Apple CarPlay ios18

[Stretford99]

I love to use both? Apple Music sounds fantastic on the Harmon Kardon soundbar esp in the lossless format so the upgrade in quality for the music has been fantastic. I also prefer the details contained within the Apple Maps, personally it seems to show me more stuff on the maps which is handy when travelling around. And using Siri to control the apps within CarPlay has been brilliant!

Apple Maps not having EV routing built in is a pain for longer journeys but hey presto a quick press and I can view the Volvo version and still continue to listen to my Apple Music whilst doing so!

But I also have been using the google assistant while in CarPlay! And using it to control the car functions and so on like turning the heated seats on and so forth.

Having both functions finally available - the Volvo/Google automotive AND CarPlay has made the last few weeks finally enjoyable for me. Great functions within both!

I have seen mentioned quite a few times above that some things from the Volvo/Google won’t work if you use CarPlay - does anyone know what doesn’t work in that event? Everything I’ve tried so far seems to work well when I’m listening to my Apple Music and try to use the Volvo stuff at the same time?

Finally - I love the fact that a short press on the voice button on the steering wheel activates Google assistant and a long press activates Siri! Seems to work flawlessly! I’ve found though using your voice can be a bit hit and miss as both assistants can’t hear over the music

[tombarnes]

I love to use both? Apple Music sounds fantastic on the Harmon Kardon soundbar esp in the lossless format so the upgrade in quality for the music has been fantastic. I also prefer the details contained within the Apple Maps, personally it seems to show me more stuff on the maps which is handy when travelling around. And using Siri to control the apps within CarPlay has been brilliant!

Apple Maps not having EV routing built in is a pain for longer journeys but hey presto a quick press and I can view the Volvo version and still continue to listen to my Apple Music whilst doing so!

But I also have been using the google assistant while in CarPlay! And using it to control the car functions and so on like turning the heated seats on and so forth.

Having both functions finally available - the Volvo/Google automotive AND CarPlay has made the last few weeks finally enjoyable for me. Great functions within both!

I have seen mentioned quite a few times above that some things from the Volvo/Google won’t work if you use CarPlay - does anyone know what doesn’t work in that event? Everything I’ve tried so far seems to work well when I’m listening to my Apple Music and try to use the Volvo stuff at the same time?

Finally - I love the fact that a short press on the voice button on the steering wheel activates Google assistant and a long press activates Siri! Seems to work flawlessly! I’ve found though using your voice can be a bit hit and miss as both assistants can’t hear over the music

I totally agree with all of this!

One month into my ownership and this car as impressed me from day 1. It may be controversial, but this car has become perfect for me, personally since 1.4.2.

[Geoff]

One month into my ownership and this car as impressed me from day 1. It may be controversial, but this car has become perfect for me, personally since 1.4.2.

So, you don’t have the steering wheel shuddering or the brakes slamming on or the car swerving to the side or bongs for exceeding imaginary speed limits and the radio doesn’t go off when you brake and you can turn the fog light on without assistance from a co-driver?
It’s good but it’s very far from perfect.

[tombarnes]

So, you don’t have the steering wheel shuddering or the brakes slamming on or the car swerving to the side or bongs for exceeding imaginary speed limits and the radio doesn’t go off when you brake and you can turn the fog light on without assistance from a co-driver?
It’s good but it’s very far from perfect.

Nope As I say, for me, personally, it's perfect (I feel bad admitting it Geoff, I'm sorry!)

[Geoff]

[/quote]

Nope As I say, for me, personally, it's perfect (I feel bad admitting it Geoff, I'm sorry!)
[/quote]

I installed 1.4.2. this afternoon and I haven’t driven the car since. Perhaps all the faults will be solved, but I doubt it, I’m fairly sure I still won’t be able to easily turn off all the driver assist stuff or turn on the fog lights or turn on four-wheel drive. And there will still be two hazard warning switches and the themed ambience lighting gimmick that you can’t turn off. And the mirrors still won’t dip when reverse is selected.
Maybe it’s perfect to sit in the comfy seats to listen to music, talk on the phone and answer messages but as a car to drive it leaves a lot to be desired. It’s a good car spoiled by software.

