1) What additional hardware will it require for the W221 installation?
A) an additional microphone? I saw some reference for this in the group buy thread.
B) an add on joystick for input? Saw this too but maybe in reference to another model.

2) I'm assuming the implementation uses a module that will intercept the video signal going to the comand screen and use the up/ down movement of the comand knob to toggle between Apple car play/ normal Mercedes function.
It will also have its own iPhone interface including a lightning cable.
It will also interface with the sound system, and may include its own da converter since the lightning cable interface has no analog signal.
This would also replace the crappy iPhone integration now offered by Mercedes.
Please discuss.


Regards,
Cary

 

im sure ******* isnt gonna answer or just tell you to go watch the mb video and its the same exact thing. i would wait till january once its released before you buy. good luck

 

They're a little short on details, to put it mildly. Generally if you have a device that's production ready, you at minimum have a working prototype. If you have a working prototype, you have all you need to make a quick video proving the prototype works.

Instead, they've posted a video from Mercedes corporate that does not in any way depict their product. They state their product will work identically to the OEM CarPlay system in the video.

That represents the entirety of their proof that the product exists and will work as advertised, which is to say, there is none. Upon that basis and that
basis alone they are taking pre-orders for the product, which they state will ship in January.

Do I think they'll steal your money and you'll never hear from them again? No. Do I think there's a possibility of delays well past January, possible issues with installation or function, a lack of tech support and a reluctance to issue refunds? Yes. They do have a bit of a negative history on other forums and a C+ BBB rating. They also have actual, satisfied users of their other products on forums as well.

A retrofit module to add Apple CarPlay integration that would somehow work on all or most models of recent MB is a tall order. These guys may very well pull it off, but I dont think it's unwise to wait to see one actually working in a W221 and get some real-world feedback before laying down any money, even if it means waiting and paying more.

 

I don't believe in ****ing thing until I see it

 

Well there you have it. Very confidence inspiring, right? Based on those barely literate and highly condescending responses would you give them any money for a product sight unseen? Me either.

To clarify, CarPlay is a joint venture between Apple and OEM /aftermarket car audio manufacturers. It is intended to reduce driver distraction by placing a limited selection of essential icons on the OEM infotainment (nav) screen in a stripped down GUI. It is not a mirror of the cell phone screen. Instead, it pulls data and runs selected apps from the device and presents it in a simplified form on the car's screen. The entire purpose of CarPlay is to reduce driver distraction, so many apps are not accessible, just the basics...maps, mail, music, etc.

In cars with a touch screen, it functions by touch a lot like the phone. In cars with a jog wheel, the jog wheel is used to select and activate apps.

The second equally important element is Siri Hands Free. This allows drivers to access Siri via their car's existing voice command system. It does this by accessing the car's cabin microphone. Siri responds through the car's audio system.

Those two elements comprise CarPlay. It is not a mirroring device. A mirror simply displays a copy of the cell phone screen. A mirror still requires all interaction to be on the cell phone itself. CarPlay is a seperate component that serves as a bridge between the car and the iPhone and allows interactions without ever touching the phone. Huge difference.

In previous discussions ******* did not acknowledge they were still in development. They stated they had a working unit but were waiting until they could have professional videos made. "In development" is not a market ready product. Apple has very strict certification requirements for 3rd party products that access its OS and raw files. The ******* device may become one, and they'll have a huge hit on their hands if they pull it off, but until then, and based on their representation here, I'm skeptical.

 

Scam he keeps deleting my posts and is not very good at answering questions constantly beats around the bush

 

Ha! I had him pinned down so bad yesterday he deleted a 30 post thread and started over, then I got a text from someone claiming to be a forum admin ( he wasn't) and threatening a ban if I didn't delete my own thread on the subject.

 

he sent me PM's saying i don't make sense delete my posts lol what a joker

 

Did you seriously not know that?

 

listen it seems like an amazing idea but there is no proof its a joke i hope no one gets tricked in to this. it just doesn't seem realistic that audio 20 can magically have navi. i looked into it you might as well trade your car in and buy one with navi its about 3000-4000$ to get it installed that factory NAVI if you want an iPad any size as your screen its about 5000$ to integrate it to your whole system lots of money

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/CarPlay

Go to the section on automobile manufacturers.

 

Sure it is. The manufacturers have to agree to use Apple's In-Car OS in their head units. That's what allows CarPlay to run. Of course that requires collaboration between Apple and the manufacturer, both in OEM systems and in aftermarket HUs.

