Car connectivity with smartphones

[kalniel]

Are we there yet?

Can I (with the right options) find a car that plugs into a hypothetical smartphone (not mine - I'm still in the fossil ages) and uses the phones data connection to offer decent integrated navigation, web radio streaming etc. etc.?

So far I've only seen car makers offer their own navigation apps that can be paired, and they're expensive and/or not as good as stand alone sat navs or even phone navigation/google maps.

[shaithis]

Yes.

I have such a device, the Pioneer App Radio. There are a few caveats with it though (although I haven't looked at the new AR3)...

1. There is no optical drive...or storage. You must use an iPod or Android device. I currently keep an old iPod in the glove box.
2. For complete Android functionality (i.e. every feature of your device is mimicked on the headunit) you need a 3rd party app (ARLiberator) that costs ~£20, you also need ARunchained GPS injector (another couple of quid) to allow your Android device full control of the App Radios GPS receiver.
3. The Android cables and/or iPhone 5 cables are quite pricey

Once it's setup, it really is nice. My iPod is in the glovebox with 120GB of music available and I can either use my Android device on bluetooth (once it sees it, all calls are diverted to the App Radios hands-free kit, which is good) or can plug it in via cable to charge and either use a select bunch of free App Radio enabled apps or use ARLiberator to essentially hijack the headunit.

[kalniel]

OK so it can be hacked in, effectively. But we're not there yet with off-the-shelf solutions, let alone factory fit?

[Macadee]

Have a look through here : https://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/d...roduction.html

I don't have an iphone so didn't choose the app package add on that is available, but have pro nav (google map based) which does everything I need.

[Phage]

I can confirm that Audi/VAG are not there, and are not travelling in that direction. They are building that functionality into the car itself so they can charge you for it, and they are not locked into any OS or vendor.

[b0redom]

It's going to take quite a big selling point to make me swap from iPhone + Brodit bracket + Alpine CDE-W235BT + Waze tbh.

Waze is way better than anything else I've used before because it works on a social media platform, so you can report road closures/speed traps/traffic jams etc in real time, and it uses google to search for addresses/points of interest.... and it's free.

The head unit will play back music via the iPhone charging cable, Waze can be set to either read full directions, or only sound when there's an alert etc, and the bracket holds the phone solidly in place in either landscape or portrait.

When the next shiny device comes out, I can replace the bracket and I'm still good.
If I move car, I can put in a new bracket for about £20 and I'm good.

Much cheaper and more flexible....