I think it's up to car manufacturers how they make their in-car systems and what software and hardware tools they use for that. Actually car user should not care what OS is behind user interface. It should just work nicely. I hope future in-car systems will be more elegant than just iOS or Android interface on screen. Anyway nobody stops user from bringing his iPad, iPhone or any Android gadget into the car and using it there.
Apple is a day late and a dollar short getting into the car -- this product should have been out a couple years ago honestly. There is nothing very good in these in-car systems, but they are rapidly improving and Apple's time to enter should have happened already.
Heck just Dash-docking an iPad would be enough -- just need the proper options from the car manufacturers to skip on their standard center console system and have the proper mounts and we're set.
People here rant on about the colour of icons or the rumors of different screen sizes on the iPhone.... little things that kick up a fanboy storm.
But THIS news is actually the important stuff and it's sad to see Apple drop the ball. The amount of time people spend in their cars (in certain cities) is something very significant, and having android-friendly google-designed-UI cars take over the market is worriesome. Phone connectivity, imo, is the next big push of technology - Apple have it almost nailed with airplay at home, but are about to be completely trumped when it comes to the car.
You talk as if google/android has actually already produced a car product? Google has only announced a partnership with a few car manufacturers so far, they haven't shipped anything. I'm sure google is going to have their own share of problems and delays with the auto companies just like apple. Funny how when google announces something it's automatically a huge success but not so for apple. Maybe don't count your chicks before they hatch.
Heck just Dash-docking an iPad would be enough -- just need the proper options from the car manufacturers to skip on their standard center console system and have the proper mounts and we're set.
Yes, like in-car audio. I am not so much interested what company made car audio in the car. Option to remove it and put inside one of my choice is well enough.
"I think Apple's doing just fine without a car product."
I disagree. Losing the automotive integration battle could potentially go a long way to losing the platform war. Don't underestimate the importance of in-vehicle integration.
This isn't a war, where the loser is going to close up shop or one brand of phone will suddenly no longer be viable. Drama much?
I don't really understand why the infotainment device even needs to be involved in any of the CANbus kind of stuff. Leave instruments, vehicle hardware and climate control proprietary. All the Android or iOS device has to do is navigate, play music and manage phone calls.
Autos already do navigation, play music and manage phone calls. Why would you even need iOS if that is all it is going to do?
Just a few examples of why it all needs to be integrated:
If you decide you want your distance in kilometers the nav system changes and so does your odometer.
Likewise if you change the language it makes that change universal for the entire auto.
I agree the climate control shouldn't be touch screen controlled, unlike Tesla. I prefer old school knobs and buttons for that but the temperature could display on screen in your choice of centigrade or fahrenheit
All settings for the entire auto are accessed using on screen menus, so it all needs to be integrated.
I also agree with what others are saying about Tesla. I know this is already been flagged as a "stupid idea by people who don't know Apple" but honestly, this would be a good play.
Currently, Tesla is the Apple of the auto industry. It's green, high customer satisfaction scores and competes in the high end. Apple can make Tesla even more incredible than it is today and they can integrate hardware and software together like they're used to.
Also, Wallstreet absolutely loathes Apple right now, this move would do wonders for their shareholders.
I also agree with what others are saying about Tesla. I know this is already been flagged as a "stupid idea by people who don't know Apple" but honestly, this would be a good play.
Currently, Tesla is the Apple of the auto industry. It's green, high customer satisfaction scores and competes in the high end. Apple can make Tesla even more incredible than it is today and they can integrate hardware and software together like they're used to.
Also, Wallstreet absolutely loathes Apple right now, this move would do wonders for their shareholders.
Agreeing to sell seems unlikely with Musk's ties to Google leadership. Also, Tesla's brand is moving down market, not up, with the Gen3 coming up targeting a $40k pricepoint. Nearly anyone can act like they can afford a $40k car.
Autos already do navigation, play music and manage phone calls. Why would you even need iOS if that is all it is going to do?
Just a few examples of why it all needs to be integrated:
If you decide you want your distance in kilometers the nav system changes and so does your odometer.
Likewise if you change the language it makes that change universal for the entire auto.
