Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I just bought a 2016 BMW X5 and I could care less that it doesn't have CarPlay. It wasn't even at the bottom of my long lost of items that I wanted in the car.
 
  • Like
Reactions: big-ted
we were on the fence between a ford cmax energi plug-in hybrid and a chevy volt. chevy supports carplay so won the day. GM gets another customer over ford (and ok, the volt gets twice the mileage on a charge, but we're looking at it solely for local driving, kid pick up from school so that's negligible for our practical use. decision literally came down between plug in hybrid with/without car play).
 
I'm glad to finally see a critical mass of automakers relinquish control of their radio screens. So many "infotainment" systems are pure garbage. Let the computer companies make the computers, and the car companies make the cars.
That's not exactly what's going on here. They have definitely not relinquished control of their infotainment systems. They have augmented them to allow CarPlay and Android Auto to interface with their systems. You can't use CP/AA without MyLink (GM's infotainment system) or an aftermarket unit. CP/AA are basically system overlays that are completely dependent on the phone. I think some of us are making incorrect assumptions of what CP/AA actually entail.

As for GM and other car companies, they're happy. They are using CP/AA to upsell trim levels and add-ons. It's what they do.
 
I hope people realize they can install CarPlay in any existing car, you don't have to buy new just to get CarPlay.


Is this true? Because I have asked several people and have been told it's not just a software update. Why it wouldn't be, I don't know, but that is what I have been told.
 
I don't think this would surprise anyone. I know I myself already decided I'm not buying a new car without new technology called CarPlay and I guess many others feel the same way.
Though I do think it would be nice if you could install CarPlay as an aftermarket mod for existing car owners.

You can. I had it fitted in my car six months ago or more.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 69Mustang
I'm glad to finally see a critical mass of automakers relinquish control of their radio screens. So many "infotainment" systems are pure garbage. Let the computer companies make the computers, and the car companies make the cars.

Does this include Apple and Google?
 
I took my 2015 GM SUV in for service and a part was backordered, so I was given a 2016 model to drive over the last week, and it has CarPlay.

It has been fun to play with, especially messages, but honestly, it isn't a must have feature. With BT and my Onstar app, my iPhone 6s is really integrated into my current GM Infotainment system already.

Siri functionality is for me a better option in the car driving environment, CarPlay only seems to add the ability to visually see info, that while driving is more a distraction than anything else.

Eh? CarPlay features Siri heavily. The whole thing is not just hands free but also eyes free. Did you actually use CarPlay?
 
Is this true? Because I have asked several people and have been told it's not just a software update. Why it wouldn't be, I don't know, but that is what I have been told.
It's not a software update for the vast majority of older vehicles. It's an aftermarket head unit. Pioneer seems to be the leading vendor right now. Some of the newer model cars may be able to make it work with a software update. That's predicated on manufacturers wanting to do it as opposed to selling you a new car.;)
 
It's not a software update for the vast majority of older vehicles. It's an aftermarket head unit. Pioneer seems to be the leading vendor right now. Some of the newer model cars may be able to make it work with a software update. That's predicated on manufacturers wanting to do it as opposed to selling you a new car.;)

Often with these aftermarket head units you lose HD Radio, Sirius, built-in navigation, heads-up display functionality, bluetooth, steering wheel button functionality, and more (assuming your OEM headunit was equipped with any of these). It isn't really an ideal situation to say "just get a new headunit if you want CarPlay."

If your OEM headunit had Sirius and you're buying an aftermarket headunit with Sirius, you'll probably have to still run another antenna for the aftermarket headunit's Sirius radio. It's a mess, if it's even possible. Newer Chrysler models build in a lot of the car's functionality in the headunit, like AC/heat controls. Newer cars make it harder to modify the infotainment systems.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Black Magic
That's not exactly what's going on here. They have definitely not relinquished control of their infotainment systems. They have augmented them to allow CarPlay and Android Auto to interface with their systems. You can't use CP/AA without MyLink (GM's infotainment system) or an aftermarket unit. CP/AA are basically system overlays that are completely dependent on the phone. I think some of us are making incorrect assumptions of what CP/AA actually entail.

As for GM and other car companies, they're happy. They are using CP/AA to upsell trim levels and add-ons. It's what they do.

But they've given up on the UI, which is a great thing, because they are universally terrible. Uptake on this stuff has been so slow because all the car companies thought it's easy and they could do it just fine, and they weren't interested in ceding that control of the dashboard. Meanwhile every manufacturer infotainment system I've used is absolute garbage.

So yeah, give me the overlay and let me escape out of it.
 
Eh? CarPlay features Siri heavily. The whole thing is not just hands free but also eyes free. Did you actually use CarPlay?

Yes, I used it.

What I was trying to convey, was that CarPlay adds very little, except the ability to see information(maps,messages etc..), the system heavily relies on Siri, which if you have a newer car with a "intelligent" system and a phone connection either via BT or wired you probably have 95% of what CarPlay has.

