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

jalopnik.com

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

#281

Post by somerandomqaguy »

alsodumb wrote: post #3

Wait, so they're saying CarPlay and Android Auto are buggy on their cars, most likely because of their errors in getting the mirroring part right, so instead of fixing the issues, they think switching to their in-house system that they will design from scratch, that'll probably have hundreds of bugs, that's most likely gonna suck, is a better option? They could've just said we're out of excuses we just want to make m…

AFAIK GM's new software is going to be based on Automotive Android.

https://source.android.com/docs/automotive/start/what_automo...

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

#282

Post by OJFord »

urbandw311er wrote: post #260
bastard_op wrote: post #156

Automobile companies tried for years to make a decent infotainment system in cars, and almost universally they were all terrible no matter how expensive the vehicle. Finally Android Auto and CarPlay gave everyone what they wanted - decent access to music on their phone, call capabilities that actually work, and program integration with things they actually use with internet service they already have. Then manufacture…

It’s interesting how you correctly identify that this is a massive play for control by Apple and Google, and yet you still seem to sympathise with their position! I can completely understand why vehicle manufacturers are so wary. Just look at the history of how Apple, Google, etc companies have behaved when it comes to “partnerships”. Look at the App Store. Look at what Google did to supposedly open source Android. I…

I don't read GP as sympathising with Apple/Google at all, they just want a nice experience in their car; say that they think they get it from A/G, and that they didn't for years before that from car manufacturers.

i.e. it's not about being a fan of particular brands, it's a self-interested desire for a decent UX/platform.

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

#283

Post by thaumasiotes »

gambiting wrote: post #269
imp0cat wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or just push the button on your steering wheel and use voice control. You (mostly) do not have to touch the screen at all.

>>Or just push the button on your steering wheel and use voice control It's literally the worst way to interact with anything. It's infuriating how bad it is, especially for someone whose first language isn't English. It understands maybe 20% of the commands I give it, and the delay between clicking the button, it doing the "bong" to indicate it's ready, then listening to my command, then it processing and finally gi…

> Not to mention that it's still physically impossible to use voice controls to dial people with non-English names if you have your OS set to English - try saying "Dial Jan Szczepanek" and it will never recognize it, no matter how you pronounce it. If you have OS set to Polish it will work fine, but I cannot be expected to keep switching my OS language!

This is just the modern allergy to allowing user configuration. (God forbid someone use your software to do what they want to do!) The problem was solved in the 90s, when speech-to-text sucked, by letting you define your own words.

https://www.speechrecsolutions.com/tutorials/Customizing_Dra...

Obviously, that solution will still work today.

But you are still allowed to configure your contact information, so there's an obvious solution: instead of calling him Jan Szczepanek, just call him John Stevenson. Everyone wins! ;D

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

#284

Post by gambiting »

lycopodiopsida wrote: post #272
gambiting wrote: post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tbf, I don't know why people get hung up on this, I see this on Volvo forums all the time as well - you can literally get a £50 adapter, leave it plugged in inside your armrest and voila, you have wireless carplay. It literally "just works". Should the car already come with it installed? Yes. Is it a big deal to rectify? No.

I am not buying a 60k EUR worth new car to fiddle with adapters. It is almost 2024, wireless carplay is a figured out thing since years. If they cannot solve it, they will not get my money, it is as simple as that. If anything, customers should punish manufacturers more for such bullsh*t, not less. Because current behavior let them believe they can get away with anything, thus this thread.

>>I am not buying a 60k EUR worth new car to fiddle with adapters.

I mean, that's absolutely fair - I'm just saying that this is such a trivial issue to fix that it's not even worth worrying about(IMHO).

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

#285

Post by tirant »

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.

BMW infotainment system has been considered the bet in the market for a long time. Far from shitty experience.

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

#286

Post by tirant »

pandaman wrote: post #91
threatofrain wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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've tried Android Auto a couple of times and it was much worse than the BMW's iDrive for navigation and for the entertainment. Perhaps different consumers have different preferences?

That’s also my experience. However my wife still prefers to use CarPlay over iDrive, mainly because of access to messaging in WhatsApp (CarPlay reads the messages to you and it’s possible to reply back via voice to text).

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

#287

Post by mngdtt »

epolanski wrote: post #218
bastard_op wrote: post #156

Automobile companies tried for years to make a decent infotainment system in cars, and almost universally they were all terrible no matter how expensive the vehicle. Finally Android Auto and CarPlay gave everyone what they wanted - decent access to music on their phone, call capabilities that actually work, and program integration with things they actually use with internet service they already have. Then manufacture…

I have like the opposite experience...AA and Carplay have always been cause of issues, having to take the phone in my hand while driving, sluggishness.. In fact I feel the opposite you say: car play has been an excuse for some automakers for subpar infotainment. That being said removing it completely is madness, because people like you are millions and want it.

I think you need to upgrade your phone. I have never had these issues with a (more or less recent) iPhone.

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

#288

Post by gruturo »

brandonagr2 wrote: post #61
KerrAvon wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All car infotainment systems are essentially garbage. But BMW and Porsche both have excellent CarPlay support.

The infotainment screen in my Tesla is great. Just the other day I had to drive a relatives car and used google maps navigation on my phone, I was amazed at how subpar google maps navigation is compared to tesla (lacking ability to quickly overview route, missing lane based navigation, screen never auto recenters as you drive)

Both Tesla's navigation system and Google Maps suck, but in different ways. Neither is able to suggest the best routes - Google Maps will try to make me waste 4km and 6 minutes suggesting a crappy route - only to update (showing much improved distance and ETA) when I disregard its guidance and take what road I know is more direct. The Tesla maps are surprisingly better in this regard but they are often completely unaware of traffic or road closures (this is in Germany mind you - maybe in the US they behave better). Also they flood you with useless instructions (keep left to stay on Highway XX. How about you only tell me when it's time to leave the highway, not to remain on it?).

I just look at both in the morning, make my own opinion on what road would be best, then I close them both and use Waze for the alerts.

But for example, if I'm traveling somewhere far away, with charging stops, I _have_ to use the Tesla maps because the car will then start preheating the battery on approach to a charger.

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

#289

Post by tirant »

clipsy wrote: post #69

Genuine question: Are there any auto manufacturers that do a good job of just supporting CarPlay and Android Auto and getting out of the way?

BMW has wireless support for both and even displays navigation instructions in their HUD. I still consider the native infotainment system, iDrive, a much better experience.

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

#290

Post by lycopodiopsida »

gambiting wrote: post #284
lycopodiopsida wrote: post #272

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not buying a 60k EUR worth new car to fiddle with adapters. It is almost 2024, wireless carplay is a figured out thing since years. If they cannot solve it, they will not get my money, it is as simple as that. If anything, customers should punish manufacturers more for such bullsh*t, not less. Because current behavior let them believe they can get away with anything, thus this thread.

>>I am not buying a 60k EUR worth new car to fiddle with adapters. I mean, that's absolutely fair - I'm just saying that this is such a trivial issue to fix that it's not even worth worrying about(IMHO).

I think it is exactly the other way around. My brother was long time working for a big car manufacturer, and citing him "it is quite an achievement these days to make a car which drives genuinely bad". And it is true, especially given the move to EV and that with an increasing age my desire to drive a car past 160 km/h and in sports mode is basically 0.

So, where a car still can collect bonus points is infotainment and interior in general. If you offer some touchscreen-blandness, you have to go down with the price significantly, because I see where money was spared. I use the built-in wireless CarPlay daily, so I expect it to work without occupying myself with fixing Volvo's incompetence.

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