CarPlay is here! - Megathread

[Drendino]

Can we not refer to the current version of CarPlay as the “crappy” version? How about 1.0 for current and 2.0 for the revamped integrated UI?! Let’s put some positive vibes out there around this!

I’ve given it some serious consideration and decided to stick with “crappy CarPlay”.

In all seriousness, my last car was a Panamera GTS. The software was horrible, but I didn’t even notice because the car was so great. On a $100k car I used to drive around with Airpods in my ears to talk on the phone and a phone in a cradle because the navigation was so bad. I’m excited to get CarPlay mostly because everyone else here is. Lucid not communicating on it just makes me want it even more.

If Lucid didn’t say it was coming, I probably wouldn’t have cared, like with my Porsche. I’ve lived my whole life without it but I do think it will be great to have Waze on a large screen and not have to worry about dropped audio all the time. Given the choice I would prefer more Dream Drive updates, but at this point I’ll take what I can get.

 

[Drendino]

I wonder if Lucid is getting ready for that direction of next generation CarPlay.

Thats what I was thinking but @joec convinced me that Apple probably wouldn’t allow Lucid to release CarPlay with the second generation ahead of everyone with the first gen. Maybe if they were getting ready to release gen 2 to everyone, but that seems unlikely.

I’m positive that people in the Lucid software department and/or legal department are laughing at us while we speculate and they play “I’ve got a secret”.

 

[Tesla2.0]

Pure EV companies:

Tesla Model-S —— debut June 22, 2012
Tesla CarPlay —— NEVER for Apple is its nemesis

Polestar 2 —— debut Feb 27, 2019
Polestar 2 CarPlay —— release OTA 2.2 on Jun 21, 2022

Rivian R1T —— debut Sep 14, 2021
Rivian CarPlay —— Announced no intention

Lucid Air —— Nov 4, 2021
Lucid CarPlay —— Announced compatibility


Perspective…
Breathe… inhale…. exhale….

 

[ebr]

I actually like the interface of CarPlay. The colorful icons allow me to quickly select what I want without having to divert my attention from the road. They resemble the icons on my phone so they are familiar. If you don’t like the interface, just don’t use it! I am much more concerned with functionality than appearance since I am pretty much the only person who’s ever in this car.

I'm sure that's the case for many hardcore Apple users but, based on what I've seen of how this company went about designing every detail about this car, I bet the idea of putting that interface on their beautifully crafted dash makes the design team cringe. The aesthetics are just so different from their vision of the UI.

 

[Bobby]

I'm sure that's the case for many hardcore Apple users but, based on what I've seen of how this company went about designing every detail about this car, I bet the idea of putting that interface on their beautifully crafted dash makes the design team cringe. The aesthetics are just so different from their vision of the UI.

Good point. But…. In my opinion, esthetics over function is a mistake. It’s a car not an art project.

 

[xponents]

I think that day the forum will be "undergoing maintenance"

It would have to after the servers get fried.

 

[ebr]

Good point. But…. In my opinion, esthetics over function is a mistake. It’s a car not an art project.

I agree to a point but, again, based on the rest of the car, I don't think they put aesthetics over function, I just think they demand both.

Just look at the exterior design of the car. The lowest drag coefficient in the industry and a damn gorgeous car! Compare that to, say, the EQS with roughly the same DC but it looks like a jellybean... .

So, I'm just posturing that maybe this is part of the hold up. They are trying to achieve the functionality within their design goals. Of course, this is pure speculation but, based on what you see everywhere else in the car, I don't think it is that far-fetched. I also doubt seriously that Apple would allow them to break from the design of CarPlay because I've dealt with Apple before.

Let me ask you this - if they implemented native Waze, Apple music (and what other apps?) would you still want CarPlay specifically?

 

[Bill55]

I agree to a point but, again, based on the rest of the car, I don't think they put aesthetics over function, I just think they demand both.

Just look at the exterior design of the car. The lowest drag coefficient in the industry and a damn gorgeous car! Compare that to, say, the EQS with roughly the same DC but it looks like a jellybean... .

So, I'm just posturing that maybe this is part of the hold up. They are trying to achieve the functionality within their design goals. Of course, this is pure speculation but, based on what you see everywhere else in the car, I don't think it is that far-fetched. I also doubt seriously that Apple would allow them to break from the design of CarPlay because I've dealt with Apple before.

