Apple Music With Spatial Audio Now Available in Rivian Vehicles

[Velli]

Oh I want to discuss things, yeah… but it’s unproductive to speak with people who have no experience on the very thing they’re discussing.

There’s a reason Rivian is rated number 1 in customer satisfaction. The driving experience, the range, the battery, and that includes the infotainment experience. People saying they wouldn’t buy a Rivian because it doesn’t have CarPlay or Apple Music sound… well, I have to be polite here so I’ll just say that they’re speaking from a place of no experience. The $15/mo is justified, I’ll just leave it at that. Not sure why so many little kids are getting their panties in a bunch about something they won’t be driving, anyway.

No car is for everyone. Not sure why you are getting your panties in a bunch about me preferring something different than what you are driving. I have made exactly zero claims about Rivian's user experience. Stop fuming.

EDIT: I just did a few minutes of research. I currently have three different paid subscriptions to content providers, two of which I use daily, that are not supported by Rivian.

 

[SpecialJ]

But according to the article, the monthly subscription enables the WiFi hotspot in the vehicle. So without it, how can you tether your phone to the vehicle via WiFi? [honest question!]

You can tether the vehicle to your phone's wifi hotspot, and still use the Apple Music app natively on the vehicle screen. The vehicle just needs a data connection, either through the built in one you pay for, or by tethering to your phone's data connection. The built in one is just going to be more seamless. $15 is frankly an excellent deal for an unlimited LTE data connection, but if you don't want to pay the extra, phone hotspot tethering is an option.

 

[ignatius345]

$150/year really isn't unreasonable for always-on data with a builtin hotspot.

Thing is, I already pay for always-on data with a built-in hotspot -- in the form of my iPhone. Would not be interested in paying for a redundant line of data. Maybe some people would, but it seems like ripoff.

 

[SpecialJ]

Thing is, I already have always-on data with a built-in hotspot in the form of my iPhone. Would not be interested in paying for a redundant line of data.

That's the thing. It can use your phone's data. You can connect the vehicle to your phone's wifi hotspot and use the native streaming apps on the vehicle screen. It's just not going to be as seamless since you have to turn on your phone's hotspot and connect the vehicle every time you want to do it.

 

[RyanFlynn]

Real talk, I’d like to see this in my Tesla model s.

 

[Nekronos]

I don't need to pay for an LTE connection I already have on my phone. I just crossed half of Europe on my holiday, using Carplay. No issue whatsoever. And it allows me to use my favourite podcast player, which no car company is likely to ever support.

Not saying Carplay is perfect, but it does exactly what I need it to do, so why bother with something that causes extra setup and extra payment, just to keep the car manufacturer happy?

Personally I'd rather pay for connected services in my car that support built-in/native apps and work seamlessly with other vehicular functions instead of using my phone, which then drains my phone battery (I also pay a lot less for cellular with limited high speed data).

It isn't just to keep the manufacturer happy, apple carplay is limited and doesn't provide a seamless experience with every aspect of driving - Rivian wants you to have a seamless, cohesive driving experience.

 

[Velli]

Personally I'd rather pay for connected services in my car that support built-in/native apps and work seamlessly with other vehicular functions instead of using my phone, which then drains my phone battery (I also pay a lot less for cellular with limited high speed data).

Completely fair. I usually charge my phone when in my car, so it isn't really relevant for me personally.

I am genuinely curious though, about which connected services need to work with vehicular functions?

It isn't just to keep the manufacturer happy, apple carplay is limited and doesn't provide a seamless experience with every aspect of driving - Rivian wants you to have a seamless, cohesive driving experience.

It would be totally possible to also support Carplay, and give their customers choice. In fact, this is what every Carplay supported car I have come across does. Granted, a lot of them use Carplay as an excuse to not bother with a proper in-car experience, but nothing is stopping them. I'm assuming it costs money, of course. Assuming they could fulfill demand, that would likely be alleviated by increased sales though. And interestingly, I have never seen a car manufacturer use the implementation cost as a reason for not supporting Carplay. It's always about control, not cost.

 

[Nekronos]

Completely fair. I usually charge my phone when in my car, so it isn't really relevant for me personally.

I am genuinely curious though, about which connected services need to work with vehicular functions?

It would be totally possible to also support Carplay, and give their customers choice. In fact, this is what every Carplay supported car I have come across does. Granted, a lot of them use Carplay as an excuse to not bother with a proper in-car experience, but nothing is stopping them. I'm assuming it costs money, of course. Assuming they could fulfill demand, that would likely be alleviated by increased sales though. And interestingly, I have never seen a car manufacturer use the implementation cost as a reason for not supporting Carplay. It's always about control, not cost.

I can charge my phone in the car, but I prefer not for efficiency and heat reasons, wireless carplay really heats the phone up in addition to draining the battery - neither of which is great for battery degradation.