Are you saying your product does not run Apple In-Car OS, and is not Apple certified? Dude, if you spent half as much time answering prospective buyer's questions as you did arguing with me and deleting posts with questions you can't answer, you'd probably sell a lot more imaginary CarPlay modules.

 

You didn't realize that Apple code has to be embedded in the HU for CarPlay to run, and that that code is known as "Apple In Car OS"? You would need that code in your aftermarket module as well. Apple In Car OS and CarPlay are one and the same. In Car OS was the development name, and CarPlay was the marketing name.

I don't know what you guys are working on, but it's clearly not CarPlay. It sounds more like a VIM with a cell phone mirror.

When you market your product, what will it be called?

 

Well, CarPlay as a factory retrofit module was promised by MB in 2014 and I was interested in it then and have followed it since. Just installed a Kenwood DD HU with Apple Play in my kids Scion as a matter of fact. Had to download the latest Apple In Car OS firmware update to a USB and flash it to the HU.

Here's a link from Apple. Have you heard of them?

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

Here's Apple thanking the manufacturers they partnered with to bring CarPlay to their vehicles:






But if you have some alternate theory of what Apple In Car OS is, or what CarPlay is, please go ahead and share, along with all of your supporting documentation.

 

Look at the second link under Similar Threads. It's been their all night, Sherlock.

"MB says CarPlay may be retrofitted".



Here's the Kenwood Apple OS firmware update link you asked for earlier:

http://www.kenwood.com/cs/ce/mm/firmware/2015/2015g/software/DDX_V1.6.0_APP.zip

Now might be a good time for you to post links to material that support your position. I have no idea what your position is, since your idea of a debate is to repeatedly ask your opponent to prove their point without ever making one of your own.

Looking forward to your links.

 

Where in the world are you getting this information? Neither Ferrari or Panasonic is on the list of Apples partners. Obviously if it worked in any car Apple wouldn't need to partner with certain manufacturers. Did you not read the list? Did you see Ferrari or Panasonic on there?

 

After reading through all these Nav Tool threads, I feel like my IQ has taken a hit. I wonder if MBWorld would be upset if anybody sued one of their vendors for killing brain cells by trying to comprehend a bunch of buffoonery?


I guess one of the benefits of being a so-called vendor is that you can delete all of your posts and others in a thread....which really isn't fair to all of the good members of the forum who try to comprehend WTF the topic is. Buffoonery at its very best.

 

I think MBWorld needs to start vetting their vendors before they try to bamboozle funds from unsuspecting forum members.

 

The more goofy stuff he posts the less likely he is to make any sales. I consider my efforts here a public service.

Hey did you catch that thread with screen grabs where he texted me posing as an Admin on the board and threatening to ban me if I didn't delete my thread? Friggin classic! An actual admin closed the thread and then PMd me for evidence.

 

Mike, there really isn't any point in arguing with this guy any more. I'm sure your brain is becoming just as numb as one of your *****. I know my brain feels a bit numified (new word). Just report him to the moderators and let them deal with him. They obviously have the power to remove him as a vendor and delete all of the garbage that he didn't do himself.

 

Yeah, I agree it's pointless. Anybody who sends him money now deserves exactly what they'll get. Mike5215 out.

 

Without having him booted, this guy will just delete all of the negative threads and keep starting new ones to lure folks who are unaware of what he's up to.

 

This is a private message I received last night. The strange thing is that if you check, I never posted anything on this site related to the subject sponsor. I posted on the other MB site that the product had been reported as a scam on the site. I wasn't aware until now that both sires were run by the same people. Maybe I'm wrong, but, are both sires owned and operated by the same group/people? While this may put me in the same excrement pile as Mike, I'm curious.



Hi,

I apologize for removing your post but there is no proof the company is a scam. We will continue to monitor this vendor for any issues. They are a sponsor on other IB sites and I've not found a history of scamming. Thank you!

Bob

 

This is clearly a fraud/scam..............why even entertain the guy! He is selling or should i say trying to sell a product that does not exist.

 

If anyone remotely cares, via PM today I reached an understanding with ******* with respect to promotion of the group buy. They agreed to add a disclaimer to their post(s) when offering the group buy, and I agreed to stop challenging them on the voracity of their claims, since the disclaimer would eliminate any confusion amongst the forum members.