iOS in the Car 'Very Important' to Apple, 'Part of the Ecosystem'

[lobeyonekenobi]

As if most Android users have the money and credit rating to buy a new car. While there are well to do Android users / developers, they are a small minority of the Android economy.

The lion's share of Android users get their phone for free when they sign a wireless service contract, refuse to pay for apps and complains dropping anything over $20 for a case.

They also become drama queens when they walk past a coffee shop and some Hipster's Linux laptop roots their phone via WiFi installing a bunch of nasty stuff -- those security steak outs are fun!!

Too bad there are no more Yugo's, an Android in the Car device would be a perfect match. Then there is Tata ...[/QUOTE]

Look out you'll have the Android/Samsung crowd ready for your blood mate

Please back that up with verifiable statistics.

At my company in Silicon Valley, the engineers typically have Samsung Galaxy phones and HTC. The managers and marketeers have Apple phones.

Of course, that's an unverifiable anecdote - but I admit it. I don't use words like "most" and "lion's share".

Oops too late there you go the usual well my company/friends have this or that, can you back that up with verifiable statistics, I know you said it's unverifyable BUT isn't TYPICALLY the same as "most" or "lion's share" as an example if you say "typically a Samsung Galaxy is White" isn't that saying most, if not my grasp on the word Typical isn't what I thought it was.

 

[CFreymarc]

Please back that up with verifiable statistics.

At my company in Silicon Valley, the engineers typically have Samsung Galaxy phones and HTC. The managers and marketeers have Apple phones.

Of course, that's an unverifiable anecdote - but I admit it. I don't use words like "most" and "lion's share".

The statistics are out there. IMO this is not a debate team competition nor a forum where one should make business nor career choices. I'm not going to back them up here in a free for all like this. Go find them yourself if you care so much about my points. It'll be worth your time.

Being in Silicon Valley your perspective of the automotive market from your venue is almost as bad as central or lower Manhattan. Spend sometime in the mid-west and your find out why Detroit is in bankruptcy and can't look ahead beyond customer stated demands.

 

[damir00]

That image just screams "Microsoft".

 

[juanmanas]

What isn't 'Very Important' to Apple ? Everything apple makes is 'Very Important' to Apple.

If it wasn't important they would not make it. I think it is a pretty simple concept.

 

[lilo777]

There can't be any iOS in the car

unless Apple manufactures this car. Apple is a vertically integrated company. They do not sell iOS per se. So, it's Android all the way. Sure, Android based car infotainment system then may include features for better integration with iOS devices.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Notably absent is Ford who originally worked with Microsoft for their in-car system and now is trying to do it on their own instead of pairing with iOS. Ford has even been sued for how awful their system is with constant crashes and problems.

Ford needs to recall they are a car maker and stick to that; the days of Philco/Aeronutronic driven profits are long gone. Ford: stop botching up your product trying to create a NIH alternative to iOS.

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Siri, play a Kenny Rogers song

Siri: "Oh not again. Please, must I?"

 

[JayCee842]

LOL. They should probably fix maps first.

Please tell me what's wrong with maps? It works flawlessly.

 

[donutbagel]

Umm... doesn't AirPlay requires a (WiFi) network to work?

Last time I checked, cars don't typically have a WiFi network. And were it possible for every car to have its own local mobile WiFi network, how much extra do you think that would cost?

No, it does not require a full wifi network, but it could work over a wifi network. I know that it can function just over an ad-hoc WiFi Direct connection, and there are speaker systems that work with AirPlay and do not host a wifi network (not sure how those work).

Anyway, it would be relatively cheap to put this in, even if it was hosting a full wifi network. An AirPort Express costs $100 retail, but there's also this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...leMKP-_-pla-_-TV+Accessories-_-9SIA1GK0TS7890) for $40.

 

[Jaro65]

They should have done this a while back already. Glad to see though that it's finally coming.

 

[bdkennedy1]

Tim will you please give us a double-din iOS unit. I am so SICK of having a half-assed unit in my truck. I have a 2010 Dodge RAM with the factory touch screen. It has no bluetooth audio streaming, it no longer works with the Lightning connector and the only way I can listen to my music is with an audio cable attached to my iPhone.

 

[donutbagel]

unless Apple manufactures this car. Apple is a vertically integrated company. They do not sell iOS per se. So, it's Android all the way. Sure, Android based car infotainment system then may include features for better integration with iOS devices.

If you're going to troll, you should troll on page 1.

 

[AXs]

"Now, with Apple Maps built-in to your car, you can confidently drive into the lake to get to that restaurant that's actually in another State."

