Review: Alpine's iLX-107 is the first, and best, aftermarket wireless CarPlay receiver

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Comments

  • Reply 41 of 52
    vmarksvmarks Posts: 762editor
    cgWerks said:
    StrangeDays said:It it is still impossible to reach out and touch touch-based volumes controls and know whether you’ve 1) hit the target, and 2) whether you’ve hit up or down, short or trial and error. So without a doubt non-physical buttons for volume suck more than physical buttons which have no such deficiencies, and I’d never buy a head unit with them. 
    You and Victor are probably arguing separate advantages though... they are better in terms of reliability (though I've never had a physical car volume knob go bad) but aren't as good in terms of driver UI/UX.

    I have had radios with physical knobs fail. But again, if you have steering wheel controls, the radio itself doesn't need physical controls. You can feel and have the tactile feedback you're looking for from the steering wheel controls. The problem with touch cap sense controls is no haptic feedback - there's no click that you feel in your fingers to let you know you've done it. But with large enough sensitive areas around the icon, you can be sloppy and aim at where you think the target is and get it just fine. It is not impossible to reach out and touch touch-based controls, provided they're always in the same place (these are) and they're sensitive for a large enough area. It can be done correctly - but many of the systems that do this fail on giving large enough sensitive areas for touch targets, and keeping the icons in consistent places. Given that CarPlay is a whole touchscreen interface, it sounds like you probably don't want it, although the app switcher on the left status bar is good.
  • Reply 42 of 52
    vmarksvmarks Posts: 762editor
    GG1 said:
    vmarks said:
    GG1 said:
    It's an Alpine, but I agree that 14 W is pretty low for $600.

    The article doesn't mention it, but the unit can accommodate Alpine camera modules (if your car doesn't already have cameras) for front/sides/rear camera images. So if you have an older car (I have a 1996) and can fit a double-DIN chassis, this unit can "modernize" older cars with today's features at a steep price (the camera modules are expensive).
    The article DOES mention it! It specifically calls out the Alpine accessory that allows the unit to control front / side / rear cameras. From the article: "The Alpine does have the interesting ability to use an accessory multi-camera kit (KCX-C250MC) that allows for side, front and rear camera input. The ILX-107 can display all of those inputs at the same time, or switch between them in the user interface when using the multi-camera accessory."
    True. I should have been more clear. With cars lacking inbuilt cameras, Alpine has some (pricey) camera options.
    I tend to use aftermarket cameras that aren't branded from the radio mfr. They're significantly less pricey, although adapting them to work with the KCX camera kit is harder, and I wouldn't recommend it to someone who didn't know what they were doing.
  • Reply 43 of 52
    vmarksvmarks Posts: 762editor

    Can it use the microphone my car already has installed, I wonder?

    Price is a little steep, but if I was buying a new car that just lacked car play, I could see it as an investment.

    Alpine says no, please use their included mic.
    beowulfschmidt
  • Reply 44 of 52
    vmarksvmarks Posts: 762editor
    entropys said:
    How is the second and third phone etc  BT communications while the first iPhone is being use data for CarPlay?
    does the second and third iPhone BT a call?
    Second and Third phones do not use BT while first iPhone is used for CarPlay. CarPlay has no call handling function for more than one phone, and Alpine uses BT to initiate the pairing for wireless CarPlay and then shuts off the BT communications as soon as it's established. Unlike other radios that do multiple phones for calls at a time, Alpine's CarPlay unit doesn't pair with multiple phones for calling at the same time.
    patrick6877
  • Reply 45 of 52
    cgWerkscgWerks Posts: 2,952member
    vmarks said:
    I have had radios with physical knobs fail. But again, if you have steering wheel controls, the radio itself doesn't need physical controls. You can feel and have the tactile feedback you're looking for from the steering wheel controls. The problem with touch cap sense controls is no haptic feedback - there's no click that you feel in your fingers to let you know you've done it. But with large enough sensitive areas around the icon, you can be sloppy and aim at where you think the target is and get it just fine. It is not impossible to reach out and touch touch-based controls, provided they're always in the same place (these are) and they're sensitive for a large enough area. It can be done correctly - but many of the systems that do this fail on giving large enough sensitive areas for touch targets, and keeping the icons in consistent places. Given that CarPlay is a whole touchscreen interface, it sounds like you probably don't want it, although the app switcher on the left status bar is good.
    Sounds like aside from haptic feedback, they've done as good of job as possible with main-control touch interface. But, IMO, a volume knob is always a superior interface (which is why I often reach for it, even though I have steering wheel buttons) for something like volume.

