“Apple plans to move aggressively into the in-car integration space later this year, according to multiple people familiar with the initiative,” Mark Gurman reports for 9to5Mac.
“Apple is working with car makers to deeply embed iOS’s Maps and Siri services into cars, according to these people,” Gurman reports. “While companies sell accessories to place iPhone and other iOS devices on car dashboards for easy access to Apple Maps’ turn-by-turn navigation, Apple wants to break into the space with its own solutions.”
Gurman reports, “According to people familiar with the plans, Apple is working with car makers on updated versions of car center consoles that could attach to iOS devices like the iPhone. Specifically, an iPhone could be plugged into a car and an optimized, redesigned version of Apple Maps will appear on the car’s built-in display instead of a proprietary GPS system found in many cars.”
Much more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Apple expands its automotive push, seeks to grow its iOS vehicle integration team – March 6, 2013
General Motors’ Chevrolet Sonic, Spark first to offer iPhone, iPad, iPod touch users Siri Eyes Free integration – February 14, 2013
Honda and Acura to deliver Apple’s Siri Eyes Free on select 2013 vehicles – January 30, 2013
Hyundai becomes 10th vehicle maker to integrate Apple’s Siri ‘Eyes Free’ tech – January 7, 2013
GM to integrate Apple’s ‘Eyes Free’ Siri technology starting with Chevy Sonic, Spark – June 19, 2012
Harman CEO on Apple for Automotive: ‘Apple is a partner, not an adversary’ – June 13, 2012
Nine auto makers partner with Apple for ‘Eyes Free’ Siri integration – June 12, 2012
Mercedes-Benz integrates Apple’s Siri personal assistant into its vehicles – February 28, 2012
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No thanks if the answer is Apple Maps- the solution to the question nobody was asking. Maybe Jimmy Hoffa disappeared because he was a beta tester for Apple Maps and ended up in Lake Huron looking for a cup of coffee.
One would hope Maps would be conspicuously improved by then and the improvements acknowledged and for some grudgingly given the nod of approval.
Google Maps is better and Tesla has them already fully integrated into the nav system on the 17″ touchscreen center console. Audi has integrated Google Maps into the nav system. There are others and Apple has already shown itself incapable of shipping new SW ready for prime time (Siri, Maps, Final Cut Pro X), unwilling to keep up to date (Pages, Keynote, Numbers) and very opaque about roadmaps for SW development due to the paranoid obsession with secrecy.
Apple, again, has answered a question nobody was asking with Maps. They should withdraw the app and allow the end user to select the default Mapping app.
Apple has often answered questions before anyone else thought of asking it, e.g. how to make a phone/tablet/mp3 player/operating system that people actually want to use.
They had good reasons to go with their own maps app. It should NOT be withdrawn, that’s silly. However, even though the Google Maps iOS app UI sucks, I agree that users should be allowed to choose a different default maps app, because Apple’s is still not good enough in some features, like local businesses. A place I go to once a month has been there over half a year, and still can’t be found. Google Maps had it a month after they opened. I submitted a correction three months ago, but it’s like they don’t care unless it exists in Yelp, and I’m not signing up to that just to add a business.
Apple Maps is a nicer and better product than Google Maps. It’s data populating has caught up and in many places is better more up to data than Google’s personal data sucking machine.
Apple Maps UI and turn by turn integration is far better. Google’s accuracy is far better.
Many times I have been directed about a block off course – not a huge deal but it is an inconvenience. I’ve rarely had problems with Google’s accuracy.
Apple’s turn by turn is definately better and essentially the reason Apple created Apple Maps – to give it’s iPhone and it’s GPS users, the hands free practicality it needed. It’s probably the main use of Apple Maps…
Apple Map’s accuracy is improving all the time and, agreed, it does sometimes slightly misdirect and mis route, but it’s pretty accurate in most large US cities and surprisingly in some rural areas too. Google Maps has misdirected and gotten directions screwed up many times too.
Disagree. Apple Maps has been much more accurate and selects better routes than Google Maps, but Google Maps has more information about business locations, more minor points of interest, etc.
The fact that we’re having both sides argued says that both apps are basically on par. The good news for all of us is that Apple and Google will continue driving fast improvements to their maps apps, and that will only make our lives better.
Apple Maps is better for me also, I guess it has to do with your particular location in the world. Or many of the complainers haven’t done side by side comparisons recently. Apple Maps data is being updated in the background and many of the complaints lodged here sound like they are about the original release.
Again Apple Maps works best for me. Far better than Google, plus I enjoy using Apple Maps. The only feature that I wish Apple would improve is how they show traffic, Google is better on how they show traffic and perhaps better with the business listings, but again Apple is getting better every time I use it.
