Chevrolet To Offer Android Auto and Apple CarPlay In 14 Vehicles For The 2016 Model Year

I get this, but it just seems like a mess.  I don't want to have to match my (or my customers') car to my phone, or vise versa.  On top of that, I see lots being mostly filled with Apple stuff, because they have more of a buzz, and leaving Android owners out in the cold.  I don't think there was any need for OS specific head units, I think manufacturers were doind a good job with things like MyLink, Sync, UConnect, etc.  This will just make it harder to keep the right cars on the lot to cater to all customers.

Edit: I guess maybe I'm missing how this will actually work, can one system do either?  I still thinks it's a mess of excess complexity, and I see that it is already showing a bias towards Apple.  I don't expect this to be any kind of notable improvement on the current systems, just another way for Android and iPhone users to argue about which product is better.

  On 5/27/2015 at 9:35 PM, SalesmanSean said:

Edit: I guess maybe I'm missing how this will actually work, can one system do either?  I still thinks it's a mess of excess complexity, and I see that it is already showing a bias towards Apple.  I don't expect this to be any kind of notable improvement on the current systems, just another way for Android and iPhone users to argue about which product is better.

These systems will operate both Android and Apple. Essentially, they run atop the infotainment system. Customers won't be required to pick compatibility at the dealership. 

Hyundai's already implemented this system and the reviews are quite good, considering it's still very new. The link below is a good place to start.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/26/8659671/android-auto-in-car-system-review-smartphone-hyundai-sonata

  On 5/27/2015 at 10:24 PM, Buzz Killington said:

 

  On 5/27/2015 at 9:35 PM, SalesmanSean said:

Edit: I guess maybe I'm missing how this will actually work, can one system do either?  I still thinks it's a mess of excess complexity, and I see that it is already showing a bias towards Apple.  I don't expect this to be any kind of notable improvement on the current systems, just another way for Android and iPhone users to argue about which product is better.

 

These systems will operate both Android and Apple. Customers won't be required to pick compatibility at the dealership. 

 

Hyundai's already implemented this system and the reviews are quite good, considering it's still very new. The link below is a good place to start.

 

http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/26/8659671/android-auto-in-car-system-review-smartphone-hyundai-sonata

 

Can't access the site for that article here at work, sadly, but from the main article here it doesn't really seem like they offer much functionality that wasn't already available through the standard MyLink system.

MyLink/Intellilink/CUE doesn't work well with Android at the moment. 

  On 5/27/2015 at 10:59 PM, Drew Dowdell said:

MyLink/Intellilink/CUE doesn't work well with Android at the moment. 

It hasn't given me any issues, but if that's an issue people have seen, I can see them wanting to fix it.  That's kind of surprising as those and other head units (albeit from different manufacturers) tend to offer increased functionality for Androids over iPhones (things that can stream through Bluetooth on Androids often need USB connections to stream from iPhones and Androids offer the option to reply to text with preset messages where iPhones can't).I'm not so much a fan of CUE, but I've really liked MyLink.  Of the ones we see on the lot here I'd probably put Mylink first, with either MazdaConnect or Entune second (I really like the commander control, so I'd probably give the nod to the Mazda), then Intellilink, and CUE and Nissan Connect can duke it out for the bottom spot.  That said, none of them are deal-breakingly bad, but some definitely function better than others.  If the Android and iPhone specific software is the way the industry is going I don't blame GM for trying to get there first, or at least towards the front of the pack, I just don't know that it was ever really needed in the first place.  It really seems more like a marketing tool than much of a functional upgrade so that they can say they have Android and iPhone technology.  I may be proven wrong, and I'll reserve final judgement until these systems hit the lot, but my first impression is, and I hate using this term but it's the most accurate description, "meh" at best. 

With my Buick Intelilink, I have trouble streaming audio over bluetooth and I can't use USB at all with my Galaxy S4.   I can stream audio over bluetooth, but I can't search by track or by playlist on the head unit.... I have to do all of that from the phone.   If I plug in my iPhone (yes, I carry both) it "just works".  I get album artwork, I can use voice search, and can select playlists. 

it would have been awesome to have this, to simplify, and universalize phone into car...stuff.

most everything works just fine in my mazda 6... bluetooth link is alittle slow, but... so, what's about 20-30 seconds?

The Benz I'm driving this week does not have Android Auto capability even though it is rolling out in some of their cars starting this year.  I can't get anything from plugging in my S4 via USB and with bluetooth I can only scroll through my music one by one via the head unit.

for me, just having the music interface be on the dash instead of my phone, will be great.  i have had apple devices and itunes for many years.  my library is stored on one computer and then since itunes knows that, i can stream what i own on my phone with my unlimited data, i don't need to copy it to the device.  the biggest problem has been having to run it on the phone, my cobalt with USB i can go through menus but it is nowhere near as easy as using the phone itself.  having the same interface on the dash will be holy grail.  Now if i can check email on the dash when the car is parked i will be super giddy.

Looks like a good move, giving choice to the customer always makes sense. It'll be interesting to see if automakers ditch doing all of the infotainment altogether and just stick with Apple, Google or a standardized version of what RIM's QNX makes for FCA, Ford and others. 

I am beyond excited about the prospect of Android Auto. Really, the biggest downside to all this is the fact that the phone has to have a physical connection in this day and age. Well, that and I do wish Android Auto could just be wholly integrated as the sole interface. But, I have a feeling that wouldn't make everyone happy, particularly those of the Apple-carrying variety. Still, this is an improvement over the industry-wide general awfulness of automakers own work. Mylink, Cue, Myfordtouch, Entune, etc. are all terrible, some to lesser degrees than others. Both Apple's and Google's systems are miles ahead of those disasters. 

This is welcome news and I am glad GM is starting to move their product lines to the phones. I think you will have superior satisfaction from customers.

So is this a system where you connect your phone and can then take calls through it play music & watch videos and stuff? Interesting draw if it is but it's not really my cup of tea honestly.

Will this cross the Atlantic to Opel?

  On 5/28/2015 at 1:25 PM, ZL-1 said:

Will this cross the Atlantic to Opel?

Sure, once the Buicks with Intelilink get it.

  On 5/28/2015 at 12:35 PM, Susimi said:

So is this a system where you connect your phone and can then take calls through it play music & watch videos and stuff? Interesting draw if it is but it's not really my cup of tea honestly.

This is along the lines of my thoughts, too.

You have laws against calls & texting while driving ... I don't see how all of this interconnectivity is any less distracting.  But, what do I know?

Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com

  On 5/28/2015 at 2:37 PM, Drew Dowdell said:

 

  On 5/28/2015 at 1:25 PM, ZL-1 said:

Will this cross the Atlantic to Opel?

 

Sure, once the Buicks with Intelilink get it.

 

Nice!

  On 5/29/2015 at 9:18 AM, ZL-1 said:

 

  On 5/28/2015 at 2:37 PM, Drew Dowdell said:

 

  On 5/28/2015 at 1:25 PM, ZL-1 said:

Will this cross the Atlantic to Opel?

 

Sure, once the Buicks with Intelilink get it.

 

Nice!

 

Your wish is Opel's command: Opel Getting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for 2016 Model Year

That would be pretty cool. The next wave of technology interaction is nearly here!