Technology

I don't own a car but I rent them a lot. Part of my "go bag" includes blue tack. A semi sticky putty that doesn't leave a residue. I use this to stick my phone to the surface of whatever screen is in the car. This puts it right where I can see it and interact with it easily. Then I don't have to learn a new system in every different car I drive.

Ever since the start of internet connected vehicles this has been on the table, before it wasn't really possible to manage subscriptions like this, now it is as easy as changing $SUBSCR_INF_ACP from a 0 to a 1 on your account to enable CarPlay, once you have paid.

Though, to be fair, I would like better integration with the onboard systems, something like Carplay lite.

It would basically present the content on the phone, music, podcasts, audiobooks, maps, etc. to the onboard infotainment system.

Apps with audio media would appear as audio sources, inside the audio sources, any menu would be presented in a standard UI.

Basically, the phone would simply send something like an XML file of how the menu should be displayed, and the infotainment has a rendering engine to render the UI in a style that is integrated with the car's UI.

That would solve one of the biggest issues with CarPlay/AA, the forced touchscreen.

In my 2021 Seat Leon FR PHEV hatchback, I have a fantastic steeringwheel, it has plenty of excellent controls, regarding media, I have a volume wheel by my left thumb, I can also press it to pause the media, on the right side of the steering wheel I have buttons for skip/previous.

If I could interact with the menus in CarPlay using the thumbwheel and a separate back button, that would be amazing.

The wheel clicks when moving it, so if you could simply have it move the selection on the menu with every click it would be brilliant.

Though I would need another thumbwheel to set the volume....

My point is that if deeper integration of phone media in the infotainment system could enable a UI less dependent on a a touchscreen, I would love to try it.

What now, do they want more car-is-a-smartphone or more car-talks-to-your-smartphone instead? Article is confus.

Because it sucks ass anyway?

I tried Android Auto back when it was first coming out and it was such a slow buggy piece of shit that I have always just looked at my phone for directions instead of connect to Android Auto even when the car supports it.

I have equally bad experiences with both Android Auto and Apple Carplay. I don't really want either and am fine with what I've got (only 1/3 of the cars I own even has Carplay/Android Auto). I mostly dislike how it's been implemented with "safety controls" that require the phone to be plugged into the infotainment center in some cars and the requirement that I only connect it while at a stop with the car in park. If someone is driving with me and they want to change to their phone I have to pull over and that's stupid.

The infotainment centers themselves with their stupid touch screens and lack of buttons are where my real problems start, and the end with the tracking BS and telemetry data. You can keep the new cars. I don't want them.

I really really dislike the UX. Sorry, but I just want my phone to Bluetooth for sound/calls and bonus if I can get a charge via wireless charging.

Android converting my elegant display into something that looks like it was built on Window 95? Nah, keep it.