[SubVet]

Today Apple announced that CarPlay would be coming to Jeep in the future. They didn't include models or anything, but this is exciting. Here's the article I read in VentureBeat.

 

[Dr.G]

Wow, very exciting. If the Renegade doesn't feature CarPlay at launch, I'm hoping I can add it later by upgrading the UConnect unit.

 

[Willy]

Wow, very exciting. If the Renegade doesn't feature CarPlay at launch, I'm hoping I can add it later by upgrading the UConnect unit.

I'm not sure if that will be possible. I'm not sure IF its possible, but I've never seen apple software running on a non apple device and vice versa. I just don't see apple releaseing software without the accompanying hardware, its just not their way...

 

[LWRobinson]

Although I am an Apple fan and have several Apple products (including the computer I am typing this on), Chrysler's Uconnect is very highly rated by Consumer Reports and by others, so this feature of the Renegade doesn't worry me at all. In a few rare cases Apple makes versions of their software to run on a non-Apple product (iTunes is the only example I can think of at the moment), but not usually. So I agree with Willy that it is unlikely the Apple software will work on the infotainment hardware in the Renegade. But, as I said, not to worry since the existing software is good.

 

[Willy]

@LWRobinson, good point about iTunes. The way I've always viewed iTunes however is that it has to be out of necessity, user bases of all apple products would be far less if iTunes was apple products only. Especailly when iTunes debuted Aplpe was a company fighting for its life, the iPod resurrected them. So locking iTunes to Apple hardware would of been the final nail in the coffin.

I find it amusing how beyond condescending some of the writing around this is becoming. From the linked article for instance:

t looks like none of the major auto manufacturers wants to be left out when Apple revolutionizes the car dashboard with its CarPlay

Counting chickens before they hatch much?

CarPlay, which officially debuted back in March, is Apple’s way of extending the functionality of your iPhone (and other iOS devices) to your car in a way that won’t affect your ability to drive safely

C'mon thats BEYOND ironic... Anything that is NOT driving affects your ability to drive safely I don't care what Apple tells you. Considering the iPhone facilitated the needs for CarPlay, whos to say we won't need another new technology to save us from CarPlay

 

[tony]

i HATE using itunes to load music to a device or any files.
they made the user interface of the device easy to use but itunes is a PITA

 

[Necros]

I like the idea of connecting an iphone to a car, but I don't have an iphone and won't. Since I don't need the internet in my pocket I never felt the need to pay $80 a month plus $500 every 2 years, when I can get a pay as you go plan for $100 a year.. and I have a hard time using up all my minutes before they expire But this will be good for the folks that want that kind of thing. I have an iPod touch for my music though, so it would be good if I could use that.

If I get a car play radio anyway, will I need an iPhone to have a GPS? If so then that's a definitely no for me Again, don't wanna pay the crazy monthly prices they charge.

 

[LWRobinson]

Necros comments that he likes the idea of connecting an iPhone to a car. Both my iPhone and my iPod connect just fine to the infotainment system in my 2013 Lexus RX450h, and I don't see why they would not connect to the Chrysler supplied Uconnect in the Renegade. I am assuming (and hoping) that they will. Has anyone had any problems connecting an iPhone or an iPod to Uconnect in any other Chrysler product?

 

[Jeepers]

Is anyone disappointed that Jeep will be getting Apple instead of Android?

 

[LWRobinson]

I just spoke with a salesman at my local Jeep dealer, and he confirmed what I had assumed, which is that Apple products, including my iPhone and iPod, will connect just fine to the Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system. They will connect exactly as they do to the infotainment system in my Lexus. Given that, if they put the existing Chrysler Uconnect in the Renegade I will be happy. I'm more concerned about the 9-speed gearbox and other parts of the new Renegade being troublesome.

 

[tony]

ideally they should do that to the renegade, if not i hope whatever it is, is just as easy to connect and sync.

 

[LWRobinson]

Tony, my understanding is they plan to put the Chrysler Uconnect in the Renegade, so I think we have little to worry about in that regard.

