Unless it is upgradeable whatever they put in the car will likely look like a dinosaur in a few years. I wonder if it would not be a better option to make those type of devices somehow upgradeable. Perhaps a module that can be removed and replaced once a newer one comes out. People keep their cars a lot longer than their phones. Imagine if your car system was powered by something like an iPhone 1st gen instead of a 5s.
I don't know if it's safe to consider any of these manufacturers. Apple only supports "n-2 versions" of hardware and iOS software.
Still, I know people who own 20,30,50-year old vehicles, and even someone with a Model-T. How would this Ferrari be valued 50-years after manufacture, if the closed-source systems can't be updated or modified?
Ferrari, Volvo, Merceds-Benz would be better to say "We've decided, at the factory, to weld the spark plugs into our vehicles... Come check it out!"
These vehicles will hold the same value as today's value of an iPhone 3GS, and fast-tracked for depreciation.
BMW's iDrive is crapness raised to the n-th level.
I don't need more than BMW already offers with their nav system. It plays music, takes phone calls, has turn by turn and vehicle status. I don't need any fancy apps because I try to pay attention to the road. Personally, I don't see what iOS really adds to the car infotainment system, but that is just me. I'm not sure how iOS is going to tell me if my air pressure is low, fluids are low or a tail light is out.
I don't know if it's safe to consider any of these manufacturers. Apple only supports "n-2 versions" of hardware and iOS software.
Still, I know people who own 20,30,50-year old vehicles, and even someone with a Model-T. How would this Ferrari be valued 50-years after manufacture, if the closed-source systems can't be updated or modified?
Ferrari, Volvo, Merceds-Benz would be better to say "We've decided, at the factory, to weld the spark plugs into our vehicles... Come check it out!"
These vehicles will hold the same value as today's value of an iPhone 3GS, and fast-tracked for depreciation.
Exotics and semi-exotics are already based on closed systems, both mechanical and electrical - and many associated components are based on OEM patents (so they're effectively closed too). You cannot buy most "common" parts for an antique Jag, Ferrari, Porsche or even a Mercedes at AutoZone or Pep Boys. But the fact that Lucas is no longer in business and Magnetti Marelli no longer produces most out of cycle parts has had no affect on the value of antique Jaguars and Ferraris. No matter what brand of car you buy today, and no matter which infotainment system or OS is in it, in 50 years, sourcing replacement parts will be no harder (or easier) with an Apple OS than an OS from some other OEM.
No where has it been said or even suggested (by anyone who knows the auto industry) that Apple or the auto OEMs are looking to make this any sort of closed system. So I'm not sure why so many people are wringing their hands over this PR release. There are no details. Calm down, folks.
People are focussed on stupid worthless things. Why does it matter to 99% of the world if your car goes above 200 km/h?
It's nice to reach 100km/h in just over 5 seconds and end up in a good buffer zone with no-one else anywhere near you.
Exactly, that's why Tesla has the correct approach. Everything above 200 km/h should be illegal or only sold to professionals when justified.
Again, people have all these ideas of "fun", "feeling", etc. while driving. It isn't. Roads aren't yours. It's not your decision to decide if you go above or bellow X km/h, or if you drift or not. There are limits and rules.
So why selling cars that go above 150 km/h? Autobahn? I remember reading somewhere that the GT-R only unlocks full power/speed when the GPS detects that you are in a circuit. Samse stuff should be applied.
I routinely drive well above 200kmh on the Autobahn, of course, unlike in the USA, in Europe you actually have to know how to drive before getting a license, which is why Americans are scared seeing Europeans drive because they wrongly assume we drive like that while having the average American's driving skills.
And of course I don't take phone calls, clip my toe nails or operate cup holders while driving, because I consider a car to be more like a loaded gun than like a second living room.
Talk about driver's tests in Europe: How about parallel parking into a tight spot between two cars on a steep hill with a stick shift for starters? A 45m driving test that includes city driving, high speed highway driving, and where you're monitored whether you shift in anticipation of the situation, monitor and understand right of way situations at intersections, etc.? Instant fail if you make any mistake at all in certain categories, also fail if demonstrate uncertainty, or accumulate negative points or general lack of skill and proficiency.
