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Here's Everything We Know About Apple's Next-Generation CarPlay
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I'm a tech-nerd, but this seems to be a bit overkill at best, or horribly distracting at worst.
When I look at it, I can't help but think of Microsoft's videos of future tech -- really cool, but adding so much unneeded complexity for very little return...and increasing risks of failure 10x. Sort of like smart light switches - great for me as long as I expect to troubleshoot every few months (Wifi? Reboots? Power outages? Updates? Security patches?) -- but a disaster for most people who just want to turn the damn light on without thinking about it (and the other 40 switches in the house)
I think the screen behind the wheel is probably a good idea, especially for navigation (although heads-up displays absolutely rock).
But the passenger side screens? I don't get it.
And HVAC controls? Apple better make damn sure that it works as seamlessly as buttons...and NEVER crashes or freezes. Otherwise, it is a distracted-driving lawsuit waiting to happen.
I drove a Cadillac CT6 for years (actually, two of them) and aside from the glitches and delays in starting up CarPlay...the setup was near perfect. It had both a touchscreen (which CarPlay was designed for) and a knob for quick and easy audio pauses, etc.
I switched to an Acura MDX, which has a trackpad only...and my wife won't use it. She just turns on the radio (didn't know cars still have radios...ha ha). CarPlay wasn't designed for trackpads (or knobs, for that matter)
Anyway...cool technology, but it feels overkill to me.
When I look at it, I can't help but think of Microsoft's videos of future tech -- really cool, but adding so much unneeded complexity for very little return...and increasing risks of failure 10x. Sort of like smart light switches - great for me as long as I expect to troubleshoot every few months (Wifi? Reboots? Power outages? Updates? Security patches?) -- but a disaster for most people who just want to turn the damn light on without thinking about it (and the other 40 switches in the house)
I think the screen behind the wheel is probably a good idea, especially for navigation (although heads-up displays absolutely rock).
But the passenger side screens? I don't get it.
And HVAC controls? Apple better make damn sure that it works as seamlessly as buttons...and NEVER crashes or freezes. Otherwise, it is a distracted-driving lawsuit waiting to happen.
I drove a Cadillac CT6 for years (actually, two of them) and aside from the glitches and delays in starting up CarPlay...the setup was near perfect. It had both a touchscreen (which CarPlay was designed for) and a knob for quick and easy audio pauses, etc.
I switched to an Acura MDX, which has a trackpad only...and my wife won't use it. She just turns on the radio (didn't know cars still have radios...ha ha). CarPlay wasn't designed for trackpads (or knobs, for that matter)
Anyway...cool technology, but it feels overkill to me.
I sold my last GM car last year. I won't even consider one right now (which sucks because they are a customer). I expect that they will eventually roll back on the 'no CarPlay, subscription required' strategy, just like they'll have to roll back on their aggressive EV-only strategy. But until they do, their competition is going to enjoy the windfall.
I'm afraid what would happen if your phone freezes up? Is there a failsafe so that it falls back to the car's builtin dashboard?
Probably pretty much everyone who actually uses an iPhone (as opposed to just owning one).
I have a 2023 Bolt EUV and it’s probably my last Chevy. I also have a deposit on the new Silverado EV but really don’t like the already dated interior so that’s probably out anyway.
Oddly though, I’d still consider a Tesla even without CarPlay (and absolutely love the new 2024 Model 3) but then that’s a Tesla.
One issue with next gen CarPlay is that it exacerbates a huge pain point: people want physical buttons... I have been in many new tech cars and the best user experience I have seen is a mix of some buttons (e.g., for climate control, skip music, etc...) and a nice big touch screen. As soon as you have to tap 2 or 3 times to do something simple, it quickly gets annoying and dangerous.
So, my guess is that the all touchscreen next gen CarPlay provides an experience that the car buyers no longer desire and car manufacturers are, thus, less willing to commit to.
So, my guess is that the all touchscreen next gen CarPlay provides an experience that the car buyers no longer desire and car manufacturers are, thus, less willing to commit to.
V8s are disappearing in general, that's not unique to BMW. Got my V8 last year while I could still get a new one personally specced. There are only a handful of V8s under six figures left in the market.
When I owned a Tesla, I didn't even think about my iPhone. Even for navigation, which the car did flawlessly for me, my phone never really crossed my mind aside from when I had to make or take a call and even then, the phone just sat untouched and unseen in the sliding center compartment (I just used the car's controls to do it). The thought of using CarPlay seemed archaic to me then, and it seems archaic to me now. I doubt I'd ever use it.
I'm kinda on the fence as to whether an integrated system like Android Automotive is actually better in the long run. Phones and OSes get updated annually but cars are on a much longer cycle. And the processor in a car is unlikely to ever get an upgrade leading to the OS eventually being abandonware. At least with a phone providing the processing power, it'll remain up to date as long as you're maintaining your phone.
There are side benefits too, like my phone is guaranteed to have a data connection but my car's manufacturer does everything it can to get me to subscribe to their separate data plan.
This is amazing, exciting, super cool, formidable and all, but I guess we should be prepared to wait for a while (think CarPlay V1 roll-out). Then even if we are very patient there is no guarantee that CarPlay V2 will be compatible with the current CarPlay V1 cars. And no, Apple, buying the 2024 Porche, Aston Martin or Mercedes just to get CarPlay V2 should not be required.
Weird it would be Audi and Porsche but not Skoda Seat or VW. Some new market segmenting scheme? It’s not like they don’t share software across platforms. Also, that Porsche dash looks horrible with all the screens. Too bad none of this is for me, since I don’t buy $60k+ cars.
CarPlay looks so cool to me. If only Rivian added it to their cars. I'm considering getting the R3
You mean Apple's software, including all the apps you can use in CarPlay, would run on the car's hardware? I don't see how that could happen without the auto manufacturers essentially duplicating the iPhone's hardware, which I can't see happening.
That's interesting, my d.c. will show my navigation from Apple Maps via CarPlay. Of course it uses the native BMW look, but it's still there and in the HUD.
car development takes a long time, manufacturers used to bring out a new model every 7 years, some have reduced that by now but still, announced 2 years ago, will start showing up this year and over the next few years for sure, unless, you're GM and ban carplay from your EVs ...
Everything on touch screen is most annoying trend in automotive industry nowadays.
Where are my lovely tactile switches? Subtle button clicks? Smooth and intimate potentiometers? Oh… buttons with lights?
Of course this is me but I wouldn’t mind having to go through cold start button sequence just to get the engine running
Where are my lovely tactile switches? Subtle button clicks? Smooth and intimate potentiometers? Oh… buttons with lights?
Of course this is me but I wouldn’t mind having to go through cold start button sequence just to get the engine running
In short, yes. Cars already have microprocessors running operating systems and apps. They are already rolling computers, just mostly pretty crappy ones. So this is not a new thing, just a better version of the old thing. Both Apple and Google are supplying OSs to carmakers, which of course requires compatible hardware. This is not even slightly a big deal; Apple would love to sell A-series and M-series processors to carmakers. Why can't see you see this happening when this is the only way anything we're being shown can happen?
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V8s are inefficient dinosaur engines (unless in a supercar). Turbo or electric all the way!