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iregret

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 23, 2012
525
120
I didn't see it anywhere. I'm considering buying a new head unit that uses CarPlay. Any CarPlay experts here? Reviews? Did CarPlay get updated with the new music app?

Is the Pioneer SPH-DA120 any good? It's the cheapest head unit I've come across so far.

Thanks!
 
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blackjackmark

macrumors 6502a
Apr 19, 2010
501
205
Why would carplay be wireless?
Because Apple is working on a wireless version of it. Volkswagen was going to demo it recently but Apple pulled the plug right before CES I believe.

https://9to5mac.com/2016/01/08/vw-wireless-carplay/
[doublepost=1473648759][/doublepost]
I didn't see it anywhere. I'm considering buying a new head unit that uses CarPlay. Any CarPlay experts here? Reviews? Did CarPlay get updated with the new music app?

Is the Pioneer SPH-120A any good? It's the cheapest head unit I've come across so far.

Thanks!
Pretty sure it's not. I think they'd make a bigger deal of it if they were rolling it out.
 
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JTravers

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2010
733
228
Wireless Carplay is dependent on the car head unit supporting it. There currently aren't any head units available that support it.
 

BeefSupreme

macrumors regular
Sep 19, 2012
225
249
Because Apple is working on a wireless version of it. Volkswagen was going to demo it recently but Apple pulled the plug right before CES I believe.

https://9to5mac.com/2016/01/08/vw-wireless-carplay/
[doublepost=1473648759][/doublepost]
Pretty sure it's not. I think they'd make a bigger deal of it if they were rolling it out.

The wireless version of CarPlay should be coming out in cars for the 2018 model year.

In the meantime, I wonder if someone could just plug in a 'tune2air' Bluetooth adapter and have CarPlay work through that. One of my cars does not have CarPlay, but you can plug an iPhone into the glovebox and play music, Pandora etc through the factory head unit. I plugged in a tune2air into the glovebox and it works fine that way.
 

JTravers

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2010
733
228
The wireless version of CarPlay should be coming out in cars for the 2018 model year.

In the meantime, I wonder if someone could just plug in a 'tune2air' Bluetooth adapter and have CarPlay work through that. One of my cars does not have CarPlay, but you can plug an iPhone into the glovebox and play music, Pandora etc through the factory head unit. I plugged in a tune2air into the glovebox and it works fine that way.
Wireless Carplay requires wifi because it uses more bandwidth than Bluetooth provides.
 

blackjackmark

macrumors 6502a
Apr 19, 2010
501
205
Wireless Carplay is dependent on the car head unit supporting it. There currently aren't any head units available that support it.
I hope that's not true. I just bought a 2016 Kia Optima, and hope that it would be usable on it.

Aren't they using a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to enable it? Or is that even known?

The Optima has Wi-Fi ability and Bluetooth. Unless Apple is coming up with some proprietary chip to enable wireless CarPlay (maybe they are?), I would hope that the Kia would be upgradable to handle it as well.
 

Alchematron

macrumors 65816
Jan 22, 2007
1,012
24
Maui Hawaii
For what its worth, I got CarPlay when it first came out a few years ago

I have a Pioneer AVH-4000NEX head unit and a iPhone 6 Plus

It will play via Bluetooth, however my stereo installer recommends that I keep the phone in the glove box plugged into the head unit for best sound
 

Lobwedgephil

macrumors 603
Apr 7, 2012
5,792
4,757
I hope that's not true. I just bought a 2016 Kia Optima, and hope that it would be usable on it.

Aren't they using a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to enable it? Or is that even known?

The Optima has Wi-Fi ability and Bluetooth. Unless Apple is coming up with some proprietary chip to enable wireless CarPlay (maybe they are?), I would hope that the Kia would be upgradable to handle it as well.

Not unless Kia gives you a new head unit. Has nothing to do with the phone, and only the head unit.
 

JTravers

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2010
733
228
I hope that's not true. I just bought a 2016 Kia Optima, and hope that it would be usable on it.

Aren't they using a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to enable it? Or is that even known?