    I'm not opposed to having a touch-screen, nav system, etc. in a car so long as drivers have a bit of common sense remaining. But, I still think Apple should work more on non-CarPlay aspects of controlling iOS. You shouldn't have to have an expensive car-system to answer calls, do proper audio routing, or have basic control over apps drivers would typically use (music, podcasts, etc.). When I got my iPhone and tried it in the car for the first time, my son and I could have recorded a good comedy routine when realizing how truly lame it was. :smile: 

  • Reply 46 of 52
    squuiid said:
    Capacitive or resistive screen?
    An important detail AppleInsider.
    Capacitive 
  • Reply 47 of 52
    MacPro said:
    You lost me at the price.
    I came this close to taking my Jeep Grand Cherokee to an audio specialist to install something like this and as you say just couldn't justify it in the end.  I went home and found an old CD/DVD burner I'd taken out of one of my MacBook Pros years ago and rigged it up with USB to my Mac Pro and figured out how to burn CDs again (seriously I almost forgotten not to mention I had to buy some blanks first) and made a load of CDs of my favorite music from iTunes.  Basking in that feeling it was still the 90's again I also learned how to use the 6 CD changer I haven't used on the Jeep in years.  I had a fun day, Eagles high volume and my iPhone for directions, total cost $9 for the CDs.  :)
    This is worth it if you don't have BT in your car (which I don't..A depressing fact considering my car is 2016 and has the buttons on steering wheel indicating it could support BT) as adding an integrated BT system (not just a visor mic etc) is about $300 -$500. I'm buying this very soon!
  • Reply 48 of 52
    vmarks said:

    Can it use the microphone my car already has installed, I wonder?

    Price is a little steep, but if I was buying a new car that just lacked car play, I could see it as an investment.

    Alpine says no, please use their included mic.


    Ugh.  CarPlay doesn't really offer enough extra value for my car, as I already have BT, a decent MFD, and a phone with a reasonably large screen.  My wife, on the other hand, would benefit greatly from this.  I'll have to check out one of the local electronics installers and see what they say.

    Thanks for asking.

    edited August 2017
  • Reply 49 of 52
    I love the unit.  I installed it in a 2004 Honda Accord (254k miles & counting) using a Metra DD dash kit.  I added a back up camera.  If you can afford it...buy it...it's an excellent unit.  I have no regrets...this is a superb unit...all HUs should follow this units design interface, wireless carplay function, & sound quality features.
    edited September 2017
  • Reply 50 of 52
    I have this now in my 2017 Charger with JL component speakers in the front doors, JL 3 way 6x9’s in the rear deck with a ported JL 10” sub in the trunk. This is mated to a 5 channel JL amp and a HD backup camera. I am using this unit with an iPhone 8. I enjoy the sound and backup camera. The meistro device is great for controlling all vehicle features. I was back at my car dealership and the salesman really liked the install, he also commented that this unit unlocked not only the automatic climate control but also the track pack feature. The unit is very user friendly, natural to use and works well with all factory controls including volume, tuning and steering. Wheel controls. Thank you Alpine and Apple.
    edited November 2017
  • Reply 51 of 52
    I'm curious to know if it auto-plays upon start up and connect to an iPhone. My (limited) experience with wired CarPlay has left me annoyed. As soon as you plug in, it starts playing something. Some Bluetooth OEM head units do this too upon connecting to a phone. I don't think anyone wants this.
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