Why Apple's Next Revolution Should Be In Your Car 293
New submitter eetc writes "This article surveys the sorry state of car makers' stereo and navigation systems: 'It's clear that most of the auto companies that offer more than a car stereo want to lock you into their interface and services — as awful as they are. The rest don't care. The aftermarket stereo and nav systems are no better. Stuffed with even more buttons and light-show gewgaws, they're sure to keep your eyes off the road and may not work easily with your stuff. Add to that mix the split focus of also having to use a separate GPS unit in most vehicles, and you have to wonder what keeps our roads so relatively safe.' The answer in one word: iCar. This is just the sort of broken market that Apple specializes in taking over."
Fuck no (Score:4, Interesting)
I don't want integration. I want my radio to be my radio and my GPS (if I had a GPS) to be my GPS. I don't want co-mingling of technology.
Haven't we learned anything from Battlestar Galactica? You don't network everything. You keep things separate.
Or, if you snerk at that example, haven't we learned anything from Unix/Linux where each piece does it's thing, and ONLY it's thing?
We've seen what an absolute shitfest things become when we try to make things "new and improved", "Now with more features you have to look at and try to decipher while driving!" Hey Ford, how's that wonderful technological tour de force radio and navigation interface working out?
Engineers and developers need to get their heads out of their asses and go back to the ultimate rule: KISS
Actually, Microsoft. (Score:5, Interesting)
I have ford SYNC (microsoft SYNC), and it's fucking brilliant.
I never touch my stereo, between the 4 steering wheel controls (volume,next/prev,voice command,hang up) and the frankly kick-ass voice control I just never need to.
I never have had it misdial, only very occasionally does it have trouble when I ask for a specific album (and then only when it's not a native language name) and generally just had it be all sorts of awesome all the time.
So no, Apple can sit this one out (and this is coming from someone who's entire computing existence is apple, I own the iphone/ipad/appletv/macbook/imac). Microsoft has done a great job already.
Re:Sorry to rain on Apples parade n all but... (Score:4, Interesting)
Sorry to piss *in* your corn flakes, but by saying that you've proven you've never tried the system.
iPad + AppleTV is so, so, so so so so so so SO SO much better than any other single/combination of set tops in existence it's embarrassing.
Mind you, it comes with a price tag that depending on what you've got rivals the TV itself... But to say it isn't good just proves you've never used it.
Re:Sorry to rain on Apples parade n all but... (Score:4, Interesting)
Of course, if the majors would work with Apple to provide aTV-native apps, it would be even easier. It's going to happen eventually, I think. I can live with commercials; I will sometimes buy shows that I can't get via streaming. But if I'm going to watch a show, it's got to be time-shiftable, and I have NO interest in buying a device whose only purpose is time shifting broadcast TV, a-la Tivo.
Apple is the wrong company for this. (Score:4, Interesting)
Apple's speciality is in seamless UI's. While people seem to like this for mobile phones and tablets, it's not the right solution for a car. Cars require tactile interfaces so that they can be navigated using touch while the driver keeps his eyes on the road. Apple has the potential to bypass this concern using Siri, but that comes with additional problems.
Siri and the maps used by Apple for GPS navigation are both delivered via cellular connection, which would imply that a driver would lose all voice recognition while driving outside the range of cellphone towers--e.g. through the mountains. The GPS navigation is a similar problem. Since the navigation data is delivered via cellular data, you would lose navigation in the mountains.
Much as I hate to admit it, I would prefer the Microsoft self-contained automotive voice recognition system to getting Apple iCars. Ford has demonstrated those in the past. I've also seen a reasonable implementation (non-Microsoft) on an Acura about five years ago. I'm not sure that this is a market where we should care about fragmentation. Just don't buy a car with a UI you don't like.