I’ve never understood the appeal of Android auto or Apple Carplay. I just set my phone to play what I want to listen to. Can someone tell me what those apps do differently/better? (Genuine question)
They play it over the car’s stereo. It puts it on a big screen that is right there so you don’t have to pick up your phone to look at the map to see how far up a turn is coming. It integrates with the car’s dashboard, shows upcoming turns and caller ID in the gauge cluster. The music and phone controls tie in to my steering wheel controls. It makes it legal to use those things on your phone since you’re not having to hold it.
It’s one of those things where most people don’t realize how much more convenient it is until they’ve used it for a while.
It’s still a distraction to use while driving, but people are using it regardless, so might as well do it in a way that makes it less distracting.
the one thing I love about AA: having Google Maps on the main car screen. It’s SO much nicer than either peeking down at my phone to see a weird intersection, taking my eyes off the road for longer, or having my GPS voice interrupt a podcast. This way if I’m getting directions, I can do a quick glance like I do my mirrors. This also pairs with Google Maps/Waze just being better than normal in-car GPSs. Also, being able to change stuff by your car screen instead of your phone while stopped or driving I think is also nicer.
Why would I want to interact with my phone while driving? It’s distracting, not to mention illegal. Much easier to hit the big, properly sized buttons on my much larger truck screen which I barely have to look at. It works natively with my steering wheel controls.
Google Assistant works without me touching a single button. It autoplays the last music or podcast I had on. The navigation is significantly better on a proper display. It autopopulates my navigation based on my upcoming calendar events and habits.
I don’t have to plug anything in or bother mounting my phone in some obnoxious location, I just drop it on the wireless pad if my drive is going to be a long one or leave it in my pocket if not.
Like, are you asking why Waze is better than some car makers maps? Um, okay:
Maps are always up to date, for free. We moved into a new house in new block, and Waze (nor car maps) had our house or street - opened Waze map editor, entered my house, neighbours houses, three days later food delivery guys had no trouble delivering food to us and our neighbours - Google Maps and Waze got updated. That easy.
Live traffic information. Hidden police where everyone is doing 10 over speed limit? Marked. Accident and your usual street is in a standstill? Marked, new route provided. Street is closed for maintenance? Marked, up to date route is calculated. You used to turn left in this intersection for 5 years and suddenly there’s new sign saying you can’t? Waze knows that and shows route correctly, your Toyota will tell you to turn left.
I seriously had no idea why manufacturers even bother adding navigation to their cars, but it seems there’s still people like you who… use it? :D
My 2004 honda doesn’t have nav or even a touch screen. I use my phone and connect it to my radio. I’ve only rented one car with AA, and I’ve never used Apple, which is why I asked what all the buzz was about. There’s no reason for you to comment like I’m an idiot. I didn’t know, that’s why I asked, hence me marking it as a genuine question.
I’ve never understood the appeal of Android auto or Apple Carplay. I just set my phone to play what I want to listen to. Can someone tell me what those apps do differently/better? (Genuine question)
They play it over the car’s stereo. It puts it on a big screen that is right there so you don’t have to pick up your phone to look at the map to see how far up a turn is coming. It integrates with the car’s dashboard, shows upcoming turns and caller ID in the gauge cluster. The music and phone controls tie in to my steering wheel controls. It makes it legal to use those things on your phone since you’re not having to hold it.
It’s one of those things where most people don’t realize how much more convenient it is until they’ve used it for a while.
It’s still a distraction to use while driving, but people are using it regardless, so might as well do it in a way that makes it less distracting.
the one thing I love about AA: having Google Maps on the main car screen. It’s SO much nicer than either peeking down at my phone to see a weird intersection, taking my eyes off the road for longer, or having my GPS voice interrupt a podcast. This way if I’m getting directions, I can do a quick glance like I do my mirrors. This also pairs with Google Maps/Waze just being better than normal in-car GPSs. Also, being able to change stuff by your car screen instead of your phone while stopped or driving I think is also nicer.
Why would I want to interact with my phone while driving? It’s distracting, not to mention illegal. Much easier to hit the big, properly sized buttons on my much larger truck screen which I barely have to look at. It works natively with my steering wheel controls.
Google Assistant works without me touching a single button. It autoplays the last music or podcast I had on. The navigation is significantly better on a proper display. It autopopulates my navigation based on my upcoming calendar events and habits.
I don’t have to plug anything in or bother mounting my phone in some obnoxious location, I just drop it on the wireless pad if my drive is going to be a long one or leave it in my pocket if not.
It’s better in every conceivable way.
Like, are you asking why Waze is better than some car makers maps? Um, okay:
I seriously had no idea why manufacturers even bother adding navigation to their cars, but it seems there’s still people like you who… use it? :D
My 2004 honda doesn’t have nav or even a touch screen. I use my phone and connect it to my radio. I’ve only rented one car with AA, and I’ve never used Apple, which is why I asked what all the buzz was about. There’s no reason for you to comment like I’m an idiot. I didn’t know, that’s why I asked, hence me marking it as a genuine question.