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CarPlay Integration May Be Possible in Older Vehicles, Mercedes-Benz Working on Aftermarket Solution
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Sadness. The Boston system in my 2006 300c sounded fantastic. The one in my 2013 300 doesn't sound quite as good, but it was still better than the ford and hyundai I rented a while back.
My 2004 Brabus ForTwo is waiting. (Funny, I was thinking yesterday about how I would go about integrating CarPlay into the MB factory installed Smart GPS navigation radio.)
CarPlay Integration May Be Possible in Older Vehicles, Mercedes-Benz Working ...
I'm a tad spoiled as I built my own system (Pioneer head unit and Kenwood 6 1/2" speakers) so i notice muddy sound quickly. What bugs me is that there are virtually zero T&C's that have the premium sound option for sale (I refuse to buy brand new). We'll most likely have 3 kids in all (2 already) in a few years so the next car is a van sadly. Just has the best value for what you get.
On the flip side, I test drove a Ford Flex which almost always comes with a Sony sound system with sub and it was glorious. Didn't like how it drove and it is way overpriced but it sounded great.
Ps. I LOVE Boston speakers. I still have a 2.1 small digital computer system that sounds unbelievable for the size. That was back when they were still Boston Acoustics.
I'm a tad spoiled as I built my own system (Pioneer head unit and Kenwood 6 1/2" speakers) so i notice muddy sound quickly. What bugs me is that there are virtually zero T&C's that have the premium sound option for sale (I refuse to buy brand new). We'll most likely have 3 kids in all (2 already) in a few years so the next car is a van sadly. Just has the best value for what you get.
On the flip side, I test drove a Ford Flex which almost always comes with a Sony sound system with sub and it was glorious. Didn't like how it drove and it is way overpriced but it sounded great.
Ps. I LOVE Boston speakers. I still have a 2.1 small digital computer system that sounds unbelievable for the size. That was back when they were still Boston Acoustics.
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i remember Microsoft started a whole new division called "Microsoft Automotive" to do things like this and the FORD Sync is the closest they came I think.
But to unleash the potential of iOS and the huge number of Apps is going to completely change the game. So what about driving you say? When there is flappy bird to be played on a big screen who wants to drive?
But to unleash the potential of iOS and the huge number of Apps is going to completely change the game. So what about driving you say? When there is flappy bird to be played on a big screen who wants to drive?
Did you fail to watch any of the CarPlay videos? Different car manufacturers will display it differently. With respect to Mercedes, in at least the new (MY2015) C-Class, Apple's UI takes up the entire screen. In the Volvo, it takes up only a fraction of the screen. Apple is providing a way to get the UI to the in-car system, but leaving up to the car manufacturer the design decision on how to display the data.
You apparently think you know better than Apple, with respect to making the product as good as it can be. What you YOUR suggestions, then? How to you make an "ideal, premium solution to a better in-the-car UI"?
Dear Apple: Make two car stereos -- one single DIN, one double DIN. All you gotta do is make a nicely powered stereo with Bluetooth and USB ports with an Apple-quality touchscreen that basically replicates your apps with a modified iOS.
If anybody thinks I'm crazy, go shopping for these things. The only thing close I have seen is AppRadio from Pioneer, and I use "close" generously. I'd love to replace my Camry's factory unit with a double DIN full touchscreen that would display my music or podcast art with larger buttons for controls and blow up my GPS display to about seven inches.
Do I need an optical drive? Hells no. Do I even really need AM/FM? I mean sure if it doesn't cause much trouble. I'd rather have the Apple TV for cars.
If anybody thinks I'm crazy, go shopping for these things. The only thing close I have seen is AppRadio from Pioneer, and I use "close" generously. I'd love to replace my Camry's factory unit with a double DIN full touchscreen that would display my music or podcast art with larger buttons for controls and blow up my GPS display to about seven inches.
Do I need an optical drive? Hells no. Do I even really need AM/FM? I mean sure if it doesn't cause much trouble. I'd rather have the Apple TV for cars.
What about Jaguar?
I do hope Jaguar provide an aftermarket upgrade, or if not introduce Carplay in time for me to replace my car next year.
What's in the XF currently is pretty poor - very sluggish, limited iPod functionality, never picks up traffic on the SatNav. Saving grace is having DAB (digital radio) in the UK.
I do hope Jaguar provide an aftermarket upgrade, or if not introduce Carplay in time for me to replace my car next year.
