Glad I paid about $400 for an AppRadio 3 last summer and I'm left behind for this update. It could be a hardware issue, which is fine, but Pioneer has never gotten back to me as to why we won't get an update either. After this system I'm done with them
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Pioneer's NEX In-Dash Systems to Receive CarPlay Firmware Update in a 'Few Weeks'
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TimeSquareDesi
macrumors 6502
I agree with you 100%. and who the hell would need to use their apps WHILE DRIVING?!?! I use my phone for navigation once in a while on long trips but it's something that i simply set and forget: punch in the destination and then just follow the audible directions, once in a while looking at the screen...
There are tons of people that have put ipad mini's in their dashes and i feel like, with cars now coming with AUX ports that you can simply plug your phone/tablet into, it's a no-brainer.
The only demand for these units will be by car companies because it's another tack-on that they can gouge us on the price for...
Several nice ipad mini setups here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDThVZzVtqw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X-y6COANM0
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222373
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219428
Because grabbing your phone out of your pocket and fumbling with unlock, and pressing an icon is so safe.
Safety is always going to be up to the driver. You can't force someone to drive safe. At least carplay has the potential to help keep drivers eyes on the road better.
bigandtasty
Suspended
2014 Toyota Tundra
Hoping my new 2014 Toyota Tundra with Entune +App store will be compatible in the future. Would suck to have this cool feature not available as I have no plans for purchasing another truck for at least 12 years . Come on Toyota do it!
#bigandtasty
Hoping my new 2014 Toyota Tundra with Entune +App store will be compatible in the future. Would suck to have this cool feature not available as I have no plans for purchasing another truck for at least 12 years . Come on Toyota do it!
#bigandtasty
Always Will Be Distractions
I think we assume as time goes on that the distractions get worse. I don't think so, they just change....I mean my grandparents were yelling at my parents in a car that had the turning ability and size of a yacht, while tuning an analog radio, all the while doing this in a car that had lapbelts only, no airbags, and probably no head rests either. And oh yeah, no collapsable steering column. When the 8 track came along, it probably didn't increase or decrease the distraction factor.
Overall we're much safer today....just different distractions.
I think we assume as time goes on that the distractions get worse. I don't think so, they just change....I mean my grandparents were yelling at my parents in a car that had the turning ability and size of a yacht, while tuning an analog radio, all the while doing this in a car that had lapbelts only, no airbags, and probably no head rests either. And oh yeah, no collapsable steering column. When the 8 track came along, it probably didn't increase or decrease the distraction factor.
Overall we're much safer today....just different distractions.
oneMadRssn
macrumors 603
I agree that currently this is overpriced; but first generation products always are.
First, even if you do go the route of installing an iPad, you would still need to connect it to an amplifier and signal processor of some kind. Second, an iPad won't make calls. Third, an iPad doesn't currently have a proper 3ft UI.
With the above three limitations in mind, getting an iPad installed isn't at all ideal. I think when this comes down to under $1000, it will be a compelling upgrade.
they would only be killing it if you had the latest iphone with lightning connector and wanted to rely more on your phone than the unit itself.
Id love to see a SUPER SIMPLE radio tuner/speaker amp/carplay receiver that would be very inexpensive and thin. No more DVD drives or harddrives. Basically its just a display(screen and outputted via HDMI) and speaker amplifier for your iphone. The iphone is the brains, the receiver is the power. Between siri, contacts, phone, imessage, maps, music(both local on the iphone and iradio), videos, podcasts, audio books - the iphone makes a much better receiver than any receiver in existence now. It just cant power speakers and receive local radio.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Pioneer device: $900 or $1400
Install + Labor: (same) $200
Miscellaneous parts: (same) $100
Or are we pretending the lowest price we can find for the device itself will include installation and miscellaneous parts?
Yes, installing an iPad means no AM/FM but it does come with many radio apps so one needs to judge the value of AM/FM in the car. Personally, I don't think I've played AM in maybe 2+ years. FM does get a little action by a teenager but she gets frustrated with the commercials and switches to CDs pretty quickly. In the wife's car, she has an old iPod linked into the system such that the AM/FM pretty much gets NO play.
