Slashdot Mirror
Apple CarPlay Rollout Delayed By Some Carmakers
Lucas123 writes: Some car makers are delaying the implementation of Apple's CarPlay iPhone interface for vehicle infotainment systems. The delays, which are prompting manufacturers such as Mercedes, Volvo and Honda to push their announcement from 2014 to 2015, appear to be related to a few snags in the integration process or in choosing which model cars should have the middleware. At the same time, many of the automakers rolling out CarPlay are also implementing Android Auto, which will provide a vehicle head unit user interface for Android smartphones. Analysts believe the addition of Android Auto earlier this year may also be causing delays because manufacturers want to be able to announce availability of both platforms in their new model vehicles.
"Analysts believe the addition of Android Auto earlier this year may also be causing delays because manufacturers want to be able to announce availability of both platforms in their new model vehicles."
Put Tim Cook on a treadmill-generator to burn off his rage and we could power NYC
No thanks, I want my phone's maps and navigation on my car display.
Music subscription services too.
I'd love to have a car interface to my phone apps on my car's screen, something like chromecast, but gets data from the phone instead of the internet, and the ability to send back interactions from a knob, a couple buttons, and touch.
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
No thanks, I want my phone's maps and navigation on my car display.
You might have just hit on the reason for the delay. They charge $600 for that GPS system in the car and I'm sure Garmin, Tom Tom, Magellan, & Nokia are lobbying to keep their turf safe.
Music subscription services too.
I'd love to have a car interface to my phone apps on my car's screen, something like chromecast, but gets data from the phone instead of the internet, and the ability to send back interactions from a knob, a couple buttons, and touch.
You mean like MirrorLink?
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
Imagine a world where there were multiple standards for cigarette lighter^W^W accessory power connectors, and how different the market for accessories would be. Im surprised that car manufacturers, whose product development cycle is quite lengthy, are willing to accomodate proprietary (and likely fleeting) technologies.
My next sig will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush
Apps that run on phones are fantastic for in-car use: Waze, NextExit, GasBuddy, etc.
They just want to be on a larger display, and integrated with the driver's controls.
Which, amazingly enough, is what CarPlay does.
Enable 3D printed prosthetics!
Same here. I was actually waiting for a car that properly integrates with my phone (be it iOS or Droid). I payed €1000 1 years ago for the Renault R-Link crap on my wife's car and was terribly disappointed. Since the headunits in modern cars aren't really upgrade-able without giving some things up, it makes a lot more sense to just make them dumb displays + input devices. I change my phone every two years, but my car every 5-6. By the time I change my car it's already outdated.
I suppose that's correct, and perhaps they'll have both.
What I am really looking forward to is buying a new car, and having the interface upgrade over the life of the car. Things that were nifty in a car ten years ago aren't the same now (though with my lack of imagination I can't think of anything past navigation, podcasts, and music, others may, or may make those things better).
XM radio called me about my free trial on my new (used) car, and it was like I was in a time warp, I live in a world of Pandora, Spotify, Google Play, Groove Shark, etc., why on earth would I pay for radio? I have everything via bluetooth audio. I as much as asked the guy (after telling him I didn't use it a single day in my 60 day trial), he said the comedy stations, like Howard Stern. Basically saying the talk radio was what they had. But I have Bill Maher (for free), and a dozen other podcasts, more than i can listen too, it really is an anachronism.
The same thing with OnStar, why would I subscribe to a look up local business service, but all of the GM cars I test-drove were pushing it, even in the 2013's it was the center of the technology, yet the Bluetooth was hands-free only (no AD2P), but it did have XM was pointed out to me *sigh*.
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
I like having access to my phone's functions (in particular my car's ability to connect to my iPhone for music), but I do not want to be forced to use my phone for GPS or any other functionality that can be built into the car. I know that built-in GPS systems are out of date as soon as the DVD is made, but I do not want to be forced to use my data plan for functionality that previously did not require it. I do not know how much cellular data the GPS would use, but having a built in navigation system currently uses none.
Car manufacturers, device and software manufacturers ( especially those ones who think everyone wants their data on "the could" ) please give us choices, not dictates. We like new features and ideas, but not necessarily new ideas that result in added, recurring expenses (fees for cloud storage, data usage and possible increased data plans because of the increased data usage).
All of the new cars I have bought in the last 15 years came with outdated technology. At least the older ones were easier to hack. On On the newer ones , it's just an expensive brick.
I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
So it's like this: Normally you're phone is an peripheral to your car dashboard/radio. With CarPlay, it's the other way around. So yes, I agree. Maps, navigation, audio, handsfree, etc, all that is just a firmware update away. None of this proprietary BS that costs an arm and a leg, often outdated, and soon be obsolete in five years anyways. With a standard API, it makes that a whole lot easier to manage. Ditto for the Android equivalent.
Life is not for the lazy.
Yeah but MirrorLink isn't Apple and really hasn't caught on so well. It just may be the thought of an Apple friendly version scared them enough to try harder.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
The parent sorta has a point. I can't vouch for the ratio, but I would definitely agree that newer cars have a proprietary/integrated dash and console arrangement that don't conform to the DIN standard (ISO 7736) in comparison to older vehicles. My perception is that this is getting worse with each new model.
There is a ray of hope however. Scosche is a major brand of custom aftermarket bracket and adapters for car audio. Chances are that if it's dimensionally possible, they've already created a kit for your vehicle. For example I also own a 2009 Honda Civic; the Scosche-HA1561 Dash Kit is only 40 bucks from Crutchfield (discounted when purchased with other stuff). It also comes in three colors depending on your interior. If they didn't take the market seriously, I wouldn't have expected that as optional. For reference, here is a photo of the factory radio for a comparison.
BTW, I don't mean to come off as a shill for Crutchfield, but I'm experienced in shopping there in the past. If you know of a competitor that you recommend, by all means share. I'm always looking for reliable alternative sources that I can price cheaper. :)
Life is not for the lazy.