Can apple allow us to use google maps for CarPlay?

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And I don't really think that anyone with a car and an iPhone is suffering....

GB

what would a CarPlay compliant version of Google maps be if Apple's guidelines for carplay apps clearly states that:

only Audio, Automaker, Messaging, and VOIP apps are allowed.

no mention to navigation or other categories apps.

https://developer.apple.com/carplay/human-interface-guidelines/overview/introduc tion/

can you state your sources gail?

no flaming tone, I just want to have an official source on this matter.

a mashable journalist tried to contact Apple about this ISSUE, and they declined to comment.

also, as the apple carplay guidelines states:

only Audio, Automaker, Messaging, and VOIP apps are allowed to be submitted.

no mention to navigation or other categories apps.

https://developer.apple.com/carplay/human-interface-guidelines/overview/introduc tion/

so I can't and will not believe it's a google, or other third parties, issue.

Apple Maps has improved, but still ***** compared to Gmaps or waze, especially if you use it in other countries than the US (I live in Italy).

I personally am about to receive a new Ford Fiesta with carplay, and the idea that I can only use Apple maps is frustrating.

I think issue like this will inevitably damage part of Apple's marketing and push people to jailbreak their phones, or switch to Android.

Tell it to Apple. We are just users like you, and have no vested interest in the tactics you are threatening to use. It's your device, do what you want. Or, send feedback to Apple: Apple - Feedback

Cheers,

GB

Good morning Gail -

I loved your comment enough to login and respond!

I totally agree, but... It is a huge pain in the butt. Certainly a first world problem, though I did see another user (from Brazil, I believe) note that Apple Maps is not supported in Brazil (no idea if this is accurate) so said user has a new car and an iPhone but no ability to view map directions. Apologies if I am being an 'ignant American, but it seems that owning a new car and an iPhone takes quite a bit more in S. America, relatively speaking.

Personally I loath Apple Maps to the point that I bought a second car phone (obviously I ain't suffering)! Now Apple is losing my user data completely, along with my Google Music, Android Pay, etc. $s (I use the Android Pay out of spite). I would very much prefer not to have 2 phones, but I was forced to (said w/ all the sarcasm and disgust you can imagine).

While I am most likely a small subset of users willing to go to such lengths, I would hazard a guess me and my ilk are the very users most coveted (significant disposable income, early adopters, etc., etc.). I am hoping a level 7 has some sway upstairs, Gail...

Thanks for the laugh, Gail, and all your work on the forums!

Thanks for posting back 🙂 Alas, levels do not change the influence we have with Apple (which is zero). We are just lowly users like everyone who is a consumer of an Apple product. Personally, I don't use any navigation system. I do have one in my car (separate from anything except the car), but I'm a physical map person. I'll use the map in my nav system, but that is as far as it goes.

I like to control where I go, and I have found that whenever I do look at a route generated by a piece of software, it undoubtedly is inexplicably bad. Sure I look up places I need to go on Google on my Mac before I go there, but then I write down regular directions for myself and follow those (based on the route I have decided is the best one). So, even in that situation, I'm just getting the map up so I can figure out where I need and want to go. Sometimes I get the Google "directions" just to see how bad they are.... 😁

I also like using a regular map (whether it be online or one of those paper things you can get at gas stations), because if I do get lost, I at least have some idea of where in the big wide world I am.

Thanks again for posting back with a pleasant post that clearly shows you are a person with a true perspective on the state of the real world. It was a pleasure reading it!

Cheers,

GB

A couple of things, first what does "the apple maps does not cut in like google map" mean? Secondly it is not Apple's choice to allow Google maps to be used in CarPlay they would need approval from Google. How likely do you think that is?

Chaoming wrote:

Bought a new car.My daughter use Android, I use Iphone.Such a big gap. Switch to Android next for sure

Good luck with that. For the sake of using Google Maps, you are willing to forgo the security of an iOS device?

Best of luck,

GB

Since I have a gsm iphone, my solution was to buy a used Android phone that supports Android. Anytime I'm driving someplace I want to have google maps routing me, I move my Sim card from the iphone to the android.

