Subaru Debuts 2018 Legacy With CarPlay at Chicago Auto Show

[Juicy Box]

Sounds like it isn't even worth my effort. Maybe the better solution for Waze would to to invest in a dash mount for my phone and roll with that.

I agree, but I am still hoping that Apple allows support for more apps, especially Waze.

I have used CP for a while, and while it does have it's uses, I have been mostly disappointed in it.

If I end up buying a new car soon and it comes with CP, I won't complain, but I would never pay to have that option added in a new car.

 

[dwaltwhit]

Im holding off on buying a new car until Jeep offers CP. Its a real tease because they have Jeep listed in the partners section, but 0 jeep models in the "offered on these models" list.

 

[IJ Reilly]

How about more compatible apps, such as an alternative for Apple Maps. I wished CP was not as limited as it is, also, I wished it was not as buggy.

Fix the bugs, and have some other Apps such as Waze.

I don't know, Apple Maps is working for me, maybe because I am comparing it to my experience with OEM dash systems and finding Apple Maps / CarPlay to be a pretty big improvement. What bugs are you finding? The only one maybe for me is when playing podcasts sometimes it bails out due to a lost connection. Not sure why that happens, maybe it's an intermittent loss of cell coverage. Not a very graceful way of handling the interruption if that's the case.

We can always wish for more apps but then we have to recognize the rationale for the cautious approach Apple is taking in approving apps for CarPlay. Even with what I have already I feel like it's producing too much head-down time.

 

[CaryMacGuy]

I agree, but I am still hoping that Apple allows support for more apps, especially Waze.

I have used CP for a while, and while it does have it's uses, I have been mostly disappointed in it.

If I end up buying a new car soon and it comes with CP, I won't complain, but I would never pay to have that option added in a new car.

I look at CarPlay as more of a potentially awesome thing (rather than something that is awesome right now). The reason I won't buy a car without CarPlay is because I don't want to be stuck with outdated technology. As iOS and iPhones are changed, those changes will become features of that car. We don't have to rely on the auto manufacturer to update head units to support new features. We just have to rely on Apple (or Google) to update devices to support new features. That has a much more proven track record. Let the auto maker focus on its bread and butter (making reliable, efficient, and/or fun to drive powertrains). Let the tech companies focus on tech.

 

[truthertech]

You and I differ here: I think that the automakers that offer a choice of either CarPlay or Android Auto are going to best serve their customers...

CP/AA are simply fancy overlays powered by the car owners device. Imo, that's what they should be. It's inclusive and provides the greatest choice for consumers. For those who want CP/AA they can have it. For those like me who want neither, we're happy as well. Everyone wins.

You're likely misunderstanding his use of the conjunctive "or," and I think you have a misunderstanding of how car manufacturers are implementing Carplay, i.e., aren't all manufacturers implementing it so you can user Android OR Apple in your car??

 

[Doctor Q]

You're likely misunderstanding his use of the conjunctive "or," and I think you have a misunderstanding of how car manufacturers are implementing Carplay, i.e., aren't all manufacturers implementing it so you can user Android OR Apple in your car??

Correct. I have no disagreement with 69Mustang. Consumer choice is beneficial, although some home-grown automaker offerings are pretty poor at present. That's why I want the better choices, which will improve further, to be available.

A few automakers have gone with CarPlay or Android Auto alone, but most seem to be playing both sides. However, they are often talking about scheduled implementations or they're providing them in only certain models. Time will fix all of this.

 

[IJ Reilly]

I look at CarPlay as more of a potentially awesome thing (rather than something that is awesome right now). The reason I won't buy a car without CarPlay is because I don't want to be stuck with outdated technology. As iOS and iPhones are changed, those changes will become features of that car. We don't have to rely on the auto manufacturer to update head units to support new features. We just have to rely on Apple (or Google) to update devices to support new features. That has a much more proven track record. Let the auto maker focus on its bread and butter (making reliable, efficient, and/or fun to drive powertrains). Let the tech companies focus on tech.

That may sound good in theory but in practice the automakers are quite protective of their dashboard real estate (some more than others). The presence of included CarPlay actually influenced my recent purchase of a Chevy Bolt EV, but BMW is offering it only on some of their cars and at a substantial option price, so their thinking about what I want and what I will pay for it is quite different.

