OTA Update 2022.15 Software Release Notes

[pc500]

What pc500 said is not true. Apple Music does have an API that other platforms can and have used.

I would be very interested in seeing a link to an unencumbered by licensing API (other than having a valid account), that I can use on Linux to play back my apple music content.

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[pc500]

That is demonstrably false. Apple released an Android app for Apple Music years ago. Amazon Alexa speakers have an Apple Music skill. Some auto manufacturers even have native Apple Music integration (Volvo has this in the XC40 Recharge despite NOT supporting CarPlay!)

At times, Apple has released apps for other major operating systems, including Android.

However, Volvo's support is merely because it runs "android automotive". While it isn't running in Carplay, per say, it does support carplay and android auto. Furthermore, the app is actually the Android app (delivered via android automative), not a Volvo app.

 

[astonius]

I would be very interested in seeing a link to an unencumbered by licensing API (other than having a valid account), that I can use on Linux to play back my apple music content.

That's a different argument than "Apple doesn't allow it, period."

If you want to listen to Apple Music on Linux here's one option: https://music.apple.com/us/browse

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

At times, Apple has released apps for other major operating systems, including Android.

However, Volvo's support is merely because it runs "android automotive". While it isn't running in Carplay, per say, it does support carplay and android auto. Furthermore, the app is actually the Android app (delivered via android automative), not a Volvo app.

Volvo does not support CarPlay or Android Auto in the XC40 Recharge. They claim it will come, at some point in the future.... But so far it doesn't exist.

The infotainment system does run Android Automotive (different from Android Auto -- Google sucks at naming products) but the app is separate from the normal Android APK.

 

[pc500]

That's a different argument than "Apple doesn't allow it, period."

If you want to listen to Apple Music on Linux here's one option: https://music.apple.com/us/browse

Support for playback through a web browser does not mean they make that same javascript API available to the public who is not using a web browser. Do you remember the debacle when Alexa show released youtube support by showing a "web browser" on the device? Google promptly blocked them.

Sure, Rivian *might* be able to install a web browser and have it work for a while, but YMMV, and it's a poor user experience.

For all practical purposes, Apple doesn't support Apple Music playback via a custom app (similar to Spotify on the Rivian). It is a business decision of Apple, not a technical one. The music service providers who are not connected to a tech company seeking world domination through their automotive platforms have been more open (enter Spotify).

 

[crashmtb]

If rivian added audio over USB that would be enough, or iPod support

 

[pc500]

Volvo does not support CarPlay or Android Auto in the XC40 Recharge. They claim it will come, at some point in the future.... But so far it doesn't exist.

The infotainment system does run Android Automotive (different from Android Auto -- Google sucks at naming products) but the app is separate from the normal Android APK.

Well, I just googled it and support is in their manual. Admittedly, I didn't test it:

https://www.volvocars.com/en-th/sup...nternet/apple-carplay/using-apple-r-carplay-r

However, this really isn't the important part. Apple carplay is supported due to a decision by Apple to support android automative as a whole, and Volvo enabling the app.

Also, BTW, I can find no public reference to support for Apple Music on XC40 recharge, but I will assume it is indeed, there.

In Rivian's case, they cannot just independently make the decision to support Apple Music. They must enter into a licensing agreement with Apple, on terms they may or may not like. Or they have to adopt a "big tech company" automative platform which happens to contain the app.

It isn't something specifically Rivian can just do independently by reading a public API documentation page and developing the app.

We, the consumer, are held hostage and the tech companies get their goals of taking over the entertainment systems on vehicles (which Rivian sees value in not happening).

 

[frostbit3]

Support for playback through a web browser does not mean they make that same javascript API available to the public who is not using a web browser. Do you remember the debacle when Alexa show released youtube support by showing a "web browser" on the device? Google promptly blocked them.

Sure, Rivian *might* be able to install a web browser and have it work for a while, but YMMV, and it's a poor user experience.

For all practical purposes, Apple doesn't support Apple Music playback via a custom app (similar to Spotify on the Rivian). It is a business decision of Apple, not a technical one. The music service providers who are not connected to a tech company seeking world domination through their automotive platforms have been more open (enter Spotify).

