Thoughts on Android Auto or CarPlay

HiggySTL · July 13, 2021

Just curious who out there uses Android Auto or CarPlay and what your thoughts are on all the features and ease of use. When I first got my truck I had it enabled and it drove me crazy so I shut it off. I will admit I didn't customize or set anything up specific to my liking, I just used it :out of the box" as they say. I REALLY miss the feature on my 2015 that would notify me of texts and read them aloud to me. That is no longer a built in feature anymore (bad choice GM), and the only way I can get that back is to use Android Auto (or so I was told).

Any good set up advise or other comments on using it from others would be appreciated. Thanks!

Grjfer · July 13, 2021

19 minutes ago, HiggySTL said:

Just curious who out there uses Android Auto or CarPlay and what your thoughts are on all the features and ease of use. When I first got my truck I had it enabled and it drove me crazy so I shut it off. I will admit I didn't customize or set anything up specific to my liking, I just used it :out of the box" as they say. I REALLY miss the feature on my 2015 that would notify me of texts and read them aloud to me. That is no longer a built in feature anymore (bad choice GM), and the only way I can get that back is to use Android Auto (or so I was told).

Any good set up advise or other comments on using it from others would be appreciated. Thanks!

My biggest complaint.

Random · July 13, 2021

I overall enjoy the Apple CarPlay experience in my truck. Granted this is the first vehicle I've owned that had it, so I'm coming from a new user perspective. My truck doesn't have the built in Navigation, so I use CarPlay for those purposes and I like the flexibility of using different map/nav software (Apple, Google, and Waze). The UI is pretty basic, so I can't really complain about its features in regards to using the software. I almost exclusively use Apple Music for listening to music and so I like the split screen view that shows current song and map/navigation.

My only real negative is that it requires me to plug in my phone via USB in order to use it. You'd think wireless CarPlay would be a standard these days, but sadly it isn't and I wasn't willing to fork over the amount of money needed to get that one small feature.

In regards to text notifications and reading them out loud, I don't seem to have those same problems. When I get a text message I get a notification up on the screen where there's the option to select it and Siri reads it out loud for me.

bdallas · July 13, 2021

I use CarPlay pretty much exclusively in my truck. Only every once in a while will will I tune into an AM or FM station. Other than that, I'm in CarPlay mode.

I use it for navigation, Apple Music, texts and calls. I'll activate it through either the touch screen, or voice command.

(I do wish it had some sort of weather app that was compatible, or at least display current temp/conditions etc., but apparently that is something the automakers or forbid)

It's intuitive, user friendly and familiar... after all, it's basically an extension of your phone stripped-down to be 'driver friendly'.

There really isn't much to 'setup'.

What is it that drove you crazy about it? Maybe then we could give you some better tips and advice.

HiggySTL · July 14, 2021

22 hours ago, Random said:

In regards to text notifications and reading them out loud, I don't seem to have those same problems. When I get a text message I get a notification up on the screen where there's the option to select it and Siri reads it out loud for me.

Android Auto will do this too, but in my 2015 this was built into the system and didn't require a carplay or android auto connection. This is a step backwrads in IMO

HiggySTL · July 14, 2021

21 hours ago, bdallas said:

What is it that drove you crazy about it? Maybe then we could give you some better tips and advice.

I just wish I could use a couple features from Android Auto (AA) (or CarPlay(CP)) and not have it be all or nothing. For example, I like the built in nav and would rather use it instead of on my phone. I would like my texts to be read aloud and displayed from my phone. I can't have both of those happen at the same time. it is either I am using ALL AA or CP features or none. Would be nice to be able to pick and choose.

newdude · July 14, 2021

Apple Carplay user. I don't even pair my bluetooth to the vehicle anymore. No need. I find Carplay much faster and better to use than the vehicle's voice/bluetooth command system. And it reads messages aloud to you via Siri. Everyone complains about the text message feature missing from the factory system but Carplay just does it.

Also, I have no interest in the wireless function of it. I've driven a couple 2021's at work and its faster to just bring a cord and plug in and boom Carplay instead of pairing everything up to use it wireless.

