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nicce

I have heard CarPlay royalty is quite big - has anyone some numbers?

Edit: maybe my information was old - some sources say it costs nothing

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There are no licensing fees or royalties for CarPlay or android auto.

It does cost time/money to integrate, like any feature

Can you implement CarPlay now without the MFI chip?

AFAICT USB-C iPhones don't have the same restrictions as lightning ones - https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/15/iphone-15-usb-c-port-compatib...

That's just for cables, I think you still need MFI (and all the paperwork and approvals and cost and the chip itself) that go with it if you want to implement a CarPlay receiver.

Does anyone prefer wired CarPlay over Wireless CarPlay?

I was annoyed enough that our used/new-to-us 2020 vehicle only supported wired that I bought a wired-to-wireless adapter and brought it with me on test drives to ensure that whatever I bought would work well in wireless mode [or else I was buying a different car].

I installed a wireless charger under one of the cubbies that was well sized to hold my phone on long drives. No need to faff around with cables.

> Does anyone prefer wired CarPlay over Wireless CarPlay?

Yes, for the main reason that I have a Starlink Mini on my roof rack.

My phone can connect to the vehicle via wifi, or it can connect to the internet over Starlink via wifi, but not both simultaneously. With wired CarPlay, that problem is solved.

Someone was so annoyed that they built Raspberry dongle themselves, and based on the stars, someone else was too: https://github.com/45clouds/WirelessCarPlay

Wait till you see how much it costs (in sales) to NOT have it. Eg: I won’t buy a car without it.

Generally yes, but I would buy a car that has no screen at all, just give me a phone holder on the dash.

Yeah all I want is something that holds the phone and gives it a USB-C port that charges it, lets me play media through it, and lets buttons on the wheel control the phone (volume, next/previous, and programmable go forward/back x seconds buttons).

USB-C is so powerful, it can do everything Bluetooth does while charging, but for some reason that's just not an option in a lot of cars? Make it make sense.

It's the latency that kills me. Let alone the stupid "you're an idiot if you let this screen distract and kill you" message that pops up, it seems to take a good 10+ seconds to sync with the phone and "come alive".

This is with USB, too.

I want the car to start and CarPlay to be operational; we have no time to be wasting on whatever formalities software wants to have.

Maybe someday wireless CarPlay could start syncing with the system before you even get to the car, so it's already loaded when you sit down and start.

But some do, don't they? It seems to me that Hyundai will initiate the phone connection right when you open the driver's door. Then, as you sit down and start the car, the infotainment has already booted up and the phone connection comes online almost immediately.

Also, during short stops, the screens go black but the connection is kept up, so when you re-start, there is no delay.

That’s good to hear - the experiments I’ve had with the wireless CarPlay has been mediocre, but it’s only been a few rentals.

Whereas I really did take wired CarPlay into consideration when buying our minivan, there are only so many options that I may have had to compromise.

Then you want the Dacia Media Control.

It has a phone holder where other trim levels would place the screen, and USB power around there.

Other than that, the car is mostly Bluetooth a speaker.

They actually have an app that allows you to tune the FM radio, otherwise I don't think you can listen to radio broadcasts.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dacia.dngo

The issue is you're still driving a, somehow, even worse Renault.

The latest Duster is actually really nice - if you haven't tried it I would strongly recommend it.

“I want this feature, someone should do it.”

“These guys do it…”

“Oh no, not those guys!”

We could instead discuss the feature, but no.

This is what the Slate truck is promising. I won’t buy it without CarPlay, personally, but you can put your money where your mouth is, supposedly.

The Slate truck won’t have CarPlay because it won’t have infotainment at all. If you want Carplay buy one of the dozens of offerings from companies like Alpine and have it installed at one of the thousands of stereo shops across the country. You’ll get exactly what you want from experts in what you want.

Or 3d print a mount for my old iPad and not need CarPlay at all.

Sure, that’s the point of the slate truck! Seems like a car for 3d printing enthusiasts.

Physical controls are worth it for me. Having a press to talk button, track advance and volume controls on my steering wheel is a pretty nice quality of life feature. I could do without a screen if the car has that.

I’d rather have a big screen for GPS.

My car even has a relatively small console screen but still prefer it over my (non-plus size) iPhone. I could live with just my iPhone on USB but consider the center screen a plus. (The vehicle is pretty good about climate control etc. on buttons.)

My old ford tourneo custom has a well placed phone holder. I use this and a MagSafe charger plugged into usb port on dash. Works great, I can use my phone, or anybody else can use the van and their phone, it’s really easy. Just looked and newer models have great big touch screen instead :(

You might be interested in the Slate truck when it comes out. It's too early to tell, but I like their philosophy.

I mean I have that already, a Volkswagen E-Up that has a cradle for a phone with a USB port behind it for charging. They even have an app that connects to your car directly(through Bluetooth! No fancy subscription based nonsense) and shows you all charging/energy consumption figures.

I just mean I'd totally buy a much higher end car that is like this, I don't need a screen with all the nonsense on it.

And what happens when phone sizes change? I've certainly had phone clips that didn't comfortably fit a new phone with case.

You get a new holder. The one that came with our e-Up was too small for my S24 Ultra, so I just got an adapter on eBay for like £3 and installed a new holder(with wireless charging!). Where there's a market need someone will provide a solution.

I think phones are about as big as they can get, unless we genetically engineer larger hands.

I'm not sure why you have the downvotes. Even it's mostly just about GPS, the built-in screen is better than iPhone on a somewhat dodgy clip attached to a vent someplace. Unless the car were otherwise compelling--and it's a pretty competitive market--not sure I'd buy a car without CarPlay.

I want a car with a phone holder built in! My phone will always be higher powered and more update than any tech in the car.

Give me a car with no computer, but a phone stand and charger built in!

Oh oh, we could even use a standard like monitor stands.

The more premium Opel Astra K models had a phone holder built-in (optional accessory, but you get the point) that would also charge the phone. Practically no one bought it so they removed it in later models.

> My phone will always be higher powered and more update than any tech in the car.

Carplay is your phone, it's like having an external monitor

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