Don’t you think it’s possible that car makers are moving in this direction in anticipation of a day when you no longer have to be paying attention to that extent while driving? Or do people still think that day is very very far off because based on my experience with FSD we’re not as far as everyone thinks.
That's the danger of FSD. It's just good enough to trick poorly trained, unskilled drivers into thinking that they no longer have to pay attention. This works fine ... until they encounter an edge case that FSD isn't programmed (or trained) to handle.
I’m happy with the way Mazda has integrated CarPlay. No touch while moving, the navigation wheel moves a highlight around the screen to select buttons/links. I find it much less distracting.
Audi is similar. I think also Mercedes. It’s great.
Re:Apple's risky bet on CarPlay
by throwaway11460 on Wednesday April 24, 2024 @08:57AM
(#40143805)
The audi wheel with buttons around it is terrible. I have to look down to find the correct button, and then I need to look at the screen to wheel to the correct option.
Touchscreen is not better than physical buttons but at least I can still look forward while operating it.
This audi is the first time I actually started using Siri - and not because I like it.
Re:Apple's risky bet on CarPlay
by thedrbrian on Wednesday April 24, 2024 @09:45AM
(#40144358)
On the new mazda3 it’s no touch at all. They took it out completely
This is addressed in the article:
> There used to be a big difference in driving characteristics and technology between premium and budget brands. Compared to a Volkswagen, a BMW used to have a more powerful engine, better handling, and comfort features like seat-heating and cruise control. However, a Volkswagen Golf now has similar tech as a BMW and with the transition to EVs, drivetrains and handling won't be the same differentiator as before.
> Now, the focus has moved to the interior. Infotainment systems have become a central part of that, so carmakers are coming up with unusual concepts to set them apart, both in hardware and software. CarPlay 2 is going exactly in the opposite direction, more towards standardizing the in-car software.
But I think a great differentiator for upmarket brands would be to offer as few screens as possible and as many buttons as possible. Electronics are a plague. Some features are very useful: mainly, route planning and the ability to play music in the car. But the rest is a nightmare.
I don't want to talk to my car; certainly not when passengers are sleeping during a trip, and even not when I'm alone. There's a subtle humiliation associated with talking to a machine. More importantly, I don't want to randomly target zones on screens to set up things, and I don't want to look at the screens because I don't want to take my eyes off the road. Give me buttons that have a fixed location, and that I can feel without looking.