Share your experience of Android-Auto, Apple Carplay, Mirrorlink

[Boxer]

Hi all,

I have Full link in my MY2016 Seat Leon FR ST with navi system High.

I used it now for 1 week, with my iPhone 6 plus. So yes I'm using Apple CarPlay (in Dutch). It works very very well, and Apple CarPlay interacts very good with the Seat system. I will try to make a video one of these days (not very good at it) and I'm dutch speaking. Anyway I hope that I can help you guys.

I would like to post an image of it, but I'm not allowed to (new member )

 

[JK1]

That video is hilarious, Google Maps and the Music App can't be used when the car moves and remain blocked even when it stops, requiring you to disconnect and reconnect?!

The problem with Mirror Link is it's a feature coded by manufacturers and stuck in to Android. It looks like it was originally built for Nokia Symbian phones (pre Windows Mobile) and has since been picked up by Sony and Samsung only. As with most of these things it's only when it starts getting mainstream adoption that things start to even out. Since Google have launched AndroidAuto I expect MirrorLink is a dead man walking and the next couple of years it will totally disappear.

As an iPhone user I'm much more interested in CarPlay (Boxer please do make a video so we can see how it works!) and what level of compatibility with Apps we get, I know that Apple Maps is available but seeing as that's pretty useless I'd like to see Google Maps which I believe is not available. I'm assuming a CarPlay compatible app is more than just a case of coding a CarPlay UI and submitting it to Apple?

 

[Boxer]

As an iPhone user I'm much more interested in CarPlay (Boxer please do make a video so we can see how it works!) and what level of compatibility with Apps we get, I know that Apple Maps is available but seeing as that's pretty useless I'd like to see Google Maps which I believe is not available. I'm assuming a CarPlay compatible app is more than just a case of coding a CarPlay UI and submitting it to Apple?

Well on that I'm well informed and I can tell you that Apple doesn't allow any third party navigation app's using CarPlay. So for now, you won't see Google Map's or Waze using CarPlay. Apple wil not allow it.
But on the other side u can simply switch between the Seat Navigation and Apple CarPlay. For example, when your navigation screen is open and you receive a massage the system will switch to Apple CarPlay and Siri will read you the message you received. Same thing when you're listening to your music on your SD or when listening to the radio. The system switches simply between the two.

 

[playerjs]

Hi all,

I have Full link in my MY2016 Seat Leon FR ST with navi system High.

I used it now for 1 week, with my iPhone 6 plus. So yes I'm using Apple CarPlay (in Dutch). It works very very well, and Apple CarPlay interacts very good with the Seat system. I will try to make a video one of these days (not very good at it) and I'm dutch speaking. Anyway I hope that I can help you guys.

I would like to post an image of it, but I'm not allowed to (new member )

Hi Boxer,

Welcome to the Forum man. Haha so so jealous you've got the car and also Full Link working.
And yes please make a video of your Nav System High showing how Full Link is working in the MY2016 Leon. It will be very informative for noobs like myself. Also if you can borrow a compatiable android based smartphone it will be great to see how that works as well, haha no pressure. Ps. speaking is optional, you could put some music on instead try to show functionality when the accelarator is pressed (basically when onboard computer thinks the vehicle is moving).

 

[playerjs]

Well on that I'm well informed and I can tell you that Apple doesn't allow any third party navigation app's using CarPlay. So for now, you won't see Google Map's or Waze using CarPlay. Apple wil not allow it.
But on the other side u can simply switch between the Seat Navigation and Apple CarPlay. For example, when your navigation screen is open and you receive a massage the system will switch to Apple CarPlay and Siri will read you the message you received. Same thing when you're listening to your music on your SD or when listening to the radio. The system switches simply between the two.

Yeah this is exactly what I have read but I was under the impression that spotify and music is also available currently.

 

[damo74]

For any android users, you'll find everything you need to know about Android Auto here:
http://androidcentral.com/android-auto

Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk

 

[kevster184]

Since Google have launched AndroidAuto I expect MirrorLink is a dead man walking and the next couple of years it will totally disappear.

Not great if I've just missed the Full Link boat, paid extra with the whole idea of getting Mirror Link and it's going to be pants!
Intend on keeping the car for a few years too grrr.
When Full link is just 150 as an option now, rather frustrating.

 

[JK1]

Tell me about it, I wanted DSG, it wasn't available for the 184, I wanted ACC it wasn't available, two months after picking it up both became available. Now there's Sat Nav High and CarPlay and neither can be retrofitted.

It's ironic that years ago you could swap out the in car entertainment system of any car with an off the shelf system. Had a car from the 80s but wanted a CD player, not a problem! Now as technology changes every couple of years, well your locked in to what ever the car comes with!