 

[iChrist]

I'd think BMW would be on the list of adopters too since weren't they one of the first manufacturers to have a true iPod connector in their vehicles?

The ipod is not an iphone.



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Please tell me what's wrong with maps? It works flawlessly.

Haha. Oh man. So it finds you good directions to your scientology space ship?

 

[TonyC28]

Gimme a screen in my car that I can customize to look like KITT and I'll be sold on this

 

[zephonic]

Consider the following and you wonder if this is such a great idea...

1) Roughly half the smart phones out there are iphones. So if iOS is in a car will it be compatible with other OSes? Auto makers are going to insists as not to lose customers. So, does this water down the branding/advantages?

2) Car companies have not has the best track record for making great system integration. They also like to charge arm and a leg for any features beyond completely bog standard. So how big will an iOS on cars market be?

3) Cars are durable goods. You don't buy a new one every year or every other year. Even leased cars typically goes for 4. That's going to be a much less interesting revenue stream than phones.

4) Car companies don't want Apple to come in and dilute their branding. So far only ford has ever allowed an out side company to come in and brand something in their car. And even then it is a product only available on Ford cars. Unless Apple plans to build cars how much penetration are they going to get? Even then will an Audi branded iOS system be of any use to Apple for building more brand awareness?

5) Are cars really a growing market? Sure in developing nations there is a push for cars. But they really are only a solution to bad urban planning. In many successful Asian cities public transport is the way to go. In Japan cars are a declining industry. So how good an idea is putting iOS in cars?

6) Don't freaking text and drive. What is the point of iOS for a car? The only real use is listening to music and navigation, maybe movies for the kids you are training to be addicted to media with a bug's attention span. Seriously, for me don't try to sell me music, or tell me about restaurants when I am in my car. I am driving in my car, not shopping, not texting, not freaking wanting to know what Apple wants me to do that give them more revenue...

Seriously, why is this soooo important to Apple?

1. From what I hear, current automobiles integrate better with iPhones than with any other product. Despite Android's larger market share, iOS remains the de facto compatibility-standard as its design is uniform among the entire range of products. The fragmentation of the Android-powered market effectively makes iOS the largest single platform.

2. At present, bluetooth and displays are standard features on just about every car, as are on-steering wheel controls. Implementation and effectiveness varies wildly. I drive rentals on a regular basis and observe this first-hand. It all depends on how the deal is structured, but adding software/functionality to a car need not cost anything at all.

3. The duration of car ownership is irrelevant. As long as it continues to interface with the latest iDevice.

4. I think Apple is uniquely positioned to change that paradigm! They don't need in-car branding. I think the car companies need that branding to make their products more desirable. I can't speak for everybody else, but smartphone integration would rate as a top-3 feature for me in a new car purchase decision. Right up there with reliability and TCO.

5. Whether or not cars are a growing market is irrelevant. Smartphone integration is as good as virgin territory, Ford/Microsoft's Sync notwithstanding. Whoever is first-to-market (with something that actually works) will be likely to secure a substantial share of that market.

6. I have so many answers for that. I'm on the freeway, there is an incident and crunch is the result. I want to tell the nav to find an alternative route, tell my phone to send the person I'm meeting a text saying I'm gonna be late. iOS can do that. True smartphone integration would be a godsent. I have an iPhone, but if the new cars were to integrate with Android instead of iOS, I'd possibly jump ship for that reason alone.


I agree with a previous post saying they should fix Maps first, though, but other than that, I'd say iOS is as good as ready to deliver the complete in-car experience.

 

[Timur]

Last time I asked Siri/Maps for the next rest-area while driving my car it literally told me to hold it and then showed a small font list of places. Not only was the answer kind of rude, but the form of presentation - small text instead of speech or at least large text - was completely useless while driving.

 

[nateco]

Only way this gains traction is if they license it to aftermarket head units.

I've been thinking about trying to mount a iPad mini in my jeep since the mini was released.

A mini would be light years better than the $2000 slow and outdated factory options...and uconnect is one of the better ones.

The auto industry gouges on these things now, just imagine how much they'd charge for a system that works.

All I want is an amp with a place to mount the mini....no reason why a generic power amp with a dock should cost more than the base model stereos you can get now.

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Also.

Ford sync has been universally panned.

Didnt live up to the hype and makes lists of worst car tech.

 

[chadley_chad]

No doubt they'll be insisting all cars are designed 5mm thinner, ask for a 30% share of car sale profits, remove the CD player (because everyone knows CD's are so yesterday!), force usage through the cloud with an Apple data-plan, place a disclaimer on Maps, cripple the system so you'll need to upgrade every year to the new 'S' model and finally, herald the car radio as their invention.