 

[ChickenBoy]

Android auto is also comining to Jeep vehicles:

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/android-auto-coming-to-cars,news-19054.html

 

[Willy]

yes makes sense. I think if a manufacturers will need to offer both Apple and Google. Obviously Apple/Google is going to favor their company products, so unless they want to alienate an entire chunk of people based on their cell phone both will need to be offered. Now where this will get interesting is if its just a simple software load, or if there will need to be unique hardware for Apple/Google???

 

[tony]

yes makes sense. I think if a manufacturers will need to offer both Apple and Google. Obviously Apple/Google is going to favor their company products, so unless they want to alienate an entire chunk of people based on their cell phone both will need to be offered. Now where this will get interesting is if its just a simple software load, or if there will need to be unique hardware for Apple/Google???

considering that their software systems are unique and that they would want to make more money out of this, i think it's best for them if they require you to own their unit to use their software.

 

[Willy]

considering that their software systems are unique and that they would want to make more money out of this, i think it's best for them if they require you to own their unit to use their software.

thats bad business for the automakers. I know I would be more than a little bothered if my vehicle choice was dictated by what phone I own. Why don't we start doling out vehicles on personality traits then. Assholes who drive BMW's will all be limited to gutless Corolla and Gremlin rust buckets. Predictible Prius crowd will be given diesels with DPF delete and so on and so forth

Anyways

CarPlay in a Ferrari...

funny though, as Allpar is saying that Ferrari and Masser will be the only two FCA brands that will NOT have Carplay??

http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2014/07/fca-signs-on-for-apple-carplay

 

[raz-0]

I'm not sure if that will be possible. I'm not sure IF its possible, but I've never seen apple software running on a non apple device and vice versa. I just don't see apple releaseing software without the accompanying hardware, its just not their way...

Car play is just an external UI to the phone. From my understanding it is supposed to be compatible with the QNX OS, and possibly any OS. It specifically is just software for a head unit so it can operate the phone. The phone is the apple hardware. In theory, a software upgrade for access to car play should be possible.

Doesn't mean that it will be though.

 

[tony]

it would be great if they can allow software upgrade for carplay as easy as it is for any of their phones, seeing how good they are with this on all of their current devices i can see this happening.

 

[raz-0]

considering that their software systems are unique and that they would want to make more money out of this, i think it's best for them if they require you to own their unit to use their software.

1) people need to stop having holy wars over what samart phone they use.

2) Jeep is signed on both with apple carplay and google's open automotive alliance.

3) This technology has NOTHING to do with the existing levels of bluetooth connection.

4) This is very much the car equivalent of a docking station for a laptop, except for your smart phone. The head unit will act as an additional display of sorts, as well as audio and probably video i/o for the device, and as some form of user input/access to the UI. Kind of like a smart watch linked to your phone, but the accessory is a car. Claims that it's going to get all proprietary because google/apple like giving their hardware the advantage are silly. From this perspective it's like a really expensive speaker dock on steroids. They want them to pay the licensing fee for compatibility, and prevent things like are happening where the NHTSA wants to regulate categories of software that might be used in a car.

So just like some cars support launching pandora on your phone now, this enables that in a standard way supported by the phone's OS. IT will likely also allow more advanced stuff like using it as an auxilliary display. IN a perfect world that would mean your phone based nav would jsut pipe the touch controls and display to your head unit over bluetooth, but who knows what the actual plan is and what version 1 will look like.

willy pretty much nails the problem with
" I know I would be more than a little bothered if my vehicle choice was dictated by what phone I own."

Both apple and google know that, and absolutely don't want a a car purchase preventing platform adoption by customers. With the average car age on the road being 11 years, if you are the flavor they are trapped with, it sounds awesome. Knowing you have a $20k+ extremely durable barrier preventing you form taking market share form your competitors in a market that has run through most of its rapid early growth? That's a nightmare for them.

 

[Jeepers]

I think that people just care so much about the whole Google vs Apple thing because it is such a rivalry with smart phones, and also because car companies haven't been very successful at doing these infotainment systems by themselves, so people are excited to see what a true professional can do with it.