Apple Music, YouTube & the Connect+ subscription

[jrothman]

I had a used Gen 1 and traded up to a Gen 2 in June of this year. I love Rivian. I'm so glad I got the vehicle. I'm thankful that Rivian exists as an alternative to Tesla. And I feel so lucky that I was able to afford the switch. I'm a public school teacher, so I saved up quite a bit by working a bunch of after-school and summer school hours to pull it off.

However, I'm bummed that they require I subscribe to Connect+ in order to use my Apple Music and YouTube through their interface. I pay for subscriptions to both. And, up until August, I would connect to my phone's hotspot to use both services through their interface - no problem.

I should include that I switched from Tesla to Rivian. You could use Tesla's interface for music, podcast and video streaming apps so long as you either paid for Tesla's data plan or used your own hotspot. Which makes perfect sense. Data costs. I'm not expecting or asking Tesla or Rivian to take a hit on music streaming data. That's why I take the time to connect to my phone's hotspot when I get in the car.

Since the development of the app interface is essentially a sunk cost with nominal updates while data is the real cost, I don't understand why Rivian expects their customers to pay for that aspect of things if I provide the hotspot. It's akin to requiring us to pay for use of the radio station tuner - another app that they develop and maintain but has no data costs associated with using the app.

It should be said that using their interface makes for a much safer driving experience as opposed to taking out and using your phone. Something I know that Rivian takes so, so seriously.

For a company that is so gracious in so many ways, pay-walling the music streaming interfaces is... a letdown. One that starts off as an, "Oh, well," but only becomes more of a bummer over time. Every time I have to pick up my phone - or use Siri - to switch songs/albums/playlists, I find myself asking why. And it doesn't make more sense as time goes on.

I don't know if I'm in the minority here, but I'm really hoping that Rivian is hearing this message from others. And I'm really hoping that they'll change their minds. I understand why others would pay for it, but simply I don't need the other features that come with Connect+. And I can't help but think that this wasn't their intention. They are so gracious in so many ways - so hopefully they'll reconsider this aspect of using the car's entertainment features.

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[jrothman]

I know that there are some on this forum who will air their disdain that I "complained" at all. I've seen it happen on many other posts here.

To clarify, I posted this trying to figure out how others might feel about it, to see if there's anyone else who is similarly dissatisfied with this aspect of their ownership. If you disagree with my take, that's fine. But I just want pre-empt any potential replies with the wish that no one needs to be disparaged for seeking camaraderie and perspective.

 

[COdogman]

I pay for C+ because I think it’s worth it (despite my Apple Music frustrations), but others who don’t want to pay have figured out how to use their phone hotspot as an internet connection. So hopefully they can share exactly how they do that..

Because in reality that is what you are paying for with Connect+. It’s Rivian’s mobile internet connection….

 

[CrazyOne]

I use my phone as hotspot to use Spotify. Apple music will work the same way.

Casting/YouTube isn't supported using hotspot. I don't need it, so I don't pay for it. I rarely find myself waiting in the car for something, so the video has no value for me.

 

[VSG]

And, up until August, I would connect to my phone's hotspot to use both services through their interface - no problem.

That's what I've always done too, and as far as I'm aware there was no change in August - I can still do that. I don't use Apple Music so I can't speak to that directly, but everything else seems to still work over my hotspot.

Perhaps you just need a reboot?

 

[ndmiller]

Fine with the subscription and what it provides.

 

[narmstrong79]

Connect+ adds zero value for me. It does suck too pay to use your subscription natively on the UX but someone has to pay for the data that the car is using, that isn't free.

I use YouTube music, and pay for that premium. And their isn't a native and even if it was I don't see the value in Connect+. It's all subscription based now... Connect+ is one fee, autonomy will be another .. The auto industry sucks now.

 

[SANZC02]

I use my phone as hotspot to use Spotify. Apple music will work the same way.

Casting/YouTube isn't supported using hotspot. I don't need it, so I don't pay for it. I rarely find myself waiting in the car for something, so the video has no value for me.

Only disadvantage to using the phone as a hotspot is if traveling the range for cellular is not as robust on a phone.

I really noticed it when I was in Yellowstone, the R1S was still connected in several location where the phone was not. If people don’t travel much that is probably not an issue.

 

[hudesigns]

Same feeling here. First, I don’t subscribe to Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal or Audible. I do use Amazon Music, YouTube Music. Podcast and Libby. So Connect+ has no value to me and I do not subscribe. I found using my own hotspot to be very hectic because it disconnects too often to be enjoyable. My only solution is using my iPhone for all media contents via Bluetooth which has stable connection. I created a page in iPhone just for driving and put it next to driver display as a third screen.

 

[CrazyOne]

Only disadvantage to using the phone as a hotspot is if traveling the range for cellular is not as robust on a phone.

I really noticed it when I was in Yellowstone, the R1S was still connected in several location where the phone was not. If people don’t travel much that is probably not an issue.

Rivian uses ATT network. Hotspot was terrible on T-Mobile, but works very well on Verizon. YMMV. We don't do many road trips, and I can always use Bluetooth.

Also, I subscribe to Amazon music, so I use Spotify only for shuffle play.

 

[jrothman]

I pay for C+ because I think it’s worth it (despite my Apple Music frustrations), but others who don’t want to pay have figured out how to use their phone hotspot as an internet connection. So hopefully they can share exactly how they do that..

Because in reality that is what you are paying for with Connect+. It’s Rivian’s mobile internet connection….

Thanks! To clarify - I know how to and do use my phone as a hotspot. Up until August, doing so provided some benefit - namely, it allowed me to use Apple Music via the car's interface. But this started to get buggy in August and became less and less usable throughout the month. I contacted service and asked them for help. They actually sent out a mobile tech to address this issue (and one other thing). When he couldn't resolve the issue, the mobile tech told me that Apple Music is not supposed to work without Connect+. Even when connecting your own hotspot.

He acknowledged that others were frustrated with this, but said that it's Rivian's policy. Apple Music - and the other streaming platforms - only work via Connect+.

 

[jrothman]

I use my phone as hotspot to use Spotify. Apple music will work the same way.

Casting/YouTube isn't supported using hotspot. I don't need it, so I don't pay for it. I rarely find myself waiting in the car for something, so the video has no value for me.

Thanks! I've been unable to get Apple Music to work after connecting to a hotspot since August. A Rivian tech informed me that this is the expected behavior.

I can occasionally get a song or two out of Apple Music using my hotspot (I keep trying hoping they've reversed the policy without publicizing that they have), but it stops working soon thereafter.

 

[jrothman]

That's what I've always done too, and as far as I'm aware there was no change in August - I can still do that. I don't use Apple Music so I can't speak to that directly, but everything else seems to still work over my hotspot.

Perhaps you just need a reboot?

Good to hear! Hopefully it continues to work for you. After working with a mobile tech, he contacted central and relayed that Apple Music doesn't work without Connect+. It's policy now. I've rebooted the car a few times since. No dice.

If you have a workaround, awesome. Hopefully this only affects a limited number of people.

 

[godfodder0901]

He acknowledged that others were frustrated with this, but said that it's Rivian's policy. Apple Music - and the other streaming platforms - only work via Connect+.

This is 100% false. Many of us use the hotspot for our streaming services every single day.

 

[lefkonj]

Everything is a subscription today not just this stuff. While I don't love it I get it. There is constant development that happens on this software and features that get added over time. That costs money and to cover that costs they charge for it. What can we do? Buy a firewall, subscriptions for the features. Buy a router or switch, same thing. You can get the canned functions but not the advances without a subscription.

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