Toyota chooses Ford over Apple, will eschew CarPlay in favor of SmartDeviceLink
Future Toyota models will offer in-dash infotainment systems compatible with Ford's SmartDeviceLink system rather than Apple's CarPlay, the Japanese automaker announced on Monday.
SmartDeviceLink is an open platform based on the AppLink framework developed for Ford's own vehicles. It fills essentially the same role as CarPlay or Android Auto, but allows the vehicle manufacturer to retain control over the look and feel of the user interface.
Toyota's announcement comes nearly a year after the company first discussed its plans not to adopt CarPlay, despite being one of the first automakers to sign on.
"We may all eventually wind up [with CarPlay or Android Auto], but right now we prefer to use our in-house proprietary platforms for those kinds of functions," a Toyota spokesperson said at the time.
Ford has continued to push SDL as an industry standard -- with some success -- even as it enables CarPlay and Google's rival Android Auto in its own vehicles. Major automotive software supplier QNX has announced support for SDL in future products, while automakers including Mazda and Subraru have shown public support.
SmartDeviceLink is an open platform based on the AppLink framework developed for Ford's own vehicles. It fills essentially the same role as CarPlay or Android Auto, but allows the vehicle manufacturer to retain control over the look and feel of the user interface.
Toyota's announcement comes nearly a year after the company first discussed its plans not to adopt CarPlay, despite being one of the first automakers to sign on.
"We may all eventually wind up [with CarPlay or Android Auto], but right now we prefer to use our in-house proprietary platforms for those kinds of functions," a Toyota spokesperson said at the time.
Ford has continued to push SDL as an industry standard -- with some success -- even as it enables CarPlay and Google's rival Android Auto in its own vehicles. Major automotive software supplier QNX has announced support for SDL in future products, while automakers including Mazda and Subraru have shown public support.
Comments
Good on you!
Anyway, Toyota is far from the only manufacturer that may end up using SmartDeviceLink. Honda, Subaru, Citroën, Mazda and others are also considering it going forward.
No surprise there. Auto manufacturers have their heads up their collective asses when it comes to infotainment. Every system I've used is slow and confusing to operate. BMW is doing the same thing because they want control over your dash (they don't want an Apple or Android screen replacing their own, even if it's only when the user requests it).
http://techcrunch.com/2016/01/04/toyota-qnx-and-others-adopt-fords-smartdevicelink-platform-for-connecting-mobile-apps-and-cars/
Whenever analysts suggested Apple would build its own cars, I scoffed. I'd say "why would Apple build a car when it's trying to get CarPlay into car manufacturer's cars? No car manufacturer would support CarPlay if Apple suddenly became a competitor!" But if car manufacturers are not going to anyway, Apple may have to go that route! Too early to tell though. Quite a few manufacturers are beginning to support it, after all.
Question: how can you tell whether a car manufacturer actually uses CarPlay or simply "supports" it - as Ford's system apparently does?
"Ideally, all of this shouldn’t make a difference for drivers. They (with, as I read it, this new ford proposal) should just be able to control their apps from their dashboard and steering wheel buttons, no matter what standard the phone maker, car builder and app developer decided on. In reality, though, having these competing standards will likely create some confusion with car buyers and it’ll be interesting to see how the car manufacturers try to alleviate this."