Since I'm using Ting, one of these days I'll probably just pay the extra $6 a month to have another sim card so I don't have to keep swapping.

Considering that Google Maps is already on iOS as well as Google apps for pretty much all of their other services, I'm guessing it would be very likely that they would support Carplay integration. This is most definitely an Apple roadblock, not Google. Google wants to channel as many people as possible through their services. If Carplay is preventing that, then not supporting integration is against the reason they have their apps on iOS in the first place.

... I write down regular directions for myself and follow those (based on the route I have decided is the best one)

Wow, that's some skill you have there. I'm curious as to how you know the best route based on traffic conditions, construction, accidents, etc. that occur real-time, maybe even while you're en route?

I don't doubt that some local knowledge of routes and common hotspots can help, but few people I know have a tuned-in understanding of the traffic around them *right now*.

Yes, I'm aware. Of course Google would prefer everyone buying a pixel or some other Android device and using Android auto. However, they recognize that is not the case and many people prefer an iPhone which is exactly why they have their apps on iOS in the first place. Google and Apple make money in different ways. Apple puts a premium on their different product lines with the promise of security and a smooth, intuitive and polished customer experience. Google wants to get their services in the hands of as many users as possible so they can collect data. Which is why you see such a low cost of entry for bottom tier Android. They then make a lot of money by doing things like selling digital ad space to companies which target consumers who would be interested in their product based on parameters set around said data. They also count on many people using google maps to make it better - where do you think real-time traffic comes from? Other users location data from Google maps; so the more people using it, the better. Which brings me full circle. Google recognizes people like iPhones and have adapted their model to put their services on iOS because that's how they make money. If Carplay is preventing people from using their services, it goes against their business model. Meanwhile, Apple created their Maps app solely to try and take some of the mapping app market share. So if they had another way to put up a barrier and push their own app (Carplay is the barrier), they would use it. That's why I believe this is an Apple roadblock - it goes against Google's business model and it's in Apple's best interest to push their app.

The reason I'm on this forum is because I'm in the market for a new car and am interested in things like Carplay. However, I recently was forced to use my Apple Maps app if I wanted to use Carplay in a rental I had. I mean, it was serviceable but Google maps is a step above for sure so I would prefer it.

You've got a skewed way of looking at things. I wonder if you prefer Apple products, haha.

This Carplay and Apple Maps exclusivity is absolutely an Apple issue. They make everything proprietary and don't like integrating into or including services outside of their own. Their ecosystem is so closed off it's unbelievable. Then they charge the apple faithful an arm and a leg to play in it by buying only specific third part products. And it's all done, not in the name of security, but money. Security is a selling point, similarly to "it just works," or "the most (fill in the blank) product yet", not a business model. Google's no different as far as making money, but at least they play well with others and the consumer benefits from it.

Price point aside, Apple is the one making everything more accessable for the masses - that has been Apples approach to design since the original iMac. Even aesthetically, look how much rounder and consumer friendly/agnostic their devices have become.

My wife has a newer Volvo SUV with carplay and Android auto and she doesn't use it bc she prefers Google maps that much more. I encourage her to just use Apple Maps, but no luck. When I'm in the car I connect to Android auto for her to view Google maps.

/Rant I also don't understand why you can use an iPhone while plugged into carplay and it changes the content on the car display. extremely annoying when the driver needs the map and someone is changing the song on the phone and it's reflected on the car display.

I drive Uber and Lyft in the NY metro area, as an apple user I have to tell you Apple Maps is not as good as Google's. So for those of you that are not using the app in a demanding environment it makes no difference for the rest of us it does.

How about it Apple? Get you stuff together or at least allow people to use a better app.

My 2c.

Did you bother reading this thread at all?

Google has not even bothered to submit a CarPlay compliant version of Google Maps to the app store. Before Apple can do anything one way or the other as far as "allowing" it, it first has to exist. It doesn't. Go complain to Google.