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GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash

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Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash

#31

Post by majormajor »

mritun wrote: post #19
autoexec wrote: post #3

Personally, I wont ever connect my phone to my car at all (if my next car doesn't have an aux port I'll install one myself), but I have to assume that GM is doing this because their own software siphons more data off of our devices than even carplay or andriod auto does. > "GM is looking to monetize more software and services within its vehicles and is taking a page out of Tesla’s playbook," Since they're only doing…

CarPlay and AndroidAuto don’t give the car any access to the phone data and that’s the “problem” GM seems trying to “fix”. CarPlay and AndroidAuto protocols basically treat car’s display as a remote framebuffer.

There's been some controversy about data collection going the other way the Android side. https://www.motortrend.com/features/13-cool-facts-about-the-...

> As part of the agreement an automaker would have to enter with Google, Porsche said certain pieces of data must be collected and transmitted back to Mountain View, California. Stuff like vehicle speed, throttle position, coolant and oil temp, engine revs—basically Google wants a complete OBD2 dump whenever someone activates Android Auto.

> Google, for its part, disputes some of our source's assertions. Liz Markman, a Google spokesperson for Android Auto, said in a statement that Google does not collect some of the data listed by Porsche, such as throttle position and coolant temp. She declined to provide a full list of what data is collected, but emphasized that Android Auto users must opt in to share any information upon their first connection of their phone to a car. She said some of that data is used for safety (restricting typing and allowing only voice input when the car is not in "park," for example) and some is to used to optimize the app's user experience.

So seems like Android Auto requires at least some data from the car, as of 2015. Porsche ended up adding it in 2022, though, so maybe they stopped fighting that battle.

I'm not sure which I want less - the phone company getting data from my car, or the car company getting data from the phone.

Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash

#32

Post by mlsu »

How does this business decision make sense?

A car is a high-margin item, so the impact of even a handful of consumers choosing not to buy must be huge, right? Whereas, they would need to "monetize" (ugh) many many more units to turn back that lost profit.

And as the shakeup due to EVs begins, even loyal consumers will be considering other makes. My girlfriend bought a car recently. CarPlay was not negotiable for her, very high up on the list.

What are they putting in the water over there GM?

Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash

#33

Post by rektide »

mritun wrote: post #19
autoexec wrote: post #3

Personally, I wont ever connect my phone to my car at all (if my next car doesn't have an aux port I'll install one myself), but I have to assume that GM is doing this because their own software siphons more data off of our devices than even carplay or andriod auto does. > "GM is looking to monetize more software and services within its vehicles and is taking a page out of Tesla’s playbook," Since they're only doing…

CarPlay and AndroidAuto don’t give the car any access to the phone data and that’s the “problem” GM seems trying to “fix”. CarPlay and AndroidAuto protocols basically treat car’s display as a remote framebuffer.

Wouldn't it be great if cars would just send the car data out to phones?

People already have a very well configured device hooked up to all kind of extras with them in their pocket. I don't really known what Android Auto or CarPlay offer but my weak understanding is it's mostly a dumb screen & display... Maybe a microphone? If hvac & lighting & other auxiliary systems were also controllable some really pleasant well integrated experiences could be made.

And also the people riding in the back would have a much easier time being able to DJ.

Alas any and all data integrations imply they will almost immediately be used for a the worst ends. The old EU funded Webinos IoT system had a really neat pro-user model, and they had some OK car based demoes too before they closed up. There's just so little places where trust can even start today, & comparatively webinos was such a solid trustful/trustable go.

Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash

#35

Post by MrMetlHed »

travisporter wrote: post #4

Rivian doublding down on this is also a bit disappointing. Not that I can afford one

I haven't truly felt the need for Android Auto or Car play in mine, but then it's my first vehicle in a long time so I'm not married to either. The navigation is mostly okay and I can send locations from my phone to the screen. I can use Alexa to play music from a bunch of sources. I wish they had more internal media applications, but it's fine as a first attempt. Maps seemed to be mostly cached (other than the satellite view) as I can use them offline.

