Apple CarPlay: iOS Vehicle Integration

[mikeTee]

http://9to5mac.com/2014/03/03/merced...class-gallery/

Mercedes Benz just released some images of their CarPlay integration.

[fatherfork]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

"So you can both interact with your Apple CarPlay and your Volvo simultaneously."

...into that tree.


Not a fan of Apple so the only good I can see coming from this is if Google and Microsoft/Nokia jump into the same market.

Microsoft already has with SYNC on Ford head units. The difference is Apple's is driven by the phone, not simply connected to it's content. It should make updates to the interface and features easier, but as others have said, the Carplay interface will likely be in addition to the head unit's built in software, since not everyone owns and iPhone.

The interaction should be no more distracting than any other head unit out there.

[Acree]

Say what you will about Apple and hype and fanboys and blah blah... as soon as this is available on an OEM headunit that fits in this car, I will be buying it.

[n2oinferno]

I wonder how many manufacturers are willing to give up control of their UI and hand it over to Apple so they can get the CarPlay stuff up and running. It's interesting, but seeing how Apple no longer controls majority market share in phones or tablets now, I don't think that it'll be an always-selected option for most people.

Also I sure hope it doesn't use Apple Maps. It'd really suck to die because of your car.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by fatherfork

Microsoft already has with SYNC on Ford head units. The difference is Apple's is driven by the phone, not simply connected to it's content.

It was really called "FORD Sync.. -powered by Microsoft-" and you nailed it: it was not driven by a phone. So by all accounts, MS did not "already have it".

Sync was something FORD tried to make their own and even though it was powered by MS, it worked with all (or at least attempted to) smart phones: Android, iOS, BB etc. Apple's CarPlay doesn't appear to be friendly with anything other than iOS.

Volvo should not make it standard and leave it as an extra option. I like what CarPlay is and think it's great for Apple supporters, but I think most Apple products are garbage and if this is a standard feature in a vehicle, it would be enough to deter me from purchasing that vehicle.

Example: If the FRS had this as a standard and I could not get the car without it. It would not have motivated me to get an iPhone, it would have motivated me not to get the Scion.

The other concern is the big-brother aspect. By having this in the car, what is it doing, tracking, uploading even when the phone isn't connected?

[fatherfork]

Originally Posted by fatherfork

...but as others have said, the Carplay interface will likely be in addition to the head unit's built in software, since not everyone owns and iPhone.

Originally Posted by rice_classic

...Example: If the FRS had this as a standard and I could not get the car without it. It would not have motivated me to get an iPhone, it would have motivated me not to get the Scion.

The other concern is the big-brother aspect. By having this in the car, what is it doing, tracking, uploading even when the phone isn't connected?

Don't worry, it's unlikely these new cars would require an iPhone to operate normally.

Also, this won't enable your phone to do any tracking or uploading that it isn't already doing (if you're concerned about that, don't carry a connected device, it is tracking you already for sure).

[mikeTee]

Originally Posted by Acree

Say what you will about Apple and hype and fanboys and blah blah... as soon as this is available on an OEM headunit that fits in this car, I will be buying it.

Agreed. Leave it up to the consumer to decide whether or not they want it in their car. As a long time iPhone user, this is something I'm interested in.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by fatherfork

Don't worry, it's unlikely these new cars would require an iPhone to operate normally.

Of course the car the will operate without an iPhone!

[fatherfork]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

...Example: If the FRS had this as a standard and I could not get the car without it. It would not have motivated me to get an iPhone, it would have motivated me not to get the Scion.

You seemed to imply this was a concern here. Apologies if I misunderstood.


Jerk.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by fatherfork

You seemed to imply this was a concern here. Apologies if I misunderstood.


Jerk.

I didn't imply that at all.

Let me restate the original comment: If the FRS had this as a standard [infotainment system] and I could not get the car [without the proprietary Apple Infotainment system]. It would not motivate me to go out and buy Apple products, it would motivate me to buy a different car, a car with an infotainment system I can use or is compatible with my current devices. A car with an infotainment system (if that's what I needed) that didn't "alienate" me.



Jerk.

[fatherfork]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I didn't imply that at all.

Let me restate the original comment: If the FRS had this as a standard [infotainment system] and I could not get the car [without the proprietary Apple Infotainment system]. It would not motivate me to go out and buy Apple products, it would motivate me to buy a different car, a car with an infotainment system I can use or is compatible with my current devices. A car with an infotainment system (if that's what I needed) that didn't "alienate" me.



Jerk.

Now you're actually stating what I thought you were implying. Any system built into a car would likely be compatible with every phone in every way it is today. It would also happen to have this particular compatibility with an iPhone. That you would actively avoid a car with this built in shows either a misunderstanding or a completely unnecessary hate toward Apple products. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems there would be no reason for you to limit your car selection because of this feature.

[mikeTee]

Will CarPlay force you to buy an iPhone to go with your car (or vice versa)? Not really -- the Ferrari we tried actually deployed Apple's dash system alongside it's own, while Mercedes-Benz and Volvo (two of Apple's other partners) have said they'll continue to develop Android and MirrorLink solutions for their new models.

Once it's connected, Ferrari will continue to utilize its own infotainment system, but users can load CarPlay by hitting a dedicated dashboard button, allowing all touch and voice inputs to be diverted to your iPhone. This loads the CarPlay dashboard, which features a familiar array of icons and services you'll recognize from your iPhone.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/04/a...i-ff-hands-on/

For all you naysayers out there. Also, there's a nice video demo of CarPlay in the Ferrari as well at the link, showing exactly how you will load CarPlay from the standard UI. Me gusta.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by husker741

I can do everything it offers over the Bluetooth in my car.

You can control and view the maps over bluetooth?

Originally Posted by fatherfork

Microsoft already has with SYNC on Ford head units. The difference is Apple's is driven by the phone, not simply connected to it's content. It should make updates to the interface and features easier, but as others have said, the Carplay interface will likely be in addition to the head unit's built in software, since not everyone owns and iPhone.

The interaction should be no more distracting than any other head unit out there.

Except just last week Ford announced they're jumping ship to QNX (now owned by BlackBerry) moving forward, so no more Microsoft in SYNC. Honda/Acura already run QNX based systems, and I think you'll find more companies working with them in the future.

[fatherfork]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Except just last week Ford announced they're jumping ship to QNX (now owned by BlackBerry) moving forward, so no more Microsoft in SYNC. Honda/Acura already run QNX based systems, and I think you'll find more companies working with them in the future.

It was really just a general statement about Microsoft being in the car market. Seems like a good thing for Blackberry. We'll see how it turns out.