I'd say one of the most important things is going to be navigation - vehicles with adaptive suspension and auto-pilot type functions utilize navigation input, also with EVs it helps manage the battery - assuming you use a different navigation system via carplay this will hinder those features. And aside from those points, a number of vehicle functions will cause a less than seamless jumping in and out of carplay mode depending on what you are using (i.e. vehicle's navigation/climate control/etc but having calls/texts/other apps via carplay that can interrupt vehicular apps and vice versa)

At some point if carplay has deep integration that truly functions as a full fledged interaction point between you and the vehicle, I could see there being a big demand for that and providing convenience across any vehicle you drive, but it's not yet there.

Rivian's approach isn't any different than Apple's motto of wanting to control the user experience.

I'm willing to bet Rivian knows better than Apple in how design an infotainment system that best supports a driver in their vehicle.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I was looking into a Rivian possibly for my next vehicle, but I'm not going to pay a subscription to access my other subscriptions. If the car doesn’t have CarPlay, I’m not going to get one.

 

[Chazz12]

I was already thinking about getting a Rivian, despite the lack of CarPlay, and this actually helps. It looks good, unlike some of the other implementations I've seen.

 

[droidgod]

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?

Don’t know about Rivian, but on a Tesla, its ($100/yr and) 100% worth it!!

No data caps, Stream Music/Podcasts on the go without consuming my phone plan, Watch any streaming service (it has a Chromium browser built in) while charging or parked, Stream security footage from the Car’s cameras wherever you are, etc. Thats essentially all for less than 10 bucks a month. And from experience, the Tesla has much better reception than my phone (probably cause the antenna is larger)

Not sure where you get all that for that price anywhere.

 

[fivetoedbear]

What really messes up the aesthetics of my car is having to buy an accessory display to put on the dash so I can have CarPlay. I guess that won't work either if the Entertainment System has no audio inputs.

Best choice I've made this year was putting an aftermarket head unit with a 6.5" display and CarPlay into my 2013 Subaru Outback. It cost less than two new car payments, but feels like a new car!

No worries though, Subaru is stodgy enough to stay with CarPlay, and at my age and with my driving habits, an EV will never make back the carbon cost of its manufacture by using electricity rather than gasoline.

 

[svish]

Not happy with the monthly subscription.

 

[Tagbert]

Awesome!
Now do Lucid, please.

This is where I disagree with Rivian’s approach. There is no way that they can actually provide all of the apps that we use on CarPlay. They’ll do enough of the biggies like this and then tell us the rest of us can go screw ourselves. RJ’s excuse seems to be that he wants to preserve a “pure” Rivian experience but I assert that that will never be sufficient. They should accept that and allow us to use CarPlay to fill in the gaps.

I know that at its heart this is probably more about extracting subscription revenue but they are not really being up front about that. Which is a shame. I would probably be willing to pay a subscription for their services as long as they also allowed me to use CarPlay for the things that I use it for. As long as they are not honest about their goals, it makes it impossible to accept what they are offering.

 

[Tagbert]

If it works like in a Tesla the subscription is well worth it. It’s basically a LTE connection for my car no matter where I am or who drives it and even when crossing into other countries. So a service like this is just on top of a lot of other online services you get

If it is good then they should charge for it and also allow us to use CarPlay.

 

[Tagbert]

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.

Why does it matter that Rivian thinks their interface is superior. It is inherently insufficient. It does not and can never include all of the apps that I use on CarPlay. That’s OK. I don’t need Rivian to remake every app. I need them to do a good job on the features of the car and let me use CarPlay for what I need it for.

I listen to podcasts almost every time I’m in the car. my podcast subscriptions are all on my phone. My history. Where I am in each podcast. When I get in the car, I want to pick up the same podcast at the same point and continue listening.

Bluetooth is crappy and limited. it doesn’t let you navigate within or between podcasts. It doesn’t support chapters. Having to use my phone’s screen while driving is also unsafe and illegal. Is it really unreasonable to allow me to use CarPlay for that?

 

[jwsf28]

Why does it matter that Rivian thinks their interface is superior. It is inherently insufficient. It does not and can never include all of the apps that I use on CarPlay. That’s OK. I don’t need Rivian to remake every app. I need them to do a good job on the features of the car and let me use CarPlay for what I need it for.

I listen to podcasts almost every time I’m in the car. my podcast subscriptions are all on my phone. My history. Where I am in each podcast. When I get in the car, I want to pick up the same podcast at the same point and continue listening.

Bluetooth is crappy and limited. it doesn’t let you navigate within or between podcasts. It doesn’t support chapters. Having to use my phone’s screen while driving is also unsafe and illegal. Is it really unreasonable to allow me to use CarPlay for that?

Oh my god, can you believe that a Rivian is not for you? WOW THAT'S SO CRAZY HUH?

 

[Tagbert]

Oh I want to discuss things, yeah… but it’s unproductive to speak with people who have no experience on the very thing they’re discussing.

