Waze Integration With CarPlay Dashboard Goes Live

[bollman]

It seems time has passed on CarPlay. Look at any major car brand today: they have nice integration with their instrument cluster and head-up display. CarPlay is relegated to some part of a center screen, and looks quite outdated.
Modern cars update their maps on a regular basis, online, there's no need for external navigation.
If you cling to an old car, sure, but any car model released in the last 4-5 years from any respectable car brand have no need or CarPlay, even if they do support it, it seems rather useless.

 

[bransoj]

It seems time has passed on CarPlay. Look at any major car brand today: they have nice integration with their instrument cluster and head-up display. CarPlay is relegated to some part of a center screen, and looks quite outdated.
Modern cars update their maps on a regular basis, online, there's no need for external navigation.
If you cling to an old car, sure, but any car model released in the last 4-5 years from any respectable car brand have no need or CarPlay, even if they do support it, it seems rather useless.

Driven a number of cars in the last year from my nearly 3yr old car to various hire cars that are just a few months old. Carplay is miles better integration to my phone than any of the manufacturer stuff. Some of the built in sat navs in terms of view, routing and real time updates dont come close to the options given by Apple Maps, Google Maps or Waze.

 

[bransoj]

All true, but Waze has one thing that Apple Maps doesn’t: crowdsourced hazard/LEO data. It’s the only Google product I use.

I use Apple Maps for routing and the actual Map view but open Waze to get the crowdsourced stuff. If there is a speed camera, hazard etc coming up it just alerts over the top of Apple Maps with a voice notification and a pop up on the screen.

 

[haruhiko]

It seems time has passed on CarPlay. Look at any major car brand today: they have nice integration with their instrument cluster and head-up display. CarPlay is relegated to some part of a center screen, and looks quite outdated.
Modern cars update their maps on a regular basis, online, there's no need for external navigation.
If you cling to an old car, sure, but any car model released in the last 4-5 years from any respectable car brand have no need or CarPlay, even if they do support it, it seems rather useless.

I disagree. CarPlay is the single best thing happened to my car and I use it every day. Car manufacturers of course want CarPlay to be a stop-gap solution in before they release earth shattering new Infotainment systems, but in reality, the phone is always THE device which contains all your apps, information, contacts, etc. etc. Being able to directly control your phone using the car's interface is always better than whatever syncing needed just because the car WANTS to be the centre of your digital life.

 

[haruhiko]

Waze has a very weird colour scheme in their cartography. Together with the extremely poor Apple Maps support in my country, Google Maps in the only viable choice here.

 

[Lozza013]

I've never understood why Google hasn't merged Waze into Google Maps yet? Although I must admit I do enjoy using Waze in my Forester via CarPlay so this is a great feature.

 

[bransoj]

I disagree. CarPlay is the single best thing happened to my car and I use it every day. Car manufacturers of course want CarPlay to be a stop-gap solution in before they release earth shattering new Infotainment systems, but in reality, the phone is always THE device which contains all your apps, information, contacts, etc. etc. Being able to directly control your phone using the car's interface is always better than whatever syncing needed just because the car WANTS to be the centre of your digital life.

There is also the way the apps integrate as they do on your phone, as i use my calendar a lot for things when i get in the car and start Maps it invariably picks up where i want to go either from the calendar or the frequent destinations thing and offers it to me to start directions rather than having to search for the location first. Little things like that will also make it better than in built infotainment systems that have to cater for everything.

Waze has a very weird colour scheme in their cartography. Together with the extremely poor Apple Maps support in my country, Google Maps in the only viable choice here.

I always thing it looks a bit cartoony, i've never got on with the interface at all.

 

[beanbaguk]

What’s the point it makes map smaller and 2 out of 3 is Waze and for audio controls most cars have steering wheel controls to change track it doesn’t make anything better just not as much of the map

It’s a huge deal as cars with bigger widescreen displays work perfectly with this feature.

The attached screenshot is my iDrive display on my BMW 5 series. I appreciate not everyone has such a large display but it’s becoming a lot more prevalent even in cheaper cars.

 

[haruhiko]

It’s a huge deal as cars with bigger widescreen displays work perfectly with this feature.