I agree the climate control shouldn't be touch screen controlled, unlike Tesla. I prefer old school knobs and buttons for that but the temperature could display on screen in your choice of centigrade or fahrenheit
All settings for the entire auto are accessed using on screen menus, so it all needs to be integrated.
Navigation is extra in vehicles. Imagine if I can use my iPhone as navigation but display it on the car's screen. As for music, we're talking about accessing songs easier.
Navigation is extra in vehicles. Imagine if I can use my iPhone as navigation but display it on the car's screen. As for music, we're talking about accessing songs easier.
As far as I know, unless you opt for the navigation package, I don't think you can get a screen. Have you used the BMW system? I find it very intuitive and selecting music is no problem for me, although the BMW voice commands don't work as well as Siri.
As far as I know, unless you opt for the navigation package, I don't think you can get a screen. Have you used the BMW system? I find it very intuitive and selecting music is no problem for me, although the BMW voice commands don't work as well as Siri.
I have a screen in my car and no navigation. It's not a touchscreen though.
As far as I know, unless you opt for the navigation package, I don't think you can get a screen. Have you used the BMW system? I find it very intuitive and selecting music is no problem for me, although the BMW voice commands don't work as well as Siri.
I have a screen in my car and no navigation. It's not a touchscreen though.
Ok cool. I haven't purchased a car without the navigation package for several years and was basing my remarks only on the loaner vehicle that the dealer gave me which was identical to my BMW but without a screen as I recall.
The sleepy time that anyone can see a mile away if they pay attention and their loyalties aren't so far ingrained in one company that they overlook obvious missteps. The sleepy time of not realizing that you can't control each and every aspect of every single product and that control has a point or curve where once reached experiences diminishing returns. If Apple would stop trying to control every single minute thing and worry about the only control that truly matters which is overall quality control they would be in a better place. Here is what's going to happen... iOS in the car WILL indeed be launched, it will then be received with lukewarm fan fair... it will be 'neat' for a bit and then because of the way Apple thinks and their corporate culture it won't go far because essentially carmakers are going to need to concede to add the functionality into their already functioning in-dash products which essentially perform all the functions that iOS in the car does but with an interface that's as pretty. THEN Google will start it's onslaught and through their partnerships with these same manufacturers will get Android as the actual operating on the in-dash units themselves. Rather than just essentially a plugin which beams or streams iOS data from the iPhone onto in-dash unit, Googles partnership will see Android actually installed directly on those units. This coupled with Googles approach to be less open and less controlling will give way to a LOT of developer support for the in-dash unit to customize the interface and make it as pretty and/or informative as said developer imagines and the users/customers of these in-dash units will have true choice over the look of their dash, the functionality, and the information they are presented. Apple all the while will be Apple and they will control their little app plugin and give the users no options for how it looks, no options for the information displayed, and real options for developers to tap into it's potential (just like with Apple TV). At the end of the day this will play out just like iOS vs. Android. iOS in the car will have a sizable following but Googles initiative will dominate the industry because they work WITH people instead of arrogantly always presuming on people and making an environment that feels like even though you partner with them, you really are just working FOR them and that they know best, always, at all times, even when they don't.
Well said. There is something to be said about only developing products where you can control every detail. Know what you can do well, and stick to that. It takes as much courage to say that this is not a project you can do well and take a pass. Otherwise, you had better be ready to change your culture a bit. When you buy an Audi, you are buying an Audi, not an iOS device that happens to be in an Audi. I don;t own an Android anything, but I think Android is better suited for integration than Apple, particularly embedded systems. Of course if Apple decided to make a car or something, then it would be another matter. Maybe they can buy Tesla or something.
I don't really understand why the infotainment device even needs to be involved in any of the CANbus kind of stuff. Leave instruments, vehicle hardware and climate control proprietary. All the Android or iOS device has to do is navigate, play music and manage phone calls.
Who said it was an infotainment device? That's as short sighted as calling an iPhone "just a phone."
The point is, if you make the full data stream and some controls available, people will step up with interesting ideas.
Beyond nav, music and phone calls, why not have these very tasks integrate with the hardware as you would like?
