If you would have watched the video’s You would have known that the buttons integrate and many items run on the car and NOT the phone … unlike “old” CarPlay this is NOT a mirror, but I hybrid system. So even if your does not connect immediately, the info like speed, rpm etc are still being displayed …
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Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra
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There’s no way I’d buy a car that’s so deeply integrated with Apple. On top of that, relying on touchscreens for nearly all major controls benefits manufacturers, not drivers. I’ve tested numerous brands and models, and touchscreen interfaces for things like seat heating, climate control, or audio slow you down significantly increasing the risk of accidents.
How would a button run on your phone? Of course it runs on the car. That does not invalidate his desire for physical buttons. It is about the feedback, how fast you are not about where it is hosted. In addition, I think Germany passed a law that prohibits you from changing anything on the touchscreen while driving like seat warmers and so on.
A decent tradeoff might be two (dual zone) multifunctional dials floating below the display. Tactile, dampened, metal, attractive. Press to switch use case and dial to change. A long press for a second could sync the current setting to the other dial, if you didn’t watch the reach over to it, and vice versa for the passenger side dial.
This might be a decent way to keep a car interior minimal while retaining some physical controls and muscle memory. The dials could work like four or more functions and the user would know even without looking many presses to get to each function.
Both dials would have circular displays to show current setting for current function and the large display above the dials could momentarily show setting changes in a large view. Car makers haven’t got the memo yet. And, Jesus, please bring back decent door handles. Flush door handles have a slightly lower coefficient of drag, but my God do most of them suck so badly to use. I don’t want to “get used to them” … I want to LOVE them. Make cars tactile and useable.
We’ve had Mercedes vehicles for years but if they aren’t going to support the new CarPlay, we’ll no longer be customers. Maybe they’ll work with Apple to support some sort of a hybrid Ultra to preserve the M-B branding that Mercedes is so instant on.
Imagine paying a quarter million dollars and then enjoying such a hideously confusing interface to turn the AC on.
Amazing Tim times.
Amazing Tim times.
No thanks, Nissan's integration with car play was never reliable and they never provided software updates for their infotainment unit to fix it even though it does OTA updates.
I have absolutely no interest in handing over control of more stuff to a finicky connection. CarPlay was on a list of must haves on this car. My next car, its actually a plus if the built in functionality is good enough where I don't have to pair my phone or if its not even supported, all the better.
I have absolutely no interest in handing over control of more stuff to a finicky connection. CarPlay was on a list of must haves on this car. My next car, its actually a plus if the built in functionality is good enough where I don't have to pair my phone or if its not even supported, all the better.
I bought a MB a few years ago because I wanted to treat myself. I am going back to Hondas which I've bought for decades due to a few entertainment controls that drive me insane.
The MB software on the 2025 and lack of many buttons has convinced me (and likely others) that I will never ever buy a MB again. I pray Honda never replaces buttons with swipe controls and press-the-screen-4-times-to-adjust-the-temperature controls.
Because it’s 1st/2nd-party and therefore obviously supports it. The article is about 3rd party cars.
There's really no way to tell. The update would have to come from Hyundai so maybe check Hyundai forums to see if they actually do software updates for the car you're interested in. If not, that's a good clue that it probably wouldn't be added retroactively.
I’m anxious to see what CarPlay Ultra looks like in other brands. I have already decided that I will not buy a vehicle without CarPlay going forward. I think GM is making a huge mistake thinking they will make more money by essentially forcing customers to buy into their subscription model. I was previously considering a Cadillac for my new vehicle, but because I won’t be buying for several years, by that time GM will have completely phased corplay out. That takes Cadillac completely out of consideration for me. I currently have two Audi vehicles, and don’t plan to go with Audi again. Audis drive great, but they are over engineered to the point of being ludicrous. For instance, the battery in my Q7 has a processor in it which the techs tell me add 1 to 2 years life to the battery. However, the battery costs over $800 with installation. I’d prefer to replace a $200 battery a little more often. On top of that Audi’s overall tech package functions very poorly. The car rarely recognizes whose key fob opened the door, so I have to manually press the #1 button for my seat, mirror, and steering wheel adjustments where in other cars it would be automatic every time. I often have to wait two or three minutes for the infotainment system to boot before I can use the built in garage door buttons to close my garage door. Things like that are such a turn off for me. These cars cost way to much to not offer better, more refined tech.
Just about all the car manufacturers are moving to Android Automotive OS with a heavy branding reskin. I imagine that CarPlay Ultra will eventually come to most manufacturers because they can get it cheaply because Android Automotive can or already does support it.
Getting significant new features in a software update is uncommon but not unheard of in the car industry. I'd bet on Hyundai/Kia/Genesis to put their hands out and say "money please!" for folks dying to have this new feature. In other words, don't buy a car in 2025 expecting it in a software update. Expect to buy a new car in 2026 or later if you want it.
Long term goal of these comprehensive Android and Apple automotive systems is to NOT be always tethered to your phone..... The car essentially becomes another device......
So...Google Built-In now featured on quite a few 2024/25 car models and is essentially the Android version of Car Play Ultra. You log into your Google account directly in your car.....I suspect that three years ago Apple was too slow to get this implemented so GM, Nissan, Volvo etc... went with a Google Built-In ecosystem instead. I don't know if they will now switch to Apple CP Ultra...... I'd be surprised if they are willing to have some models with Google and some with Apple dashboards.... So it will be interesting to see who eventually dominates....
So...Google Built-In now featured on quite a few 2024/25 car models and is essentially the Android version of Car Play Ultra. You log into your Google account directly in your car.....I suspect that three years ago Apple was too slow to get this implemented so GM, Nissan, Volvo etc... went with a Google Built-In ecosystem instead. I don't know if they will now switch to Apple CP Ultra...... I'd be surprised if they are willing to have some models with Google and some with Apple dashboards.... So it will be interesting to see who eventually dominates....
This is the kind of thing that may not seem like that big a deal for Apple now but could turn into a big problem. So Apple was late with Car Play Ultra and many manufacturers go with Google. If enough vehicles turn up with only Google compatibility, we could see iPhone sales taking a big hit. There may be some grumbling. But, for the most part, consumers take the path of least resistance. I’m not predicting that. I’m just saying unexpected major consequences from a seemingly minor error or delay happen all the time.
I don’t want a giant screen in the middle of my car. I prefer buttons and dials because they’re much easier to use while I’m driving.
Just ordered a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. Fingers crossed it works on that as well. I agree, it seems like it's been designed to be able to take advantage of ultra.
Mazdas have nice combination of buttons and screen. There is even a main physical control/buttons for the dash touchscreen; the built in screen isnt touch when driving, but AndroidAuto and CarPlay are touchscreen when driving.
It'll be awhile before Honda or Toyota updates CarPlay as both are known to be very slow, if not averse, to adopt newer technologies for their respective vehicles.
Recent bought a new 2025 CRV which has CarPlay so learning how to use it and it includes the wireless feature, which is currently available on certain models, i.e. top trim models.
Recent bought a new 2025 CRV which has CarPlay so learning how to use it and it includes the wireless feature, which is currently available on certain models, i.e. top trim models.