The attached screenshot is my iDrive display on my BMW 5 series. I appreciate not everyone has such a large display but it’s becoming a lot more prevalent even in cheaper cars.

For BMW iDrive the music control on the infotainment screen is superb.

Although my Mercedes didn't come with MBUX, I can control the music from the dashboard screen using touch control on the steering wheel so this CarPlay feature isn't really necessary.

 

[beanbaguk]

For BMW iDrive the music control on the infotainment screen is superb.

Although my Mercedes didn't come with MBUX, I can control the music from the dashboard screen using touch control on the steering wheel so this CarPlay feature isn't really necessary.

Yup, it’s the best system I’ve had in a car. So many ways to operate it. Voice, steering controls, touch screen, physical buttons, iDrive controller and even gesture controls which I use all the time.

The only item lacking in my system is the lack of CarPlay integration with my HUD. Frustratingly it works with the newer ID7 which I don’t have so I guess my next car will have this but I’ll have to wait 5 years or so as I don’t change all too often and I just forked out for the 5 series 3 years ago!

I can however still combine the excellent BMW navigation and CarPlay so I get all my HUD directions which is all that’s necessary to be honest.

 

[DB2k]

In addition to CarPlay Dashboard support, the update appears to introduce in-app lane guidance for the first time.

hmm? I've had lane navigation in Waze via carplay for weeks now? (UK)

 

[seinman]

It seems time has passed on CarPlay. Look at any major car brand today: they have nice integration with their instrument cluster and head-up display. CarPlay is relegated to some part of a center screen, and looks quite outdated.
Modern cars update their maps on a regular basis, online, there's no need for external navigation.
If you cling to an old car, sure, but any car model released in the last 4-5 years from any respectable car brand have no need or CarPlay, even if they do support it, it seems rather useless.

I want some of what you're smoking. Manufacturer infotainment systems are trash in almost all cases. I don't drive an old car, either. I have a 2017 Chevy Bolt EV. The OEM interface is slow, does not have built-in navigation at all, doesn't support podcasts or streaming audio... meanwhile, CarPlay fills the entire 10" screen with a beautiful, useful interface and features.

 

[MozMan68]

I use Apple Maps for routing and the actual Map view but open Waze to get the crowdsourced stuff. If there is a speed camera, hazard etc coming up it just alerts over the top of Apple Maps with a voice notification and a pop up on the screen.

I do this too (on long trips only)...and wondering if that still works now??

 

[bollman]

How about Volvo's system? Or Audis, often hailed as the leader? Mercedes, BMWs, all have great integration. Huge, responsive displays, map view in the gauge cluster (some even with satellite data), great multi-colour heads-up displays, maps that updates seemless through internet.
No, CarPlay looks and feels like an aftermarket unit from 2010.

 

[MozMan68]

It seems time has passed on CarPlay. Look at any major car brand today: they have nice integration with their instrument cluster and head-up display. CarPlay is relegated to some part of a center screen, and looks quite outdated.
Modern cars update their maps on a regular basis, online, there's no need for external navigation.
If you cling to an old car, sure, but any car model released in the last 4-5 years from any respectable car brand have no need or CarPlay, even if they do support it, it seems rather useless.

Please give me one example of a car that has an infotainment system better than integrated CarPlay (or Android Auto for that matter).

Maybe there is one, but I've never seen it.

 

[MozMan68]

How about Volvo's system? Or Audis, often hailed as the leader? Mercedes, BMWs, all have great integration. Huge, responsive displays, map view in the gauge cluster (some even with satellite data), great multi-colour heads-up displays, maps that updates seemless through internet.
No, CarPlay looks and feels like an aftermarket unit from 2010.

I have a VW Atlas with a great integrated system (map option in instrument cluster)....and it sucks!! Yes, it looks great and I wish I could have Apple Maps or other iOS options in the instrument cluster as well (and as CarPlay allows since iOS 12), but it has horrible UI, graphics and never seems as updated as even Apple Maps.

 

[bollman]

BMW:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xNNEXLit0A
Mercedes:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL5l-_9bIVk
Volvo:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gad0TXRVblk
Audi

 

[bollman]

I have quite the experience with Volvo's system (don't own one though) and although they have the option to use CarPlay, I never use it since the integrated system is waaaayy better and better integrated with the car.