It's normal to have dozens of hours with driving instructors and many more practicing under supervision under your belt before standing even a chance of passing a driver's test; then add to that a much more demanding written test that covers things like baking distance calculations, etc. and takes about an hour to complete.
Compare that to e.g. a test in RI: get 16 out of 20 stupid multiple choice questions right, drive around the block with an automatic transmission car, make one reasonably smooth stop on the side of the road, and off you go with a driver's license. What a joke...
[CONTENTEMBED=/t/162232/apple-to-announce-ios-in-the-car-tie-up-with-ferrari-volvo-mercedes-benz-next-week#post_2479588 layout=inline]BMW's iDrive is crapness raised to the n-th level. :grumble: [/CONTENTEMBED]
I don't need more than BMW already offers with their nav system. It plays music, takes phone calls, has turn by turn and vehicle status. I don't need any fancy apps because I try to pay attention to the road. Personally, I don't see what iOS really adds to the car infotainment system, but that is just me. I'm not sure how iOS is going to tell me if my air pressure is low, fluids are low or a tail light is out.
I don't think it's primarily about doing more than it is about doing things better.
Many car infotainment systems are clumsy and distracting in their operation, voice commands are unreliable and restricted in scope, menu systems are cluttered, etc.
Apple can contribute constantly updates maps, integration with contacts and calendar for travel planning (e.g. suggest sending an SMS when road conditions suggest arriving late, etc.), an uncluttered UI, Siri speech recognition, and a unified experience across cars.
It used to be possible to drive any car without reading the manual, but these days on-board electronics are so convoluted, that's no longer an option unless you drive a bare-bones vehicle.
Ford has done a lot of great things Dropping MS is one Won't buy one because of terrible voice system and they got dinged by customer satisfaction scores it's a it barrier So ford dumps the POS ms system and partners with..... Blackberry qnx system WTF Let's embrace a dead system Ford screwed the pooch with that one Go with the best ford Just terrible announcement Get an interface customers can choose Add on apple interface for my iPhone Ford go with a winner
Ford had promise ......no more Ck thAt off my list
Won't buy one because of terrible voice system and they got dinged by customer satisfaction scores it's a it barrier
So ford dumps the POS ms system and partners with..... Blackberry qnx system
WTF
Let's embrace a dead system
Ford screwed the pooch with that one
Go with the best ford
Just terrible announcement
Get an interface customers can choose
Add on apple interface for my iPhone
Ford go with a winner
Ford had promise ......no more
Ck thAt off my list
Agreed, I didn't know Ford dumped MS. That's good but going with BB? Ugh! I stopped looking at Ford b/c of MS.
I like the Volvo's a lot, especially the very stylish SUV. Problem is the gas mileage is abysmal. Right know I am only considering Japanese Hybrids (Prius line) or the Tesla but I don't like the reliance on Android.
I was at my gym and started talking to a Ferrari owner. I asked, what kind of gas mileage it gets and he said, if you have to ask that, you can't afford it. I said, the reason I asked was not b/c of cost, it was more about being a good steward of the planet and not wasting gasoline. (I know, pretty pompous on my part!) Maybe I was just jealous he had a Ferrari and I don't.
I routinely drive well above 200kmh on the Autobahn, of course, unlike in the USA, in Europe you actually have to know how to drive before getting a license, which is why Americans are scared seeing Europeans drive because they wrongly assume we drive like that while having the average American's driving skills.
And of course I don't take phone calls, clip my toe nails or operate cup holders while driving, because I consider a car to be more like a loaded gun than like a second living room.
Talk about driver's tests in Europe: How about parallel parking into a tight spot between two cars on a steep hill with a stick shift for starters? A 45m driving test that includes city driving, high speed highway driving, and where you're monitored whether you shift in anticipation of the situation, monitor and understand right of way situations at intersections, etc.? Instant fail if you make any mistake at all in certain categories, also fail if demonstrate uncertainty, or accumulate negative points or general lack of skill and proficiency.
It's normal to have dozens of hours with driving instructors and many more practicing under supervision under your belt before standing even a chance of passing a driver's test; then add to that a much more demanding written test that covers things like baking distance calculations, etc. and takes about an hour to complete.