 

[69Mustang]

You're likely misunderstanding his use of the conjunctive "or," and I think you have a misunderstanding of how car manufacturers are implementing Carplay, i.e., aren't all manufacturers implementing it so you can user Android OR Apple in your car??

No misunderstanding at all. In fact, you'll notice I used the same "or" in my quote. Where @Doctor Q and I differ is on his choice of the word "rely" and my use of the phrase "offer a choice of". In retrospect, I can see where my intent could be misconstrued. I wasn't advocating for car companies to offer CP or AA exclusively. I was saying they shouldn't rely on either for their infotainment system, as in offer both as they currently do but keep their standard offerings. That's why I said this: "CP/AA are simply fancy overlays powered by the car owners device. Imo, that's what they should be. It's inclusive and provides the greatest choice for consumers. For those who want CP/AA they can have it. For those like me who want neither, we're happy as well. Everyone wins."

 

[JTravers]

Does this mean wireless CarPlay? I thought CP could run wirelessly over BT....

Wireless CarPlay requires the car to have wifi that works in base station mode.

 

[dampfnudel]

I think that the automakers that rely on either CarPlay or Android Auto are going to best serve their customers, while those who go their own way with home-grown interfaces will more often frustrate consumers with interfaces that are routinely awkward to use, and still a work in progress.

Toyota/Lexus needs to stop dancing to their own crappy music and get with the program. Until then, any vehicle without CarPlay/Android Auto should be off everyone's list. That would push them to include both.

 

[B4U]

Once they bring back the Legacy Wagon with the turbo engine (preferably with 3 pedals) to go along with CarPlay, I am in.

 

[Aston441]

My experience with Carplay is very ho-hum. Too many limitations and boring screens.

Same. I just bought a new car. I still just mount a phone on the dash. All I want is a mirrored larger display - and the car manufacturers will fight to the end to not do that as they'd lose $2000.

 

[marvin_h]

"Boring" screens and limited functionality is exactly what you should have in a car. The stuff that should interest you is outside.

What are you expecting? Some convoluted user interface? I want my display straight forward and easy to access. You're in a car and memory access and basic functionality is preferable for some. Take the display icons for example, they're large and straight to the point where they perform the functions you need, versus having unnecessary functions that you will never use.

The car play interface is fine, but waze and google maps are so much better at routing around traffic than Apple maps it is amazing.

And my man music app doesn't work in CarPlay either.

So even the basics are pretty poor at this point. Just a hobby for apple. I hope they get serious about it and foster a real app ecosystem.

If the only way you can get people to use your navigation app is to prevent competition, you are admitting you have a crappy app.

 

[truthertech]

The car play interface is fine, but waze and google maps are so much better at routing around traffic than Apple maps it is amazing.

And my man music app doesn't work in CarPlay either.

So even the basics are pretty poor at this point. Just a hobby for apple. I hope they get serious about it and foster a real app ecosystem.

If the only way you can get people to use your navigation app is to prevent competition, you are admitting you have a crappy app.

Have you tried Apple maps lately? I've noticed in the past month that I have begun getting pop ups that there is a shorter route available due to traffic. Never seen it before on AM. Maybe it has to do with them finishing their base map. They said they anticipated finishing the five year project to build out their own base map in 2017. I am anticipating some huge things in Apple Maps this year as a result of this and their other mapping acquisition', e.g. lane assist (Yes, I know Google Maps has it), As part of base map, remember that they have been "driving the world" and combined with Flyover could be a knock your socks off feature. Google doesn't have the flyover and Streetview feels very dated and clumsy to use.

 

[CaryMacGuy]

That may sound good in theory but in practice the automakers are quite protective of their dashboard real estate (some more than others). The presence of included CarPlay actually influenced my recent purchase of a Chevy Bolt EV, but BMW is offering it only on some of their cars and at a substantial option price, so their thinking about what I want and what I will pay for it is quite different.

BMW would charge extra for the steering wheel if they could get away with it...
A lot of the mainstream brands offer CarPlay either standard or as part of the next to standard level up...IE: EX models on Honda, SE models on Ford, Standard on the Nissan Maxima. By the way, congrats on your recent purchase.