Let me ask you this - if they implemented native Waze, Apple music (and what other apps?) would you still want CarPlay specifically?

I would. First, because CarPlay or Android will always have apps the Lucid does not. Second, because the Lucid UI is still awful for Music, and Nav, homelink. Also, using phone over Bluetooth vs CarPlay Android, the controls are not great and with the Air autoplay, when you get back in is inconsistent. Hopefully with Lucid’s CarPlay implementation we will be able to have different apps / information showing on the pilot panel and the cockpit screen. They may demand both aesthetics and function, but they came up short on the function side.

 

[ebr]

I would. First, because CarPlay or Android will always have apps the Lucid does not. Second, because the Lucid UI is still awful for Music, and Nav, homelink. Also, using phone over Bluetooth vs CarPlay Android, the controls are not great and with the Air autoplay, when you get back in is inconsistent. Hopefully with Lucid’s CarPlay implementation we will be able to have different apps / information showing on the pilot panel and the cockpit screen. They may demand both aesthetics and function, but they came up short on the function side.

Fair enough and, I think the further down into the "mainstream" of the auto market they go, the more that will be the case for their average user. They probably figured that their main demographic in these early days would not be as focused on things like AA and CarPlay.

Again, my argument is obviously pure speculation. The issue could be something entirely different. I just hope that they are trying to find a way to make those interfaces mesh better with the very elegant one they have designed.

 

[gavram]

I agree to a point but, again, based on the rest of the car, I don't think they put aesthetics over function, I just think they demand both.

Just look at the exterior design of the car. The lowest drag coefficient in the industry and a damn gorgeous car! Compare that to, say, the EQS with roughly the same DC but it looks like a jellybean... .

So, I'm just posturing that maybe this is part of the hold up. They are trying to achieve the functionality within their design goals. Of course, this is pure speculation but, based on what you see everywhere else in the car, I don't think it is that far-fetched. I also doubt seriously that Apple would allow them to break from the design of CarPlay because I've dealt with Apple before.

Let me ask you this - if they implemented native Waze, Apple music (and what other apps?) would you still want CarPlay specifically?

That's a good question. I was surprised how much I missed Android Auto in my Tesla Model S & having a commitment for it to be included in the Lucid was a major purchase criteria. Having spent time without it in the Lucid, I now feel like I'd be fine with Waze/Google maps standalone apps if Lucid would also allow music & nav on separate screens. This is partly because I've had a decent experience with Alexa. I'd even be okay without Waze/Google Maps if the current nav was more accurate, but it's unfortunately not very good at finding the best routes.

 

[Sandvinsd]

Let me ask you this - if they implemented native Waze, Apple music (and what other apps?) would you still want CarPlay specifically?

if they added Waze to the car menu, I could deal without CarPlay. My desire for CarPlay is really about getting a better navigation app.

 

[Bobby]

Let me ask you this - if they implemented native Waze, Apple music (and what other apps?) would you still want CarPlay specifically?

Good question. The answer is YES for several reasons:
1. Tight integration between calendar and navigation. I have clients spread all around, so when I make appointments for them, I put the addresss in the appointment. Re-entering the address is silly. Yes, I know I can send the address via the Lucid app but it’s extra steps and sometimes the app refuses the address (not sure why).
2. Apple Music has excellent audio quality and features such as shuffle, etc. I think the audio interface in the Lucid is a mess. Video forthcoming.
3. I like to have choices between the various mapping applications such as Google maps, Apple Maps, Waze.
4. Apple Maps is much more friendly (and trustworthy) than the included navigation. It shows an icon of stop signs, stoplights, and says things like “turn right at the second light” instead of “turn right in 700 feet” which I find much easier. I don’t have to watch the screen if I do not want to have the navigation voice turned on (client in car, etc.) because it is integrated with Apple Watch, which will tap my wrist to indicate the next instruction.
5. Texting functionality works very well. I simply cannot get Alexa to send a text properly for me.
6. On longer trips, I like audiobooks and podcasts. If I listen on my phone at home, it picks up right where I left off in the car.
7. Same user experience across vehicles. People complain about the interface not matching the current UI. While I agree this is true, I am very used to it from other cars.
8. Other minor reasons.

