Apple Announces 'CarPlay' iOS Vehicle Integration Feature

[mdelvecchio]

Yup. Some of these manufacturers have a reputation for quality, so how can they endorse Apple Maps? Stupid of them. Being able to use other maps should have been a deal breaker for anyone who knew what they were doing.

you misunderstand. this is apple's feature, not the automakers. automakers suck at software so this is a product they're very interested in leveraging. lots of iOS users out there, so this is a great bullet point to offer support for.

is apple maps worse than any of the crap the automakers implement? i doubt it. seems to work fine for me, only once in a while do i need to check in a second map program.

 

[danielsutton]

Running nav apps takes a lot of power. The phone needs to be plugged in or it'll discharge quickly.

"Volvo's press release also makes clear that while the initial implementation of CarPlay will require a wired connection using an iPhone's Lightning connector, Wi-Fi connectivity will be "coming in the near future".

Since CarPlay will, in face, have a wireless interface through Wi-Fi, it looks like Apple has been thinking about connectivity as well as battery issues. Will be very interesting to see what they have come up with.

 

[mdelvecchio]

In a broader scope, I feel this is too little and too late. Something tells me Google is set to win the car OS battle.

why specifically is it too little and too late? who else has a better mobile/car package?

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That's awful. I rather keep what I have now

i charge my phone whenever I'm driving anyway, so i can't understand why plugging in is awful.

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I really don't dig this UI.

looks great to me. amazing how that works.

 

[rydewnd2]

Who would use this driving their brand new Ferrari. Apple maps is still a mess for me in the UK with missing streets and missing bends in the road.

Why wouldn't a Ferrari driver use this?

 

[mdelvecchio]

Yes, assuming Apple takes some of this data, the traffic simulations should become much much better. Also, Apple might use this to update their map data as well. But the real time traffic information is going to be fantastic.

iOS already does this. and since Carplay requires the iPhone doesn't really mean they're getting any more data than today.

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iOS in the car is a better name.

i disagree. Carplay = one word, easy to say, more memorable.

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I wouldn't hold my breath for that. Pioneer has redesigned their headunits for 2014 to run on Android.

whats the relevance of the AppRadio's underlying OS? today AR runs on Windows CE but interfaces w/ iOS just fine.

 

[Cigsm]

Google Glass is a complete failure. So there's nothing to compete against.

Apple maps are not even available for my country

And I wonder how these products would compete against Google Glass...

 

[mdelvecchio]

I noticed that to but iOS in the car tell you a lot more about it.

huh? what does it tell you? it's just a name. shorter and more memorable is better.

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Lol, aren't we pretty high up on our high horse?

Fact is, there are more Android users out there than iOS users.

which has no bearing -- most of the android devices are cheap chinese offshoots.

its documented fact that iOS users spend more. iOS owns the high-end.

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I would hope that eventually this functionality is integrated into some aftermarket head units. It doesn't look like it'd be that difficult to do, but Apple probably wouldn't allow it...

why do you believe that? they've licensed past auto APIs such as iPod control, Siri eyes free, etc...no reason to believe they won't here too.

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I'll protest against the use of only one type of integration. You should be able to use any phone you want.

how about Blackberry? who's going to program all these interfaces? they dont code themselves, you know...its hard work, and they aren't going to do it if there isn't a big enough return on that investment. iOS is a no-brainer.

 

[The Doctor11]

huh? what does it tell you? it's just a name. shorter and more memorable is better.

It tells you your using iOS in your car. And just because it's shorter doesn't make it Easyer to remember. iOS in the car is very easy to remember. Carplay we lead to Lots of questions and is harder to remember.

 

[mdelvecchio]

It's just typical stone age Apple business model, but it's certainly worked for them

huh? how is it stone age -- apple's business model is to support and drive apple hardware sales, where they make their profit. not supporting handsets from competitors... perfectly reasonable business model. and as you noted, they know what they're doing and are the most successful, biggest tech firm in history.

as an iPhone customer I'm thrilled w/ CarPlay and look forward to buying a head unit that supports it.

 

[FFR]

Just like how it's a coincidence Apple has only decided to enter the market AFTER Blackberry and Microsoft have been in it and help create the market.

Lol. You mean like the mp3 market before the iPod, or the mobile phone market before the iPhone?
I guess we know what's going to happen next.

Btw, Blackberry's a joke.

 

[mdelvecchio]

It's a shame that cars made in 2012, 2013, or 2014 that already have good touchscreen systems can't integrate CarPlay via firmware and software updates. Really it shouldn't be that hard if you already have the Apple direct cable like BMW, VW and so many other car makers have. If you can control via a 30 pin or Lightning connector, you should have access to the phone functionality and need just a software or firmware update for the system to support the screen integration and control functionality.

30-pin and Lightning are completely different, the former passes along all signals over the 30 pins, but the latter is dependent on a controller on either end to negotiate which of the dynamic pin assignments to use.

good thing you aren't an electrical engineer, or planes would fall out of the sky...

 

[the future]

Lol, aren't we pretty high up on our high horse?

