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

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371–380 of 438 posts

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

#371
post #18

If this was actually about safety they would just get rid of the touch screen entirely. You really don't even need a display at all anymore, HUD + physical controls could cover all essential functions.

I'm probably in the minority of the minority, but I don't want a touch screen in my car. Or even any big LCD screen in my car. I would prefer my car to be relatively dumb, and free of distractions where possible.

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

#372
post #355
post #354

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Finally Android Auto and CarPlay gave everyone what they wanted Bzzt. What I want is what I have: there's a $10 bluetooth receiver hooked to the car audio input jack, and a $10 phone holder on top of the dash, and a $10 USB charger plugged into the 12V. If phones routinely came with headphone jacks, I could skip the bluetooth intermediate. So: when I start the car, whatever phone I have paired reconnects with the b…

That’s Android Auto/Carplay, except it uses WiFi or USB, for a better connection.

Better connection is not my experience.

In long trips, the car starts to loose the connection to the phone, even if connected by USB cable. Looks like a memory leak crashing the system. And no, I don't want to stop the car just to restart display of Google Maps on the car display: baby is sleeping, stopping is not an option.

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

#373
post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife's car, a Tesla, gets updates more often than my phone, a Samsung.

You compared the most updated infotainment system to the least updated phone. For most people it’s something like Ford vs iPhone or Chevy vs iphone

Tesla's from 2012 are still receiving updates. Not even Apple is still updating phones from 2012.

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

#374

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…

> 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. I am convinced all of these things are unsafe. I refuse to take calls when driving over bluetooth; distracting yourself with a conversation when you're supposed to be driving is reckless and I think this is doubly true when it's a phone conversat…

If you have someone in the car with you do you tell them to be silent?

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

#375

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.

I was sort of convinced by this argument, theoretically, until I actually experienced the alternative. I've had a Toyota for four years now with all physical switches, but the complexity and number of controls is absolutely mind bogging large. I can't operate these physical switches without looking at inscrutable, small labels in awkward places. A centralized screen which allows clear view of the road at the same tim…

I dunno, my 18 year old Honda (and wife's Toyota of same age) is pretty much all physical switches (and that's not counting all the cars I've driven since the late 80s). Outside of the occasional manufacturer idiosyncrasies, my Honda's controls pretty much behave the same way that all my prior cars did too.

Yes, there are a lot, but I only use a handful of them at any given time. They work predictably, without any random lags related to CPU load or any other weird stuff that could be related to running a -large- complex operating system. Everything just works, and all the time. -- edit: might want to add that they don't need software upgrades either

I would prefer that over a touchscreen any day.

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

#376
post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Turns out doing it better influences people's preferences. The problem is fundamentally that the carmakers do such a shit job. If infotainment systems matter at all to consumers, we'd expect to see GM take a hit for this, and get their market share eaten by competitors who don't do so.

> we'd expect to see GM take a hit for this, and get their market share eaten by competitors who don't do so. I think there’s a better chance of this happening than they believe. I bought a new Camry in 2017, right at the start of their 4 year upgrade cycle (i.e., the 2018 version). I chose a Camry due to their well-known reliability. However, none of the new vehicle models that Toyota sold had CarPlay at that point,…

Same. Longtime Toyota owner who keeps cars for around 10 years. When Toyota didn't offer carplay, there was no way I was gonna live in the 'oldentimes' for another decade and I chose a VW with carplay.

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

#377

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. I am convinced all of these things are unsafe. I refuse to take calls when driving over bluetooth; distracting yourself with a conversation when you're supposed to be driving is reckless and I think this is doubly true when it's a phone conversat…

If you have someone in the car with you do you tell them to be silent?

If they don't watch the road and know when to be, yes. If they're talking when it's safe to that is okay.

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

#378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an observation point - I drive a company car (a BMW) and will be looking for a new car next year. I would not even considers Volvo until they support wireless CarPlay. GM must very much believe in appeal of their car to piss off android and iOS users simultaneously.

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.

Didn't know these adapters were a thing! Just went to amazon and snagged one for $25.

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

#379

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that really a security issue, though? If someone has access to your center console, they have access to your car. If someone has access to your car, they can cut your brake lines or do a million other things that are impossible to defend against.

The concern is that the attack could be carried out remotely. https://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-hig... is one such example (might be the one GP is referring to).

I agree that is a serious concern, then. I thought it sounded like voting machine hacking where the dramatic headlines are hiding the fact that the hackers had physical access to the machine.

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

#380
post #354

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…

> Finally Android Auto and CarPlay gave everyone what they wanted Bzzt. What I want is what I have: there's a $10 bluetooth receiver hooked to the car audio input jack, and a $10 phone holder on top of the dash, and a $10 USB charger plugged into the 12V. If phones routinely came with headphone jacks, I could skip the bluetooth intermediate. So: when I start the car, whatever phone I have paired reconnects with the b…

I still have a drawer full of phone holders and bluetooth receivers that I used in my previous car with a "dumb" radio. All of the holders were annoyingly rattling when driving over potholes and finicky to insert or remove the phone. From all the bluetooth receivers I tried (3 of them), none of them had a decent microphone, which meant making phone calls a no go, and the first 2 of them had poor power filtering resulting in a high-pitched hum (I suppose it was from the alternator).

Now I have a car with wireless Android Auto and when I start the car I immediately get a google maps view without having to search for the app, including two recommended destinations (usually places I go to frequently, or the last searched place on Gmaps). The whole interface is easier to use while driving, because of the limited feature-set and larger screen than on the phone itself. Same story with calling, it just works - I can answer calls from the buttons on the steering wheel and the mic is decent and in the right place.

Can we stop pretending that every innovation since 2010 is evil? I get it that it locks in you in Google's/Apple's ecosystems, but their solution is simply working well. For me the alternatives don't cut it, and I believe that their shoddy practices (data collection, monopoly etc.) should be fought with legislation and not by refusing to use their stuff on principle.

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