Compare that to e.g. a test in RI: get 16 out of 20 stupid multiple choice questions right, drive around the block with an automatic transmission car, make one reasonably smooth stop on the side of the road, and off you go with a driver's license. What a joke...
I love the comment "... because I consider a car to be more like a loaded gun than like a second living room."
Not only am I going to use it, I'm going to work into every conversation I can this week!
You should get a newer car just for the advances in safety features alone.
That's good advice. Also, my CEO father, who lived all over Europe and North America, Canada and the US said, "buy a car from the country you're living in, it's cheaper to maintain and operate." He bought English cars in England, and American cars in the USA.
I've had a new Triumph Spitfire, a corvette, a VW Sciroco 240z, a miata, a prius c, Honda Crv, Honda accord, a Jeep Wrangler, a Mittsubishi Tredia and colt and a Ford F350 dually crew cab truck, a dodge 1500 truck, two Isuzu trucks, Nissan Stanza.
The Mazda's, Toyota, Mitts. and Honda's were the best!
Of course, I hardly ever followed his advice, I bought two Jags in the USA...one the xk8 coupe was a dog (*but I felt like James Bond driving it-when it worked) and the xj I bought was considered to be the one of the worst cars ever produced in recent memory!
I understand Ferrari, and even Mercedes. But Volvo?
I see teenagers and hippies driving all over in rusting Volvo station wagons. I'm not sure that crowd is who Apple mostly sells to.
and that's why the 'upper middle class liberal-leaning family of 4' today drives volvo's. It's doesn't reek of excess, yet is well built and last's forever (reduce/reuse). In 15 years, the kids drive it to school, and in 22 year, unemployed liberal leaning people will get a volvo given to them by their older sisters, after the kids are leave college.
These are the same people with white MacBooks and G5 iMacs.
Am buying new SUV this year. Was pretty much down to Subaru Forrester and Mercedes GLK. despie the price difference, this would tilt the scale towards MB.
first off the premise of the article is silly. Apple won't announce... at most, apple will be there when manufacturers announce... That's the gist of the rumor.
2nd. I agree that iOS in the car should be as intuitive as iOS, but Im still looking at how it all works together. To me it's not apps, or music or even phone integration. As noted by RCFA, if you're a true 'driver,' you'll be driving, and any you won't have the car or phone or pad 'talking' to you.
However, 'for the rest of us' (the other people in the car), Tethering your car to a wireless data source will be important, as will other things apple (All of a sudden Sirius is in serious trouble... about 90% of Sirius customers can be satisfied by podcasts and iTunes radio). The 'apple ecosystem' will extend to the car, in a manner better than what you get with AppleTV now, and apple makes a Billion a year on that. And for the most part, this will be an 'airplay like' interface, with some level of bi-directional controls (call interruption and restart, nav your music/podcasts, select and display your movies for the _Back_ displays, etc.).
In the end, auto manufacturers want Apple iOS buyers... they are the one's who buy car's that the options make sense, have good credit scores and/or spend $$$ on quality of experience. iOS in the car, as opposed to SYNC, is something that we iOS users should just grok, as opposed to an interface that is foreign to everyone, including drivers.
I am curious about QNX in ford.... It's not blackberry, but it's the the 'mach' of the Blackberry OS.
Am buying new SUV this year. Was pretty much down to Subaru Forrester and Mercedes GLK. despie the price difference, this would tilt the scale towards MB.
The engineer(s) they're looking for will be (translated) "Responsible for the integration of smartphones using the Google Android operating system by means of Google projected mode to the head-unit. This is a technology for the seamless integration of Android smartphones in the Mercedes-Benz head-unit. Smartphone functions such as play, for example, media content, send messages / receive phone calls, navigation, etc., can be controlled and displayed on a safe for the driver way through the vehicle's controls. Google-projected mode, you develop one of the most significant technological innovation in the field of telematics, which should be used in all Mercedes-Benz vehicles and in all markets worldwide. "
I'll be surprised if any of the majors introduce a system compatible with only iOS or only Android.
