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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

#51

Post by mortenjorck »

irq wrote: post #49
jacobsenscott wrote: post #38

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…

The majority of the problems you listed here are not possible with Wireless Apple CarPlay or Wireless Android Auto, which are the latest incarnations of the product. Adapters exist for many vehicles that don’t support the wireless versions as well. You may want to make sure you’re familiar with the latest incarnation of the two products before you blame them for issues that have been solved.

I even have only wired CarPlay and haven’t had any of the problems more than once or twice. For connection failures, I had to de-lint the Lightning port (easy to forget when you charge wirelessly) and I’ve forgotten the phone in the car when something interrupted my routine.

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

#52

Post by nerdjon »

jacobsenscott wrote: post #38

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…

All of these things feel like things that if you owned a car with either of these systems you would just develop a habit of dealing with.

I don't personally own a car but every time I rent one I know to grab a USB cable and to grab my phone out of my pocket to hook it up. That happens rare enough for it to be a habit for me, I can't imagine that being a serious issue for anyone who owns a car.

Any "hassle" (which I am not convinced actually exists) is outweighed by my music, my voice assistant, maps settings, etc etc etc all being reflected through CarPlay.

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

#53

Post by boringg »

SoftTalker wrote: post #29
CharlesW wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Long-term, this is smart. GM will gain complete control of the software stack… CarPlay (I’m not familiar with Android Auto) doesn’t require that GM cede any control over their software stack. As Wikipedia puts it, it just “enables a car radio or head unit to be a display and a controller for an iOS device”. What GM wants is to charge you $30/month for services, since phones have mostly killed their OnStar cash cow.…

> CarPlay ... just “enables a car radio or head unit to be a display and a controller for an iOS device”. Then why does it demand that Siri be enabled in order to complete the connection?

Did carplay a couple days, no siri requirement. Not sure what you are talking about.

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

#54

Post by leetcrew »

irq wrote: post #49
jacobsenscott wrote: post #38

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…

The majority of the problems you listed here are not possible with Wireless Apple CarPlay or Wireless Android Auto, which are the latest incarnations of the product. Adapters exist for many vehicles that don’t support the wireless versions as well. You may want to make sure you’re familiar with the latest incarnation of the two products before you blame them for issues that have been solved.

the wireless versions bring their own tradeoffs and connection issues. transferring control from one phone to another is not a seamless experience in any vehicle I've been in. automatically connecting to my phone (and locking me out of google maps on the phone) is not desired every single time I turn on my car. I doubt GP would be satisfied with those either. wireless android auto uses a lot of battery, so typically I end up plugging my phone in anyway (although personally, I never end up forgetting the device).

that said, I don't agree that it's a "really bad user experience". it meets or exceeds 95% of my expectations for an infotainment integration, and I trust google to keep it working 5-8 years down the line much more than I trust the software dev team of my car's manufacturer. the only thing that really pisses me off is how google voice assistant uses zero "common sense" when interpreting street addresses and song names. no, I don't want to navigate to a similar street name 1000 miles away. I want to navigate to my parents' house, same as the last 50 times...

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

#55

Post by endperform »

jacobsenscott wrote: post #38

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…

Carplay works without an issue for me.

I get in my car, plug it in, and it's ready to roll. No need to deal with Bluetooth or the like, it just works. I'm fine with plugging a phone in when I get in, rather than having it in my pocket and possibly falling out without me knowing about it.

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

#56

Post by ethbr0 »

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…

This doesn't surprise me. My observation with Google product teams partnering is that they start from the assumption that the price of working with them is whatever data they want.

Pushback = "Fine, we won't do a deal"

Felt like watching railroads negotiate with local government.

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

#57

Post by flatiron »

endperform wrote: post #55
jacobsenscott wrote: post #38

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…

Carplay works without an issue for me. I get in my car, plug it in, and it's ready to roll. No need to deal with Bluetooth or the like, it just works. I'm fine with plugging a phone in when I get in, rather than having it in my pocket and possibly falling out without me knowing about it.

I too like CarPlay and see no need for a wireless version. I like to charge my phone.

My only gripe is there should be an option to turn off Wi-Fi when you plug into the car. Every time I get in the car, start a song, drive away, 30 seconds of silence while it realizes I can’t get to my Wi-Fi, song is back on. Why would they not have an option to just use cellular in CarPlay mode which is what 99.9% of people do?

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

#58

Post by kube-system »

tnel77 wrote: post #39
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.

After having wireless CarPlay, not sure I can ever go back. It’s really nice to get in the car and just go, and everything from my phone is automatically on the dash and controllable with the car’s native controls.

The last thing I want is for my car to be another device with its own subscription, accounts, applications, configuration, etc.

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

#59

Post by vineyardmike »

maxerickson wrote: post #37
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.

Yea except now that CarPlay exists, my definition of “not sucks” includes working flawlessly with my iPhone. Obviously apple ensured that the only way this could succeed is through CarPlay, but that’s not my fight, it’s GMs.

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

#60

Post by ashconnor »

tnel77 wrote: post #39
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.

CarPlay is also a requirement for me. Wireless not so much. The adapters are pretty good these days.
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