 

[JuliusCaesar]

Apple Carplay and Android Auto can be as good as the OEM infotainment is. Unfortunately, I've been reading on Subaru Impreza forums that some people are having some good amount of problems with their infotainment system. Apparently this new Starlink version is better than the last one, but still s#@* and buggy none the less. I'll say, first look at how good and reliable the stock infotainment is and then worry about it having Carplay or AA. Hopefully Mazda can get on board with CP and AA, since I am deciding for a future car between a Mazda and a Subie.

 

[Juicy Box]

Wireless CarPlay requires the car to have wifi that works in base station mode.

Thanks, I actually forgot the "not" part in my statement you posted, I have corrected it.

Does this mean wireless CarPlay? I thought CP could not run wirelessly over BT....

My question was since CP doesn't work on BT, does Subaru's STARLINK multimedia system have WiFi to let it do wireless CP? or is it wired?

At this point, I didn't think any of the auto manufactures that announce CP in their new line up would have them without it being wireless capable.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Same. I just bought a new car. I still just mount a phone on the dash. All I want is a mirrored larger display - and the car manufacturers will fight to the end to not do that as they'd lose $2000.

Exactly! I wrote something like this in another thread here, that I prefer just buying a $15 magnetic vent mount and have my iPhone right in front of me with all the rich screens, etc.

I don't buy that having anything but boring text is distracting. Cars have navigation screens that are way more distracting, as well as other features. Sprucing up the music app, for instance, with album art and nicer layouts is not distracting, it just enhances the listening experience. To have to have the iPhone physically connected is so 10 years ago.

For me, the cons outweigh the pros and with the lack of apps that *I* want to use in Car Play makes it ho-hum for me.

Interestingly, for those who say album art is distracting, on my new Hyundai when on the HOME screen with CarPlay playing music (split screen NAV/Music by default) the mini CP Music app screen DOES show the album art of what is playing. When I switch to full screen Music in CP, the art goes away and just big text. Also, found the best solution for in-dash music is using the USB Media option. Plug in a USB drive with 400+ of my fav songs, and I am in album art heaven. THAT is what Car Play Music should look like.

 

[winston1236]

I think that the automakers that rely on either CarPlay or Android Auto are going to best serve their customers, while those who go their own way with home-grown interfaces will more often frustrate consumers with interfaces that are routinely awkward to use, and still a work in progress.

Maybe. But given how often Google will just drop a project with very short notice if I worked at an automaker I would be wary of a supplier that had no real obligation to continue supporting a centerpiece of the interior.

 

[marvin_h]

Have you tried Apple maps lately? I've noticed in the past month that I have begun getting pop ups that there is a shorter route available due to traffic. Never seen it before on AM. Maybe it has to do with them finishing their base map. They said they anticipated finishing the five year project to build out their own base map in 2017. I am anticipating some huge things in Apple Maps this year as a result of this and their other mapping acquisition', e.g. lane assist (Yes, I know Google Maps has it), As part of base map, remember that they have been "driving the world" and combined with Flyover could be a knock your socks off feature. Google doesn't have the flyover and Streetview feels very dated and clumsy to use.

I hope you are right. Last time I use Apple maps on Carplay was.... yesterday.

It marched me right into a ton of traffic. Gave me an ETA that was too late for the appointment I was driving too.

Pulled up Waze on the phone. It immediately chose a route that avoided the traffic and got me where I needed to go, a little ahead of schedule.

I hope Apple maps becomes great. Clearly, we are prevented from using other navigation apps on Carplay because Apple knows if they were on a level playing field, Apple maps in its current form would lose out to the competition.

I too HOPE this changes.

 

[IJ Reilly]

BMW would charge extra for the steering wheel if they could get away with it...
A lot of the mainstream brands offer CarPlay either standard or as part of the next to standard level up...IE: EX models on Honda, SE models on Ford, Standard on the Nissan Maxima. By the way, congrats on your recent purchase.

Thanks. Before buying the Chevy I looked at the new Minis, but I am not a fan of iDrive or the flavor of it BWM uses in the Mini. No scheduled rollout of CarPlay even as a pay option on the Mini. In addition, the infotainment touchscreen on the Chevy is huge compared to the ones most carmakers, including BMW, are installing in their higher-priced cars. GM didn't get everything right on the Bolt but they figured out the tech part.

 

[Dave00]

So looking forward to this. It's the only thing I don't like on my Impreza. Its audio interface is awful - as is pretty much every automaker based system.