument, I am making the argument that both wired and wireless Carplay are valid options.
I understand what you're saying. I installed a Pioneer AVH-4100NEX in my wife's car. It works great but, I have to plug it in. In my '03 Bugeye I have an old Pioneer Bluetooth head unit. It starts playing as soon as I start the car and take off unplugged. It shows the Google Play Music data on the display like the 4100. It pretty much only does music though. I'm wondering if Apple will have the option for wired/wireless on the same unit. If they do you're still going to have a cable hanging somewhere for the times you do need it.
Yes choice is good.
Android launched in 2008 and it looked like this:
All that I showed was an example of flat, modern icons on a contrasted background....all of which can be changed to your liking. The picture I originally presented is modernly designed and doesn't look like anything from the era you speak of. My unit doesn't show the "MP3 name", it uses the same Bluetooth Now Playing screen as my dad's old Acura ILX. Basic, but works. I'm going to be using the Android Apple Music app to play my music and it looks far superior to the CarPlay interface currently implemented.
Below is the theme I'm currently running and I do like the look of it. I prefer this to CarPlay's boring UI. Design is subjective.
As I've said previously, CarPlay's biggest flaw is its feature-set, not its design language. I don't have any issues with a black screen and icons. I'm fairly minimalist in my design taste. I can't overlook its handcuffed abilities, however.
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I'm interested in this, but also very confused even after reading the Amazon description. I hope you don't mind answering some basic questions.
If the radio itself is an Android phone, how does it get Internet data for streaming, maps, etc. Does it have its own SIM and plan? Use WiFi tethering with your iPhone?
What integration does an Android radio have with an iPhone? For example, a frequent use case for me would be someone sending me a location via iMessage or SMS and I can just tap to map it. How would I get that onto the radio's map?
Do you find it to be stable and well supported with bugfixes? My experience with off brand hardware is that it's buggy right from the start and is never, ever fixed. Even my Kenwood brand radio had some problems, but there was a firmware patch that fixed it.
About a year ago I rented a car in Europe that had Apple Carplay and, when I plugged in my iPhone 5S, I could use one app on the car's head unit and a different app on my iPhone, at the same time. I thought this was very neat and it sold me on buying an after market CarPlay head unit. So once back in the US I bought the Alpine 007. But you can't do this. Your iPhone and the head unit must always run the same app! And moreover I can't find any head unit that does allow you to simultaneously run different apps on the iPhone and the car stereo unit. This is with the same iPhone 5S. Is anyone familiar with what I'm talking about? Is CarPlay implemented differently in Europe compared to the US?