•Control the radio with your device.
•Displaly extra info on what's playing on the radio
•Phone calls through audio system (obviously)
But why stop with these?
•Change mirror and seat settings (cars that do this usually only remember two people.)
•Why not read your vehicle's trouble codes with your "infotainment device"?
•Why not choose a custom display of engine performance or instantaneous gas milage?
•I'm sure people who love to hack the subtleties of engine performance would love to use an iPhone or iPad to record data and make adjustments (this gets into the safety issue, but people can do with their car as they please.) NASCAR could sell an app to their fans.
•How about an app that gives feedback on driving performance in terms of safety, economy, shifting choices, or whatever?
"If you build it, they will come." Until it's built though, nobody knows what people will want to do with it.
Who said it was an infotainment device? That's as short sighted as calling an iPhone "just a phone."
The point is, if you make the full data stream and some controls available, people will step up with interesting ideas.
Beyond nav, music and phone calls, why not have these very tasks integrate with the hardware as you would like?
•Control the radio with your device.
•Displaly extra info on what's playing on the radio
•Phone calls through audio system (obviously)
But why stop with these?
•Change mirror and seat settings (cars that do this usually only remember two people.)
•Why not read your vehicle's trouble codes with your "infotainment device"?
•Why not choose a custom display of engine performance or instantaneous gas milage?
•I'm sure people who love to hack the subtleties of engine performance would love to use an iPhone or iPad to record data and make adjustments (this gets into the safety issue, but people can do with their car as they please.) NASCAR could sell an app to their fans.
•How about an app that gives feedback on driving performance in terms of safety, economy, shifting choices, or whatever?
"If you build it, they will come." Until it's built though, nobody knows what people will want to do with it.
These are cool ideas, but they just doesn't sound that life-changing. I'm cheap when it comes to cars, but my sister has a car that has all but a few of these features already, and she's not lavish with car expenditure either. Where's the "I have to have it" feature? The feature that only Apple can do right? I don't want Apple to get into cars just because a bunch of investors want Apple to do something new. Apple is a patient company that waits for the right opportunities. This doesn't seem to make investors happy, but I'm just a customer, not an investor. I'd rather have Apple focus on what it does well and what it thinks it can do well than make a bunch of bad investments that will please investors but distract management. But I guess everybody on AI owns shares (that they'll never sell yet obsess over every little twitch in the stock price of).
Also, I'm sure each car company will be delighted to cooperate on common standards, provided all the other car companies agree to use its choice of standards, and pay the appropriate licensing fees to use them.
So much discussion here that seems to neglect the basics. The fundamental purpose of an automobile is to get us and our loved ones from one place to another, safely and efficiently ... that is ... without harming or killing us, our loved ones or anybody else. Frankly it's technologically easy to add all of these bells and whistles - infotainment - but what and how much is helpful and what represents a distraction? Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. The accident statistics are telling us something: the road is not the place for multitasking.
Comments
I think it's up to car manufacturers how they make their in-car systems and what software and hardware tools they use for that. Actually car user should not care what OS is behind user interface. It should just work nicely. I hope future in-car systems will be more elegant than just iOS or Android interface on screen. Anyway nobody stops user from bringing his iPad, iPhone or any Android gadget into the car and using it there.
Heck just Dash-docking an iPad would be enough -- just need the proper options from the car manufacturers to skip on their standard center console system and have the proper mounts and we're set.
Heck just Dash-docking an iPad would be enough -- just need the proper options from the car manufacturers to skip on their standard center console system and have the proper mounts and we're set.
Yes, like in-car audio. I am not so much interested what company made car audio in the car. Option to remove it and put inside one of my choice is well enough.
Tens of millions without seeing an ad first
Millions without first having approval from Apple (within 28 days)
Doesn’t quite work; that’s manufacturer timeframe.
"I think Apple's doing just fine without a car product."
I disagree. Losing the automotive integration battle could potentially go a long way to losing the platform war. Don't underestimate the importance of in-vehicle integration.
This isn't a war, where the loser is going to close up shop or one brand of phone will suddenly no longer be viable. Drama much?
