BMW i4 Showcases Fully Integrated Apple CarPlay in Instrument Cluster

[MacRumors]

BMW's upcoming flagship electric vehicle the "i4" features one of the most integrated Apple CarPlay experiences yet, recent promotional material has shown.

BMW describes the Apple CarPlay experience in the i4 as "even more seamless." The i4 features two curved displays and a heads-up display. All three displays can display information from Apple CarPlay simultaneously.

The BMW i4 features iDrive 8, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay, turn-by-turn Apple Maps prompts in the heads-up display, and Apple Maps and directions in the instrument cluster.

The new-generation BMW iDrive 8's higher degree of flexibility makes in-car use of third-party apps even simpler and more convenient in the future. BMW iDrive 8 features full integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The control display's large screen clearly presents all available apps in the system's menu. The user's favorite apps can be launched quickly and easily either via the main menu or the toolbar. The increased integration of app functions into the information display and even the BMW Head-Up Display also results in seamless transition throughout the screen grouping. And music streaming and communications apps are now integrated within BMW iDrive 8. They are displayed as original sources in the main menu, enabling customers to make full use of their apps' functions.

Many recent vehicles with Apple CarPlay already feature limited turn-by-turn directional information fed from Apple Maps on the driver's display, but BMW's full integration of Apple Maps into the instrument cluster is among the first implementations of its kind.

Apple Maps and navigation information is displayed in the middle of the instrument cluster, unifying with BMW iDrive's interface that is laid on top of it.

A look at the BMW i4's CarPlay integration and Apple Maps in the instrument cluster may be seen from 08:40 in the video.​

Turn-by-turn prompts and Apple Maps in the second display have been supported in CarPlay as of iOS 13, but BMW is among the first to have implemented the full view of Apple Maps in the second display instrument cluster. BMW appears to be using a large number of Apple developer features such as independent night mode per H.246 stream to accomplish this close integration.

BMW has been an early adopter of Apple vehicle-related software features, such as Digital Key and Ultra Wideband Digital Key Plus, in recent years, although it only started offering CarPlay in 2016 and came under fire for charging a $80 per year fee for access to it, before reneging on the subscription following negative feedback.

The BMW i4 launches in Europe later this year and in the United States in summer 2022.

Article Link: BMW i4 Showcases Fully Integrated Apple CarPlay in Instrument Cluster

 

[Attirex]

MR forum members who are also wealthy Orange County residents debate the merits of BMW vs. Mercedes in 3...2...1....

 

[Somian]

This is awesome! I’d be really interested in this car if it wouldn’t have this hideous huge grille.

 

[ddtmm]

It’s pretty pathetic that the charge $80/year for CarPlay. Apple should restrict them from doing that.

 

[1262385]

It’s pretty pathetic that the charge $80/year for CarPlay. Apple should restrict them from doing that.

I wonder if Apple gets a cut?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I like it. It looks very rich. But BMW’s are expensive 😂

 

[MacLawyer]

I was going to say something like "awesome!" until I read about the $80 a year charge above.

EDIT: The original article was later edited to mention the $80.00 charge is no longer in effect.

 

[mymacrumorsname]

IMO (<= just my opinion guys) The interior looks ... not good. Like 3 raspberry pi screens stitched together or sth. 👎🏻 They forgot the integration of the displays with the rest of the car I think.

 

[batmccoy]

This car is cringe worthy on so many levels. "On the BMW curved display...".

 

[DrwMDvs]

I just wish they could/would implement turn by turn navigation in the heads up display/cluster for apple CarPlay in my 2017 Honda Civic. Android auto can do it just fine.

 

[himanshumodi]

I wonder if Apple gets a cut?

Not unless users do an IAP. If they do, is BMW one of the companies who wants users to be able to pay on a separate website?

 

[yanksfan114]

It’s pretty pathetic that the charge $80/year for CarPlay. Apple should restrict them from doing that.

"BMW has been an early adopter of Apple vehicle-related software features, such as Digital Key and Ultra Wideband Digital Key Plus, in recent years, although it only started offering CarPlay in 2016 and came under fire for charging a $80 per year fee for access to it, before reneging on the subscription following negative feedback."