Using VOIP apps on my mini, I get phone calls and can make them- just like anyone using an iPhone. In fact, in my own case, my iPad works GREAT as my "iPhone".
I can't speak to the ease of use of a Pioneer Carplay interface vs. an iPad Mini interface but it's hard to imagine special case iOS to be a LOT easier to use than iOS. Some? Yes. Lots? Harder to see.
Here's the downsides as I see them:
- No AM/FM receiver
- Pioneer install has the option for a car rear-camera to display on that screen
- Size- the pioneer screen appears to be about 1 inch smaller than a mini screen so it may be easier to fit the deck into tighter spaces in the central console
- Per post #38, it may or may not prove to be compatible with steering wheel controls (but I wonder if some such controls may or may not work with a third party Pioneer screen install too)
Against that, consider what seems like moderate-to-much higher cost, limited app options, easy replacement of AM/FM with radio apps, full iOS instead of something less.
Once more: I'm not trying to put it down much- just trying to rationalize price vs. what one gets vs. another option.
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osofast240sx
macrumors 68030
That just defeats the whole purpose of the CarPlay. 1400 is the list price so you can get that for about 900 on sale which would be worth it IMO
OldSchoolMacGuy
Suspended
The stereo makers aren't going to give you that. CarPlay just needs a touchscreen. That's pretty much it. Instead, they claim that the reason they're adding it only on the high-end stereos is that it requires more processing power, storage space, and more. All of the processing it taken care of on the phone itself. There is no need for any of that. But it they made the $200 AppRadio CarPlay compatible, why would anyone buy their $1400 deck?
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Yes, that's sort of my point. One could buy a refurbished iPad Mini "on sale" in the Apple store for as little as $249 right now. OR, since we feel compelled to upgrade as soon as possible, just "give" the old model to the car and let it live out it's useful life as a whole iOS device in the dash. OR buy a used one for maybe less than $249.
All such options are a long way from $900 and it seems any installation labor and miscellaneous parts would apply to either.
I don't think the iPad install would give you the option of using your steering wheel inputs, etc.
What's so unsafe about my wife in the passenger seat having an easier way to touch the screen to adjust the map or change the music while I drive? And how is a larger screen with an interface designed to be easier to read in a car and controlled hands free with Siri by the driver worse than most people's current solution of fumbling around with a map squinting at a tiny smartphone while their hands and eyes are supposed to be on the road?
People already have the distraction. Carplay is an attempt to control certain phone functions with as little distraction as possible.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Thanks for sharing those links. That's DAZZLING! My posts in this thread are just poking at the price:value mismatch. But having seen a few examples of how it could be, it actually turned me onto the idea even more.
For those worrying about AM/FM, the 2nd one shows one way to possibly hang on to the factory deck (by recessing it and then layering in the iPad option on top of it). This would also maintain factory steering wheel controls of everything in the car now.
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IMO its pretty pointless to install a wifi ipad, seeing as how navigation is the biggest deal to me. You'd have to get a cellular version with the GPS chip to make it worth the time and money, which adds a pretty big chunk to the cost.
Sure, you can use a wifi version tethered to your phone, which supposedly transmits location data to the ipad, but when I tried it in my car it was pretty poor and basically unusable for navigation.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Right, if I did it myself, that's exactly what I would do (retire the cellular version of the iPad mini I'm using now by repurposing it for the car). However, AGAIN, the Pioneer device doesn't come with GPS either. It's just a glorified screen that just about entirely depends on the iPhone bringing the functionality punch. So if we are going to assume in something like GPS via an iPhone, we can assume it in for an iPad option too. Or one could buy an iPad with GPS built in and not even need the iPhone.
Southern Dad
macrumors 68000
There are already iPad kits for some cars. As as avid user of the iPad it isn't the same. My primary vehicle is my Prius which has a head unit that interacts well with my iPad and iPhone but can't use all the apps. When driving my Navigator, I used to place an iPad on the open ash tray. It fits perfectly and gave me that large screen. After a year, I bought that App Radio. Even if you have an iPad, you still need to be connected to a head unit. The interface on the App Radio is a little more limited which works well when you are driving.