 

[ebr]

@Bobby all good reasons as well and I'm sure they are gonna get there eventually. Their highly customized and unique integrated and separate but not really screen design is more likely what is really tripping them up in getting this out.

 

[joec]

Good question. The answer is YES for several reasons:
1. Tight integration between calendar and navigation. I have clients spread all around, so when I make appointments for them, I put the addresss in the appointment. Re-entering the address is silly. Yes, I know I can send the address via the Lucid app but it’s extra steps and sometimes the app refuses the address (not sure why).
2. Apple Music has excellent audio quality and features such as shuffle, etc. I think the audio interface in the Lucid is a mess. Video forthcoming.
3. I like to have choices between the various mapping applications such as Google maps, Apple Maps, Waze.
4. Apple Maps is much more friendly (and trustworthy) than the included navigation. It shows an icon of stop signs, stoplights, and says things like “turn right at the second light” instead of “turn right in 700 feet” which I find much easier. I don’t have to watch the screen if I do not want to have the navigation voice turned on (client in car, etc.) because it is integrated with Apple Watch, which will tap my wrist to indicate the next instruction.
5. Texting functionality works very well. I simply cannot get Alexa to send a text properly for me.
6. On longer trips, I like audiobooks and podcasts. If I listen on my phone at home, it picks up right where I left off in the car.
7. Same user experience across vehicles. People complain about the interface not matching the current UI. While I agree this is true, I am very used to it from other cars.
8. Other minor reasons.

I’m 100% with Bobby here. It’s about way more than music integration. I don’t use Waze, anyway. But I do greatly prefer directions from Apple Maps to anything else on the market, including Google Maps.

I also use a third-party podcast app, Castro, which is a small indie establishment. They would never have the resources to do a native app integration with a company like Lucid. But thanks to CarPlay, I can keep my queue up to date as I listen.

At the end of the day, CarPlay is about integrating with the most important computer in my life: my phone. Individual apps might be nice, but you can’t compete with the computer in my pocket simply being available on my car’s screens. CarPlay (and Android Auto) are extremely popular for a reason.

 

[Tesla2.0]

CarPlay has Plug Share, ABRP, ChargePoint, EVGo and EA app, what I use for road trip. It would be nice to see apps on bigger right cockpit screen than holding phone while driving.

 

[pjdcorp]

if they added Waze to the car menu, I could deal without CarPlay. My desire for CarPlay is really about getting a better navigation app.

Me Too.

 

[DeaneG]

Same here. If the car had Google Maps instead of HERE, I'd have no reason to want Carplay or Android Auto. OTOH our other EV has native Google/GAS cloud integration for maps/nav, texting, phone, podcasts, etc and it's great. The presence or absence of native Google/GAS will certainly influence my purchase decision for the next car.

 

[joec]

So the rental car Lucid gave me while my car is in the shop has CarPlay, of course. And I was immediately reminded of why I want it in my Lucid.

Three taps, and I was able to share a link to my ETA and current driving location while on my way to pick up my wife from work. There are dozens of these little convenience features that are only possible when the car is fully integrated with your phone.

 

[xponents]

So the rental car Lucid gave me while my car is in the shop has CarPlay, of course. And I was immediately reminded of why I want it in my Lucid.

Three taps, and I was able to share a link to my ETA and current driving location while on my way to pick up my wife from work. There are dozens of these little convenience features that are only possible when the car is fully integrated with your phone.

What was the rental?

 

[joec]

What was the rental?

It is a wonderful little Hyundai Tucson. In deep red. Not a bad little car. But so hilarious to hand to me for so many reasons.

1) It's red. I don't like red cars. (No offense to the Zenith folks out there. Just not my thing.) And 80% of the rentals I've gotten in my life have been red, for some strange reason.
2) It's a crossover. Unlike most Americans, I hate the high seating position of any form of truck. (I bought the Air for a good reason.)
3) It's called the Tucson. I've only been to Tucson once, but I have a running joke with my wife about how much I hate that town, because we had such a terrible experience there. I'm sure it's actually a lovely place and I'd love it if I went back. But I always joke with her that it's the only place we've ever gone that I would refuse to go back to with her.

The guy at Hertz apologized profusely that they were out of Teslas. And he offered to swap the car out for a Tesla as soon as they get one back in stock, if my service takes more than a few days. I may take him up on it, if only to avoid having to go to a gas station. I can charge a Tesla easily at home.