Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I use a slim-fitting case on my cellular iPad Air. ...

When I move on to the next car, I can take the iPad with me.
You "can", but will you want to? I guess if you change cars every two years you might want to.

My last car I kept for 11 years. The one before it I had for 14 years. I had no desire to bring my Rio MP3 player over to the new car I got in January :p

edit: now that I think about it, I did have a 5GB iPod with FireWire connected to my car in 2001 or so.
 
Am i the only guy

Am I the only guy that finds all this in car stuff super distracting? I'm all for innovation and I'm all for making things simple but when your behind the wheel of a multi ton vehicle tapping around on a screen trying to find the latest text from your significant other doesn't really seem like something you should be doing at that time

Watching him use the interface I couldn't help but notice how involved it looked. How much time was spent looking at the screen or contemplating what was happening and how to respond.

I don't know it just freaks me out a little seeing how distracted folks are these days in the car playing with their phones, GPS's and in-car multimedia systems. I don't think this is going to make anything better :-/
 
It kinda looks outdated already even before launch. The problem with this is that it is using current technology on a car that most people will own fora while. Unlike cars, phone technology is advancing so fast that some people update every year. Cars should just have an interface to a phone, instead of trying to build the tech there already.
 
From a UX perspective everything seems too convoluted and complicated. I think one of the nicer car UI's I have seen, would have to be the Volkswagen cars have.
 
I really can't wait to see how this is going to work on Ford cars. The Pioneer deck looks nice, but I would like the ability to activate the system using the buttons on my steering wheel so that I don't have to look down and reach over to my stereo.

most of these sorts of head units offer support for steering wheel controls, via another intermediate device wired in between.

----------

Until I can display Waze on CarPlay, I'm sad to say I won't be bothering with this. It's so tempting, though, considering the functionality with Messages, Phone, Siri, and iTunes/music.

Furthermore, I can't see a point in purchasing anything but the 5000NEX (or AppRadio 4) if all you're looking for is CarPlay functionality. I mean, the high-end model has the slightly larger screen and different button layout, but for twice the price? Not worth it imho if every feature is already included on the "low" end.

many Pioneer head units have additional support for Waze via their own UI outside of CarPlay. like AppRadio, which i have. you just tape the Pioneer icon to enter their UI and load Waze from there.

----------

Just another way to separate people from their money, most consumers don't need a GPS often enough to justify this, though their phone already has it, what exactly is the appeal here, "safety", "convenience"? The guy doing the demo seemed pretty distracted by the device, I don't see how this beats having your iPhone 6 plus on some kind of mount on your steering wheel or elsewhere in your line of vision. I suppose the other big appeal is music, but if that and GPS are the main reasons to buy (most of the stuff you do on your iPhone shouldn't be done while driving anyway), it's not appealing to me.

operating iOS on your phone is way more distracting than the simple UI on CarPlay. i also prefer a large-screened head unit because it integrates better with my car -- steering wheel controls, external GPS antenna, rear-view camera mode, etc.

the guy was perhaps "distracted" because he was, you know, producing a detailed demo video for you to watch.
 
I hope BMW gets their scheiße together and adds Car Play to their iDrive system.
If my next BMW doesn't have Car Play, I might be forced to go aftermarket.
And I'm not sure what's involved in ripping out the iDrive display and replacing it.
iDrive is very deeply integrated into most aspects of the car's electronics.

On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz has already demo-ed iDrive in their cars.
I'm sure BMW will be forced to provide it just to keep up.
Hopefully they will include it in their optional $2k "Technology package."
(Because $2K for navigation with real-time traffic plus a few apps is pretty steep.)
 
Last edited:
Why not just buy a iphone 6 plus, keep it plugged in and use the hey siri feature? Next have the cars hvac system be controlled by Bluetooth. Let's keep it simple.

iOS' UI is not optimized for use while driving, and for this reason is illegal in some states.

----------

Useles until it can be done via bt or wifi. I don't want to plug my phone in everytime I sit in the car.

you can already do music wirelessly via BT. the main draw of this is nav, and for that you'll want it plugged in to keep the battery from draining.

Volvo initially said they'd have wireless CarPlay, but has removed that statement, so dunno when but id expect its coming.

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/04/24/pioneer-carplay-interview/

----------

Dash mounts are cheap... Why pay nearly $1000 (device only) for this?

the lower end AppRadio typically sells for $4-500. thats not much for an aftermarket double-din head unit. they can do other things that an iPad can't -- steering wheel controls, external antennas (radio and GPS), rear-camera video, etc.

its not very much money for a solution, frankly. the original iPod was 500 bucks.

----------

I use a slim-fitting case on my cellular iPad Air. I use a T-Mobile SIM card with 200MB of free data every 30 days. I also use TomTom's USA GPS app, which is incredibly good. When I take a trip of 300 miles, I pay $1.99 for 30 days of traffic updates through TomTom, which needs a data connection. I play music from the iPad through my Bluetooth stereo and, when the TomTom USA GPS app gives directions through the stereo speakers, the music pauses, then resumes after the direction is given. The stereo is the base model that was included in my Scion (Toyota) xB.

In order to mount the iPad Air to my dashboard directly behind my steering wheel, where there are no gauges, I put a couple of velcro circles onto my dashboard and onto the iPad Air's case. The iPad Air is also being supported by the car's steering column for great support. When I need to glance down at the iPad Air to see the GPS instructions, it is as quick and easy as glancing down at a speedometer.

I also use a Lightning cable to keep the iPad Air charged, and so that I can say, "Hey Siri... play U2, or Open TomTom, or Apple stock price, or send a message to, etc."