Fact is, there are more Android users out there than iOS users. And in Audi's home base, Windows Phone is rapidly increasing in numbers but is still outnumbered by Android.

No, statistically proven fact is that iOS user are in general more affluent and hence more likely to buy expensive cars. And another fact is that Audi is competing with Mercedes and BMW who both will have CarPlay.

 

[QCassidy352]

Care to elaborate ?

It is a main point when choosing between 3 or 4 makes. At a certain point, security is not an issue anymore. Take a high end BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. As of today, Audi is out of the picture for me as my next car. And I have been an Audi driver for 30 years !

Sad, but true.

I agree. If it were the sole criterion you using, that would be... strange, but usually people narrow the choice down to a couple of makes and models, any of which could work, and this could easily be the deciding factor among those few all-roughly-equal choices that are left.

 

[mdelvecchio]

It has nothing to do with the likes of Android or Microsoft or QNX which are actually systems who will run on the car. You car might run Android and Google Maps, and still when you connect your iPhone will project your iPhone screen on your dashboard. Which is what CarPlay is.

Apple is not in the battle of car systems. It is not competing with Android or QNX. It goes as a layer on top of that. For convenience, and uniformed experience.

That is what CarPlay is all about.

A lot of people here don't get that from what i can read.

huzzah!

 

[recklesslife85]

Why wouldn't a Ferrari driver use this?

Think you missed the point I was getting at

 

[TallManNY]

iOS already does this. and since Carplay requires the iPhone doesn't really mean they're getting any more data than today.

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I think you have to be using your map feature in iOS though to give them that data update, right? I figure folks are rarely using their iPhone Map, but if you had this built into your car, you would stick your phone into the dock every time you use the car. Assuming that launches the Map (and you probably will be curious about traffic so you will launch it as well) this is going to be much more information.

 

[mdelvecchio]

I was holding out on buying an aftermarket head unit until Apple finally made up their mind about iOS in the car. While beautifully executed in theory, I'm going to have to pass on it, due to yet another poor experience with Apple Maps that left me switching over to the Google Maps app, which had no issues getting me to where I needed to go.

which aftermarket head units support google maps natively? i dont know any. my AppRadio does Waze, but not very well.

 

[oopl]

If car manufacturers were to offer free upgrades for their systems that already have touchscreens, they would win a lot of good press.

This would probably never happen but one can hope.

 

[apolloa]

Lol. You mean like the mp3 market before the iPod, or the mobile phone market before the iPhone?
I guess we know what's going to happen next.

Btw, Blackberry's a joke.

BTW, Blackerry's QNX is such a joke, BMW and Audi and Porsche use it.... oh yes it's such a joke....

 

[mdelvecchio]

I think you have to be using your map feature in iOS though to give them that data update, right? I figure folks are rarely using their iPhone Map, but if you had this built into your car, you would stick your phone into the dock every time you use the car. Assuming that launches the Map (and you probably will be curious about traffic so you will launch it as well) this is going to be much more information.

incorrect. traffic services are run in the background in iOS as part of the OS, unless you disabled that feedback. if enabled it keeps track of you and and everybody else running iOS (anonymously) and notes your positions and speeds. this is what products the orange/red lines in Maps.

 

[0000757]

These ones do:

http://www.vertu.com/en/exclusive-services/vertu-concierge.aspx

People who buy Vertu phones are probably not driving themselves, buddy.

 

[apolloa]

You seem very very angry on the *FACT* that high end /wealthy / affluent / luxury users typically use iPhone.
Going iOS is the right business decision for the high end automakers because that's what their customer uses.

You mean a fact because you read a statistic? And I am not angry, because I have not read on here before your comment about that statistic, my comment was in reply to the iPhone being high class or something, nothing about the users of it.
And so I must be a right wealthy affluent bugger then having had 3 iPhones.. Also you statistic, post a link to prove it, and if it's not a worldwide statistic then it's bogus BS anyway.

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People who buy Vertu phones are probably not driving themselves, buddy.

But it's still a fact and a direct reply to the question I was asked! Also your opinion is misguided, so your suggesting these super rich people never drive any car ever? Who do you think spends half a million on a supercar? The Postman?

 

[0000757]

Lol. You mean like the mp3 market before the iPod, or the mobile phone market before the iPhone?
I guess we know what's going to happen next.

Btw, Blackberry's a joke.

Blackberry is a joke, but QNX is not a joke at all.

QNX powers essentially every single car system in the world. Most if not ALL the top luxury brands use it, and many mid-range companies use it too. The only ones that I know of that don't use QNX are Ford/Lincoln and Hyundai/Kia (both use Microsoft technology).

 

[mdelvecchio]

So no chance of them bringing out Apple Carplay head units that can be retrofitted? ie. standard DIN or Double DIN?

why do you believe theres no chance of that? this is an announcement w/ their automaker partners. I'm figuring its going to trickle down just as the other features have in the past.

 

[FFR]

BTW, Blackerry's QNX is such a joke, BMW and Audi and Porsche use it.... oh yes it's such a joke....

I stand by what I said, blackberry is a joke.
What have they done with qnx since they bought it, oh yes, zip.