 

[David11]

BMW has been an early adopter of Apple vehicle-related software features, such as Digital Key and Ultra Wideband Digital Key Plus, in recent years, although it only started offering CarPlay in 2016 and came under fire for charging a $80 per year fee for access to it, before reneging on the subscription following negative feedback.

 

[macpro2000]

Yea, mine isn't as "Futuristic" but I think the integration is still pretty dang cool.

 

[David11]

Jinx

"BMW has been an early adopter of Apple vehicle-related software features, such as Digital Key and Ultra Wideband Digital Key Plus, in recent years, although it only started offering CarPlay in 2016 and came under fire for charging a $80 per year fee for access to it, before reneging on the subscription following negative feedback."

 

[yanksfan114]

I could've sworn Apple added support for instrument cluster turn-by-turn directions in iOS 8 or 9 but no one ever implemented it.

 

[Rychiar]

I just wish they could/would implement turn by turn navigation in the heads up display/cluster for apple CarPlay in my 2017 Honda Civic. Android auto can do it just fine.

you have a 2017 Honda Civic with a heads up display? cus mine definitely doesn't have that lol. I'm just happy my CarPlay works at all cus it was a mess in 2017/2018

 

[incoherent_1]

NICE! This is the level of integration I’ve always wanted. Hope other car companies take note.

 

[jlc1978]

This is awesome! I’d be really interested in this car if it wouldn’t have this hideous huge grille.

Yea. It's note quite as bad looking when seen in person but with the tag in the center it looks like a dog with a bone in its mouth.

It’s pretty pathetic that the charge $80/year for CarPlay. Apple should restrict them from doing that.

They instated the fee when CarPlay went from being an option to standard and gave all owners a one year free trial. They quickly dropped the fee but BMW's original explanation was the fee was designed to cover the costs of software updates to iDrive to ensure CarPlay continued to function properly as Apple updated iOS.

I was going to say something like "awesome!" until I read about the $80 a year charge above.

They dropped the charge in 2019 and refunded those who paid for subscriptions after the one year free trial, something MR failed to mention.

IMO (<= just my opinion guys) The interior looks ... not good. Like 3 raspberry pi screens stitched together or sth. 👎🏻 They forgot the integration of the displays with the rest of the car I think.

It actually looks better in person than in the video. I'm not fan of the all glass display, being an oil pressure speddo tach amps all in red lights type, but the are the way of the future.

This car is cringe worthy on so many levels. "On the BMW curved display...".

It is, but part of the problem is designers who want to come up with new looks and fancy technology to be cutting edge. Of course, once BMW got rid of the shark nose things started to go downhill with a few exceptions...

 

[iGeneo]

It’s pretty pathetic that the charge $80/year for CarPlay. Apple should restrict them from doing that.

Did you even read the last paragraph? FFS

 

[Agit21]

and Apple Maps and directions

Dude I don’t want to get lost in traffic 🤯

 

[fel10]

Sorry but the Kia K5 looks sexier than this car

 

[nicho]

Did you even read the last paragraph? FFS

"BMW has been an early adopter of Apple vehicle-related software features, such as Digital Key and Ultra Wideband Digital Key Plus, in recent years, although it only started offering CarPlay in 2016 and came under fire for charging a $80 per year fee for access to it, before reneging on the subscription following negative feedback."

Jinx

The faith you have in Macrumors' journalists is wildly misplaced.

Original version of the article, pre-edit, still open on my phone:

An honest reporter would highlight their mistake and why they rectified it, to prevent hounding of loyal users...

 

[Marzzz]

CarPlay in my current 540i is free. The Digital Key is quite convenient, one less thing to carry/lose, but I still won't trust is on long trips. What I would really like to see is CarPlay integrated into the Heads-Up Display. My current car is sort of a "hidden" hybrid, I imagine the next version a few years from now will be an i5. Just as long as they don't propagate that ugly grille...

 

[WWPD]

My 2012 VW Golf has BLUETOOTH.