[Aseras]

My suggestion is to simply move it all to a tablet device. Provide one with the car ( or as an option ), and the option to use any other mainstream device, MS, Android or Apple tablet.

Provide an app that connects when the tablet is docked with the car and lets you access a standard module to provide FM, AM, SirusXM etc, as well as a mainstream navigation app. Keep BT handsfree for voice via a standalone module.

You could also open it up to read diagnostics, provide notifications or climate control or basically everything any headunit can do, and its easy to update.

Allow it to be skinnable and open to some modification. Siri, Cortana and Google Now are all mature enough to handle the hands free aspects.

mirror link, carplay, android auto are all pretty much failures. You get much more functionality by buying a tablet holder to shove in the CD slot and many people are doing just that.

Stop playing catch up, stop nerfing the crappy navigation and ripping everyone off for navigation upgrades and just embrace the future.

If you make the connectors standard USB or USB-C you can sell updated tablets via dealer so older cars can have the newer whiz bang whatever too, but provide the software updates for free.

You'll ended up with much happier loyal customers.

 

[edk-austin]

Consumer grade devices won't survive automotive temperature extremes. Sure, they will for a while, and some users will have no issues, but you can't warrant that. Consumer devices are generally only 5 - 35C operation.

 

[ChiVolt]

mirror link, carplay, android auto are all pretty much failures.

Really? I thought carplay and AA would continue to evolve and refine. I'm looking forward to Waze's imminent debut on AA.

 

[OneMatt]

No, tablets wont be a good option. There are so many different tablets, so many options, different operating systems to support, that the car companies would inevitably stop supporting them outright after a model year, and likely not support all models from day 1.

I buy a car for 8-10 years. You can have several iOS, Android, and Windows updates in that time. I'd hate to lose something as basic as my FM radio after an update until GM catches up with the software (which based on most phone developers, will never happen).

All your concerns are addressed by CarPlay/ Android Auto. I didnt buy nav in my car because I could use Google Maps, so I won't get ripped for upgrades. The screen is also brighter in the daylight than my phone, and doesn't melt when used for 16 horus (I burned out my last phone using it as a GPS on a trip, screen full bright all day).

 

[srmarti]

I do think built in nav is somewhat of a PITA with expensive and infrequent map updates. I don't think that's a hardware issue though.

A navigation update should be annual and free or inexpensive, not the same price as a portable gps unit with lifetime map updates.

 

[AZ EV Driver]

I know people that don't have a tablet or a cell phone or even a desktop/laptop computer. Toss in a multitude of operating systems and interfaces and nearly zero "future proofing" and where are we?

Having CarPlay/AA as secondary systems could work for the present, but tossing a basic entertainment system doesn't seem too smart to me.

VIN # B0985

 

[Barry]

I agree that minimizing the built in infotainment makes sense. My phone does nav and I often listen to stuff from my phone as well. I think it would make sense to have as basic equipment, just a Bluetooth and USB connection to an amp and speakers.
Also, since modern cars are going to have a center console screen anyway, echo the display there.
All the nav and entertainment is on the phone/tablet. This would be the lowest cost option.

For more money, add stuff that is not on most phones, like XM, FM with a good antenna, maybe CD (are those obsolete yet?), and DVD.