Apple Maps is my choice in this space. I find it faster and more accuate than Google, Waze or the completely useless Nokia thing.
Over Dec 2012 to Feb this year I used it many time while driving around Thailand and Laos. It worked flawlessly even working out the shortest route through rural Thailand using back roads as short cuts. My bro-in-law was amazed as it found all his short cuts on the 6 hr drive.
It even found how to get around in Savanaket in rural Laos.
Google maps could not even find Savavaket much less guide us.
For me , Apple’s Maps is way better than Google’s but they are always going to leapfrog each other, one day Google does better, Apple the next.
Apple Maps was a flawed but promising first-generation product that will improve with time.
The choice is simple: I am willing to temporarily compromise a few features provided by the more mature Google Maps to support Apple’s cartographic solutions and stay out of Google’s advertising-based ecosystem that tracks every customer’s movements and activities in order to sell the information to advertisers and marketers.
Turning over your private data to Google is folly. I see that the Google Now has been added to the latest Google Search update for the iPhone. I like the idea of seeing “Google Now” information, but Google wants me to give them access to to my Cont acts and Calendar to do this.
No way.
Google can’t be trusted with this data. Already, I get five SPAM marketing calls a week from Google “partners” just because I have a Google Voice account (that also is not connected to my Contacts because I do not trust Google).
I’ll just have to make do without Google’s spyware. Privacy is too high a price to pay for Google services.
Nice. Except now, just looking at a device in your car can get you a ticket for distracted driving.
“Officer, that couldn’t have happened the way you describe it! Look at how my Big Gulp blocks my view of my iPhone…”
Where I live, there’s one additional condition–you have to be looking at your device *in your hand* while driving your car, to get you a ticket. Glancing at a dash-mounted GPS won’t get you pulled over.
They can also nail you if you’re fiddling with a dash-mounted or in-dash system, but that’s a lot harder to prove, because a quick scan can’t tell if you’re actually using it or just pressing the button to activate voice control (a specific exception to the “no fiddling while driving or stopped at light, even if hands-free” law).
I would love to see weather (doppler) overlays added to maps.
Just so everyone is prepared, this will not be a fast roll-out, not even once Apple announces it. Automakers are subject to far more government regulations about operations than Apple is for its devices, so testing any integration of any software must be extremely thorough. Plus, iOS will have to either integrate with existing automaker software which control the engine, emissions, transmission, braking, sensors, etc. (likely), or it will have to be completely separated (not likely).
The really cool thing is that having automakers install iOS opens the door for automakers to have significantly improved auto computer displays, controls, and other options for consumers. Instead of as many physical gauges, a side bar could display RPM, fuel efficiency, battery charge (hybrid or electric cars), etc.
“Plus, iOS will have to either integrate with existing automaker software which control the engine, emissions, transmission, braking, sensors, etc. (likely), or it will have to be completely separated (not likely).”
Software controls for core vehicle functions SHOULD be separate from secondary systems (exception: remote anti-theft systems that can track stolen cars and kill the engine), if the engineers and systems designers had their way. Microsoft integration causing Fords to crash was supposed to be a joke.
I think people are over-reacting (again) to Apple Maps inaccuracies but in my use, friends and relatives use, and reading real world tests, it works perfectly. If you are into meaningless FUD then I can’t help you.
Additionally, there was a comparison not too long ago where Maps was compared to Google and a dedicated navigation device. Maps performed extremely well with no accuracy issues. Like others have noted, Google still maintains the upper hand in business location information.
I hope Apple brings Maps to the desktop and integrates into future car navigation systems. I think it is the best navigation system in the market.
It belies logic why automakers don’t just offer proper iPhone or iPad docks on the dashboard.
… besides the fact that iDevice dock is now a fragmented mess of legacy devices and newer Lightning connectors [but precious few 3rd party Lightning cables], of course. To support the auto industry, Apple would have to learn to adopt interface standards for the duration of industrial timelines instead of playing its usual game of changing at least one connector and/or its location every generation or two.
One of the top questions at Apple stores: what adapter do i need to plug my new Apple thing into my existing hardware? That doesn’t work well in an automobile.
Google now is better than Siri ,it’s amazing to search in & has available in iPhone 3GS.
Great, another toy to give drivers yet another reason not to watch where they are going.
Apple maps are even shitier than the horrid maps in my Nissan LEAF. I hope apple maps is soon killed and come back when at least 90% of the towns in Australia are IN THE RIGHT PLACE!! 90% of the towns in Australia are around 13km west. That’s terrible. It’s most likely a mapping coordination conversion error but ever since the release, I have seen NO improvements regardless of how many times I submit a report inside the maps app.
Thankfully google released its new google maps.
Finally a rumour that makes real sense.