My thoughts on NOT having CarPlay

[smunro622]

Call me crazy but on trips I’ve started using the Rivian nav then also firing up Waze on my phone, set to Alerts Only audio, on the wireless charger.

Get all the benefits of both. Not ideal, but it works for me.

I do the same and use the EV Sportline dashmount. https://evsportline.com/collections.../rivian-r1t-r1s-dashboard-magsafe-phone-mount

I do an Apple Music Podcasts and Audio books all on my phone, honestly Android Automotive is a better answer they can modify as needed.

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[Cycliste]

My CarPlay screen is only for real time traffic updates, music for the rare times I have anything playing, and the Rivian center screen is for the gauges view.

I am not an engineer, but I want to look like one

 

[dstraede]

I've considered Android Auto for text messages. While I love Waze, that would not get me to use AA. GM is releasing its first cars without AA/CP, and their primary reason is EV navigation. Read my text messages to me without switching from Spotify, and I'm happy.

 

[SR71]

I added CarPlay to my 17 year old Tundra with a $100 device from Amazon. It included a backup and forward camera.

 

[mcclajb]

Actually I don't think they need to offer it. If they can strike a deal with Google to port WAZE over to their console I think that would be a game changer. Most people that do use Carplay I would venture a guess mainly use it for the navigation. Rivian could do better with the navigation and drop MapBox and get something else.

If people don't buy a vehicle because it doesn't have Carplay, then those people are limited in their thinking. My main reason to starting this post was to give a perspective of not missing CP. I was in the "Must have CP" camp, but I am ok if they never add it.....if they do get it some day.....awesome.....if not.....meh.

I would suggest listening to the "Out of Spec. Podcast" when they talk about the different OS's the EV's use......extremely informative.

I think you are correct that most would primarily want Waze. That’s where I am on this. It isn’t a deal-breaker, or I wouldn’t have purchased my R1S. However, it is such a glaring omission to not have it that I seriously question RJ and his team’s ability to make basic decisions going forward. I get that stubborn people find dumb hills to die on all the time, but this one is more bizarre than most.

As for the comment about people being limited in their thinking because they may not want a vehicle without CarPlay, they probably consider it limited in thinking to assume that all people should have the same criteria when selecting vehicles. As shown time and again, CP is a feature the majority want. That should be enough to indicate it isn’t a trivial issue. As I mentioned before, it wasn’t a deal-breaker for me, but I can appreciate that it is/was for others.

 

[moondogg]

I have one issue with the infotainment system. When I try to listen to our local sport station’s broadcast of the baseball game on iHeart Radio (through Alexa Media) a message comes up saying “you are not in the local area” and will not let me listen to the game. When there isn’t a live game on, the station works fine. On my iPhone using the iHeart app it works fine as I can make sure my location services are on.

I’ve tried everything on the vehicle. Even on the Alexa app where it asks to share location for weather reports, etc it is flipped on. It’s a mystery. I guess the simple question is, “when I’m listening to iHeart Radio through the Alexa App, how exactly does iHeart Radio determine my location??”

Edit: for those who don’t know, MLB’s blackout policy is behind this. You are required to listen through the MLB App if you aren't in the local market of the team. I AM on the local market and simply need iHeart (on the Alexa Media app) to “know” that.

 

[pkingduk]

Last week I drove our Rav4 Prime to work instead of the R1T. I love the way the Rav4 drives and handles....but I digress.

I was one of those proponents of "When is Rivian going to get CarPlay (or Android Auto)?". After driving the RAV4 Prime that has CarPlay, I truly missed my Rivian navigation and interface. The only.....ONLY things I use CarPlay for is:

1. Spotify
2. WAZE (or Apple and Google Maps).
3. Messages/messaging

On the Rivian, I like the way Spotify displays better than on CarPlay, and as far as WAZE not being on the Rivian.....as much as I like the "crowd" sourced information and the ability to log police, hazards etc.......I didn't miss it per see. I do with Rivian would either drop MapBox or demand better data.

In the event that I would need to find a charging station, the rating as well as the choice selector in the Rivian is just as good as Plug-Share. I do like PLug-Share for PLANNING our road trips, but I will use the webpage for all that.

What I wish for Rivian's infotainment system:

1. The ability to link Spotify to the user that gets in the vehicle first. As it is now, I have to log my wife out or vice versa and then we have to log into our accounts. My wife and I have totally different tastes in music.

2. Being able to move the Spotify play screen to the driver's side....makes it easier to navigate music or podcasts.

3. Since Rivian owns ABRP (A Better Route Planner), it would be nice to be able to plan a trip on the webpage and then push it to the vehicle. I know we can odd stops on app and push it that way, but having big 27" monitors and being able to see more area, is nice for planning.

4. It would be nice to be able to see messages and play them (like in CarPlay). I have read that this is coming sOOn.

I think some of the above 4 is doable from Rivian.

Again, I am not one of those "unless Rivian adds CP, I am...........".For those that bought our R1s knew all this prior, so we either have to live with it or get a 3rd part additional screen.

I am adding an aftermarket carplay screen. All said and done it's not all that much money. People are so hyberbolic about what an OUTRAGE is it that theres no carplay or that RIVIAN should NEVER get carplay or why should I have to spend more money to add carply I wont do it on PRINCIPAL. All these arguments are so tired and boring. Just go put it in the damn car yourself and move on with your lives... or dont!

 

[Captain JB]

Car Play is a safety enhancing device as you can recieve and send texts while your hands are on the wheel with your eyes looking straight forward. Alexa is missing in action at least 70% of the time and cannot send texts.

