How Apple and Google are taking over car infotainment

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › How Apple and Google are taking over car infotainment

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20141 posts

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#2064415 29-Jul-2018 00:15

What would people be prepared to pay for this 'upgrade' ? It does sort of suck if you have to plug the phone in, as currently via the existing system it will connect wirelessly via bluetooth, and allow some music control. So not sure it adds enough for me to pay much for it.

alasta

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#2064442 29-Jul-2018 09:09

I wouldn’t pay more than $300 to retrofit it to my car. Otherwise I will wait until it is up for replacement in another year and a half and then hopefully there will be some more vehicles on the market with wireless CarPlay.

htbrst

17 posts

Geek

#2064463 29-Jul-2018 10:58

mattwnz:

What would people be prepared to pay for this 'upgrade' ? It does sort of suck if you have to plug the phone in, as currently via the existing system it will connect wirelessly via bluetooth, and allow some music control.

Bluetooth music and controls remains, you are just not interacting via carplay - so the steering wheel controls for next song/volume etc still work.

I obviously have an iPhone connected to ours - some little things not noted above:

- The quality of apps varies - it would be nice if Spotify for instance showed album artwork properly, at the moment its there but completely obscured. Otherwise i may as well just be connecting via bluetooth

- Apple maps displays the step-by-step directions on the connected Iphone which can be useful at times

- The steering wheel button to activate Siri is really useful, vs needing to find phone or get Siri to activate via voice control.

- For carplay Siri needs to be activated. My wife dislikes Siri so its turned off on her phone, so she can't use the carplay in my car.

Peppery

919 posts

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#2064509 29-Jul-2018 12:22

I recently retrofitted my 2011 Golf with a CarPlay compatible unit for around $200NZ. CarPlay is very basic currently, but absolutely worth it. Looking forward to iOS 12 improving it.

dafman

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#2064595 29-Jul-2018 14:33

I test drove a CX5 a couple of months ago and was surprised that it didn't offer android auto or apple carplay. The salesman winced when I asked and tried to tell me that Mazda's proprietary infortainment system is superior - but I could immediately tell he knew Mazda were at a disadvantage to others. I finished up buying an Outback which has both apple and android. I use android auto and it is outstanding - the voice control is great for messaging, navigation and streaming.

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

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#2064597 29-Jul-2018 14:40

DarthKermit:

Stuff article

What do you guys think of this?

I know what I think of it. Luckily this kind of thing is optional to use.

I don't have it, but the advantage is that you can operate your phone while driving (within limits). You may not hold your phone while driving but the law is you may press buttons on your car while driving so if you want to make call, enter an address into google navigation etc you can legally do this if you use the screen on your car.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#2065575 31-Jul-2018 12:02

"Even so, Mazda NZ - one of the car industry's star performers over the past three years - says the absence of this functionality has never seemed to cost it sales"

Cost one CX9 sale here! Mazda announced carplay march last year i think. Still don't have it! And, who knows when they will start retrofitting, mazda aren't exactly moving quickly.

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kiwijunglist

2981 posts

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#2065576 31-Jul-2018 12:11

I looked at a new nz Honda jazz, crossed it off the list as it didn't have Android Auto.

We might buy a 2010-2015 Japanese import. Does anyone know which compact 4 door Japanese hatches come with Android Auto. We are very keen on getting a car with Android Auto would be nice to not have the gamble of trying to retrofit a device. Itd be nice if the car had stereo wheel control of Android Auto and steering wheel voice activation button.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

xontech

268 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2065597 31-Jul-2018 12:53

kiwijunglist: I looked at a new nz Honda jazz, crossed it off the list as it didn't have Android Auto.

That's a shame, we bought a 2016 Jazz RS a year ago and it had a Pioneer unit fitted by Newmarket Honda that does Carplay/Andoid Auto. In fact they offered it as an option to any Jazz, they had a stand in the showroom specifically for the various Pioneer units they were offering. Maybe they have stopped offering them......

FYI http://www.pioneernz.co.nz/products/AVH-X8850BT

wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek

#2065599 31-Jul-2018 12:54

I'm not going to be in the market for a new car for probably a long time, but it's still frustrating how expensive the aftermarket headunits that support Android Auto are.

Don't seem to see anything under $600ish. I guess they will only get cheaper, but it seems to be taking a lot longer than I'd expect.

NzBeagle

961 posts

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#2065600 31-Jul-2018 12:55

wratterus:

I'm not going to be in the market for a new car for probably a long time, but it's still frustrating how expensive the aftermarket headunits that support Android Auto are.

Don't seem to see anything under $600ish. I guess they will only get cheaper, but it seems to be taking a lot longer than I'd expect.

This! When all they add is mirror functionality!

dafman

3925 posts

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#2065840 31-Jul-2018 19:03

surfisup1000:

"Even so, Mazda NZ - one of the car industry's star performers over the past three years - says the absence of this functionality has never seemed to cost it sales"

Cost one CX9 sale here! Mazda announced carplay march last year i think. Still don't have it! And, who knows when they will start retrofitting, mazda aren't exactly moving quickly.

Ditto, I ruled out the CX5 immediately on hearing it didn't have android auto.

dafman

3925 posts

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#2065843 31-Jul-2018 19:24

Prior to purchasing the Outback with factory Android auto, I had tried Android Auto using my phone in a car holder on the dashboard connected via bluetooth, but gave up as the experience was average at best.

The shift to factory fitted Android is light and day. I can't rate it more highly now.

mudguard

2113 posts

Uber Geek

#2065931 31-Jul-2018 22:05

Honestly, I drive nearly 60,000km a year in various cars and the Apple/Android thing is the least of my concerns. I suppose given I drive all over the place I don't have to look at maps that often. If I do, I have a phone, and a dock that I stick to the windscreen of the rentals. As long as the car supports Bluetooth then I'm happy.

I wouldn't base buying a car on this criteria. I wouldn't buy a car if the audio was poor though. I spend too much time in the car to listen to crappy music. Holden is the worst culprit, Malibu, Cruz, Commodore, Captiva. Ugh.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#2065981 1-Aug-2018 06:32

I do similar K's, in my car and rentals and I will agree - Holden's are the single worst keys to be handed when you roll through the airport rental booth...

'We've upgraded you, sir' is a full on lie when there's a Cruz awaiting you in the parking lot!

Also, please stop 'upgrading' me to a bigger car in Wellington, the large 4WD's are a pain in the butt to park under hotels in that city.

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