Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Launching 'iOS In The Car' Next Week With Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz

Nevaborn said:
Aftermarket head units are needed for this to work. Bundling it with a new Ferrari aint going to be a big earner.
Click to expand...

I'd love an aftermarket screen--not a new head unit, though, just a sturdy dash-mount touchscreen to add to my "pre-iOS-in-the" car that lacks any touchscreen. (Or even to a car that has a touchscreen, but not an iOS-ready one.)

It could communicate to the car's built-in stereo/mic, and receive steering-wheel controls, via Bluetooth. The car would see this unit just the same as an iPhone, and integration with the existing stereo need not change at all from the way iPhones already connect. (Which works pretty well.) The car doesn't need to know!

But the aftermarket screen would, in turn, connect to the iPhone via Bluetooth. The phone would connect to the unit, not directly to the car. A "man in the middle" offering a bigger touchscreen and a driver-centric UI.

Since iOS-in-the-car isn't meant to control random car stuff like temperature (thank goodness--give me knobs!) I don't see why this wouldn't be practical. And way cheaper than some manufacturer option, and reaching a much larger audience: existing cars and any make/model that has BT.

I hope someone steps up to fill that need! Seems likely.
 
"The deal marks the first time that Apple is embedding its software in devices other than its own branded products."

No it doesn't. Apple had a clone licensing program with System7 in the 90s that was terminated in 1997 when Jobs returned to Apple.

Apple even paid $100Million for Power Computing Company in order to shut down the clone business which they established.

UMAX still was licensing OS8 from Apple until 1998.

Seriously, I often think that most articles about Apple are written by people who didn't know apple existed until the iPod.
 
Last edited:
Eduardo1971 said:
I hope that BMW follows soon. They are one of the initial auto companies under the initiative.
Click to expand...

No. Unfortunately, BMW is only onboard with Siri Eyes Free, not the full iOS In the Car. BMW has said it will be sticking with its iDrive control and interface for the time being while integrating Siri Eyes. So it would be at least two years until a full iOS In The Car shows up IF BMW decides the market requires it. (We known its been pretty stubborn with iDrive).
 
Eduardo1971 said:
I hope that BMW follows soon. They are one of the initial auto companies under the initiative.
Click to expand...

Says who?

http://jalopnik.com/bmw-tells-apple-thanks-but-no-thanks-to-ios-in-the-c-512895285

iOSintheCar.071513.8.jpg
 
I hate how luxury automobile manufacturers always look to iOS first when it only has 20% global market share, where is Android support?!?

/s
 
MICHAELSD said:
Great to know they only chose cars I can afford.
Click to expand...

lol, my thoughts exactly. I mean it's good that it's finally happening but I hope the rest of the brands mentioned at 2013 WWDC follow soon. ios in a civic or a corolla would have a lot more impact than in a Ferrari.
 
danielsutton said:
Will drivers be required to physically have their iOS device in their pocket (in the case of iPhone) or car (in the case of iPad) in order for this system to work? Or will the car's onboard computer host a version of iOS?
Click to expand...

I think a few people might misread what is actually happening. iOS isn't going to be the main OS that will handle the car's OBC, like QNX - you still need an iOS device to use iOS in the car. With that said, I don't see how this wouldn't be an option for every car if it's just an "app" or layer built to be used on top of whatever infotainment OS is present. So those who like Mercedes and have to be stuck with COMAND which is terrible, having an iOS device would at least give you the option to bypass part of it and run iOS In The Car.
 
Buying a new car this week. Wish we could have seen this implementation sooner. It will be another few years before I am in the market again.

I will say that during this whole car research and test driving I have done over the past few weeks, it is amazing at how horrible some of the UIs and design is of the different car makers with regards to the new touchscreen systems. If only they could have all hired Apple to design their systems, they would be more intuitive and user friendly.
 
Fattytail said:
Drivers will be able to use Maps in the car. Are they sure that's a feature they want to tout? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Have you used apple maps turn by turn directions? it's awesome when you find the right place or drop a pin.

----------
roland.g said:
Buying a new car this week. Wish we could have seen this implementation sooner. It will be another few years before I am in the market again.

I will say that during this whole car research and test driving I have done over the past few weeks, it is amazing at how horrible some of the UIs and design is of the different car makers with regards to the new touchscreen systems. If only they could have all hired Apple to design their systems, they would be more intuitive and user friendly.
Click to expand...

if you're into 20k small cars, check out the '14 Honda civic. I just test drove one the other day. It has bluetooth for phone calls, bluetooth audio, or plug the usb cord into the armrest console and it charges/does usb audio controlled by car system or from phone itself, even on the basic model without the 7" touch screen in the center console. Worked better with iOS than I had expected. Worked with pandora and itunes radio. 2 level dash also pretty much like a heads up display, can watch speed in peripheral vision. I liked this setup way better than the current Accord. http://i.imgur.com/crYefQO.jpg CVT is cool too.

What cars did you find to have the best computer systems in your test driving?
 
Last edited:
While this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, I can't see this having much of a future.

I think eventually the car industry will gravitate to a more general docking solution for all phones, regardless of manufacturer or OS.

Even now I doubt Mercedes, Volvo and Ferrari would purposely limit the appeal of their vehicles to iOS users only, so at best I can see this being a cost option.

Supposing you buy to this and further down the road you switch to a different phone?
 
wikiverse said:
"The deal marks the first time that Apple is embedding its software in devices other than its own branded products."

No it doesn't. Apple had a clone licensing program with System7 in the 90s that was terminated in 1997 when Jobs returned to Apple.
Click to expand...

Having a licensing program to allow running your OS on vanilla hardware is much different than working with partner companies to embed customized software on automobiles for integration with iOS. The former was a legal checkmark, while the latter is a collaborative partnership.

However, you're still technically correct. The first time Apple truly embedded its software on someone else's device was the short-lived and horrendous Motorola Rokr, the pre-iPhone. Hopefully this 3rd-party experience will be better.
 
What is the state of Apple maps in the US?
Here they are exactly as bad as when they where introduced. Very few POI and the few that exists are always in the wrong location. I reported several of them but no success after almost 2 years of bad maps.

For example, I have 4 Petrol stations near me, in Apple maps the only one I have close is a book shop who never was a petrol station.

Since BMW already have their own Ecosystem of supported apps through the iPhone and proper maps from Navteq I don't see iOS in BMW any time soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back