Apple Music With Spatial Audio Now Available in Rivian Vehicles

[dasmb]

As a seller of a car: I want a consistent experience, as this sells the car.

As an owner of a car: I want an experience that is optimal over the entire life of the car (which should be 10-15 years). Optimal = meets my needs with a minimum of fuss.

If I knew the car would keep up with updates and new apps to fill all the new use cases we'll come up with over a decade, and keep subscription costs reasonable over that period, I think it would be okay to cede full responsibility for the infotainment system to the manufacturer.

But this is incredibly hard to do well. I am not aware of a manufacturer who has done it -- and yes I am specifically excluding Tesla. Tesla may have great software, but they don't support apps like Waze, Overcast or SpotHero. If I use apps like these, I need to use my phone while driving NOW, rather than the big ass console that's just sitting pretty as can be with nothing to do. How much worse will this be in a decade?

Tesla offers infotainment system upgrades for older cars, which is a great idea. But they're $2000 and also require a subscription (https://www.tesla.com/support/infotainment). Cuphead is great, but is it worth that?

This is all ******** anyway. Polestar supports CarPlay and it's great. Some day Elon and RJ will come around -- probably looking at the massive and increasing budgets for their software team to simply maintain parity with the competition plus CarPlay/AA.

 

[hansmoleman]

You mean you pay $150/year for data connection ON TOP of your voice/data plan you have for your phone?
And you find that ok?

Of course I find it ok. It's a different connection, to a different network, from a different device.

I don't necessarily want everything going through my mobile phone. Sometimes I like it completely separate from my car.

Sometimes (I know, shocking!) I want to go somewhere without a phone at all. Imagine that.

 

[Iscariote]

"Actually, it's good to pay for a second data connection because I purposefully leave my phone home" is a spectacular opinion.

I hope you own a mountain of $RIVN.

 

[hansmoleman]

"Actually, it's good to pay for a second data connection because I purposefully leave my phone home" is a spectacular opinion.

I hope you own a mountain of $RIVN.

Don't own any of their stock actually, but thanks.

 

[jz0309]

Sometimes (I know, shocking!) I want to go somewhere without a phone at all. Imagine that.

But you still need to be “connected” via your car? Yea, I imagine that…

 

[hansmoleman]

But you still need to be “connected” via your car? Yea, I imagine that…

No, but I like music while I drive.

 

[dasmb]

My next car purchase will be from a brand that makes great cars.

I won't subscribe to anything in the car, the car doesn't spy on me and isn't envious on my iPhone where I have all contacts, music, mobile internet, maps, etc.

What brand could that be?

Volvo/Polestar are close.

The car does, technically, spy on you, as would any device with a SIM card or "on call" support. But my SIM card is broken and the car still works just fine.

Tech is very good, engines are very good, interior is very good, ride is very good. Reliability is fair -- too many motors and sensors, there's a big sunroof with drains to become clogged and then flood. Economy is only okay and cargo options leave something to be desired -- they're luxury cars and while I use my V90 to haul lumber, it's frankly not great at it. But I'd still call it a great car

The petro Subarus are great cars (stay away from the Solterra). Fords are quite nice. Both with CarPlay.

 

[jwsf28]

1. The main reason they’re offering this subscription option is because every Rivian has an LTE connection that the company is paying AT&T $15 every month for every customer’s truck. This optional subscription will help offset that cost for the company.

2. Everyone whining about how Rivian doesn’t offer CarPlay… the Rivian interface is FAR superior to anything CarPlay offers, hands down. Not to mention the fact that CarPlay in 2024 looks like a child’s toy from 1992.

3. You can use Apple Music in a Rivian via a Bluetooth connection.

 

[lcs101]

Not really.

It's to cover the data connection cost. $150/year really isn't unreasonable for always-on data with a builtin hotspot.

But if all you want is to be able to control Apple Music through the infotainment, it's completely unreasonable to pay $150 a year to do so...

 

[lcs101]

1. The main reason they’re offering this subscription option is because every Rivian has an LTE connection that the company is paying AT&T $15 every month for every customer’s truck. This optional subscription will help offset that cost for the company.

2. Everyone whining about how Rivian doesn’t offer CarPlay… the Rivian interface is FAR superior to anything CarPlay offers, hands down. Not to mention the fact that CarPlay in 2024 looks like a child’s toy from 1992.