To everybody complaining, the AVIC-4000NEX will do CarPlay too, and it's MSRP is half of the high end model.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/DVD-Receivers/AVH-4000NEX
Y'all need to research first.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/DVD-Receivers/AVH-4000NEX
Y'all need to research first.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Go to the link. Go down to the "apps" tab, select your iDevice (iPhone type), then select "categories" to see the apps that can play. My passenger might want to watch a movie or TV show while I drive. Certainly they can watch- say- Netflix or even the native video app in the iPhone right? No. The only app it currently shows for video is something called "myPV" which I've never even heard of before.
Surely Google Maps for navigation right? No.
And so on.
Just go see the NOT rich app selection for yourselves. Yes, this model is cheaper at $700 + install labor + miscellaneous parts. Or, install an iPad mini at $XXX + (same) install labor + miscellaneous parts and have access to all iOS apps. Are there tradeoffs either way? Certainly. So choose wisely.
Surely Google Maps for navigation right? No.
And so on.
Just go see the NOT rich app selection for yourselves. Yes, this model is cheaper at $700 + install labor + miscellaneous parts. Or, install an iPad mini at $XXX + (same) install labor + miscellaneous parts and have access to all iOS apps. Are there tradeoffs either way? Certainly. So choose wisely.
Krevnik
macrumors 601
The high end pioneer you keep quoting does include GPS. It is their flagship infotainment device that does a lot more than just run CarPlay. The 4000NEX can be had for under 700$ On top of that if you don't want the built-in nav, capacitive screen, etc. There's no reason it can't be brought down into even cheaper head units in time, as well. I figure the lack of firmware coming for the 300-500$ AppRadio line is that they left out MPEG4 decoding hardware to save cost. Add that, and I expect the AppRadio 4 will support CarPlay in a similar price range as the previous models.
The real problem is that the UI on the iPad is built for a 10" screen, scaled down to 8" for the Mini, and as a result, has iPhone sized tap targets on the mini. It also lacks integration with steering wheel controls as another poster mentioned. I would rather not be trying to alter what is playing using the iOS interface while in the drivers seat. CarPlay does a better job adapting the UI for car use by integrating with steering wheel controls, adapting the touch targets to car use, and even accepting built-in controls on some cars. It also improves the Siri integration.
Is it more limited? Yes. Is it meant to be? Yes. Would I like to see them at least give 3rd party nav apps a shot? You bet. But the catch here is that an iPad, especially a mini, isn't suited for DRIVER use in a car. It can be done, but I don't trust the level of distraction it'd cause.
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That's not CarPlay, that's Pioneer's AppRadio. Apple's list is even shorter, but is easier to fix, since Devs will only need to work with Apple, and not Apple+Pioneer (paying Pioneer a second yearly fee).
osofast240sx
macrumors 68030
If I were single this would be great. And I have multiple people using multiple cars I rather have the head units as a dummy unit. So when someone gets in the car they can connect the iPhone. Also I personally think the iPad mini screen is too big and that might become a distraction.. I can think of a dozen other reasons why I wouldn't want to use iPad mini.
Rocketman
macrumors 603
The $1400 price point which is about double that of an iPhone or iPad indicates there is considerable "value" in this market and may have 4-10x the volume at 3/4-1/2 that price point in mass-production.
We all know iCar is coming via iOS and a related appstore. The only question is not when, a few months after WWDC is that answer, but with what features?
It will be released with crippleware capability, like iPhone 1, and apps will be added very slowly like channels on Apple TV. It won't be like iPhone 5 or Roku.
Rocketman
We all know iCar is coming via iOS and a related appstore. The only question is not when, a few months after WWDC is that answer, but with what features?
It will be released with crippleware capability, like iPhone 1, and apps will be added very slowly like channels on Apple TV. It won't be like iPhone 5 or Roku.
Rocketman