Finally — Apple Wallet Car Key is Activated!

[mikehmb]

I just don't see the need for it. My phone has unlocked the vehicle without any problems.

Generally agree, but if proximity lock turned off at home, this would be very useful (at least for me).

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[Dark-Fx]

I don't think you can make it work the same way. My wife's i4M50 has an Apple Key, but the i4 uses NFC. There is no proximity unlock; you must hold your phone up to the sensor in the door to lock/unlock. I would imagine this would require two different sets of coding in the app, and I'm unsure how well those two protocols would interact when used simultaneously, or if that is even possible.

This could all be total bullshit, of course, as the extent of my software development skills is to ask ChatGPT to write code for me.

My gen2's driver door handle does seem to be quite a bit more responsive to holding the phone up to the handle vs just holding my hand against the capacitive touch area...

 

[Johnus]

Generally agree, but if proximity lock turned off at home, this would be very useful (at least for me).

UWB is capable of determining directionality and distance far better than Bluetooth. Some neat magic can be performed with this tech, particularly when you also have gyroscopes and other sensors available.

For PaaK, this should also mean a precise distance for unlock can be configured rather than the guesswork done now based on signal strength. My old phone would unlock far closer than my newest phone...which currently unlocks more than a block away. UWB should be able to make it the same distance across any phone model.

 

[portdirect]

I don't think you can make it work the same way. My wife's i4M50 has an Apple Key, but the i4 uses NFC. There is no proximity unlock; you must hold your phone up to the sensor in the door to lock/unlock. I would imagine this would require two different sets of coding in the app, and I'm unsure how well those two protocols would interact when used simultaneously, or if that is even possible.

This could all be total bullshit, of course, as the extent of my software development skills is to ask ChatGPT to write code for me.

Totally possible to implement both (and actually required to be implemented for the capability to unlock via your phone when the phones battery is dead) - the gen1 almost certainly has the required hardware to support CarKey with NFC only unlock (ie use your phone/watch like the card/wriststrap). That said - I do get why Rivian are not going to do this: it would be in some ways a bit of a step back from the current PaaK solution (when the phone is powered up), and more importantly - it means developing a net new capability on a now mantaince-mode stack.

Edit: key takeaway is that Apple Carkey supports both NFC and UWB/Bluetooth: they are not mutually exclusive, and for the full capability of the platform both should be supported.

 

[mkhuffman]

This sounds great but I just can't see myself ever wearing a square watch.

Although I know Garmin users are in the minority and chances of it happening are small, using my Garmin watch to unlock would be really cool. Oh, well.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

and more importantly - it means developing a net new capability on a now mantaince-mode stack.

Edit: key takeaway is that Apple Carkey supports both NFC and UWB/Bluetooth: they are not mutually exclusive, and for the full capability of the platform both should be supported.

This makes sense why Rivian would not want to do it.

 

[portdirect]

There is an update on that article.

+1

Probably should have been more clear, but was so excited to see movement finally. Apple lighting this up on their public APIs means that it's actually real, and almost certainly going to happen (and likely soon, it means they now have the capability for 'public' beta users outside of a lab... ... @Kryptonlogic ? ) - until now I've been getting increasingly suspicious that it was simply never going to materialize at all.


I'm really looking forward to having CarKey active on our watch's (for our gen2) and will have our gen1 perma-active on the Rivian Phone apps: which seems like the best solution we are going to get for 'seamless' operation of multiple Rivians' for some time.

 

[Las_Vegas_R1S_Tri]

Anyone know what the differences will be from using the iPhone Rivian app?

 

[tbinmd]

Anyone know what the differences will be from using the iPhone Rivian app?

you don't have to use the app. I would also hope the truck wakes up/unlocks without me needing to pull my phone out. I also want to be able to use my watch. That would be nice at home when I want to grab something out of the truck and not needing to grab my phone.

 

[Johnus]

This sounds great but I just can't see myself ever wearing a square watch.

Although I know Garmin users are in the minority and chances of it happening are small, using my Garmin watch to unlock would be really cool. Oh, well.

+1

I'd pay for this even if it's an unofficial app and limited to bluetooth. If Gen 2 isn't getting the wristband I'd like to use my Garmin watch, it goes everywhere with me, including the ocean.

 

[waitingonanr1s]

I love my Garmin for athletic and outdoors stuff, but I recently pulled my gen 1 apple watch ultra out of the drawer after signing up for the US Mobile $6.50/month watch plan. I forgot how nice and slick the iphone integration is. I will certainly enjoy having my key on it, as I like going places without my phone. Everything I need my phone for is on the watch.

I'm one of those guys now that runs with 2 watches (allowing me to leave my phone behind) - my apple watch for music and my Garmin for activity tracking (apple watch doesn't even come close to matching Garmin functionality on that front). I know you can download music to the Garmin, but just being able to strap on the Ultra and stream is so much less friction.

 

[zefram47]

Edit: key takeaway is that Apple Carkey supports both NFC and UWB/Bluetooth: they are not mutually exclusive, and for the full capability of the platform both should be supported.

Sure, but there's no reason why NFC couldn't be supported for Gen1, at least on the surface. I have an NFC-based Apple HomeKey via a Schlage lock. I just tap my watch to the lock and it opens without having to push any buttons at least with Express Mode turned on. For those with an Apple Watch that would be totally acceptable functionality without needing UWB. Obviously isn't not quite as nice as walk-up and it opens as we have now, but if my phone isn't in my pocket it would be a lot nicer than having to walk back in the house to grab my phone or the fob.

 

[Singletracker]

Originally, I was Jonesing for the Apple Watch integration, that never came. I also have an Apple Watch Ultra with cellular service, so love that I don’t have to carry my phone ALL the frickin’ time. I always have the fob in my pocket, on a chain, and can lock, unlock and start my rig without ever taking it out of my pocket. if I need to manually use the fob, It’s is second nature to me to reach in pocket to push the fob button, again, without removing it from my pocket. But, it would still be nice to be able to have the Apple Watch fully functional. Alas, with a Gen 1, it appears I am SOL.

 

[portdirect]

Next ota:

 

[waitingonanr1s]

Next ota:

I hope you're right, but I don't see use of the word "next". He says "an upcoming OTA". Sounds like a euphemism for S00N to me....

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