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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

#41

Post by Waterluvian »

Detaching the entertainment system from the car and making it just a dumb touchscreen and speakers must have really grinded the gears of auto makers.

I can now upgrade my entire entertainment system, GPS, phone, etc. by replacing a phone. They’d prefer you get another car when your system is feeling old.

I don’t even understand why my 2020 car had an optional GPS add-on for thousands of dollars.

Android Auto / CarPlay is one of my favourite evolutions in cars. It could have gone so much worse for the consumer.

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

#42

Post by cced »

mlsu wrote: post #32

How does this business decision make sense? A car is a high-margin item, so the impact of even a handful of consumers choosing not to buy must be huge, right? Whereas, they would need to "monetize" (ugh) many many more units to turn back that lost profit. And as the shakeup due to EVs begins, even loyal consumers will be considering other makes. My girlfriend bought a car recently. CarPlay was not negotiable for her,…

Probably a joke of _poor taste_ but my guess is lead.

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

#43

Post by Gigachad »

autoexec wrote: post #3

Personally, I wont ever connect my phone to my car at all (if my next car doesn't have an aux port I'll install one myself), but I have to assume that GM is doing this because their own software siphons more data off of our devices than even carplay or andriod auto does. > "GM is looking to monetize more software and services within its vehicles and is taking a page out of Tesla’s playbook," Since they're only doing…

My assumption is they are doing this because they don’t want to hand over control over the final experience to tech companies who will build a moat and lock them out.

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

#44

Post by macintux »

jeremy_wiebe wrote: post #34

I haven’t looked into this for a long time but is the aftermarket head unit market still thriving? Seems like there’ll be lots of plays for folks like Alpine to cater to all the frustrated folks whose factory unit is trash.

Infotainment systems are increasingly inseparable from the car, with vital controls moving into them. Not sure how an aftermarket head unit can compete.

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

#46

Post by MBCook »

SoftTalker wrote: post #29
CharlesW wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Long-term, this is smart. GM will gain complete control of the software stack… CarPlay (I’m not familiar with Android Auto) doesn’t require that GM cede any control over their software stack. As Wikipedia puts it, it just “enables a car radio or head unit to be a display and a controller for an iOS device”. What GM wants is to charge you $30/month for services, since phones have mostly killed their OnStar cash cow.…

> CarPlay ... just “enables a car radio or head unit to be a display and a controller for an iOS device”. Then why does it demand that Siri be enabled in order to complete the connection?

At least in some markets (I think Japan may be one) there are laws mandating interaction via voice after a very small number of taps to prevent drivers from constantly looking at and poking at the screen.

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

#47

Post by userbinator »

Waterluvian wrote: post #41

Detaching the entertainment system from the car and making it just a dumb touchscreen and speakers must have really grinded the gears of auto makers. I can now upgrade my entire entertainment system, GPS, phone, etc. by replacing a phone. They’d prefer you get another car when your system is feeling old. I don’t even understand why my 2020 car had an optional GPS add-on for thousands of dollars. Android Auto / CarPla…

had an optional GPS add-on for thousands of dollars

I guess it's for people who don't know better.

Even a standalone GPS won't cost that much, and as a bonus, you can take it with you.

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

#48

Post by majormajor »

FractalParadigm wrote: post #36
majormajor wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's been some controversy about data collection going the other way the Android side. https://www.motortrend.com/features/13-cool-facts-about-the-... > As part of the agreement an automaker would have to enter with Google, Porsche said certain pieces of data must be collected and transmitted back to Mountain View, California. Stuff like vehicle speed, throttle position, coolant and oil temp, engine revs—basically…

If that's the case, how are 3rd-party head units allowed to use AA? I know for an absolute fact that mine recieves exactly zero data from the car outside a simple +12v signal that tells the radio to turn on/off. Do aftermarket radios exist that require a CAN connection? If so, how could they even be certain the radio even 'understands' the flavour of CAN being used by the car? How about more modern cars that have the…

I would imagine that Google's negotiations with, say, Pioneer are different than theirs with GM.

If Google (or Apple) thinks that having it onboard is gonna be worth some data sharing, or whatever else they want, to the manufacturer they're gonna push for that even if they have different terms for aftermarket equipment. "Just buy an aftermarket radio" isn't really a good marketing campaign for an auto manufacturer to make up for a lack of the integration, after all.

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

#49

Post by irq »

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…

The majority of the problems you listed here are not possible with Wireless Apple CarPlay or Wireless Android Auto, which are the latest incarnations of the product. Adapters exist for many vehicles that don’t support the wireless versions as well.

You may want to make sure you’re familiar with the latest incarnation of the two products before you blame them for issues that have been solved.

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

#50

Post by beardedscotsman »

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…

So entirely different experience for me. So 5 years ago I travel to California. Out of all the cars I picked a crappy GM car when there were better cars to pick from the rental lot, why, because I had my iPhone with navigation.

Every time I rented cars since I would always make sure it had apple CarPlay so I could drive any with a familiar experience.

Now today, my car has wireless CarPlay. My experience goes like this, I get in my car, turn it on, my head unit loads apple CarPlay instantly and I have Waze running which I like for speed camera notifications on new roads and my music and playlists instantly accessible.

It’s seamless, instant and I don’t touch my phone it stays in my pocket.

I would never consider a car with out either android auto or CarPlay. It’s mandatory for me and yes I miss out of heads up display of directions, but then I don’t have to pay an additional subscription to traffic info, or pay an update fee for new maps.

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