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GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

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Re: GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

#101

Post by mulmen »

dreamcompiler wrote: post #20
ungamedplayer wrote: post #4

Call it what it is.. they like the control of their in car entertainment systems and they don't want external companies taking that part of the pie. It's okay gm, we understand. Let's hope you are able to make a compelling competition to this, otherwise your sales will suffer. Traditional car software is very very poor for whatever reason. I don't think that car manufacturers have the mindset and capability to make e…

I expect they don't want to pay what great software engineers cost, and even if they did, most such engineers probably wouldn't want to put up with GM's bureaucracy. It's probably kinda the same story with great mechanical and industrial engineers, which is why approximately nobody finds GM cars exciting.

A friend of mine has a 2022 Cadillac something. I was actually very impressed with it. Comfortable, quiet, no-nonsense self-driving capability. Seemed like a fine car. If GM can build similar no-nonsense infotainment software they will be fine.

Re: GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

#102

Post by szundi »

andsoitis wrote: post #98
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tesla is the exception here: they seem to have mastered making a car software experience that doesn’t suck, and they don’t even support CarPlay. But Tesla is a tech/software company that happens to make cars (of dubious build quality), I don’t think conventional automakers can replicate that.

Tesla software experience far outshines CarPlay and Android Auto.

In those specific usecases that it implements.

Also navigation makes idiotic moves lately.

Re: GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

#103

Post by polski-g »

conk wrote: post #41

“Essentially, the thinking is that if a car’s in-built infotainment system is good enough, drivers will be less likely to use their phone for what they’re trying to do while they’re behind the wheel” If the car company makes me pay for another subscription to get Nav data or stream music then by default the infotainment system is not good enough. I’m tired of companies thinking just because I bought their product I’m…

You should write to your federal and state legislators to have subscription software banned in automobiles.

Re: GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

#104

Post by drdaeman »

brandonagr2 wrote: post #68
mgarfias wrote: post #16

you know whats unsafe? Getting rid of physical buttons and putting everything on a touch screen with no tactile feedback and constantly changing the position of things - looking at you tesla. All things considered though: im not likely to buy any new car. I'd rather buy an old and busted early 70s boat, and stuff in modern running gear.

Maybe you missed them, but there are actually physical buttons in a Tesla, I use the tactile physical buttons constantly, the scroll wheels to control volume / audio and cruise. The other common buttons are turn signals which are under your left thumb and have tactile feedback. What other buttons are you pushing constantly?

IIRC, AC controls are only available through the touchscreen, not through any physical dials or buttons.

(In my Honda, I operate AC by touch - I remember the physical button layout for the essentials like rear window heating, and the knobs have a grove that can be read by fingers without looking).

Re: GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

#105

Post by mulmen »

Rayhem wrote: post #93
jimmaswell wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't take much more than not going for the cheapest offshore team possible to make better car media center code than we get. I'm sure most of us could easily do it ourselves in a month or less. It seems like such a simple problem. Play songs and interface with some controls/radio receiver/etc while being at least a tiny bit conscious of efficiency.

This is an incredibly myopic take bordering on arrogance. The infotainment system of a vehicle needs (as in, is mandated) to be as safety compliant as the rest of the vehicle's software so your steering doesn't lock out when the display crashes. Writing software for safety critical systems is not a task most developers are familiar with.

Uh, what? If my infotainment system is capable of influencing my steering or any safety-critical function then malpractice has been committed. Infotainment needs only read (one-way) capability on the vehicle.

Re: GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

#106

Post by blcArmadillo »

Rayhem wrote: post #93
jimmaswell wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It doesn't take much more than not going for the cheapest offshore team possible to make better car media center code than we get. I'm sure most of us could easily do it ourselves in a month or less. It seems like such a simple problem. Play songs and interface with some controls/radio receiver/etc while being at least a tiny bit conscious of efficiency.

This is an incredibly myopic take bordering on arrogance. The infotainment system of a vehicle needs (as in, is mandated) to be as safety compliant as the rest of the vehicle's software so your steering doesn't lock out when the display crashes. Writing software for safety critical systems is not a task most developers are familiar with.

This is not correct. The main infotainment system is not considered safety critical. There are some functions such as rear view camera that are but often this is handled by a real time os that overlays the video on top of the infotainment output. The infotainment system crashing will not take down your steering or braking.

Re: GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

#107

Post by justrealist »

mullingitover wrote: post #56
dreamcompiler wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In almost every car I turn the screen as close to off as possible and just use my phone for navigation and music. The Tesla is the only exception: Their software is good enough to use rather than automatically ignore.

Ehh, hard disagree. I rented a Tesla for a few days. I didn't have time to spend an hour learning their UX before driving off in it, and I expected the Coca Cola of EVs to have intuitive controls. Huge mistake , I came away with the impression that Teslas are designed by people who don't actually drive cars, and I was thrilled to get back to Carplay and sane Honda ergonomics.

I don't want to be rude but if Tesla UX is not intuitive to you, you are not safe to navigate a motor vehicle.

Re: GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

#108

Post by evanelias »

AmVess wrote: post #81
evanelias wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My GM-made car does indeed have connectivity issues with CarPlay at least a few times a month. Turning my phone's Bluetooth off and on again fixes it, which makes me wonder if the problem really is on the phone side. On the other hand, it happens more often when switching between a built-in car app (like the 360 cameras app) and the Carplay app, which probably implicates the car's software more? In any case, it is pr…

That is a GM problem. I've never had Carplay connectivity issues across 4 different brands.

I probably should have mentioned that my phone is over 6 years old, which may or may not be a factor.

Absolutely could be entirely a GM problem though. I haven't been too happy with the car lately, and don't think I would buy a GM vehicle again.

Re: GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

#109

Post by nneonneo »

We had narrowed down our car choice to one of two vehicles a few years back - and the deciding factor was which one came with CarPlay standard. It's so invaluable for us - navigation is great, voice input is excellent, my wife and I can pick the media we want by plugging in our own phones, etc.

GM is going to lose this fight, I think. Maybe they're hoping that other auto manufacturers will join them in rejecting CarPlay/Android Auto, and I sincerely hope they won't.

Re: GM says it's dropping Apple CarPlay and Android Auto because they're unsafe

#110

Post by dietr1ch »

threatofrain wrote: post #19
ungamedplayer wrote: post #4

Call it what it is.. they like the control of their in car entertainment systems and they don't want external companies taking that part of the pie. It's okay gm, we understand. Let's hope you are able to make a compelling competition to this, otherwise your sales will suffer. Traditional car software is very very poor for whatever reason. I don't think that car manufacturers have the mindset and capability to make e…

Unfortunately consumers don't really punish companies for doing these kinds of things, at least I presume that's the story since high-end cars often have very shitty in-car computer experiences, like BMW or Porsche.

I'm guessing that when buying a car most people can't afford to be picky with the infotainment system and will prioritize buying a better car over infotainment quality.

Worst-case scenario these days is not too bad either, you'll get an aux connector or somewhat stable Bluetooth (if you set it up once and avoid doing anything other than play/pause/next). Yeah, from the software engineering point of view it's slow unreliable crap, but as a consumer you have little power to fix things.

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