Yes. What are the odds that any auto manufacturer will provide any support for the current proprietary nav/music/settings operating systems they already use? I'd say ZERO. If, on the other hand, Apple and/or someone else becomes the dominant supplier of such systems, there is a much greater chance that a network of hackers and 3rd party support will develop to help people.
Comments
I understand Ferrari, and even Mercedes. But Volvo?
I see teenagers and hippies driving all over in rusting Volvo station wagons. I'm not sure that crowd is who Apple mostly sells to.
Unless it is upgradeable whatever they put in the car will likely look like a dinosaur in a few years. I wonder if it would not be a better option to make those type of devices somehow upgradeable. Perhaps a module that can be removed and replaced once a newer one comes out. People keep their cars a lot longer than their phones. Imagine if your car system was powered by something like an iPhone 1st gen instead of a 5s.
Perhaps there are other countries on the World?
I understand Ferrari, and even Mercedes. But Volvo?
I see teenagers and hippies driving all over in rusting Volvo station wagons. I'm not sure that crowd is who Apple mostly sells to.
And who do you see driving around in Ferrari's? Nobody.
In any case, your ignorance about Volvo market is stunning.
Still, I know people who own 20,30,50-year old vehicles, and even someone with a Model-T. How would this Ferrari be valued 50-years after manufacture, if the closed-source systems can't be updated or modified?
Ferrari, Volvo, Merceds-Benz would be better to say "We've decided, at the factory, to weld the spark plugs into our vehicles... Come check it out!"
These vehicles will hold the same value as today's value of an iPhone 3GS, and fast-tracked for depreciation.
I understand Ferrari, and even Mercedes. But Volvo?
I see teenagers and hippies driving all over in rusting Volvo station wagons. I'm not sure that crowd is who Apple mostly sells to.
Have a look
I don't need more than BMW already offers with their nav system. It plays music, takes phone calls, has turn by turn and vehicle status. I don't need any fancy apps because I try to pay attention to the road. Personally, I don't see what iOS really adds to the car infotainment system, but that is just me. I'm not sure how iOS is going to tell me if my air pressure is low, fluids are low or a tail light is out.
I don't know if it's safe to consider any of these manufacturers. Apple only supports "n-2 versions" of hardware and iOS software.
Still, I know people who own 20,30,50-year old vehicles, and even someone with a Model-T. How would this Ferrari be valued 50-years after manufacture, if the closed-source systems can't be updated or modified?
Ferrari, Volvo, Merceds-Benz would be better to say "We've decided, at the factory, to weld the spark plugs into our vehicles... Come check it out!"
These vehicles will hold the same value as today's value of an iPhone 3GS, and fast-tracked for depreciation.
Exotics and semi-exotics are already based on closed systems, both mechanical and electrical - and many associated components are based on OEM patents (so they're effectively closed too). You cannot buy most "common" parts for an antique Jag, Ferrari, Porsche or even a Mercedes at AutoZone or Pep Boys. But the fact that Lucas is no longer in business and Magnetti Marelli no longer produces most out of cycle parts has had no affect on the value of antique Jaguars and Ferraris. No matter what brand of car you buy today, and no matter which infotainment system or OS is in it, in 50 years, sourcing replacement parts will be no harder (or easier) with an Apple OS than an OS from some other OEM.
No where has it been said or even suggested (by anyone who knows the auto industry) that Apple or the auto OEMs are looking to make this any sort of closed system. So I'm not sure why so many people are wringing their hands over this PR release. There are no details. Calm down, folks.
I routinely drive well above 200kmh on the Autobahn, of course, unlike in the USA, in Europe you actually have to know how to drive before getting a license, which is why Americans are scared seeing Europeans drive because they wrongly assume we drive like that while having the average American's driving skills.
And of course I don't take phone calls, clip my toe nails or operate cup holders while driving, because I consider a car to be more like a loaded gun than like a second living room.
Talk about driver's tests in Europe: How about parallel parking into a tight spot between two cars on a steep hill with a stick shift for starters? A 45m driving test that includes city driving, high speed highway driving, and where you're monitored whether you shift in anticipation of the situation, monitor and understand right of way situations at intersections, etc.? Instant fail if you make any mistake at all in certain categories, also fail if demonstrate uncertainty, or accumulate negative points or general lack of skill and proficiency.