Would I turn down AA/Car play? No. But it's not a need for me. And I'm not even sure how they'd scale to the giant center console and lovely dashboard display.

Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash

#36

Post by FractalParadigm »

majormajor wrote: post #31
mritun wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

CarPlay and AndroidAuto don’t give the car any access to the phone data and that’s the “problem” GM seems trying to “fix”. CarPlay and AndroidAuto protocols basically treat car’s display as a remote framebuffer.

There's been some controversy about data collection going the other way the Android side. https://www.motortrend.com/features/13-cool-facts-about-the-... > As part of the agreement an automaker would have to enter with Google, Porsche said certain pieces of data must be collected and transmitted back to Mountain View, California. Stuff like vehicle speed, throttle position, coolant and oil temp, engine revs—basically…

If that's the case, how are 3rd-party head units allowed to use AA? I know for an absolute fact that mine recieves exactly zero data from the car outside a simple +12v signal that tells the radio to turn on/off. Do aftermarket radios exist that require a CAN connection? If so, how could they even be certain the radio even 'understands' the flavour of CAN being used by the car? How about more modern cars that have their CAN systems near-completely locked down?

Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash

#37

Post by maxerickson »

mlsu wrote: post #32

How does this business decision make sense? A car is a high-margin item, so the impact of even a handful of consumers choosing not to buy must be huge, right? Whereas, they would need to "monetize" (ugh) many many more units to turn back that lost profit. And as the shakeup due to EVs begins, even loyal consumers will be considering other makes. My girlfriend bought a car recently. CarPlay was not negotiable for her,…

They may well be more or less production limited on the EVs (not saying that they are, pointing at the possibility).

If it actually works good people might not care in the medium term. Generally the problem people have with the automaker systems is that they sucked, not that they weren't CarPlay.

Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash

#38

Post by jacobsenscott »

Android auto and car play are both really bad user experiences. They are just better than what most car companies can build, which is a very low bar.

Here's the android auto experience: Take my phone out of my pocket (not that easy when you are already sitting...), turn on bluetooth (I often have it off because it grabs my headphones etc when I don't want it to) and connecting it to usb (where'd the damn cable go? An apple using family member swapped it out for a lightning cable, and tossed the usb c cable in the back, or on the floor...)

Every now and then it won't connect anyway - or the usb cable is defective (it lives on the car floor so it has a short life), or the usb slot in the car (especially a rental) is defective.

A passenger might have a higher priority bluetooth device and it steals the connection.

When I get to my destination I forget my phone in the car because it is in my pocket most of the time - but not if you are going to use android auto!

If GM manages to do as well or better than Tesla on their infotainment system it would be a win. Unlikely for a dinosaur company like GM, but if they are using an android product there's a fighting chance.

Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash

#39

Post by tnel77 »

mlsu wrote: post #32

How does this business decision make sense? A car is a high-margin item, so the impact of even a handful of consumers choosing not to buy must be huge, right? Whereas, they would need to "monetize" (ugh) many many more units to turn back that lost profit. And as the shakeup due to EVs begins, even loyal consumers will be considering other makes. My girlfriend bought a car recently. CarPlay was not negotiable for her,…

I personally love CarPlay. A requirement for my next vehicle is wireless CarPlay, and I will not even begin to consider it if it does not have that. Some people want ventilated seats or a V8. I want CarPlay. I think this is a very silly move by GM that they will quickly reverse.

Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash

#40

Post by oogali »

mlsu wrote: post #32

How does this business decision make sense? A car is a high-margin item, so the impact of even a handful of consumers choosing not to buy must be huge, right? Whereas, they would need to "monetize" (ugh) many many more units to turn back that lost profit. And as the shakeup due to EVs begins, even loyal consumers will be considering other makes. My girlfriend bought a car recently. CarPlay was not negotiable for her,…

Maybe the connected division was one of many potentially decimated by the voluntary buyouts?

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/general-mot...

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