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I hear your point, but the given example? GPS? Does anyone prefer an auto manufacturers software GUI over the GUI of their phone? CarPlay and the Android equiva

I hear your point, but the given example? GPS? Does anyone prefer an auto manufacturers software GUI over the GUI of their phone? CarPlay and the Android equivalent for the win.

jcpst 3y ago
The kind of places I like to vacation commonly have no cell service. The built in GPS works pretty good without cell service. Google/Apple maps fail in this scenario.
- twothamendment 3y ago
  I don't buy that. I live and recreate in an area where cell service is bad to non-existent. I navigate with Google maps all the time. The key is downloading offline maps. I've got multiple states on my phone and they take up surprisingly little space. I still like my nav in the vehicle because of the larger screen, but I never use it to navigate.
  - Kye 3y ago
    I would do this even if I used the on-board GPS. I wouldn't be in the car 100% of the time, so having downloaded maps on the phone is handy.
  - jcpst 3y ago
    Fair- I shouldn’t have said that about google maps. I’m not a google maps user, so not as familiar with what features are available.
- gizmo686 3y ago
  You need to plan ahead and know about it, but Google maps lets you download regions of map data so it can work offline.
freetime2 3y ago
I prefer built-in GPS, reason being: * Location on the map and distance to turns is represented far more accurately * Knows which way I am pointed and can give accurate directions as soon as I start navigation, while sometimes with my phone I need to move a bit for it to know which way I’m oriented * Works in tunnels * Tends to stick to main roads while Apple and Google maps are far too aggressive sending me down side roads or crossing over 2 lanes of traffic. * Don’t need to pause navigation or mess around with my phone when getting in and out of the car for breaks * Has detailed information about the services/stores/restaurants available at each rest stop along the highway, and distances to each stop * Detailed information about lane closures, temporary speed limit reductions due to weather, chain restrictions, etc * Displays accurate representations of street signs and 3d renderings of off ramps * Displays landmarks at intersections (e.g. turn right before the ramen shop on the right) * Shows guidance about which lane to be for two or three upcoming intersections at a time (as opposed to just the next intersection). * Much more customizable interface. I can choose whether I want it to display gas stations, convenience stores, parking, etc. on the map. How many prompts before a turn. I can enable or disable various features like split-screen turn guidance, etc. And this is Toyota. Not the prettiest UI in the world but extremely functional. Google Maps is better when searching for businesses and other points of interest, but when it comes to actual navigation I much prefer my car's built-in GPS.
- nonethewiser 3y ago
  About half of these have nothing to do with being built-in. They are just software implementation details.
  - freetime2 3y ago
    Right. The parent asked “GPS? Does anyone prefer an auto manufacturers software GUI over the GUI of their phone?” To which I responded with the reasons above for preferring my car’s built-in navigation over CarPlay. I’m not saying that Google/Apple couldn’t build these features. Just that they haven’t.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
toast0 3y ago
The driving directions on my C-Max (with the much maligned Ford Sync 2 system) are actually really nice to use. Inputting addresses is a pain, and UI responsivity is terrible (which is part of why people don't like it; it's also not pretty, but like who cares? Does the radio need a lovely background image; flat green is fine), but put in into the show the map on the left and the next three steps on the right, and it's way better than using my phone. It's been a while since I tried it, but Android Auto in a rental was worse than just using the phone, so I've avoided it since. Also, I'm not willing to pay for maps updates every year, and XM for satellite traffic and compressed to hell music that cuts in and out all the time because I live where trees do. Upcoming turns in the dash is nice too.
gambiting 3y ago
Yeah, the satnav built into my Volvo is actually really nice and I trust it more than I trust Google maps. The interface for Google maps is somewhat nicer, but android auto cannot be made full screen in my Volvo while the built in satnav can. And the built in satnav can be displayed on the driver's dash.
- brewdad 3y ago
  The satnav in my Volvo is better than my phone, except maybe on forest roads BUT the interface to enter an address is a God-awful mess of about 8 lines of input done one character at a time through a wheel setup. It takes forever to input an address and if that address isn't in the system for some reason you won't know until you've wasted 2 or 3 minutes trying to input it. There used to be an app that greatly simplified this process. Of course, it cost $20/month. It isn't supported anymore because a 2017 model was built with only 3G and my car can no longer connect to a network in the US. Aside from the infotainment system, I love this car and will probably drive it until the wheels fall off. It is a Geeley product, so the wheels will fall off at some point unlike the battle tanks of old.
  - gambiting 3y ago
    So my 2020 XC60 has an app, fortunately it isn't anywhere near that expensive - £29 a year. And yeah I just use it to send the destination to the satnav, then it pops up on the screen literally 10 seconds later.
mft_ 3y ago
Tesla’s is pretty good. My only gripe was occasional slow loading of map times (oddly slow enough to suggest they didn’t cache at all?)
shakow 3y ago
My BMW GPS is pretty great, to be honest. The step-by-step guiding is top-notch and well integrated in the dash infos, the physical knobs & buttons make it easy to use while driving, it can reroute me according to live traffic infos, and it meshes nicely with the rest of the UI. I don't really see a reason to use CarPlay/Apple Maps in this case.
arethuza 3y ago
Yes - I much prefer the nav on my car to using my iPhone even though I do have CarPlay.
ako 3y ago
I have a Skoda, so mostly VW software, and I only use Apple Maps for navigation. Like it better than the built in software.