It's normal to have dozens of hours with driving instructors and many more practicing under supervision under your belt before standing even a chance of passing a driver's test; then add to that a much more demanding written test that covers things like baking distance calculations, etc. and takes about an hour to complete.
Compare that to e.g. a test in RI: get 16 out of 20 stupid multiple choice questions right, drive around the block with an automatic transmission car, make one reasonably smooth stop on the side of the road, and off you go with a driver's license. What a joke...
I don't think it's primarily about doing more than it is about doing things better.
Many car infotainment systems are clumsy and distracting in their operation, voice commands are unreliable and restricted in scope, menu systems are cluttered, etc.
Apple can contribute constantly updates maps, integration with contacts and calendar for travel planning (e.g. suggest sending an SMS when road conditions suggest arriving late, etc.), an uncluttered UI, Siri speech recognition, and a unified experience across cars.
It used to be possible to drive any car without reading the manual, but these days on-board electronics are so convoluted, that's no longer an option unless you drive a bare-bones vehicle.
Dropping MS is one
Won't buy one because of terrible voice system and they got dinged by customer satisfaction scores it's a it barrier
So ford dumps the POS ms system and partners with..... Blackberry qnx system
WTF
Let's embrace a dead system
Ford screwed the pooch with that one
Go with the best ford
Just terrible announcement
Get an interface customers can choose
Add on apple interface for my iPhone
Ford go with a winner
Ford had promise ......no more
Ck thAt off my list
Ford has done a lot of great things
Dropping MS is one
Won't buy one because of terrible voice system and they got dinged by customer satisfaction scores it's a it barrier
So ford dumps the POS ms system and partners with..... Blackberry qnx system
WTF
Let's embrace a dead system
Ford screwed the pooch with that one
Go with the best ford
Just terrible announcement
Get an interface customers can choose
Add on apple interface for my iPhone
Ford go with a winner
Ford had promise ......no more
Ck thAt off my list
Agreed, I didn't know Ford dumped MS. That's good but going with BB? Ugh! I stopped looking at Ford b/c of MS.
I like the Volvo's a lot, especially the very stylish SUV. Problem is the gas mileage is abysmal. Right know I am only considering Japanese Hybrids (Prius line) or the Tesla but I don't like the reliance on Android.
I was at my gym and started talking to a Ferrari owner. I asked, what kind of gas mileage it gets and he said, if you have to ask that, you can't afford it. I said, the reason I asked was not b/c of cost, it was more about being a good steward of the planet and not wasting gasoline. (I know, pretty pompous on my part!) Maybe I was just jealous he had a Ferrari and I don't.
I routinely drive well above 200kmh on the Autobahn, of course, unlike in the USA, in Europe you actually have to know how to drive before getting a license, which is why Americans are scared seeing Europeans drive because they wrongly assume we drive like that while having the average American's driving skills.
And of course I don't take phone calls, clip my toe nails or operate cup holders while driving, because I consider a car to be more like a loaded gun than like a second living room.
Talk about driver's tests in Europe: How about parallel parking into a tight spot between two cars on a steep hill with a stick shift for starters? A 45m driving test that includes city driving, high speed highway driving, and where you're monitored whether you shift in anticipation of the situation, monitor and understand right of way situations at intersections, etc.? Instant fail if you make any mistake at all in certain categories, also fail if demonstrate uncertainty, or accumulate negative points or general lack of skill and proficiency.
It's normal to have dozens of hours with driving instructors and many more practicing under supervision under your belt before standing even a chance of passing a driver's test; then add to that a much more demanding written test that covers things like baking distance calculations, etc. and takes about an hour to complete.
Compare that to e.g. a test in RI: get 16 out of 20 stupid multiple choice questions right, drive around the block with an automatic transmission car, make one reasonably smooth stop on the side of the road, and off you go with a driver's license. What a joke...
I love the comment "... because I consider a car to be more like a loaded gun than like a second living room."
Not only am I going to use it, I'm going to work into every conversation I can this week!
Best.
Perhaps there are other countries on the World?
Love it!
Reminds of the Fedex commercial where a junior business person doesn't know were China is and ends tearing down the map off the wall to cover himself.
