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GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

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Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#291

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you use Bluetooth to play YouTube music? It sounds like it wouldn't be a great experience, since YouTube probably has features that Bluetooth doesn't support. But does it at least solve the main part of the problem, or does that somehow not work? (I have a podcast app that I sometimes play through Bluetooth when I can't connect via Android Auto. The Bluetooth version is less good, but it does let me listen even…

Yeah, bluetooth for things like YouTube music works fine, but it's not as streamlined - e.g. you have to do searching on the phone.

And that’s what you’ll get with the new GM EVs.

Use their system or use Bluetooth like it’s 2004.

That’s not a great choice, even if their system is great.

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#292
post #12

I don't want my car to team up with anyone, please. I don't want an already-outdated LCD screen and proprietary operating system in there becoming obsolete even faster than the battery wears out. I wish there were better options for that.

I agree. I wish there were bare-bare-bones options with a radio and ac/heat. I will use my phone otherwise.

That's hot it is with my Fit. No touch screens or syncing with apps or any of that. I stick my phone in the holder, plug in power if I'll be driving for a while, and switch the stereo to aux/bluetooth.

I've had rentals with Carplay/Android Auto and they're kinda neat when they aren't a pain in the ass to set up (probably due to the cheap head units' software). But I already see nav and hear directions/music/podcasts/calls through the car's stereo.

I thought about upgrading the head unit from stock, but then I realized I was looking at a few hundred bucks at least. I don't spend enough time in my car to need a slightly bigger screen when I already have one right in front of me, sitting in its mount.

Not as if I'd rip the thing out if I got a car with Carplay/AA built=in. I just don't see it as a huge selling point.

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#294

Wow ditching both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to target $20 billion to $25 billion in subscription revenue. GM showing itself to be actively user hostile with this. Owners will be paying an extra subscription cost for these apps to be in their car which are already on their phone. Google Maps subscription free in these GM EVs only for the first 8 years. Then you pay a subscription with recurring billing. These veh…

GM’s CEO is delusional.

With dealer lots full of new vehicle inventory, she is choosing to lay off employees and shut down production instead of make reasonable price cuts.

And to double down on that delusion, she said that GM was “…poised to capture any upside in the market in 2023.”

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Bolt is the best EV in its price range (<30K)

Completely anecdotal, but I know far more people owning the Nissan Leaf, and they're about as obsessive about their Leafs (Leaves?) as Tesla owners.

I have a LEAF and generally very much like it. The massive Achilles heel of my car is the 24kWh battery, which is slightly annoying about once a month and seriously annoying about 4x per year.

Any Bolt is a better car hands-down on battery capacity alone.

On the infotainment topic: I have the top-spec LEAF for my year and the (upgraded) infotainment unit is hot garbage, easily bested by the $175 Android touchscreen I put in my wife's car.

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#297
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to mention, isn’t CarPlay just an interface for the phone to be able to connect to so the screen can display the software operating on the phone? Near zero cost to GM, tons of convenience for GM’s customers. I can only imagine GM wants customers’ data or subscription fees, and Apple will not allow that. And this is a business that got bailed out by US taxpayers, and is explicitly too big to fail.

It’s a cost to GM because they can’t nickel and dime their customers with subscription fees if customers can use the phone service they already have.

Weird how the inability to gouge is now seen as a "cost".

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#298

I’ll remain open minded about this, but it seems unwise to go all-in with android and abandon Apple for even the most expensive cars. Are people who buy Cadillacs (who probably own iPhones) not going to mind not having CarPlay? Or will they buy a BMW or Mercedes instead? When you’re dropping $75k on a car, you expect it not to have any compromises.

They're not going all-in with Android or abandoning Apple, they're phasing out both CarPlay AND Android Auto in favor of something entirely new (that just so happens to be built by Google).

This is that problem of Google branding.

They’re dropping Android Auto, the CarPlay equivalent.

They’re switching to Android Auto, the infotainment OS. Or is that Android Automotive? Or Android for Autos? Or Android Auto(motive?) OS, which is AAOS. Or something based on Android Open Source for cars or maybe Android Auto Open Source?

Which is not AOSP. Or Android. But kind of is.

I’m not in the Android world but I’m never sure what to call the car Android thing as opposed to the phone Android thing for use in cars.

Using Android Auto with your Android based auto. Sigh.

I give up. I’m going to go watch Apple TV on my Apple TV through the Apple made TV app.

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#299

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ”GM will absolutely lose this battle. Idiotic move.” I dunno. Lack of CarPlay support has not exactly stopped people buying Teslas. On the other hand, Polestar uses Google’s Automotive OS for it’s infotainment system and yet also supports CarPlay. So the two aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.

Lack of CarPlay support has not exactly stopped people buying Teslas. Oh, it absolutely does. I bought TSLA when it was in the double digits, and I bought lots of it (and long since sold it all). Despite scooping up capital gains with a backhoe, my wife and I never considered a Tesla simply because it didn't have CarPlay. As it applies to any car maker, CarPlay/Android Auto seems like an easy win, and if the company…

Tesla is probably an edge-case. Tesla's navigation has excellent support for Superchargers and even pre-conditions your battery a few minutes before you arrive at the charger for more efficient charging.

There are ways to run CarPlay in the browser, and it works fine (plenty of videos about it), but it isn't enough of a value-add for people to want it.

Re: GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

#300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in that being an absolute requirement for a car purchase. I guess it's not surprising that GM is making another stupid move though.

> I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in that being an absolute requirement for a car purchase. My issue is that my #1 requirement (no functionality that requires a touchscreen to use) basically pre-empts me from having any other requirements.

Mazda may come close. They have the control knob in the center.

I agree no touchscreen for AC/volume knob and some other things, but zero touchscreen at all (even for radio and menu) seems out there. Time to get a 2001 Cherokee.

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