Boxer - From the videos I've seen CarPlay comes with Spotify so there must be some allowance of 3rd party app use?

 

[Boxer]

Boxer - From the videos I've seen CarPlay comes with Spotify so there must be some allowance of 3rd party app use?

Hi,

Sure, 3rd party apps are available, I have Spotify and TuneIn as 3rd party app's available. Just 3rd party Navigation apps are not allowed by Apple (so far).

 

[playerjs]

Warning boring geeky/nerdy content to follow....

It's a bit premature to say that Mirrorlink is dead in the water.

Hypothetically speaking, Mirrorlink still has the potential to be a big time market player because the organisation as it stands is made of car
manufactures (currently incl, SEAT), smartphone manufacturers like HTC and Samsung among others.

Obviously to do this CCC has to stay together, add new members, new coders and get 3rd party app makers to buy into their ethos. The worrying
thing is VW are pulling out (not sure why and not confirmed) and this could trigger a collapse.

At the moment there's a few versions of Mirrorlink available and the latest of these is Mirrorlink 1.2 (still to hit the market) which uses Miracast.

The reason why certain apps dont't work is because the app makers haven't chosen to make their app Mirrorlink certified or the app hasn't passed
safety regulations.

There are three categories for certifying apps, first one is Mirrorlink aware which uses basic API and not optimized specifically for use on a car's media
system. Second one is Base certified, where app makers have optimized app for use when the car is not moving and has passed safety regulations.
Third one is Drive certified where app makers have optimised their app for use in car when it is moving and has passed safety regulations.

So this means that approved apps will function on three levels. One, basic functionality while car is parkered; two, enhanced to full functionality while
parked; three, full functionality while the car is parked or moving.

 

[kevster184]

The worrying thing
is VW are pulling out (not sure why) and this could trigger a collaspe

Pulled out since January?

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/volkswagen-mirrorlink-infotainment-at-ces-2015/

 

[playerjs]

All 3rd party apps on any of the three Full Link phone integration options will be brought to the market very slowly for various reasons. The main reason is because car manufacturers and mobile OS providers want to keep consumers interested long term thus increasing demand for the latest versions of their products.

At the moment in Mirrorlink at least allows 3rd party navigation apps and are being drive certified like sygic. The reason why Google Maps is not available either on Carplay or Mirrorlink is because Google don't want to allow it as there is competition between the three integration systems. Google Maps probably is or will be made available on Android-auto first and maybe will appear in the other two integration systems down the line.

Another point I forgot to mention is that Android-auto is just for android apps and will not support blackberry OS, windows OS or any others like Bada etc. This is where I think Mirrorlink may remaining competitive as they can tackle all the mobile OS's on the market including Apple iOS (but obviously Apple will never let this happen).

 

[playerjs]

Pulled out since January?

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/volkswagen-mirrorlink-infotainment-at-ces-2015/

Tbh, I am not sure about this at all. Heard it through the grapevine and hasn't been validated. All I know is that at the moment car manufacturers who account for 80% of the market are
apart of CCC (Mirrorlink). However, it is confirmed that certain car manufacturers are leaving and new ones will be joining (details not specified).

Ps. I think that article was published in Jan 2015, but the VW-CCC partnership was confirmed a while before.

 

[golf gti dude]

wish I had the full link

 

[playerjs]

wish I had the full link

Understand where you are coming from but I don't think you will be missing out on much for now though. It will take a few years before Full Link technology becomes robust.

For seamless smartphone integration i.e. without bugs and lag the current car infotainment systems used by manufacturers will need hardware upgrades i.e. like the processor, etc.

 

[playerjs]

Android Auto Review! (Hyundai Sonata 2015)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlsV8ModOgY

Enjoy!

 

[Albie999]

Slightly confused. Have had my Leon 184 FR from September last year, is this Full Link something new being add to the latest cars, or would it be implemented on mine. I have the tech pack fitted, so the full Nav system

 

[playerjs]

Slightly confused. Have had my Leon 184 FR from September last year, is this Full Link something new being add to the latest cars, or would it be implemented on mine. I have the tech pack fitted, so the full Nav system

You will not have Full Link, apparently as it stands Full Link can't be added to earlier models. It's pure speculation at the moment, I guess only time will tell.

 

[playerjs]

Apple Carplay Skoda Superb Test Review (In German)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXPfxEWIjLk&feature=youtu.be

 

[kevster184]

You will not have Full Link, apparently as it stands Full Link can't be added to earlier models. It's pure speculation at the moment, I guess only time will tell.

It will show what you have in the menu