The Optima has Wi-Fi ability and Bluetooth. Unless Apple is coming up with some proprietary chip to enable wireless CarPlay (maybe they are?), I would hope that the Kia would be upgradable to handle it as well.
It probably is some combination of Bluetooth and wifi. From what I've read, the car must have wifi that works in base station mode and not just client mode, though. Not sure if the Kia Optima wifi supports that, but history has shown that Hyundai/Kia is pretty good about issuing firmware updates if their hardware is capable.

I wonder if the delay in the release of wireless Carplay is a battery drain issue. Wireless Carplay probably isn't easy on the battery.
 
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JTravers

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2010
733
228
For what its worth, I got CarPlay when it first came out a few years ago

I have a Pioneer AVH-4000NEX head unit and a iPhone 6 Plus

It will play via Bluetooth, however my stereo installer recommends that I keep the phone in the glove box plugged into the head unit for best sound
Playing via Bluetooth isn't using Carplay, though.
 

Knowimagination

macrumors 68020
Apr 6, 2010
2,228
1,288
I guess I need to research a little more, I don't really understand what the benefit of wireless Carplay would be.
 

blackjackmark

macrumors 6502a
Apr 19, 2010
501
205
Not unless Kia gives you a new head unit. Has nothing to do with the phone, and only the head unit.
Not trying to argue, as I'm ignorant of the hardware requirements for wireless CarPlay, so just curious to know how you know definitively that the Kia won't support it? I've been meaning to call Kia to see if they know, but if you have a reliable source that'll save me the trouble!
 

JTravers

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2010
733
228
Keeping your phone in your pocket vs having to plug in to USB.

It's more of a battery drain than simply streaming audio over Bluetooth, though, so I'd probably use Carplay when plugged in but only stream via Bluetooth if I wanted to stay wireless.
 
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blackjackmark

macrumors 6502a
Apr 19, 2010
501
205
I guess I need to research a little more, I don't really understand what the benefit of wireless Carplay would be.
Having used it for the past month, it'd be a huge benefit for short in-town trips where you could leave your phone in your pocket. For longer trips out I'd want to be charging, but for short trips it'd be awesome.
 

Lobwedgephil

macrumors 603
Apr 7, 2012
5,792
4,757
Not trying to argue, as I'm ignorant of the hardware requirements for wireless CarPlay, so just curious to know how you know definitively that the Kia won't support it? I've been meaning to call Kia to see if they know, but if you have a reliable source that'll save me the trouble!

You are correct, check with Kia to know for sure. I have just read the most cars hardware doesn't support wireless carplay and that new hardware will be required. Maybe its in their hardware, check with them first. Sorry.
 

JTravers

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2010
733
228
According to this presentation (pg 108)
http://devstreaming.apple.com/video...722/722_developing_carplay_systems_part_1.pdf
Wireless Carplay requires a Wifi Alliance certified access point with high throughput (802.11ac recommended). Bluetooth is used for discovery and to setup the wifi connection, but all Carplay communication is done over wifi. GPS data is also required to be provided by the head unit for wireless Carplay support.
 
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iregret

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 23, 2012
525
120
I'm in that business.

There is no wireless CarPlay currently.
What are your thoughts on head units? I really only want a head unit that I can use CarPlay with and have a back up camera. I recently bought a Honda Element. It has an aux in, but with my new iPhone 7 on the way, I'd rather plug in CarPlay in the car for charging and whatnot.

I know that the Pioneer App Radio, SPH-DA120, is an older/cheaper model, but what are the differences CarPlay-wise between the models? They all have to adhere to the CarPlay standard, so it probably doesn't matter which one I purchase correct?

The only difference I can imagine would be physical size, processor speed, display resolution, and then aftermarket car abilities. I don't care much about the aftermarket car stuff, with the exception of the back up camera, and all the head units support that.

Thanks for any insight!
 

zacheryjensen

macrumors 6502a
May 11, 2009
802
189
In iOS 10 (public beta, latest release) on an iPhone 6S, there is a wireless CarPlay pairing interface (settings -> general -> CarPlay). So it's just a matter of waiting for a head unit/vehicle manufacturer that supports it.
 

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iregret

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 23, 2012
525
120
In iOS 10 (public beta, latest release) on an iPhone 6S, there is a wireless CarPlay pairing interface (settings -> general -> CarPlay). So it's just a matter of waiting for a head unit/vehicle manufacturer that supports it.
Well, thats badass. LOL
 
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