I know pretty silly, "Bill put a pushpin in China." "Bill, you have no idea where China is do you?"
You should get a newer car just for the advances in safety features alone.
That's good advice. Also, my CEO father, who lived all over Europe and North America, Canada and the US said, "buy a car from the country you're living in, it's cheaper to maintain and operate." He bought English cars in England, and American cars in the USA.
I've had a new Triumph Spitfire, a corvette, a VW Sciroco 240z, a miata, a prius c, Honda Crv, Honda accord, a Jeep Wrangler, a Mittsubishi Tredia and colt and a Ford F350 dually crew cab truck, a dodge 1500 truck, two Isuzu trucks, Nissan Stanza.
The Mazda's, Toyota, Mitts. and Honda's were the best!
Of course, I hardly ever followed his advice, I bought two Jags in the USA...one the xk8 coupe was a dog (*but I felt like James Bond driving it-when it worked) and the xj I bought was considered to be the one of the worst cars ever produced in recent memory!
Best
*I know JB drove Astons!
I understand Ferrari, and even Mercedes. But Volvo?
I see teenagers and hippies driving all over in rusting Volvo station wagons. I'm not sure that crowd is who Apple mostly sells to.
and that's why the 'upper middle class liberal-leaning family of 4' today drives volvo's. It's doesn't reek of excess, yet is well built and last's forever (reduce/reuse). In 15 years, the kids drive it to school, and in 22 year, unemployed liberal leaning people will get a volvo given to them by their older sisters, after the kids are leave college.
These are the same people with white MacBooks and G5 iMacs.
Am buying new SUV this year. Was pretty much down to Subaru Forrester and Mercedes GLK. despie the price difference, this would tilt the scale towards MB.
first off the premise of the article is silly. Apple won't announce... at most, apple will be there when manufacturers announce... That's the gist of the rumor.
2nd. I agree that iOS in the car should be as intuitive as iOS, but Im still looking at how it all works together. To me it's not apps, or music or even phone integration. As noted by RCFA, if you're a true 'driver,' you'll be driving, and any you won't have the car or phone or pad 'talking' to you.
However, 'for the rest of us' (the other people in the car), Tethering your car to a wireless data source will be important, as will other things apple (All of a sudden Sirius is in serious trouble... about 90% of Sirius customers can be satisfied by podcasts and iTunes radio). The 'apple ecosystem' will extend to the car, in a manner better than what you get with AppleTV now, and apple makes a Billion a year on that. And for the most part, this will be an 'airplay like' interface, with some level of bi-directional controls (call interruption and restart, nav your music/podcasts, select and display your movies for the _Back_ displays, etc.).
In the end, auto manufacturers want Apple iOS buyers... they are the one's who buy car's that the options make sense, have good credit scores and/or spend $$$ on quality of experience. iOS in the car, as opposed to SYNC, is something that we iOS users should just grok, as opposed to an interface that is foreign to everyone, including drivers.
I am curious about QNX in ford.... It's not blackberry, but it's the the 'mach' of the Blackberry OS.
I would hope it won't change your purchasing decision but according to job postings Mercedes is also planning Android integration too.
http://www.mobiflip.de/google-projected-mode-daimler-stellenanzeige-beschreibt-android-im-auto/
The engineer(s) they're looking for will be (translated) "Responsible for the integration of smartphones using the Google Android operating system by means of Google projected mode to the head-unit. This is a technology for the seamless integration of Android smartphones in the Mercedes-Benz head-unit. Smartphone functions such as play, for example, media content, send messages / receive phone calls, navigation, etc., can be controlled and displayed on a safe for the driver way through the vehicle's controls. Google-projected mode, you develop one of the most significant technological innovation in the field of telematics, which should be used in all Mercedes-Benz vehicles and in all markets worldwide. "
I'll be surprised if any of the majors introduce a system compatible with only iOS or only Android.
Yes. What are the odds that any auto manufacturer will provide any support for the current proprietary nav/music/settings operating systems they already use? I'd say ZERO. If, on the other hand, Apple and/or someone else becomes the dominant supplier of such systems, there is a much greater chance that a network of hackers and 3rd party support will develop to help people.