In my GM Intellilink(sp?) Siri is a push of a steering wheel button away. Thus giving me all the same control, I would have if I had CarPlay, the only difference is that I don't get a screen overlay that looks like an Apple product and the ability to see that information on my vehicles screen.

I can still create/reply and be read message, use my phone maps and make call, and have music played, with the push of a button and Siri voice commands..

it's funny that you say CarPlay is eyes free, because all that CarPlay adds for me is the ability to see it.
 
Our new Volt came with CarPlay. I must say, given my skepticism about GM and US-made cars more generally, so far the car is virtually flawless. The one exception, sadly, is CarPlay, which often drops the connection, has weird glitches like a sideways screen, is erratic when Siri is listening, and sometimes auto-lauches the music even when something else (eg, maps) is running. Never thought I'd see the world where GM software is elegant and Apple is the source of all the glitches.

Hopefully they'll patch it soon, but it's a classic case of two giants each presuming the other is at fault, with no clear schedule or even mechanism for updates. Though my biggest gripe, actually, is Apple refusing to allow Google Maps. I understand the decision business-wise, but Google is really so much better with directions (at least, in my area) that Apple is actually decreasing the safety of my family for the sake of their business. I've actually contemplated getting a burner Android phone just to keep in the car, and use Android Auto instead -- but alas, while CarPlay is out for the Volt, AA isn't due until March...
 
Porsche is the first that comes to mind. They rejected Android Auto for their data collection policies, but adopted CarPlay. The CEO specifically cited engine data that was gathered and transmitted back to Google
I forgot about Porsche.:oops: That was just on MR a little while back. But that's not the "many" you originally quoted. Many doesn't usually equal one. Unless Porsche is Borg.:D:p
 
Our new Volt came with CarPlay. I must say, given my skepticism about GM and US-made cars more generally, so far the car is virtually flawless. The one exception, sadly, is CarPlay, which often drops the connection, has weird glitches like a sideways screen, is erratic when Siri is listening, and sometimes auto-lauches the music even when something else (eg, maps) is running. Never thought I'd see the world where GM software is elegant and Apple is the source of all the glitches.

That's a bummer. I'm pretty interested in the new Volt. Keep us updated on your experiences. ;)
 
Yes, I used it.

What I was trying to convey, was that CarPlay adds very little, except the ability to see information(maps,messages etc..), the system heavily relies on Siri, which if you have a newer car with a "intelligent" system and a phone connection either via BT or wired you probably have 95% of what CarPlay has.

In my GM Intellilink(sp?) Siri is a push of a steering wheel button away. Thus giving me all the same control, I would have if I had CarPlay, the only difference is that I don't get a screen overlay that looks like an Apple product and the ability to see that information on my vehicles screen.

I can still create/reply and be read message, use my phone maps and make call, and have music played, with the push of a button and Siri voice commands..

it's funny that you say CarPlay is eyes free, because all that CarPlay adds for me is the ability to see it.

Ok, well my car is French so clearly not intelligent LOL. I had to add a degree of intelligence in the form of a Pioneer CarPlay unit. When I say eyes free, I mean that I can by voice alone command Siri to find an address and navigate me there. make or receive a phone call, send a message, play music etc, and in return she will read incoming messages, answer my questions and so much more. All this can be done without my hands leaving the steering wheel and without my eyes leaving the road ahead. It is very much eyes free. It is of course nice to look at when it's safe to do so, although they've deliberately kept it simple so it's not distracting.
 
I'm glad to finally see a critical mass of automakers relinquish control of their radio screens. So many "infotainment" systems are pure garbage. Let the computer companies make the computers, and the car companies make the cars.

Yes! I am very happy too!! 10 times a month a very critical update from Apple. "Park at once, your car is rebooting"
 
I just installed an aftermarket Pioneer App Radio4 which has Carplay in my Wife's 2015 Mazda5.

She loves it, except it has to be plugged in to use Carplay, no wireless.
 
I too was drawn in to CarPlay when choosing on a new vehicle, too bad the execution is far from most things I've become used to with Apple.
The CarPlay on my 2016 GMC Canyon is buggy as hell, running IOS 9.2 on my iPhone 6. Issues with Pandora constantly, issues with the Maps App not being in night or day mode at the correct time (at night a white/tan map is less than ideal as is a dark map during the day), issues with it staying connected, recognizing Siri commands, understanding my Siri commands, etc etc etc.

Now, since it's a 3rd party implantation by GMC, GMC blames my iPhone, and Apple blames issues with GMC. Typical pass the buck while NOBODY is or can do anything about my issues. Just finding out what version software and possibly getting updates is frustrating to say the least. Again, GMC dealer says it's on the iOS side, Apple says it's an issue with GMC...

It's cool when it works, but I feel like I'm back on IOS 1.0 when it comes to being polished or truly ready for prime time.
It's slightly better than using bluetooth though, which wants to play random music loudly everytime it connects, or returns from a call, etc. CONSTANT playing music when I want nothing of the sort. I don't have BT paired anymore so at least I can actually control what gets playing through CarPlay... most of the time.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.