I am very satisfied with the way that this setup works. Here is what it looks like:

Image

When I move on to the next car, I can take the iPad with me.

....or you could just replace your head unit and have a much cleaner solution that does more (steering wheel controls, external GPS & radio antennas, rear camera) and which you can also bring to your next car.

----------

And when you get a new iPhone with a different size and shape, how would the mount work?

to be fair, I'm using my iPhone 4's mount w/ my iPhone 5 and 6. it has thumb screws on the back which allow resizing the sliding width of the phone-holding portion. even if i needed a completely different device, the part connected to the car is separate and accepts different device-holders.

https://www.proclipusa.com

----------

Am I the only guy that finds all this in car stuff super distracting? I'm all for innovation and I'm all for making things simple but when your behind the wheel of a multi ton vehicle tapping around on a screen trying to find the latest text from your significant other doesn't really seem like something you should be doing at that time

Watching him use the interface I couldn't help but notice how involved it looked. How much time was spent looking at the screen or contemplating what was happening and how to respond.

I don't know it just freaks me out a little seeing how distracted folks are these days in the car playing with their phones, GPS's and in-car multimedia systems. I don't think this is going to make anything better :-/

he was doing a demo. everything can be voice controlled -- playing music, reading texts, sending texts, getting driving directions.

----------

It kinda looks outdated already even before launch. The problem with this is that it is using current technology on a car that most people will own fora while. Unlike cars, phone technology is advancing so fast that some people update every year. Cars should just have an interface to a phone, instead of trying to build the tech there already.

thats *exactly* what this is! CarPlay runs entirely off of your phone. the UI is driven by your iPhone.
 
Song Ratings??

Can you rate songs or not!? I've been trying to find out since March. Why aren't the 5 star slots immediately across the top of the display when a song is playing in Music?? I've been looking for a car stereo that allows me to rate my songs easily and expected that the Apple solution would finally do it, being that it's such a core feature of iTunes.

If you tap on the screen, does it reveal the star rating like in the iPhone app?
 
Meh

Not the least bit interested. The automobile manufacturers are already over-regulated as to what instruments and toys like this can do and not do ...

Apple Car Play (and pretty much any other proprietary GPS / entertainment system enhancements to your car) is just another means to lose more of your disposable cash for restricted features you do not control.

I think I am adult enough to strike my OWN balance between form/function and distracted driving. I don't need to pay a super premium to Pioneer, Apple, Toyota, or Cadillac, etc ... AND be limited by the government in what I can safely do in my car. Cars are expensive enough, thank you very much. I'll stick with my OWN choice of electronics and software for the car - saving my money and a ton of aggravation. :cool:
 
All Pioneer need to make is a cheap Headunit that has a nice display and touch screen with some RCA/speaker outs. Dont need CD/DVD, GPS/Bluetooth etc. everything else my phone can do
 
Did anyone else notice the other dash features, like this ironic LED clock! Are we back to the future yet?

That about sums the Toyota Tacoma for you. I love my truck, but always hated the led clock that you can't even see in day light. No matter how great a head unit you get, your stuck with the 80's led :)

I want CarPlay real bad, but no wifi is a deal breaker. I'll wait for bluetooth version.
 
Neat...

Although i have one question...

Where is the Apple logo ?

It's Apple CarPlay yes, regardless whats it running on, so don't they wanna have their own logo displayed too ?

I find it interesting they didn't do it to their own product here. It's a first...

At least Apple's own earbuds come in Apple branded package when bought new. Yet Carplay doesn't come in any package and doesn't even spot a trace of the Apple logo.
 
How did you get in your car in the first place; teleportation? How lazy can you be? Does your mom blow your nose as well?

A 1 year old child can plug in a lightning connector and get it right 100% of the time.

Do you not understand how technology progression works? Let me explain: Generally, things get better and easier over time.

You need a car instead of a horse? How lazy can you be!

You need a dishwasher? How lazy can you be!

You need an automatic thermostat? How lazy can you be!

Damn straight I don't want to constantly fiddle with cables in my car or anywhere else for that matter! :cool:
 
Neat...

Although i have one question...

Where is the Apple logo ?

It's Apple CarPlay yes, regardless whats it running on, so don't they wanna have their own logo displayed too ?

I find it interesting they didn't do it to their own product here. It's a first...

At least Apple's own earbuds come in Apple branded package when bought new. Yet Carplay doesn't come in any package and doesn't even spot a trace of the Apple logo.

It's not made by Apple, it's software that pioneer or whoever can add (license?) to their system. The same with androids version. That way it doesn't matter what phone you have it will work with apples or googles software.
It would be suicide for toyota or Mercedes to say we only support Apple car play. They would lose sales. I know I wouldn't buy new a car if my phone doesn't work on it natively.
 
It's not made by Apple, it's software that pioneer or whoever can add (license?) to their system. The same with androids version. That way it doesn't matter what phone you have it will work with apples or googles software.
It would be suicide for toyota or Mercedes to say we only support Apple car play. They would lose sales. I know I wouldn't buy new a car if my phone doesn't work on it natively.

Yes, pioneer licensed, but who from ??
 
One of the Waze updates from a few weeks ago (3.8 or 3.9 I believe) states that it now supports CarPlay... Is there something you've heard differently? I obviously can't test it since I don't have a CarPlay capable head unit... but I saw CarPlay on the update log and that's why I went out to do research about it. I didn't know what it was.

According to this right here, nothing yet. According to row 178 of this document, it's an open feature request for iOS and Android.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.