It would be amazing if Scout vehicles fully embraced Apple CarPlay Ultra and, eventually, Google's upcoming "ultra" version of Android Auto.
if you're unfamiliar with Apple CarPlay Ultra,
Click here to read an article from MotorTrend. There is also a video in the article.
Let's be honest, car manufacturers generally s*ck at infotainment software that's as polished and user-friendly as what Apple and Google offer. It's a tough battle when you're going up against big companies whose sole focus is software and hardware development. Especially with the rapid integration of advanced AI into smartphones, there's no way car makers can realistically match Apple and Google in terms of cutting-edge intelligent feature integration in their vehicles.
Here's why I think this deep integration is so crucial:
Seamless Smartphone Integration
All of us carry iOS or Android smartphones. We're familiar with their interfaces, how they work, and what they can do. More importantly, our phones already know so much about us: our schedules, daily habits, appointments, preferred routes, and more. With CarPlay Ultra (and the equivalent Android Auto "ultra"), this familiarity and personalized information could seamlessly extend to our driving experience (without having to be transferred or shared with the car's software).
Imagine getting into your Scout, and your car's display immediately reflects your phone's familiar UI, apps, navigation, and even your calendar, all optimized for the driving environment. No more learning a completely new, often clunky, car-specific operating system. It's about eliminating that "dual digital personality" we currently experience in our cars. The cool thing is that the new CarPlay Ultra can even works with physical buttons in the dash!
Benefits for Scout and Us
While full integration might seem like giving up control, it actually presents some significant advantages for both Scout and the customers:
What are your thoughts on deeper smartphone integration like this?
if you're unfamiliar with Apple CarPlay Ultra,
Click here to read an article from MotorTrend. There is also a video in the article.Let's be honest, car manufacturers generally s*ck at infotainment software that's as polished and user-friendly as what Apple and Google offer. It's a tough battle when you're going up against big companies whose sole focus is software and hardware development. Especially with the rapid integration of advanced AI into smartphones, there's no way car makers can realistically match Apple and Google in terms of cutting-edge intelligent feature integration in their vehicles.
Here's why I think this deep integration is so crucial:
Seamless Smartphone Integration
All of us carry iOS or Android smartphones. We're familiar with their interfaces, how they work, and what they can do. More importantly, our phones already know so much about us: our schedules, daily habits, appointments, preferred routes, and more. With CarPlay Ultra (and the equivalent Android Auto "ultra"), this familiarity and personalized information could seamlessly extend to our driving experience (without having to be transferred or shared with the car's software).
Imagine getting into your Scout, and your car's display immediately reflects your phone's familiar UI, apps, navigation, and even your calendar, all optimized for the driving environment. No more learning a completely new, often clunky, car-specific operating system. It's about eliminating that "dual digital personality" we currently experience in our cars. The cool thing is that the new CarPlay Ultra can even works with physical buttons in the dash!
Benefits for Scout and Us
While full integration might seem like giving up control, it actually presents some significant advantages for both Scout and the customers:
- Customization and Brand Identity: Apple and Google are already working with automakers to allow for customization of the interface, meaning Scout could still incorporate its unique design elements, like its distinctive horizontal speed gauge, while leveraging the robust underlying software.
- Engineering Focus: Instead of spending countless hours and resources reinventing the infotainment wheel from scratch (which usually never truly succeeds), Scout's engineers could focus their energy on other critical aspects of the vehicle – performance, safety, battery technology, and more features. This could lead to an even better overall vehicle.
- Potential Cost Savings: Since much of the computing power for the infotainment system would be handled by our powerful smartphones, it might reduce the need for expensive, high-end computer hardware within the car itself. Hopefully, any savings from this could then be passed on to us, the customers!
What are your thoughts on deeper smartphone integration like this?
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