Edited July 14, 2021 by newdude

aseibel · July 14, 2021

I use AA exclusively for google maps and nothing else. I love the ability to use that when I'm in unfamiliar territory, or for the kids to see the countdown time to our destination.

When my wife gets near it automatically opens up CP and then if I want it connected to my phone its a pain to switch. But that's a minor problem most of the time. Only when we are both in the car on long trips and it tries to switch phones.

I'm not super techy, so I don't know how to tailor it to my wants. I guess I'm just glad I get to use a good mapping app without paying GM for updates.

Random · July 14, 2021

1 hour ago, HiggySTL said:

Android Auto will do this too, but in my 2015 this was built into the system and didn't require a carplay or android auto connection. This is a step backwrads in IMO

Ok I see what you're saying now. I had read your original post wrong and had mistakenly thought your carplay/android auto wasn't doing the text to speech feature. My 2014 and my current 2021 don't have it so I don't know what I was missing in regards to the radio having the feature builtin.

It's not great, but when I'm plugged in and have CarPlay enabled I do get the same text notifications when I'm using the regular GM radio for listening to local stations. The unfortunate bit is that it forces you to open CarPlay in order to get the text and listen to it, taking you away from what you had open. If you are using the builtin NAV, that would really suck so I can see your frustration.

Sadly I don't have any recommendations on how you can best use a hybrid radio + CarPlay/Android solution that isn't clunky and annoying; The two just don't work well together. I find that going all in on CarPlay has removed most of my frustration with trying to use the 2 separately.

nards444 · July 14, 2021

Its pretty nice to use, but my issue with it is really is its a different system. You have to toggle back and forth between car play and the trucks system. Ideally this would just integrate in and it all would be one.

bdallas · July 15, 2021

18 hours ago, newdude said:

Apple Carplay user. I don't even pair my bluetooth to the vehicle anymore. No need. I find Carplay much faster and better to use than the vehicle's voice/bluetooth command system.

Also, I have no interest in the wireless function of it. I've driven a couple 2021's at work and its faster to just bring a cord and plug in and boom Carplay instead of pairing everything up to use it wireless.

Same here. I don't even bother with bluetooth, or syncing contacts to the vehicle...

My current truck does have wireless ACP and to be honest, I could do without it. As aseibel said, when my wife and/or kids gets in the car, it wants to connect with their phone. But that's just a minor issue. I do like the ability to let them connect via bluetooth so they can play their tunes and the navigation and everything else stays connected to my phone.

The only reason I ever switch back to the vehicles system is if I'm listening to terrestrial radio and want to switch stations.

There is nothing on the trucks system that I feel my phone can't do better (as far as phone call, texts, navigation, music is concerned)

Not once have I used the trucks navigation, so I don't know what the benefit is, if any, but I do know I have GPS in my pocket that I'm already paying for and I know it will always be up to date.

My 2¢

Grjfer · July 15, 2021

My 2015 and 2018 1500's both had the functionality of being able to push the okay button on the steering wheel want I got a notification have a text message and it would then read it to me out loud. I miss that capability when this current truck.

HiggySTL · July 15, 2021

Maybe I need to hook it back up and just go all in on the Android Auto features. I would always just use my phone GPS in the past anyway, but I was actually very impressed with the built in mapping on the 2021 compared to my older one. The new built in GPS works so much better for searching for addresses and the level of detail on the map is a ton better too. it also shows features in 3D on the map and has exit sign pop ups and things that are really nice. It is cool when you get to an exit with an overpass, the 3D map will actually show the bridge features and things pretty accurately. Maybe I just use AA and use Wayze for my maps for the cool features. As you can tell, I kinda like the techy stuff

HiggySTL · July 15, 2021

3 minutes ago, Grjfer said:

My 2015 and 2018 1500's both had the functionality of being able to push the okay button on the steering wheel want I got a notification have a text message and it would then read it to me out loud. I miss that capability when this current truck.

EXACTLY!