No thanks, I'll stick to a sound system thats built around my needs, not that of Apple!

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As if most Android users have the money and credit rating to buy a new car. While there are well to do Android users / developers, they are a small minority of the Android economy.

The lion's share of Android users get their phone for free when they sign a wireless service contract, refuse to pay for apps and complains dropping anything over $20 for a case.

They also become drama queens when they walk past a coffee shop and some Hipster's Linux laptop roots their phone via WiFi installing a bunch of nasty stuff -- those security steak outs are fun!!

Too bad there are no more Yugo's, an Android in the Car device would be a perfect match. Then there is Tata ...

Look out you'll have the Android/Samsung crowd ready for your blood mate


Oops too late there you go the usual well my company/friends have this or that, can you back that up with verifiable statistics, I know you said it's unverifyable BUT isn't TYPICALLY the same as "most" or "lion's share" as an example if you say "typically a Samsung Galaxy is White" isn't that saying most, if not my grasp on the word Typical isn't what I thought it was.[/QUOTE]

All spoken like a true Apple fanboy

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The statistics are out there. IMO this is not a debate team competition nor a forum where one should make business nor career choices. I'm not going to back them up here in a free for all like this. Go find them yourself if you care so much about my points. It'll be worth your time.

Being in Silicon Valley your perspective of the automotive market from your venue is almost as bad as central or lower Manhattan. Spend sometime in the mid-west and your find out why Detroit is in bankruptcy and can't look ahead beyond customer stated demands.

LOL ... when asked to back up those facts, he replies 'The statistics are out there' and 'I'm not going to back them up here in a free for all like this. Go find them yourself if you care so much about my points'

Classic!!!!!

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If you're going to troll, you should troll on page 1.

Its a shame some people take other people's comments and opinions as trolling because they're different from theirs!!!!

 

[macs4nw]

iCrash - Can't wait to have my first Apple Wreck playing with all the new stuff in my car at 80mph. Just Sayin'

My first thought too. Let the front passenger fiddle with it, or for solo trips, a lot fewer buttons, and a lot more Siri!

apple says "No." to a lot of product ideas. theyre saying "Yes" to this one, because its very important to apple -- more cars buyers out there than, say, Apple TV users. pushing this in auto makers will help sell more iphones.

im sure they will, but im excited about after-market head units getting in on the game. currently the best things out there are sloppy products like pioneer's App Radio...good idea, poor execution. using apple's new APIs for iOS In The Car should fix that.

It's a sharp new direction for APPLE to be sure, but I'm not convinced at this point, whether after-market units could deliver, even if MFI certified. For ultimately optimized integration with the car's screen and/or controls, factory installed "iOS in the Car", might be preferable for many.

Could a person, who's heavily in the APPLE eco-system, even be swayed to buy a different brand of car, based upon whether it offered "iOS in the Car?"

 

[bearda]

Umm... doesn't AirPlay requires a (WiFi) network to work?

Last time I checked, cars don't typically have a WiFi network. And were it possible for every car to have its own local mobile WiFi network, how much extra do you think that would cost?

Some high-end vehicles do, and those are probably the ones that would get the feature. Otherwise, USB or Bluetooth.

 

[richman555]

Honda isn't too good. I feel like the car treats an iPod/iPhone like a generic music player instead of an iPod... as if anyone uses a Zune. It sometimes has problems playing music and doesn't show up as an audio output device on the iPhone.

It is actually pretty good with what I have seen. I have a 2009 Honda Civic and 2012 Honda CRV. Both have USB connectors and the 2009 Civic pretty much plays the music flawlessly but pretty generic displaywise. The 2012 on the other hand is somewhat better as it displays Album art on its LCD screens as well as you can choose the music, artists, playlists, etc on the NAVI screen. Basically the newer model Hondas are better integrated.

What iOS in the Car does is much better than just music playback. It also probably frees the car manufacturers from the responsibility to come up with this type of software. For example the current Honda Navigation software is mediocre at best.

 

[olowott]

Toyota, BMW, Audi .........WTF

 

[seble]

No one needs it more then BMW. Their radios are garbage. Don't know if they were first but it's the worst iPod integration out there. I have a 2011 X5. It will be my last BMW.

Not getting a car because of poor ipod integration? :O Well I know you feel, my dad's mercedes is pretty good shows you album artwork easy to change track but my god scrolling through those playlists!

 

[RightMACatU]

I can already see this happening in a few years: "Sorry sir, your car is a 2014 is not compatible for an iOS9 upgrade. Would you like to look at our new 2017 arrivals?"

 

[Faux Carnival]

Umm, no thanks.

Give me Android and Google Maps.