Anyone else much prefer just mounting your phone on the dash, instead of a separate carplay system? Bonus points if the mount has wireless charging. This way there’s no new UI to learn, and you never are stuck using a subpar carplay-variant UI (looking at you, Gaia)
GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash
161–170 of 395 posts
Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash
#162Earlier quoted context omitted.
Pretty crazy that 5 years ago, many cars went with an offline first approach to maps. You had to manually update the map database every year. I don’t even see that business model ever returning. Companies have figured out there’s way more money in running a map service. Ftr, teslas stream map tiles and if your car loses connectivity, you’re not going to see anything
If you go into data-less areas, you pretty quickly learn to use downloaded maps (from Google Maps or most any other)
But the point is, this is something that used to work out of the box (nav systems came with preloaded offline maps) and now needs extra steps, or doesn’t work at all.
The new online way of doing things is mostly better for most people, but it’s not universally better.
Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash
#163Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would imagine that Google's negotiations with, say, Pioneer are different than theirs with GM. If Google (or Apple) thinks that having it onboard is gonna be worth some data sharing, or whatever else they want, to the manufacturer they're gonna push for that even if they have different terms for aftermarket equipment. "Just buy an aftermarket radio" isn't really a good marketing campaign for an auto manufacturer to…
Well, that and the fact that no manufacturer ships a double-DIN hole in the dash any more, so it's pretty much impossible to get an aftermarket head unit. That said, there was one Chinese Android-based unit that was made for the 3rd-gen Mazda 3, replacement screen on the dash and everything.
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Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash
#164Anyone else much prefer just mounting your phone on the dash, instead of a separate carplay system? Bonus points if the mount has wireless charging. This way there’s no new UI to learn, and you never are stuck using a subpar carplay-variant UI (looking at you, Gaia)
Nope, not here. My phone has a minuscule 6.1" screen, but if you have a regular sized phone, mounting the phone might work.
Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash
#165Detaching the entertainment system from the car and making it just a dumb touchscreen and speakers must have really grinded the gears of auto makers. I can now upgrade my entire entertainment system, GPS, phone, etc. by replacing a phone. They’d prefer you get another car when your system is feeling old. I don’t even understand why my 2020 car had an optional GPS add-on for thousands of dollars. Android Auto / CarPla…
It actually played out differently than I thought. I thought that CarPlay and Android Auto would not be backward compatible with older versions, forcing you to upgrade your car along with your phone.
I'm surprised it didn't work that way. I still don't understand why.
Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash
#166Earlier quoted context omitted.
remember the iphone came out in 2007 - and I'm certain there was a lag before cars even supported phones. By the time some GM phone connect system got through the pipes (several years), we might be carrying AR glasses instead of phones.
Possibly I misremember, but I’m pretty sure hands-free phone calls in cars via Bluetooth were a thing before the iPhone existed. (Looking it up... Yeah, around 2001, apparently.)
But the iphone could play music over bluetooth, and that was something cars ignored for quite some time.
Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash
#167Remember Nokia? They were not greedy Big IT. Instead the defined Bluetooth as standard. The Result? My iPhone can talk with me in my Audi A4 (B8,2008). And even music because refit Bluetooth. And? Because the screen is set back in the center console (luckily no touch) I can place my phone there and use it for navigation. Need for CarPlay? 0 Need for Android Auto? 0 :) Carmakers should tell Apple and Google that they…
I'm very on-board with the phone-in-cradle-plus-bluetooth setup. That said, there is something ergonomically appealing about taking the display that the car designers put in a useful (and usable) place and projecting the phone through that.
Phones in cradles / perched on bits of the dash car sometimes be a bit awkward to interact with or set up (depends on the car though).
Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash
#168Earlier 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…
Oh dear... I never thought it was that bad... Well, one more reason to stick with simple USB or Bluetooth connections for calls and music in cars and never even remotely touch Android Auto or something similar. If it is a piece of hardware, I want to own it. No subscriptions, no phoning home for ehatever reason (as a functional requirement for said hardware or legal reason, well, not much choice here). If someone needs and wants OBD data from my cars, they'll have to plug in I guess. And I don't have any issue with garages doing it for diagnostics. Over the air, through my phone, to Google, just for me to stream music? No way!
All I hope now is, that your plain old Bluetooth connection doesn't do anything like that... If it wasn't for economic reasons (read: dreadfully bad MPG), my 40 year old Range Rover would propably be my daily driver one day, good luck getting tracking data out of that car!
Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash
#169I got my first GM vehicle when I got a Volt Gen2. It is very good and that surprised me as I had always had somewhat negative opinions about GM. I’m starting to shop around for a full EV now and had been interested in the Chevy Blazer and Equinox EVS. With this recent announcement, all that is out the window. I would have been a natural customer for GM but now I’ll be looking at Ford, Hyundai, VW, or any of several o…
I'm in the same boat but GM converted me with the Bolt instead, driving experience and build quality really surprised me. Although, this announcement has completely killed what little brand loyalty the Bolt had began to kindle.
Re: GM’s decision to ditch Apple CarPlay, Android Auto sparks backlash
#170Anyone else much prefer just mounting your phone on the dash, instead of a separate carplay system? Bonus points if the mount has wireless charging. This way there’s no new UI to learn, and you never are stuck using a subpar carplay-variant UI (looking at you, Gaia)
I'm finding myself in the odd position of desiring an older car to not put up with the bullshit. I don't need OnStar, I don't need lane assist, I don't need self driving. I don't need my fucking car to brake for me when it thinks I'm in danger. Just let me drive. Now they're trying to monetize heated seats and connecting my phone. It never ends. I don't need cars as a service. I just need a car.
The joy of seeing car bro gearheads with their LS swaps get humiliated by normies in Teslas wasn't worth it. Take me back.