I hear your point, but the given example? GPS? Does anyone prefer an auto manufacturers software GUI over the GUI of their phone? CarPlay and the Android equivalent for the win.

jcpst 3y ago

The kind of places I like to vacation commonly have no cell service. The built in GPS works pretty good without cell service. Google/Apple maps fail in this scenario.

twothamendment 3y ago
I don't buy that. I live and recreate in an area where cell service is bad to non-existent. I navigate with Google maps all the time. The key is downloading offline maps. I've got multiple states on my phone and they take up surprisingly little space. I still like my nav in the vehicle because of the larger screen, but I never use it to navigate.
- Kye 3y ago
  I would do this even if I used the on-board GPS. I wouldn't be in the car 100% of the time, so having downloaded maps on the phone is handy.
- jcpst 3y ago
  Fair- I shouldn’t have said that about google maps. I’m not a google maps user, so not as familiar with what features are available.
gizmo686 3y ago
You need to plan ahead and know about it, but Google maps lets you download regions of map data so it can work offline.

freetime2 3y ago

I prefer built-in GPS, reason being: * Location on the map and distance to turns is represented far more accurately * Knows which way I am pointed and can give accurate directions as soon as I start navigation, while sometimes with my phone I need to move a bit for it to know which way I’m oriented * Works in tunnels * Tends to stick to main roads while Apple and Google maps are far too aggressive sending me down side roads or crossing over 2 lanes of traffic. * Don’t need to pause navigation or mess around with my phone when getting in and out of the car for breaks * Has detailed information about the services/stores/restaurants available at each rest stop along the highway, and distances to each stop * Detailed information about lane closures, temporary speed limit reductions due to weather, chain restrictions, etc * Displays accurate representations of street signs and 3d renderings of off ramps * Displays landmarks at intersections (e.g. turn right before the ramen shop on the right) * Shows guidance about which lane to be for two or three upcoming intersections at a time (as opposed to just the next intersection). * Much more customizable interface. I can choose whether I want it to display gas stations, convenience stores, parking, etc. on the map. How many prompts before a turn. I can enable or disable various features like split-screen turn guidance, etc. And this is Toyota. Not the prettiest UI in the world but extremely functional. Google Maps is better when searching for businesses and other points of interest, but when it comes to actual navigation I much prefer my car's built-in GPS.

nonethewiser 3y ago
About half of these have nothing to do with being built-in. They are just software implementation details.
- freetime2 3y ago
  Right. The parent asked “GPS? Does anyone prefer an auto manufacturers software GUI over the GUI of their phone?” To which I responded with the reasons above for preferring my car’s built-in navigation over CarPlay. I’m not saying that Google/Apple couldn’t build these features. Just that they haven’t.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

toast0 3y ago

The driving directions on my C-Max (with the much maligned Ford Sync 2 system) are actually really nice to use. Inputting addresses is a pain, and UI responsivity is terrible (which is part of why people don't like it; it's also not pretty, but like who cares? Does the radio need a lovely background image; flat green is fine), but put in into the show the map on the left and the next three steps on the right, and it's way better than using my phone. It's been a while since I tried it, but Android Auto in a rental was worse than just using the phone, so I've avoided it since. Also, I'm not willing to pay for maps updates every year, and XM for satellite traffic and compressed to hell music that cuts in and out all the time because I live where trees do. Upcoming turns in the dash is nice too.

gambiting 3y ago

Yeah, the satnav built into my Volvo is actually really nice and I trust it more than I trust Google maps. The interface for Google maps is somewhat nicer, but android auto cannot be made full screen in my Volvo while the built in satnav can. And the built in satnav can be displayed on the driver's dash.

brewdad 3y ago
The satnav in my Volvo is better than my phone, except maybe on forest roads BUT the interface to enter an address is a God-awful mess of about 8 lines of input done one character at a time through a wheel setup. It takes forever to input an address and if that address isn't in the system for some reason you won't know until you've wasted 2 or 3 minutes trying to input it. There used to be an app that greatly simplified this process. Of course, it cost $20/month. It isn't supported anymore because a 2017 model was built with only 3G and my car can no longer connect to a network in the US. Aside from the infotainment system, I love this car and will probably drive it until the wheels fall off. It is a Geeley product, so the wheels will fall off at some point unlike the battle tanks of old.
- gambiting 3y ago
  So my 2020 XC60 has an app, fortunately it isn't anywhere near that expensive - £29 a year. And yeah I just use it to send the destination to the satnav, then it pops up on the screen literally 10 seconds later.

mft_ 3y ago

Tesla’s is pretty good. My only gripe was occasional slow loading of map times (oddly slow enough to suggest they didn’t cache at all?)

shakow 3y ago

My BMW GPS is pretty great, to be honest. The step-by-step guiding is top-notch and well integrated in the dash infos, the physical knobs & buttons make it easy to use while driving, it can reroute me according to live traffic infos, and it meshes nicely with the rest of the UI. I don't really see a reason to use CarPlay/Apple Maps in this case.

arethuza 3y ago

Yes - I much prefer the nav on my car to using my iPhone even though I do have CarPlay.

ako 3y ago

I have a Skoda, so mostly VW software, and I only use Apple Maps for navigation. Like it better than the built in software.