“Apple is a tough competitor in the smartphone and tablet markets, and it wants to translate those services over to the auto industry,” Tiffany Kaiser reports for DailyTech.
“The tech giant from Cupertino, Calif. hopes to push BlackBerry and Microsoft aside when it comes to dashboard space in cars for navigation, music, emails, etc.,” Kaiser reports. “With the iPhone being one of the most popular smartphones in the world, some automakers are jumping onboard with the idea of allowing iOS connectivity in their vehicles.”
Kaiser reports, “In fact, Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen’s Audi, BMW, Toyota Motor Corp., Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Jaguar and the Chrysler Group LLC plan to use Apple’s Siri Eyes Free service in models released as early as this year… ‘It’s something that people want, and I think that Apple can do this in a unique way and better than anyone else,’ said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, regarding iOS compatibility in vehicles. ‘It’s a key focus for us.'”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Apple patent application reveals plans to take ‘iOS in the Car’ to whole new level – August 1, 2013
Automakers integrate Apple’s iOS in the Car to minimize driver distraction, increase customer satisfaction – July 30, 2013
Why Apple is planning aggressive 2014 launch for ‘iOS in the Car’ – July 26, 2013
Why Tim Cook described Apple’s iOS in the Car strategy as ‘very important’ – July 25, 2013
Apple has its eyes on automakers with ‘iOS in the Car’ – July 5, 2013
Ford plummets to 27th in J.D. Power vehicle quality rankings on Microsoft-developed ‘MyFord Touch’ woes – June 20, 2012
GM & Ford???
Ford is currently married to the Wife of Frankenstein (AKA Microsoft). Their MS “Ford Sync” system is an unintuitive, kludgy, über buggy nightmare. Hopefully they’ll dump it sooner than later.
No I can’t see Ford dumping Ford Sync. They’re in denial over it and insist that everybody likes it. Until such time as Ford are prepared to acknowledge that people don’t like it, they’ll keep on putting it in their cars and wondering why previously loyal customers are switching to rival manufacturers.
Ford are adopting the same strategy as Microsoft and appear to be determined to stick with technology that is unreliable and which nobody likes, while proclaiming that it’s wonderful.
They have to design it in to future vehicles: if they decide to switch. Or they create a system that allows the function to override the MySync service. Likely the first step if they are to follow the other automakers.
I personally do not like the Microsoft implementation.
Isn’t that spelled Sink?
If Apple can produce a better interface than the current crop of disasters, which seems likely, they will own the market. If Apple Maps can live up to it’s potential and be integrated as part of a suite of software, they will have an unbeatable combination, again. I’m very interested to see what they are developing.
Of course for Siri to work you need a cellular or wifi connection. So for folks wiyhout an iPhone how will they use it? Pay a monthly subscription like for iPads? As far as maps, most people I know expect built in maps, again not requiring internet service. Or will Apple let Android and other smartphones connect for Siri? My coworkers new Tesla has a huge, really huge, touch screen and cellular service. Tesla does not use iOS or android, they may lead the way for other auto makers. I think the battle for car systems is not a slam dunk for Apple. Apple’s maps will have to get a lot better in the rural areas before it will be popular.
Tesla lead the way for other auto manufacturers? You’re kidding, right?
They have zero profile outside of ConUS, except among sections of the car geek community.
And as far as maps are concerned, on a recent cross-country journey, where I knew the first part of the route, but needed guidance for the second half, Apple Maps was the only app that used the roads I already knew: Google and CoPilot Live both gave me routes following major roads that would have added nine or ten miles to my journey.
Of course Apple Maps falls down in places, but clearly Google Maps, with a significant head start, also fails significantly too.
Apple is already implementing more unconnected functionality into Siri I wonder why. Maps can go likewise especially over time. Always a mistake to judge the future by what you see in the present, which is why in ‘Things to Come’ they chose autogiros as the aircraft of the future.
“…for Siri to work you need a … connection.”
Except that is starting to go away. See recent articles on translation being built in.
If you mean that for Maps to work you need a connection, I would agree in so far as to initially do the mapping you do, but once you have a route picked out, Maps appears to have downloaded all the map information along that route — I had no problem driving through rural mountainous regions last week with Maps showing me every street along the way perfectly despite “No Service” in the status bar. I don’t know what would have happened had I strayed or gone exploring: I don’t know how wide a swath Apple is caching for your planned route.
Apple Maps uses TomTom data. I suspect those that criticize Apple Maps are those whom are directly influeanced by articles written solely to make headlines. I have and continue to use Maps with few problems. Which is to say Google has given me numerous bad directions. But, generally use my Nuvi and compare the route it says with what Maps. Utilmately, we are the navigators… not the device.
Infotainment integration in vehicles, at almost all price points, is not worth the cost. Just offer the iPod dock option and be done with it. People who actually drive their vehicles have no desire to wade through menus in order to access simple functions that can, and should, and always used to, have a dedicated control on the console or dash.
Oh dear.
Yes honey?
It makes no sense to duplicate on the dashboard of your car what you already have in your shirt pocket or purse with EVERY iOS device already in existence …. especially at the prices automakers charge for their horrid implementations.
Agreed.
I want nice, usable and well-integrated “car” functions to be physical and attached to the CAR, not the screen.
I’d like the manufacturer to butt-out of the infotainment system altogether. Give us a screen and speakers, and let Apple do the rest (audio/maps/etc.).
This sounds a little funny, but as far as the “nav. system / entertainment system” goes, the car should just become another iPhone peripheral.
I’d literally switch brands to get an iOS-integrated system.