https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/10/as-some-carmakers-run-from-apple-carplay-porsche-embraces-it
The app lets you control climate, radio, and lighting without leaving CarPlay.
I would much rather a car manufacturer focus on making sure the hardware is nice to use rather than coming out with some Ass-software that they came up with in house. Also, I’m going to connect my phone to the radio anyways so why reinvent software to make it less compatible then the native software my phone manufacturer has already R&D’ed pretty well. I assume there is some licensing bullshit with either CarPlay or Android Auto that could be playing a factor. But I would still rather the manufacturer focus on a nice feeling, high refresh rate, bright display rather than focus on some new clunky interface they develop.
Car conpanies want to sell you subscriptions to services, and killing off carplay/auto would do that.
Need a gps? you either use your phone screen to navigate with audio or be forced to use their navigation service on the hud.
I seriously wouldn't buy a car at this point if it didn't have CarPlay or Android Auto in it. Navigation with Google Maps or Waze is vastly superior to anything a car company is ever going to come up with (props to Apple Maps too for making big improvements in the last several years). Integrated music experiences where I can directly see my Spotify playlists or favorite tracks without touching my phone is just something I'm used to and couldn't go back. Having a voice assistant that works from Google / Apple (I know Siri is rough sometimes lol) will always be better than any voice controls a car company comes up with. Oh, and huuuge points to Overcast for just reliably being the best podcast app for many years and having a super easy to navigate CarPlay app. I'd lose all of that and more if there was no integration with my phone and we went back to the awful bluetooth pairing that we had before with terrible UI design and no support for third party apps.
At this point, that's more important to me than whatever engine they've stuck in it. Just give me good mileage, pass inspection and last at least 150k miles and we're good. I'm not drag racing so I don't need a rocket ship lol
Thanks for going over reasons!
I'm still curious though - how are car play or android auto different from just using your phone in your car?
fumble through Bluetooth pairing menus or familiarize myself with whatever infotainment software
Ah, got it. I've never used either of those things so I've never had that issue.
You get to use the cars screen vs using your phone as a screen (which is statistically smaller).
Auto/Carplay UI is also optimized for driver with better legible text and fewer auxillary buttons that could distract you from driving.
And who are you going to trust more updating the car software experience, 2 companies who is in the business of making full fledged operating systems and software, vs a car manufacturer whose software division miniscule compared to the big companies.
Car companies essentially have 0 history of offering a good software experience. Why would anyone trust them now. Its like the Nintendo paid online stuff. Why would you trust Nintendo to have a better online experience if its paid when they have 0 history of actually making it good. Its just there to dime you for subscription money.