I haven't looked into the source code much, but there is Cider that works for me on Arch linux no problem. I'd imagine they're using some sort of API to connect to Apple Music, I just need to go through the repo and see.

https://cider.sh
https://github.com/ciderapp/Cider

 

[pc500]

I haven't looked into the source code much, but there is Cider that works for me on Arch linux no problem. I'd imagine they're using some sort of API to connect to Apple Music, I just need to go through the repo and see.

https://cider.sh
https://github.com/ciderapp/Cider

Yeah, this looks like a third party reverse engineered Apple's API. Apple can change it anytime, and has high incentive to if a commercial party (not some random geek with a home automation system) ships it as part of a commercial product. They tend to turn a blind eye when there's no potential money involved.

To make it worse, it's AGPL licensed (why, for an API?) and I'm sure Rivian is not interested in fully open sourcing their system with the copyleft provisions of this license just to strip out the reverse engineered API in this.

 

[frostbit3]

Yeah, this looks like a third party reverse engineered Apple's API. Apple can change it anytime, and has high incentive to if a commercial party (not some random geek with a home automation system) ships it as part of a commercial product. They tend to turn a blind eye when there's no potential money involved.

To make it worse, it's AGPL licensed (why, for an API?) and I'm sure Rivian is not interested in fully open sourcing their system with the copyleft provisions of this license just to strip out the reverse engineered API in this.

Fair points, but it's been done before as Sony has a native Apple Music app on their Playstation consoles, so the precedence has been set that Apple will allow it on a technical level. I'm sure there's some kick backs or something that Sony did to make it worth Apple's time in doing so.

 

[pc500]

Fair points, but it's been done before as Sony has a native Apple Music app on their Playstation consoles, so the precedence has been set that Apple will allow it on a technical level. I'm sure there's some kick backs or something that Sony did to make it worth Apple's time in doing so.

Your last comment is pretty much it. Keep in mind Apple's willingness to "play" in a particular vertical (automotive, gaming console, voice assistant, etc.) is often driven by the business benefits market participation provides in each of those (and drawbacks, if they're trying to achieve a different domination objective). Right now, they are trying to "take" automotive interfaces away from OEM's as a differentiating feature.

To put it another way, if I own a car wash and want to advertise (and offer) rain-x, I must purchase and provide all that companies other soaps, and wheel shines, that do not have strong market penetration.

Or I can't use Google maps API for routing information / traffic info and use third party maps to visualize the route to the user.

I have no idea what the backroom deals are for these services, but they sure aren't free. I'm surprised Tesla got Google Maps, but 2012 was a different era.

 

[Matt Quan]

Weird that it has no mention of the garage door opener function.

The garage door function was mentioned in the original owners manual page 17, but removed in the 4/25/2022 manual revision. Looks like it will be returned on the next manual iteration.
Glad to see it will return and actually function.

 

[godfodder0901]

The garage door function was mentioned in the original owners manual page 17, but removed in the 4/25/2022 manual revision. Looks like it will be returned on the next manual iteration.
Glad to see it will return and actually function.

It was removed prior to that (the 3/28/2022 rev for SW 2022.11.X doesn't have it either). The User's Guide tied to the software that adds garage door functionality (2022.15.X) is the rev released on 4/25/2022, and makes no mention of garage door functionality. That is the weirdness that was referenced.

 

[astonius]

Support for playback through a web browser does not mean they make that same javascript API available to the public who is not using a web browser. Do you remember the debacle when Alexa show released youtube support by showing a "web browser" on the device? Google promptly blocked them.

Sure, Rivian *might* be able to install a web browser and have it work for a while, but YMMV, and it's a poor user experience.

For all practical purposes, Apple doesn't support Apple Music playback via a custom app (similar to Spotify on the Rivian). It is a business decision of Apple, not a technical one. The music service providers who are not connected to a tech company seeking world domination through their automotive platforms have been more open (enter Spotify).

I was addressing two different points, not saying a web interface is the same as an API. Again, other non-Apple interfaces have interacted with an Apple Music API. Porsche, Sonos, Volvo, Alexa, Google Assistant, and I’m sure others. Clearly Apple is not preventing it full-stop.

 

[s12dxer]

It’s rolling out

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