Autos already do navigation, play music and manage phone calls. Why would you even need iOS if that is all it is going to do?
Just a few examples of why it all needs to be integrated:
Great to see bedevil is still in someone's lexicon.
What is a "lexicon"? That word's not even in my vocabulamary.
I also agree with what others are saying about Tesla. I know this is already been flagged as a "stupid idea by people who don't know Apple" but honestly, this would be a good play.
Currently, Tesla is the Apple of the auto industry. It's green, high customer satisfaction scores and competes in the high end. Apple can make Tesla even more incredible than it is today and they can integrate hardware and software together like they're used to.
Also, Wallstreet absolutely loathes Apple right now, this move would do wonders for their shareholders.
Also, Wallstreet absolutely loathes Apple right now, this move would do wonders for their shareholders.
Even a partnership could be able to sate the moronic “APPLE SHOULD BE FORCED TO BUY SOMETHING EVEN WHEN THEY DON’T WANT TO” crowd.
I also agree with what others are saying about Tesla. I know this is already been flagged as a "stupid idea by people who don't know Apple" but honestly, this would be a good play.
Currently, Tesla is the Apple of the auto industry. It's green, high customer satisfaction scores and competes in the high end. Apple can make Tesla even more incredible than it is today and they can integrate hardware and software together like they're used to.
Also, Wallstreet absolutely loathes Apple right now, this move would do wonders for their shareholders.
Agreeing to sell seems unlikely with Musk's ties to Google leadership. Also, Tesla's brand is moving down market, not up, with the Gen3 coming up targeting a $40k pricepoint. Nearly anyone can act like they can afford a $40k car.
Nearly anyone can act like they can afford a $40k car.
I want to see Tesla vehicles with Apple controls and battery tech. No one does batteries better than Apple.
Navigation is extra in vehicles. Imagine if I can use my iPhone as navigation but display it on the car's screen. As for music, we're talking about accessing songs easier.
As far as I know, unless you opt for the navigation package, I don't think you can get a screen. Have you used the BMW system? I find it very intuitive and selecting music is no problem for me, although the BMW voice commands don't work as well as Siri.
I have a screen in my car and no navigation. It's not a touchscreen though.
As far as I know, unless you opt for the navigation package, I don't think you can get a screen. Have you used the BMW system? I find it very intuitive and selecting music is no problem for me, although the BMW voice commands don't work as well as Siri.
I have a screen in my car and no navigation. It's not a touchscreen though.
Ok cool. I haven't purchased a car without the navigation package for several years and was basing my remarks only on the loaner vehicle that the dealer gave me which was identical to my BMW but without a screen as I recall.
The sleepy time that anyone can see a mile away if they pay attention and their loyalties aren't so far ingrained in one company that they overlook obvious missteps. The sleepy time of not realizing that you can't control each and every aspect of every single product and that control has a point or curve where once reached experiences diminishing returns. If Apple would stop trying to control every single minute thing and worry about the only control that truly matters which is overall quality control they would be in a better place. Here is what's going to happen... iOS in the car WILL indeed be launched, it will then be received with lukewarm fan fair... it will be 'neat' for a bit and then because of the way Apple thinks and their corporate culture it won't go far because essentially carmakers are going to need to concede to add the functionality into their already functioning in-dash products which essentially perform all the functions that iOS in the car does but with an interface that's as pretty. THEN Google will start it's onslaught and through their partnerships with these same manufacturers will get Android as the actual operating on the in-dash units themselves. Rather than just essentially a plugin which beams or streams iOS data from the iPhone onto in-dash unit, Googles partnership will see Android actually installed directly on those units. This coupled with Googles approach to be less open and less controlling will give way to a LOT of developer support for the in-dash unit to customize the interface and make it as pretty and/or informative as said developer imagines and the users/customers of these in-dash units will have true choice over the look of their dash, the functionality, and the information they are presented. Apple all the while will be Apple and they will control their little app plugin and give the users no options for how it looks, no options for the information displayed, and real options for developers to tap into it's potential (just like with Apple TV). At the end of the day this will play out just like iOS vs. Android. iOS in the car will have a sizable following but Googles initiative will dominate the industry because they work WITH people instead of arrogantly always presuming on people and making an environment that feels like even though you partner with them, you really are just working FOR them and that they know best, always, at all times, even when they don't.