3. You can use Apple Music in a Rivian via a Bluetooth connection.

Then you have to control it through your phone if I'm not mistaken. That should not be a thing in 2024. I'm okay without full CarPlay integration if they allowed you access to Apple Music through the infotainment (without charging you more)

 

[jwsf28]

Then you have to control it through your phone if I'm not mistaken. That should not be a thing in 2024. I'm okay without full CarPlay integration if they allowed you access to Apple Music through the infotainment (without charging you more)

Voice control. “Hey Siri, next track”. Pretty simple.

 

[lcs101]

Voice control. “Hey Siri, next track”. Pretty simple.

First of all, I don't want to have to activate Siri every time I want something done. Second of all, there is a lot more to control than simply skipping tracks.

 

[Gengar]

Ah. So no CarPlay support, because they want to charge a subscription to get you to pay for things you already have on your phone (music streaming services, hotspot capability, etc.) just like GM. Okay.

 

[iFunk]

No cassette deck / CD player / CD changer? That is a big HELL NO for me. I'll stick to my older vehicle. Hell I can still plug in an iPod as well or a 3.5 mm jack. I'm sure you can just Bluetooth to the vehicle which would be a viable option to most. To me this decision really goes down to how much time you spend in your vehicle. All my time spent driving is listening to music, podcasts, etc. I know some people who have a SiriusXM subscription but only listen when they are in their vehicle and that is not very often. If you not getting the full value of a product I don't see paying a subscription for it.

 

[jwsf28]

First of all, I don't want to have to activate Siri every time I want something done. Second of all, there is a lot more to control than simply skipping tracks.

Well, Rivian’s not adding CarPlay, so this conversation is fruitless. 🤷🏻‍♂️ But I’m sure that won’t stop all the people who don’t own a Rivian from complaining about things that don’t affect them.

 

[lcs101]

Well, Rivian’s not adding CarPlay, so this conversation is fruitless. 🤷🏻‍♂️ But I’m sure that won’t stop all the people who don’t own a Rivian from complaining about things that don’t affect them.

It's relevant to the thread. But yes, it won't impact me outside of limiting my options for my next car, as I will never buy a vehicle that doesn't allow me to control Apple Music through its infotainment system.

I find it sillier that people feel the need to defend such a cash grab...

 

[hansmoleman]

But if all you want is to be able to control Apple Music through the infotainment, it's completely unreasonable to pay $150 a year to do so...

Sure, so tether the car to your phone. Rivian allows that with this firmware update. Easy cheesy.

 

[lcs101]

Sure, so tether the car to your phone. Rivian allows that with this firmware update. Easy cheesy.

But does that allow me to access things like my playlists through the infotainment or scroll through artists/albums/songs/etc? I want full control over Apple Music without having to pick up my phone.

 

[jwsf28]

It's relevant to the thread. But yes, it won't impact me outside of limiting my options for my next car, as I will never buy a vehicle that doesn't allow me to control Apple Music through its infotainment system.

I find it sillier that people feel the need to defend such a cash grab...

And I do t see why people are defending CarPlay as if it’s the end all be all when they don’t have any reference point as to the existing, way more superior, RivianOS. It’s like saying “I want a diaper because it’s more convenient than these boxer briefs.”

 

[hansmoleman]

But does that allow me to access things like my playlists through the infotainment or scroll through artists/albums/songs/etc? I want full control over Apple Music without having to pick up my phone.

I do believe so, yes. Haven't gotten the update yet so can't confirm but I do believe that's the case, yes.

 

[lcs101]

I do believe so, yes. Haven't gotten the update yet so can't confirm but I do believe that's the case, yes.

That would contradict the article, which implies access to the Apple Music App requires the subscription.

 

[irishv]

I am Rivian's target customer. I will need a new car in the next year and have a large family. We already have one large gas-powered SUV and I'd like an electric as our secondary car. I have the money to buy an expensive car and love almost everything about Rivian. Except I won't buy a car without CarPlay. I've emailed their customer support multiple times over the past two years to let them know. It's funny how the message used to be that they were looking for how to integrate CarPlay. Now at least they're honest that they won't support it.

 

[lcs101]

And I do t see why people are defending CarPlay as if it’s the end all be all when they don’t have any reference point as to the existing, way more superior, RivianOS. It’s like saying “I want a diaper because it’s more convenient than these boxer briefs.”

I already said I don't need CarPlay...just access to an Apple Music app (without having to pay a subscription). So you're not talking about me here...

 

[hansmoleman]

That would contradict the article, which implies access to the Apple Music App requires the subscription.

... much ado about nothing.

 

[jwsf28]

Sure, so tether the car to your phone. Rivian allows that with this firmware update. Easy cheesy.

Respectfully, you’ve been able to connect your iPhone via Bluetooth since Rivian released their first vehicles 👍🏻