There’s a reason Rivian is rated number 1 in customer satisfaction. The driving experience, the range, the battery, and that includes the infotainment experience. People saying they wouldn’t buy a Rivian because it doesn’t have CarPlay or Apple Music sound… well, I have to be polite here so I’ll just say that they’re speaking from a place of no experience. The $15/mo is justified, I’ll just leave it at that. Not sure why so many little kids are getting their panties in a bunch about something they won’t be driving, anyway.

I am not a Rivian customer now but I would be a prospect for the R3 when it comes out. It has a lot of what I am looking for in an EV but I was very disappointed in Rivian’s policy to not support CarPlay and I disagree with their reasoning for why that is a good thing.

You feel that Rivian provides a good experience. That may be but it can not provide everything nor should it try. What it should do is allow a simple CarPlay connection to allow us to fill in the gaps. I am not even bothered by Rivian wanting a subscription for the car. I assume that is going to be part of it. Fine. Charge me but also give me what I need, not what you need.

 

[jwsf28]

I am not a Rivian customer now but I would be a prospect for the R3 when it comes out. It has a lot of what I am looking for in an EV but I was very disappointed in Rivian’s policy to not support CarPlay and I disagree with their reasoning for why that is a good thing.

You feel that Rivian provides a good experience. That may be but it can not provide everything nor should it try. What it should do is allow a simple CarPlay connection to allow us to fill in the gaps. I am not even bothered by Rivian wanting a subscription for the car. I assume that is going to be part of it. Fine. Charge me but also give me what I need, not what you need.

No. No Carplay for you. Get over it.

 

[xDKP]

I don't need to pay for an LTE connection I already have on my phone. I just crossed half of Europe on my holiday, using Carplay. No issue whatsoever. And it allows me to use my favourite podcast player, which no car company is likely to ever support.

Not saying Carplay is perfect, but it does exactly what I need it to do, so why bother with something that causes extra setup and extra payment, just to keep the car manufacturer happy?

Yeah did the same - crossed Europe and my kids could stream Disney movies on the rear seat display while we stream podcasts and my wife can surf the web at the same time. All on the cars internet connection - No one forces you, but I think it's well worth it

 

[wanha]

Spatial Audio in cars 👍

Charing a monthly subscription to use your paid music subscription in the car 👎

 

[wanha]

I don't need to pay for an LTE connection I already have on my phone. I just crossed half of Europe on my holiday, using Carplay. No issue whatsoever. And it allows me to use my favourite podcast player, which no car company is likely to ever support.

Not saying Carplay is perfect, but it does exactly what I need it to do, so why bother with something that causes extra setup and extra payment, just to keep the car manufacturer happy?

but but but subscription revenue just looks SO DAMN SEXY to business executives on their spreadsheets

 

[Velli]

Yeah did the same - crossed Europe and my kids could stream Disney movies on the rear seat display while we stream podcasts and my wife can surf the web at the same time. All on the cars internet connection - No one forces you, but I think it's well worth it

All I am saying is that these things are totally possible to do (and I did) without a seperate subscription for the car. You made it sound like crossing borders stops my phone from working.

I get the convenience. All I am saying is that there are also areas where it is less convenient, such as not being able to use my preferred podcast app, or preferred streaming service. (Qobuz). I am not trying to stop you from doing things your way. All I am saying is that if a carmaker wants my business, they have to offer the possibility of doing it my way. It doesn’t need to be the only possibility. NOONE stops Rivian from providing that service to you, and CarPlay to me. Except greedy business policies.

If you or Rivian could explain to me how offering CarPlay as an alternative option would make your experience worse, I would stop arguing immediately. But you can’t.

 

[GDF]

Nice. Wish Tesla would start offering Spatial Audio too.

 

[xDKP]

All I am saying is that these things are totally possible to do (and I did) without a seperate subscription for the car. You made it sound like crossing borders stops my phone from working.

I get the convenience. All I am saying is that there are also areas where it is less convenient, such as not being able to use my preferred podcast app, or preferred streaming service. (Qobuz). I am not trying to stop you from doing things your way. All I am saying is that if a carmaker wants my business, they have to offer the possibility of doing it my way. It doesn’t need to be the only possibility. NOONE stops Rivian from providing that service to you, and CarPlay to me. Except greedy business policies.

If you or Rivian could explain to me how offering CarPlay as an alternative option would make your experience worse, I would stop arguing immediately. But you can’t.

I get what you and many are saying, but for companies that actually make good software, I completely understand they just don't want to hand over the complete ownership of the software development to a giant tech company and be totally depedant on them delivering what suits their car. Also another small point they loose in a race to be unique.

Now if I drove one of the legacy automakers that historically have made absolute trash software for their cars, I would be in your camp. We have a Fiat 500e as well, and it's actually okay software to be honest and good display and all, but I use CarPlay when driving it because it's not as great as our Tesla infotainment.

I use Apple Music and Apple Podcast, so I'm lucky they are build in and might assist my experience.