 

[Count Orlok]

The Count uses the lack of CP as his excuse for why he doesn't respond to calls and texts from the staff, et al.

 

[mcclajb]

It's personal preference obviously, but I always felt many of the apps integrated into CarPlay weren't that useful, or the implementation was so bad that it was basically useless. I pretty much only used it for maps and Waze. I have never liked sending texts while driving so I never really tried the messaging feature.

Definitely don't need a Dunkin Donuts or Dominos Pizza app

Conveniently, you can choose what apps are displayed on CarPlay. I only used it for Waze, Apple Music, Spotify, Overcast, and SiriusXM, so those were on the first page, with all other third party apps removed from the interface. It was refreshing to have all that customization. Didn’t realize how great it was until it was gone.

This reminds me. We keep talking about the lack of Waze, which is still the number one most insane omission, but SiriusXM still not having a native app is also noteworthy. I use my phone to display Waze while driving, but having to jump around to different pages to access Apple Music and SiriusXM is inconvenient enough that I’ll remain in the “give us CarPlay” camp. Alternatively, Rivian can do the bare minimum and give us Waze, Apple Music, and SiriusXM, and most of us would be happy enough. I don’t use the messaging stuff, but I know others do and would want that as well. I’m not savvy enough to know if that’s feasible outside of CarPlay integration, so I can’t comment on that.

 

[COdogman]

Conveniently, you can choose what apps are displayed on CarPlay. I only used it for Waze, Apple Music, Spotify, Overcast, and SiriusXM, so those were on the first page, with all other third party apps removed from the interface. It was refreshing to have all that customization. Didn’t realize how great it was until it was gone.

This reminds me. We keep talking about the lack of Waze, which is still the number one most insane omission, but SiriusXM still not having a native app is also noteworthy. I use my phone to display Waze while driving, but having to jump around to different pages to access Apple Music and SiriusXM is inconvenient enough that I’ll remain in the “give us CarPlay” camp. Alternatively, Rivian can do the bare minimum and give us Waze, Apple Music, and SiriusXM, and most of us would be happy enough. I don’t use the messaging stuff, but I know others do and would want that as well. I’m not savvy enough to know if that’s feasible outside of CarPlay integration, so I can’t comment on that.

Well we know they are adding Apple Music and Sirius/ XM at some point this year according to Rivian. I believe messaging will eventually come as well in the form of a native Rivian solution, but there has been no real news about that.

I doubt we will ever see Waze, but there have been rumors Rivian will be switching from Mapbox to Google for their navigation maps, so if that happens it wouldn't be impossible since Waze is a Google thing.

I agree with your overall thought process, though. If they can give people a few of the most popular apps it will keep most happy.

 

[mcclajb]

Well we know they are adding Apple Music and Sirius/ XM at some point this year according to Rivian. I believe messaging will eventually come as well in the form of a native Rivian solution, but there has been no real news about that.

I doubt we will ever see Waze, but there have been rumors Rivian will be switching from Mapbox to Google for their navigation maps, so if that happens it wouldn't be impossible since Waze is a Google thing.

I agree with your overall thought process, though. If they can give people a few of the most popular apps it will keep most happy.

Yes, the SiriusXM announcement last year was something my parents were really into as they placed their order and later took delivery. For them, it’s a must and is expected some time this year. For me, it’s just ok. Apple Music is my preferred option, so I’ll be fine with that.

I’m very cautiously optimistic about getting Google Maps, and I’m hoping the updates regarding media apps will start coming more quickly now that we’ve had the gen 2 update and unveiling of R2 and R3. Maybe the software side will start getting the love.

 

[ath2001]

I would love to Apple Music and Waze.

 

[omgcoffee]

Aesthetically CarPlay won't look very good, especially since the Rivian screen is ~104% larger than the Rav4 Prime. Unless they can run it in a window, which then would require a lot of development / etc to fill the rest of the screen.

This is exactly how it's done on several other vehicles. Imagine it just living in the "app" area of the music/media screen. Rivian could keep all their existing controls and you could still access settings and other screens. It's not an all-or-nothing display for other vehicles that lack physical buttons (Land Rover, Polestar, etc).

 

[OldGoat]

I'm with you 100% - posted speed limits are "suggestions" more than "limits" and Waze has never let me down. I even bought the EV Sportline extra screen last November but it's still unused and sitting it it's box - my wife (it's clearly HER R1S) will not let me install it! "Rivian spent millions on design teams to give the interior the cleanest look possible and I will NOT have you put some cockamamie extra screen in my truck!"

So - what used to consistently be a 3-hour drive to her parents has become a 3.5 hour drive because I won't go more than 11 MPH over the speed limit. At least her parents (who don't have an EV) put in a L2 charger for us to take out some of the sting.

Am I the only one that read this and thought...how fast must you be driving with Waze? If you are driving on a 70MPH road and doing 11MPH over, that equates to 81 MPH. Driving 81 MPH for 3.5 hours gets you 283.5 miles. To do that same distance in only three hours, you have to be doing 94.5MPH. This is the best case scenario. If you have 15 minutes to go from your house to hit the interstate and 15 minutes from exit to her parent's house or you have to slow down due to other things traffic, you must be pushing 100MPH.

Now, I know the old saying about speed...'those that drive slower than you are inconsiderate jerks and those that drive faster than you are reckless a-holes' so no lecture from me, but be careful cause there are a lot of hazards out there.

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