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I was under the impression CarPlay already appeared in the instrument cluster of certain makes and models…?

Mine certainly doesn’t though.
 
All cool with how massive these screens are becoming and to avoid having to leave the CarPlay screen to get at them. But right now I’d just settle for the damn radio control feature they have listed.
The reason I leave CarPlay probably 95% of the time is just to listen to FM radio. It would be great if that was implemented.

On the other hand, I guess I could technically stream the radio station in Apple Music or TuneIn…
 
I was under the impression CarPlay already appeared in the instrument cluster of certain makes and models…?

Mine certainly doesn’t though.
CarPlay has had the ability to integrate a lot of these features for years now (at least 3??).

I think it was iOS12 or 13 where they added the ability to display on multiple displays, show environmental controls on the CarPlay screen, etc.

The only integration I have ever seen is the "low fuel" warning that will come up on Maps. BMW does allow CarPlay integration in its head-up display recently, but not for the other integrated controls as mentioned as far as I know.
 
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Physical buttons for media control (play, back/forward), environment, seats etc., are vastly superior to touch offerings.

And if recent iOS releases are anything to go by I just don't trust apple to be involved with something as important as my car
 
Microsoft did this first with Ford in 2007. Ford Sync....


And if I remember, it was a disaster.

Sorry if I don't want the computer (phone) that comes fresh from the factory with software that can't play music or use pervious unlock features (Apple Watch) controlling my car.

First time I plugged my 13 PM into my car, it wouldn't play music, and I had to nuke the settings to get it to work. No thanks. I don't need my heater or defroster or speedometer not working because someone didn't vet their software before their flagship product left the factory.

Cars don't sit around and wait for version 15.1 for these things to work
 
Physical buttons for media control (play, back/forward), environment, seats etc., are vastly superior to touch offerings.
I agree and disagree.

It is nice to have things like Dog/Camp Mode added due to customer feedback and not have to buy a new model year to get it (if it ever shows up at all).

I have a Volt with "physical buttons" and I find I still need to look at the center stack to make sure I am hitting the right thing.
 
I wonder why Apple don't take the approach that Google are doing with Android Automotive (not to be confused with Android Auto) - where the car's actual infotainment system OS is Android rather than having an OS running on a connected phone - and it can 'talk' with cars' systems so, for example, you can have Google Maps knowing how much battery charge your EV will need to get to your destination, and routing you to a charger if necessary.

It's already available in a few niche vehicles (e.g. Polestar 2), but many of the big manufacturers (Renault, Nissan, GM, Ford, PSA etc) have said they'll be using it to power their infotainment systems over the next couple of years. Within two or three years, if you buy a new car there's a good chance it'll be running Android Automotive. Seems like Apple are missing out on a big opportunity there - the potential halo effect would be significant.
 
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I wonder why Apple don't take the approach that Google are doing with Android Automotive (not to be confused with Android Auto) - where the car's actual infotainment system OS is Android rather than having an OS running on a connected phone - and it can 'talk' with cars' systems so, for example, you can have Google Maps knowing how much battery charge your EV will need to get to your destination, and routing you to a charger if necessary.

It's already available in niche vehicles (e.g. Polestar 2), but many of the big manufacturers (Renault, Nissan, GM, Ford, PSA etc) have said they'll be using it to power their infotainment systems over the next couple of years. Seems like Apple are missing out on a big opportunity there - the potential halo effect would be significant.
I suspect it would require Apple to give up too much control over the UI (each maker is going to want their own skin/branding).
 
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You think you do, and I thought so, too.. but it’s eating the battery like c-r-a-z-y. For very short trips it’s ok. For long trips i always plug it in.
Had a trip of 200km with wireless carplay on a BMW 3. Only music and call but no nav. Battery dropped 20%. It was quite impressive.
 
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For a start just have the caller ui not take up the whole screen and ruin the sat nav
It doesn’t though, yes you answer a call, it defaults to the whole screen but you hit the menu button and it goes back to the Home Screen and you can go back into maps if you choose, yes, I totally get how tedious this is but at least you can get out the call screen going full screen and not allowing you to see your maps.
 
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I love it because I use it with a MagSafe charging mount in my car. Works great. Same with any other qi charger really.

I use wireless CarPlay in my vehicle as well with a wireless charger. Unfortunately, the battery in my 12 mini still drains slowly in this setup. If I'm not connected to CarPlay the phone fast charges just fine on the wireless charger. CarPlay seems to have a big power consumption (wired or wireless) and the wireless charger can't keep up.
 
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I suspect it would require Apple to give up too much control over the UI (each maker is going to want their own skin/branding).
That could be true, but I think the main screens (i.e. when not running an app) on Android Automotive (AAOS) is unskinned, pure Android. Where it does lose it's control is secondary displays like the dashboard where manufacturers design the UI to include the usual info, e.g. speed, warning lights, but they can also incorporate data (such as speed limits) and output (e.g. mapping) from AAOS.
 
I just want wireless CarPlay to finally be the norm. Let alone integrating CarKey or anything more advanced like this. I can see car manufacturers more and more wanting to offer their own integrated services for extra revenue and locking out other offerings. So I think this would be a very difficult sell for Apple.

Also, am I the only one that does NOT want all vehicle controls to switch from physical buttons and dials to digital screens? I've driven a few vehicles with more and more touch controls and I personally dislike it. For me it's much quicker having the muscle memory knowing where everything is, or at the very least be able to feel my way around for a specific button or dial while keeping my attention on driving. Rather than having to worry about taking my eyes off the road to locate precisely where a certain control is. Making everything touch controls seems like a step backwards in functionality, not to mention safety.

I know it's pretty much inevitable that physical controls will eventually go away for digital in the car. But as much as I love technology, I think there are certain things that don't need to change anytime soon.
 
One thing that's always irked me with CarPlay - how come the Contacts app isn't there. It was literally the first thing I looked for when I initially tried it out and I was just floored it wasn't supported!!
 
This is honestly huge news for me, as my car doesn’t have any “hardware based” climate control or radio controls. It’s all done via the screen and becomes difficult to access when CarPlay is running.

Currently I have to tap the “home” button, swipe to the Ford button, tap that, give it a second to load the Sync Home Screen, then tap climate control, then hit the controls I want to change… then tap to go back to CarPlay.

it may not sound too bad, but when I’m driving it’s a terrible distraction. CarPlay integration (with Siri integration too?) would be a godsend… assuming it’s not for future models of vehicles only.
 
Will enjoy these features in a decade when manufacturers decide to support this...
 
You think you do, and I thought so, too.. but it’s eating the battery like c-r-a-z-y. For very short trips it’s ok. For long trips i always plug it in.
When you have an IQ charging pad in the car, like I do, having wireless car play would be nice. Just have to take the phone out of the pocket and drop it on the pad, but no cable to connect.
 
When you have an IQ charging pad in the car, like I do, having wireless car play would be nice. Just have to take the phone out of the pocket and drop it on the pad, but no cable to connect.
The Straight Pipes (YT vehicle review channel) have a strong opinion on carplay wired > wireless. I tend to trust their opinions on things and they review A LOT of new model vehicles so it is likely well informed.

Apparently a lot of the wireless implementations out there right now are incredibly flaky.
 
Yeah... that's a good idea to let an OS to handle the car's AC and seats. Nothing will ever go wrong... sure.

Have they looked at iOS15 launch? Do you want that level of software quality controlling your car?
 
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