shashivr4

CarPlay (formerly iOS in the Car) was announced today at the Geneva Auto Show today. Apparently, Mercedes, Ferrari and Volvo will be the first to launch vehicles with this technology (apparently next week). A lot of information hasn't been released yet (Apple and the car makers have declined to make any comments). I'm looking forward to hearing more. I'm hoping the Drive Kit Plus will have the same functionalities as CarPlay as I'm having the DKP installed soon.

If anyone comes across any good links, please post them here. Thanks!

michael61

Here's Apple's page:

http://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/

and the press release

https://www.apple.com/pr/library/201...n-the-Car.html

Apple says "...works with Lightning-enabled iPhones, including iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5". No word from Mercedes on which cars this will work with - or if it's only new cars - fingers crossed that it works with a 2014 E 250 ;-)

shashivr4

If it's available this week, surely it will be available for 2014 Mercedes models. And if it's available for 2014 E Class, then it's available for 2013 E Class, right? Since both are utilizing NTG 4.5...

yalej

Very interested in this...the big question is whether this is just for upcoming new models or whether there will be some hardware you can install to enable it if you already bought your car. I really hope it's the latter case. Right now it is still unclear.

In principle, a device like the Drive Kit Plus should be able to enable the functionality. From what I understand, the iPhone is going to be doing all the processing, and all that is needed is a display on the car and and interface for the car-to-phone controlling to work. Fingers crossed.

shashivr4

In theory, yes, I agree this should be possible since the iPhone is doing all the processing. And since the DKP is already available, this seems like a real possibility. Esp considering Mercedes hasn't launched the DKP for the iPhone 5 in the states yet. Maybe they were waiting for this announcement.

In theory the only differences from vehicle to vehicle should be the UI (Comand control, touchscreen, etc).

Hope you're (we're) right. Please post updates as they are made available. I'll do the same.

E Classy

.

ttoE550

"CarPlay requires special, bespoke equipment supporting Apple’s iPhone to be fitted into cars, which means that car manufacturers will have to build it in at the factory."

http://www.theguardian.com/technolog...ay-siri-iphone

E Classy

.

shashivr4

Eclassy, you bring up some good points to consider. I too also like the built-in navigation, BT voice calling, and Sat radio. However, the advantage of running maps of a mobile phone is that they can be updated quickly and most likely with little expense (or even free) in the comfort of one's home. BTW, the maps for DKP don't use data as the maps are uploaded directly to the phone (one can choose which maps that want to save...by individual regions and even by individual states).

I also agree that texting capabilities in a Comand could be better.

Have you tried Send2Benz to send addresses to Comand? It works great?

DKP is about $1100 to install ($500 for kit and $600 for install) I would assume CarPlay would therefore cost more than $50 ;-)

shashivr4

I'm not buying the "will have to build it in at the factory" quite yet. It's been announced that CarPlay will be available this week. That to me hints at upgrades being available to some existing cars this week...but that could be me just trying to be hopeful...

ramjaw

Replies to this topic should probably be made at this thread:

https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...e-carplay.html

ttoE550

I'm largely convinced this is a going forward tech, but will be quite happy to be wrong. Another source I read said that carplay would be in cars rolling out this week, again suggesting a factory change.

I'm also concerned that this seems to be Apple centric, and apps like Google maps and Pandora will be blocked. Apple maps is simply deplorable. At least with the Bluetooth connection I can do what I want.

shashivr4

http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/...-35836487.html

ImInPA

I read somewhere that most cars will require an extra module to integrate into existing systems. These modules should become available from manufacturers. It will likely be some time before CarPlay is widespread.

shashivr4

Please share the link if you can find it. Thanks!

shashivr4

My response from Mercedes (via email) when asked what the differences between DKP and CarPlay were (response received this morning):

Thank you for contacting Mercedes-Benz Customer Service.

Having checked with our Technical Department, we can confirm whilst we are aware of articles in the press regarding this issue being fitted to Mercedes-Benz vehicles, this is not the case at the moment and we currently have no further information.

We would like to thank you for taking the time to contact us with your concerns.

yalej

CarPlay is still too new for anyone to know a whole lot of details. A bit of a waiting game at this point.

Here is a link to a video demo of CarPlay in a Ferrari:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/04/a...i-ff-hands-on/

Tjdehya

I just watched a video of it being used in a Volvo. It seems that it is primarily touchscreen based, so I wonder if Mercedes will move to touchscreens. Maybe that's why they have been putting those awkward iPadish screens in all their new cars.
The current iPadish screens are not touchscreen but maybe they will be in the future.

shashivr4

CarPlay can be controlled via voice, touchscreen or control knobs...or any combination of the above. It all depends on the technology that a specific automaker wants to provide.

michael61

It all looks very nice and well done.

Waze is the killer app for me. Other obvious CarPlay apps would be weather (with radar maps tracking your location for example), phone alternatives (voice FaceTime and Skype), more audio apps like Audible or Kindle Whispersync, GasBuddy, RoadAhead, etc.

I can't wait to see the API at the Apple developer conference in June. It should be fun to write my own apps for this!

When watching the demo in the Ferrari, I did notice the Apple person said "our connection right now is wired". Not too big a stretch to imagine wireless connections in the (medium term) future, though you'd want a wired connection for charging if you are using gps - it sucks power!

MB PR also takes care to mention work they are doing for Android phones too. This makes sense - it shouldn't be too much trouble to support both. CarPlay is basically displaying an iPhone-like interface generated on the iPhone with a back channel for input (touch, ***, and voice). If an app supports AirPlay, added CarPlay should be straightforward.

Tjdehya

Looks like MB wont use touchscreen afterall. After watching this MB demo video and the Volvo demo it is much easier to use with touchscreen. It works just like an iPad would.

michael61

Mercedes told us its “goal is to offer an after market solution by the end of the year.”

http://9to5mac.com/2014/03/06/merced...lder-vehicles/