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I bought a car that is so old that it doesnt haveApple CarPlayorAndroid Auto, and I love it.
Its an older BMW, and it has USB but nothing fancy.
Our Editor-in-Chief trying AR in a BMW, which may be a bad idea
I use the built-in navigation system for maps, Bluetooth for music, and you know what?
I dont miss CarPlay at all.
In fact, Im relieved that I dont have to rely on my smartphone anymore.
Our Editor-in-Chief trying AR in a BMW, which may be a bad idea
Thats a huge problem forAppleandGoogle.
CarPlay and Android Auto have made things worse in every way, not better.
What does my older car do that CarPlay doesnt?
A Porsche concept of CarPlay controlling the whole dang car
Lets start with the things it doesnt do.
It doesnt freeze up, ever.
The only thing I restart is the internal combustion engine.
This Tesla Model Y interior needs a dozen more knobs at least
The navigation system just works.
With Android Auto and CarPlay, Im constantly fighting bugs and glitches.
Thats if I manage to hit the road before the problems start.
Im constantly facing connection problems from both Android Auto and CarPlay.
), it would delete my car from my list of Bluetooth devices.
I have seen this happen on thebest Samsung GalaxyandGoogle Pixel phones, and more than once.
MyApple iPhone 15 Pro Maxis more reliable, by a fraction.
Once, I made the horrifying mistake of running ApplesiOS 17Beta software while relying on my iPhone for CarPlay.
CarPlay broke on every trip.
I will never do that again, my friends.
Still, I vastly prefer it to my iPhone 15 Pro Max orPixel 8 ProorGalaxy S24 Ultracontrolling my system.
It may not have the voice assistant and messaging features.
It can be kludgy to navigate with just a hand-dial and a button to press.
Its still so much better than a touchscreen.
My favorite thing about my car is the way it shuns touchscreens.
I dont need to tap a touchscreen multiple times for every common task.
When I want to go home, I press button #1.
I can do it without looking, because its a real, large button.
I wish more car companies and phone makers would remember this path.
I want to love CarPlay and Android Auto.
My phone is smart, and it has all of my music, audiobooks, and navigation shortcuts preloaded.
My phone should be a part of my car, but it shouldnt be the centerpiece.
I use my phone in the kitchen, but I dont use it to chop vegetables.
I use it to read a recipe, I dont use it to stir the pot.
Phones are terrible at being buttons and knobs, and we have actual buttons and knobs in place.
I need to keep my eyes on the road.
Smartphones are not built to be foolproof while hurtling down the highway behind two tons of metal and gasoline.
My car is built to respond immediately, in any condition.
My smartphone is not that responsive.
If the phone crashes, so what?
It doesnt restart quickly.
There are software bugs and it freezes up and Im just supposed to live with it.
Who let this thing behind the wheel?