 

[riverfreak]

Please give me one example of a car that has an infotainment system better than integrated CarPlay (or Android Auto for that matter).

Maybe there is one, but I've never seen it.

Audi. Light years beyond Carplay. And that was in 2016.

Carplay is horrendous.

Have a lot of Music in your library? Forget browsing it. You (or your passenger) will only be able to browse the first 25 or so entries under A. Same for podcasts. The rest you are expected to access with Siri, assuming you know the exact name and can phrase it in a way that Siri can parse.

Get a lot of messages? Carplay sometimes pauses (and sometimes not) and drops the volume of what you are listening to. For an interminable amount of time. An agonizing amount of time of you’re listening to a podcast or audio book. Why not just a deliberately brief ding? And the process of reading back and replying to messages is tediously slow. How about a notification center that quickly summarizes messages?

Apple Maps is awful. Want to see a zoomed out view? you have to tap the screen and then tap little zoom controls. Great. And then your view doesn’t stick. Want to toggle between terrain and road? Is that even possible?

The efforts to make Carplay safer and hands free actually forces you to
pick up your phone more often. It’s just a repackaged iOS interface without much thought about how to actually make it more useful. It’s like it was made at someone’s desk and never actually tested on the road.

 

[GDF]

Have been beta testing Waze via CarPlay Dashboard for about a month and it has been working great! Excited that it is finally available. For travel and alerts nothing can compete.

I wish Apple would make Album Art larger and the music controls smaller. Seems common sense.

Also - on my wish list is to have CarPlay Waze Dashboard directions appear on BMW Hud. Apple Maps can, so Waze needs to update that. Then perfecto!

 

[GDF]

Audi. Light years beyond Carplay. And that was in 2016.

Carplay is horrendous.

Have a lot of Music in your library? Forget browsing it. You (or your passenger) will only be able to browse the first 25 or so entries under A. Same for podcasts. The rest you are expected to access with Siri, assuming you know the exact name and can phrase it in a way that Siri can parse.

Get a lot of messages? Carplay sometimes pauses (and sometimes not) and drops the volume of what you are listening to. For an interminable amount of time. An agonizing amount of time of you’re listening to a podcast or audio book. Why not just a deliberately brief ding? And the process of reading back and replying to messages is tediously slow. How about a notification center that quickly summarizes messages?

Apple Maps is awful. Want to see a zoomed out view? you have to tap the screen and then tap little zoom controls. Great. And then your view doesn’t stick. Want to toggle between terrain and road? Is that even possible?

The efforts to make Carplay safer and hands free actually forces you to
pick up your phone more often. It’s just a repackaged iOS interface without much thought about how to actually make it more useful. It’s like it was made at someone’s desk and never actually tested on the road.

BMW is far and away the best infotainment system, especially when paired with HUD. But, I still use CarPlay more, especially if you have an iPhone or use Waze. With BMW, CarPlay is wireless and music sounds better coming through CarPlay. Waze is also through CarPlay. Those two features alone make CarPlay better for me.

In my BMW, nothing with CarPlay is slow. If you don’t like Apple Maps or Waze, then use Google Maps. But, CarPlay is not for everyone, because in my wife’s Bimmer, she likes BMW infotainment system better, as it is very simple and intuitive.

 

[geekymcfly]

I've never understood why Google hasn't merged Waze into Google Maps yet? Although I must admit I do enjoy using Waze in my Forester via CarPlay so this is a great feature.

Subie wave.👋

 

[bransoj]

I do this too (on long trips only)...and wondering if that still works now??

It worked on Friday when i drove home from work, the only slightly annoying thing is change the audio source to Waze for some reason which it never did before. I have to go into audio on my car infotainment and set it back to radio or choose the music again via CarPlay if i was listening to something on there. Once you've done that it works fine alerting me to speed cameras, hazards, police etc.

 

[bransoj]

Have a lot of Music in your library? Forget browsing it. You (or your passenger) will only be able to browse the first 25 or so entries under A. Same for podcasts. The rest you are expected to access with Siri, assuming you know the exact name and can phrase it in a way that Siri can parse.