What's in the XF currently is pretty poor - very sluggish, limited iPod functionality, never picks up traffic on the SatNav. Saving grace is having DAB (digital radio) in the UK.
Now that's a 100% ripoff from Renault. Even the setup looks identical.
Come to think of it. I know now where Renault got the ideas for their icons :-D Or Apple :-/ Cos Renaults system has been around for 2 years.
Come to think of it. I know now where Renault got the ideas for their icons :-D Or Apple :-/ Cos Renaults system has been around for 2 years.
So there are unconfirmed rumors Ford is switching to Blackberry's QNX platform... If Ford is on board with CarPlay, does that mean that the unconfirmed rumors are true?!?
My guess is that what MB means by aftermarket is for their cars that they have already sold in the market. Most likely meaning any cars that they have sold in the last few years with the same, or very similar hardware to what the new ones that come with CarPlay have. For those vehicles they are going to try to come up with a firmware update in order to add CarPlay functionality. This would probably be as simple as hooking up a computer to the OBD II port and updating the radio, probably an hours worth of labor for cost.
I suppose they could be talking about an entire new head unit that would replace the current head unit in the vehicles that use the same wiring setup, but I doubt this. That would be very expensive and I'm not sure many people would be willing to buy that (probably in the $2000-3000 range).
They are not talking about a stand alone radio that could be installed in other make/model vehicles like most people refer to as an aftermarket stereo.
I suppose they could be talking about an entire new head unit that would replace the current head unit in the vehicles that use the same wiring setup, but I doubt this. That would be very expensive and I'm not sure many people would be willing to buy that (probably in the $2000-3000 range).
They are not talking about a stand alone radio that could be installed in other make/model vehicles like most people refer to as an aftermarket stereo.
The problem is that different car manufacturers will display it differently.
Yeah, Apple only needs to team up with Sony or Pioneer to create ApplePlay head units that would fit virtually any vehicle.
There's nothing wrong with CarPlay though. It's a software overlay provided by the iPhone, that Apple controls (unlike Rokr). No, it doesn't make the rest of the car interface perfect, but it's not intended to.
It's not possible for Apple to create in car systems for every manufacturer out there, so they've provided the next best thing. That's why people are excited. CarPlay includes everything they've learned from the Rokr, iPhone, and Airplay.
If you think CarPlay is so bad, feel free to indicate what in car system provides better iPhone support, or even name a system that comes close. Ideals are great, but until Apple releases an iCar (unlikely), the reality is that support for iPhones in cars is going to require third parties in some manner or another. I think you should read a little history on the iPod Hi-Fi before assuming that a first party solution is always the right course of action.
I would be happy if Mercedes would just offer an update to my 2011 model so the Command system would have some way to get the phone contacts from my iPhone. Syncing contacts with an iPhone seems pretty basic. My wife's Ford Fusion has much better technology.
Why couldn't this work in a Pioneer aftermarket unit? I would think it would help Apple to get this in as many cars as possible...It would be as ubiquitous as iPod dock connectors in cars were in the late 2000s.
There needs to be a Heads Up Display (HUD) used for CarPlay
Otherwise, your eyes will not be on the road and it will be just as dangerous as texting on your phone while driving. A heads up display allows the driver to keep their eyes on the road while looking at car play. This is where pico projector technology can be used and should be adopted by Apple. Microvision (MVIS) is the worldwide leader in pico projector (PicoP) technology and I anticpate Apple taking a long hard look at this company.
Otherwise, your eyes will not be on the road and it will be just as dangerous as texting on your phone while driving. A heads up display allows the driver to keep their eyes on the road while looking at car play. This is where pico projector technology can be used and should be adopted by Apple. Microvision (MVIS) is the worldwide leader in pico projector (PicoP) technology and I anticpate Apple taking a long hard look at this company.
Lets hope the aftermarket option is more like customgadz.com carPlay type version. At least we could use Android & iOS selectively.
Your income wasn't the point of my post. It was that your post was unconditional that only expensive cars were getting CarPlay at launch when that isn't the fact.
You might want to look into that. I have a 2010 ML350 that let me import my contacts from my iPhone 5 (I'm connected via Bluetooth.) I don't recall if there was a trick to it or not, so you may have to google around about it a bit.
Hope suddenly sprang up for me. 
Buy a used Mercedes (that will be compatible with CarPlay) at a fraction of its original MSRP.
Buy a used Mercedes (that will be compatible with CarPlay) at a fraction of its original MSRP.