[favorited]

It will be interesting to see how useful this will be vs. vanilla Android Auto & CarPlay.

I've had CarPlay for the last couple years, and I use it exclusively now. Even for things like radio, I've started using the Sirius app via CarPlay instead of the native radio interface. I don't use built-in navigation either, I just use my phone's on the same head unit.

What kind of benefits can the deliver through a tighter integration? And will they be able to keep it up-to-date as easily I keep my phone up-to-date? Will be interesting to watch.

[bitmapbrother]

The level of customization an OEM can do is pretty remarkable. This is Android Auto in an Audi Q8 and it looks nothing like Vanilla Android Auto or Carplay for that matter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xf5hVqZHPY

[gdrulia]

I know this is not what you trying to point to in your comment, but I just watched that video and I'm really surprised at how bad the system is.

Yes it looks completely different, but delay between user action and response is horrific, sometimes over a second and sometimes doesn't even do anything. It's like those cheap Chinese after market systems, that runs poor hardware and just barely works. And all of this in a new 2017 car, imagine this after 5 or 10 years, will be totally useless... Hopefully Volvo will do a better job with usability of the system.

[bitmapbrother]

Can you cite where in the video where these long delays were?

[gdrulia]

~20sec music play and then followed pause. Just not sure what to say about that. Even the guy narrating gets confused and almost clicks for the second time to start the music. Then followed menu selection, not as slow, but still noticeable slowness in response. Later one when he clicks other buttons action follow much more rapidly, which indicates to me a weak processor.

[djajshgsjja]

If this integration allows you to use Google Maps and CarPlay at the same time, that would be a huge win.