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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

#221

Post by philsnow »

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…

> turn on bluetooth (I often have it off because it grabs my headphones etc when I don't want it to)

Why would you turn on bluetooth? Haven't we all been collectively griping about every iteration of bluetooth for the last couple decades?? I do leave bluetooth on on my iphone (because I've gotten rid of peripherals that don't play nicely) but have bluetooth disabled in my cars. My Honda pops up an useless modal if your phone is paired with bluetooth and then you plug in the lightning cable for CarPlay, something about "HEY I'M DISCONNECTING FROM BLUETOOTH ".

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

This is also why I wish I could disable wireless CarPlay in my one car that supports it; I want only the phone that's plugged in to be doing CarPlay.

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

#222

Post by sokoloff »

Mesopropithecus wrote: post #212
scarface74 wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is a car a “high margin” item when GMs profit margin was less than 5% last year?

The raw margin (per unit) can be high even when the manufacturer is a poorly run company.

It can be, but it’s not in the case of commodity auto makers. GM’s gross profit margin was a little under 14% for the quarter ending Dec 2022.

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

#223

Post by mfuzzey »

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…

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

I have the opposite problem on Android auto.

When I connect my phone (by USB cable) and start Android auto for navigation it also wants to use my phone for music too. The problem is that my daughter doesn't like my music and I haven't found a way of using navigation from my phone together with music from hers...

I generally end up using the built in navigator rather than my phone (which isn't as good as Google maps) to let my daughter control the music over bluetooth.

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

#224

Post by bagels »

jterrys wrote: post #170
explaininjs wrote: post #161

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)

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…

Don't buy a GM, onstar has been around for decades now.

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

#225

Post by margorczynski »

goodluckchuck wrote: post #175
the_mar wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Car is a low margin item. SaaS is a high margin item

Yes, from what I’ve seen, Ford sells their vehicles at cost and uses that line of business as a funnel to generates profits from via financing. Some higher trim models have a decent margin, but many lower trims are sold at a loss, resulting in essentially no profit from manufacturing. Moreover, EVs are shaping up to be a financial disaster for carmakers. Tesla is essentially the only company to turn a profit on EVs,…

Tesla has premium/luxury pricing and the clout. I'm not sure if your "average Joe" brand of car can make EVs work in their current state. There's a limit how much someone will pay for a Toyota or a Ford, less so for a Tesla or BMW.

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

#226

Post by bborud »

Ideally, my car would look like a BT speaker, possibly with a microphone and some controls, to the phone. I don't want a dedicated satnav, I don't want an elaborate in-car entertainment system. The reason is twofold. The first is that all of these in-car systems are pretty dated even after a couple of years. The second is that they tend to be fairly low quality to begin with.

The system in my car that integrates with the phone is a piece of junk. Not only is the microphone system completely useless and the connection procedure so badly implemented it'll fail regularly, but I've recently learned that the system in my car tends to break after a few years. Which has happened in my car. Which makes one of the car's ECUs confused so my dashboard now has a flashing indicator that isn't going to go away until I've spent a pile of cash to either replace the system or rip it out in a manner that isn't documented or supported.

The only thing I want in a car is the simplest for of integration possible, preferably using components I can rip out and replace with something better and a system for mounting my phone without having to buy all manner of silly dodads.

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

#227

Post by sokoloff »

newjersey wrote: post #220
Operyl wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eh, I frequently switch. I just do it while I wait for the AC to kick in, not a huge deal.

I have a much older car from 2007 so no Android Auto or Apple Carplay for me but I thought I was supposed to sit there after I start my car for at least half a minute? Maybe not needed for newer cars? I start the car and wait for the dashcam to chime. I start driving once it chimes. I have an older Aukey, not hard wired, so it takes about half a minute for it to chime which I thought was perfect timing.

Assuming temps over -20°C and a car newer than 30 years, I think you’re fine to drive away as soon as the engine is stable after starting. That’s probably well under 5 seconds and, unless you’re trying to do an old LeMans race start, isn’t something that I’d consciously wait for.

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

#228

Post by sokoloff »

mgiampapa wrote: post #151
barbariangrunge wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of dealerships make more money on service than on sales. Extra money from subscriptions aren’t nothing when looked at like that. Average car service costs are what, 500-700/year over a long span of years?

EVs are turning the service business on their head. It looks like the only real service on the Bolt is tire rotations and a cabin air filter change for example.

I have a Nissan LEAF. In 8.5 years, my expenses have included replacing wiper blades twice, cabin air filter twice, filling the washer fluid bottle several times and I’ve looked at the tires and brakes, rotating tires once.

It’s been crazy nice. (As the family wrench-turner, even my wife’s CR-V, which is generally low maintenance, has felt like an inconvenient pig for maintenance demands by comparison.)

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

#230

Post by dgacmu »

shrx wrote: post #194
spockz wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The batteries used in phones degrade quickest below 20% and above 80% of charge. This is already at room temperature. When the batteries or phone is hot the degradation at those state of charge (SoC) is even worse. In the car when using CarPlay the phone can get really warm, especially if it is in the sunlight which tends to happen easily. When left in the shade it gets hot due to restricted airflow. Therefore I woul…

Aren't there some internal safeguards already in place to prevent overcharging?

100% isn't over-charging. It's just not the GP's preferred spot on the battery energy (hours of charge) vs battery lifetime (days/years) curve for daily use.

I do wish phones would provide more control here. I would also take 80% charge many (but not all) days in exchange for my battery life after a year staying higher.

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