Get a lot of messages? Carplay sometimes pauses (and sometimes not) and drops the volume of what you are listening to. For an interminable amount of time. An agonizing amount of time of you’re listening to a podcast or audio book. Why not just a deliberately brief ding? And the process of reading back and replying to messages is tediously slow. How about a notification center that quickly summarizes messages?

Apple Maps is awful. Want to see a zoomed out view? you have to tap the screen and then tap little zoom controls. Great. And then your view doesn’t stick. Want to toggle between terrain and road? Is that even possible?

The efforts to make Carplay safer and hands free actually forces you to
pick up your phone more often. It’s just a repackaged iOS interface without much thought about how to actually make it more useful. It’s like it was made at someone’s desk and never actually tested on the road.

Music library, press the bit on the left where it lists the letters and it gives you a screen to choose the letter you want to jump to. You can then choose where you want to be, quicker and safer than scrolling constantly down the screen when you should be looking at the road. On mine i can scroll the screen like i do my phone or use the on screen arrows to scroll right through.

Messages, you cant have a screen to read as that goes against the point of Carplay really. I dont mind the messages screen. I get a pop up notification if one comes through, it shows a red dot\number on the icon to say there are unread messages (same with missed calls) and then if i open messages it shows a list of messages just like it does on my phone. I press the one i want and it reads it to me.

Apple Maps is miles better than Google Maps and Waze both in operation and actual looks. If you have directions running in Apple Maps then its a two press operation to zoom out to the whole trip level (or back) or you can just come zoom out a bit and it does stick. If they arent running it does go back in after a time to show a level that displays decent detail of the upcoming road although i rarely do this unless i'm stopped. Fairly sure Google Maps goes back in as well.

I suspect the actual integration the car manufacturer does with its software can play a part and maybe my car does it quite well although in general in various cars i've had no issues using CarPlay or the Siri integration. I've never felt the need to have to pick up my phone because i couldnt do something. I'm fairly sure that if you couldnt do it through CarPlay its probably something you shouldnt be doing whilst driving. I've used standard sat nav\music set ups in a Vauxhall, Renault, GMC Yukon and a Peugeot and none come close to CarPlay. This is basic usage before you even get to the fact you have the integration between the apps and the rest of the phone. For example i have a lot of stuff in my calendar, between that and frequent destinations that my phone learns i hardly ever have to search for destinations. The moment i open Apple Maps it throws up where i want to go without me having to ask. I can ask Siri on the fly for directions to somewhere and it sets it going.

 

[MozMan68]

Audi. Light years beyond Carplay. And that was in 2016.

Carplay is horrendous.

Have a lot of Music in your library? Forget browsing it. You (or your passenger) will only be able to browse the first 25 or so entries under A. Same for podcasts. The rest you are expected to access with Siri, assuming you know the exact name and can phrase it in a way that Siri can parse.

Get a lot of messages? Carplay sometimes pauses (and sometimes not) and drops the volume of what you are listening to. For an interminable amount of time. An agonizing amount of time of you’re listening to a podcast or audio book. Why not just a deliberately brief ding? And the process of reading back and replying to messages is tediously slow. How about a notification center that quickly summarizes messages?

Apple Maps is awful. Want to see a zoomed out view? you have to tap the screen and then tap little zoom controls. Great. And then your view doesn’t stick. Want to toggle between terrain and road? Is that even possible?

The efforts to make Carplay safer and hands free actually forces you to
pick up your phone more often. It’s just a repackaged iOS interface without much thought about how to actually make it more useful. It’s like it was made at someone’s desk and never actually tested on the road.

Audi owner here...integration of Google Maps was nice, but certainly not as easy to access/search as CarPlay/Siri IMHO.

Everything else you mention is car specific and wrong for most vehicles. Some manufacturers limit music access, most do not (or you can override in car settings). That's a manufacturer limitation, not Apple.

EVERY Map app makes you zoom out by tapping...and typically do not stay in that view...I think you are just looking for stuff to complain about as I've hardly ever heard of anyone complaining about the zoom level to the point where they feel the need to constantly adjust it.