Well said. There is something to be said about only developing products where you can control every detail. Know what you can do well, and stick to that. It takes as much courage to say that this is not a project you can do well and take a pass. Otherwise, you had better be ready to change your culture a bit. When you buy an Audi, you are buying an Audi, not an iOS device that happens to be in an Audi. I don;t own an Android anything, but I think Android is better suited for integration than Apple, particularly embedded systems. Of course if Apple decided to make a car or something, then it would be another matter. Maybe they can buy Tesla or something.
I don't really understand why the infotainment device even needs to be involved in any of the CANbus kind of stuff. Leave instruments, vehicle hardware and climate control proprietary. All the Android or iOS device has to do is navigate, play music and manage phone calls.
Who said it was an infotainment device? That's as short sighted as calling an iPhone "just a phone."
The point is, if you make the full data stream and some controls available, people will step up with interesting ideas.
Beyond nav, music and phone calls, why not have these very tasks integrate with the hardware as you would like?
•Control the radio with your device.
•Displaly extra info on what's playing on the radio
•Phone calls through audio system (obviously)
But why stop with these?
•Change mirror and seat settings (cars that do this usually only remember two people.)
•Why not read your vehicle's trouble codes with your "infotainment device"?
•Why not choose a custom display of engine performance or instantaneous gas milage?
•I'm sure people who love to hack the subtleties of engine performance would love to use an iPhone or iPad to record data and make adjustments (this gets into the safety issue, but people can do with their car as they please.) NASCAR could sell an app to their fans.
•How about an app that gives feedback on driving performance in terms of safety, economy, shifting choices, or whatever?
"If you build it, they will come." Until it's built though, nobody knows what people will want to do with it.
Who said it was an infotainment device? That's as short sighted as calling an iPhone "just a phone."
The point is, if you make the full data stream and some controls available, people will step up with interesting ideas.
Beyond nav, music and phone calls, why not have these very tasks integrate with the hardware as you would like?
•Control the radio with your device.
•Displaly extra info on what's playing on the radio
•Phone calls through audio system (obviously)
But why stop with these?
•Change mirror and seat settings (cars that do this usually only remember two people.)
•Why not read your vehicle's trouble codes with your "infotainment device"?
•Why not choose a custom display of engine performance or instantaneous gas milage?
•I'm sure people who love to hack the subtleties of engine performance would love to use an iPhone or iPad to record data and make adjustments (this gets into the safety issue, but people can do with their car as they please.) NASCAR could sell an app to their fans.
•How about an app that gives feedback on driving performance in terms of safety, economy, shifting choices, or whatever?
"If you build it, they will come." Until it's built though, nobody knows what people will want to do with it.
These are cool ideas, but they just doesn't sound that life-changing. I'm cheap when it comes to cars, but my sister has a car that has all but a few of these features already, and she's not lavish with car expenditure either. Where's the "I have to have it" feature? The feature that only Apple can do right? I don't want Apple to get into cars just because a bunch of investors want Apple to do something new. Apple is a patient company that waits for the right opportunities. This doesn't seem to make investors happy, but I'm just a customer, not an investor. I'd rather have Apple focus on what it does well and what it thinks it can do well than make a bunch of bad investments that will please investors but distract management. But I guess everybody on AI owns shares (that they'll never sell yet obsess over every little twitch in the stock price of).
Also, I'm sure each car company will be delighted to cooperate on common standards, provided all the other car companies agree to use its choice of standards, and pay the appropriate licensing fees to use them.
So much discussion here that seems to neglect the basics. The fundamental purpose of an automobile is to get us and our loved ones from one place to another, safely and efficiently ... that is ... without harming or killing us, our loved ones or anybody else. Frankly it's technologically easy to add all of these bells and whistles - infotainment - but what and how much is helpful and what represents a distraction? Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. The accident statistics are telling us something: the road is not the place for multitasking.