Apple CarPlay - will Ford implement for 2015 S550?

[likeaboss]

Not sure if you support mobile in your line of work, but Droid vs iOS is basically 51% vs 44% in the real world depending on which analytics model you go with. How that applies specifically to Mustang owners is anyone's guess (even Ford). Whether you translate that into supporting responsive web design, direct app store support, or third party integration…turning your back on that chunk of the market is just like saying “this site works best in Internet Explorer 5” then sticking your head in the sand.

I do and currently MFT supports all mobile platforms. While iOS and Android are the two current big players Windows Phone has made big gains outside of the US. With Windows Phone 8.1 Microsoft looks poised to put up a real fight and BlackBerry still has some fight left in it as well. Then you have an upstart like the Firefox OS. I'd prefer the system be device agnostic because the market place will change.

With that said if they can include some device specific optimizations I'm fine with that as long is it keeps universal compatibility. I don't want to have to buy a specific brand phone because it's the only one what works with my car and I don't want the type of phone the car works with to even have to play into a buying decision.

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[S550Boss]

Ford hasn't yet left Sync, they have simply put out a requirements document for the next generation system (years off). It's up to multiple vendors to respond to that, so the eventual winner is completely unknown at this point. The main point of this isn't just plugging a smartphone into the car and getting a phone call, it's all about getting applications in sync.
Apple doesn't offer any particular technical advantage here, just their current (and sliding downward - the market is changing quickly) hegemony. There will be an evaluation of specifications and prototypes built, and a years long process.

 

[likeaboss]

http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/04/apple-carplay-ferrari-ff-hands-on/

Ferrari is implementing Apple CarPlay as a compliment to their normal infotainment system not in replacement of. Which is smart because if they only offered Apple CarPlay they'd alienate non-Apple users which is the majority of the phone market.

 

[S550Boss]

Apple users which is the majority of the phone market.

Not everywhere, and their percentage is dropping worldwide. Their own projections don't get any better.

But the point is right, this can't be proprietary. The system has to be able to accept a subset of applications off of a user's smartphone. And those applications themselves can't be limited to just Apple's or anybody else's.

 

[likeaboss]

Not everywhere, and their percentage is dropping worldwide. Their own projections don't get any better.

But the point is right, this can't be proprietary. The system has to be able to accept a subset of applications off of a user's smartphone. And those applications themselves can't be limited to just Apple's or anybody else's.

You miss quoted me. I said non-Apple users are the majority of the market. However, we agree on the same point.

 

[TxStang]

We may be in luck if rumors of an impending switch by Ford to Blackberrys popular QNX system are accurate. Reports today are that CarPlay was specifically designed to be compatible with Blackberry's system.

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/03/04/carplay-qnx-integration/

Gives me a bit more hope for 2015 availability and failing that even more hope for a future software update.

 

[DeColores]

Looks like the choice is Alpine or Pioneer after the Microsoft is torn out.

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[Sterling Archer]

But the point is right, this can't be proprietary. The system has to be able to accept a subset of applications off of a user's smartphone. And those applications themselves can't be limited to just Apple's or anybody else's.

That will never happen under our current legal structure. I don't recall which case laid down the precedent, but the OEM will be placed at fault if something goes wrong and results in a collision. That's the reason I've been told why Ford locks users out from uploading anything of their own to Sync.

 

[Phelix]

Apple formally announced CarPlay today, an iPhone interface that runs through the vehicle's touchscreen. Ford was specifically announced as a partner for models after 2014. Any iPhone users think/hope Ford will implement this in time for the 2015 S550's debut in the Fall?

Link. http://www.apple.com/iOS/CarPlay

Ford is also partnered with Google for their car play thing.

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