[andrewollason]

I’m pretty sure you are right Geoff that most of the things that are annoying you will still be there after the software update. Volvo will no doubt continue to develop and improve the user experience but these will be tweaks I suspect, that will not change the basic ethos of the car. I do hope that you get to the point where you feel happier with the user experience. Developing such a new environment for an international market must be so challenging. For me I think Volvo have done a very good job with this. Of course it is not perfect and pleasing everyone is never going to be possible. I’m looking forward to the next update which will hopefully bring the digital ID to life.

[tombarnes]

I installed 1.4.2. this afternoon and I haven’t driven the car since. Perhaps all the faults will be solved, but I doubt it, I’m fairly sure I still won’t be able to easily turn off all the driver assist stuff or turn on the fog lights or turn on four-wheel drive. And there will still be two hazard warning switches and the themed ambience lighting gimmick that you can’t turn off. And the mirrors still won’t dip when reverse is selected.
Maybe it’s perfect to sit in the comfy seats to listen to music, talk on the phone and answer messages but as a car to drive it leaves a lot to be desired. It’s a good car spoiled by software.

Sorry to hear you've had issues Geoff, sounds like you've been soured by some bad experiences. Out of interest, how old is your vehicle? Was it one of the 'first'?

Mine was delivered on 20th August, and had come straight from Volvo UK (it's a lease via my job). So I'm pretty sure it's new, new.

[RichTea]

Can I ask a question (or two) about people’s experiences with CarPlay?

1. I have found that when I have my phone connected via CarPlay but am on the standard Home Screen, I’m not getting any CarPlay notifications through (e.g. when I receive a text or iMessage). I’ve checked all the usual suspects re: allowing notifications but I’m getting nothing. What are other people’s experiences with this?

2. Again when on the Home Screen and I have music playing via Apple Music, I only see the title of the song and not the artist. I’m fairly sure Spotify built into the car showed both on the Home Screen. Again, is this the same for everyone else?

TIA

Richard

[tombarnes]

Can I ask a question (or two) about people’s experiences with CarPlay?

1. I have found that when I have my phone connected via CarPlay but am on the standard Home Screen, I’m not getting any CarPlay notifications through (e.g. when I receive a text or iMessage). I’ve checked all the usual suspects re: allowing notifications but I’m getting nothing. What are other people’s experiences with this?

2. Again when on the Home Screen and I have music playing via Apple Music, I only see the title of the song and not the artist. I’m fairly sure Spotify built into the car showed both on the Home Screen. Again, is this the same for everyone else?

TIA

Richard

I have the same experience on both counts.

1. The two User Interfaces' notifications are totally independent of each other. I will have a look tomorrow, but I know before using CarPlay iMessage notifications, for example would come across to Android (in basic form) to the notification bell at the top of the screen. But I think that when an iPhone is connected with CarPlay enabled, this interface overrides the notifications via Android.

2. Not noticed that, but perhaps an oversight and may be solved in future.

I will address a tiny elephant in the room here, from someone grateful for this update: having CarPlay on this OS, in this car, is somewhat a square peg in a round hole.

I had feared (for my music) this would be the downfall of the car (I'm glad for 1.4.2). I really crave having CarPlay and I am thrilled we have it. 99% for Apple Music and the simple UI. It's missing stuff like EV-Intelligent navigation, but this is to do with the API and future evolutions will allow this, but may be hardware limited and therefore will be in later Volvo's.

From this article alone https://www.theverge.com/23958821/volvo ... to-decoder I wouldn't be surprised if Volvo took CarPlay and ran with it in the future, the opposite to Polestar, weirdly! I reckon we are in a transitionary period of in-car operating systems, and the insights to the future of CarPlay could well lay the foundation for some company's in-car operating systems. Will Volvo be one? Is that why they have rammed this square peg in the round hole?

[tombarnes]

Slightly off topic as this obviously won't happen in the MY24/25 EX30, but this is where Apple see CarPlay going in the future, and call me an Apple FanBoy (I am), but I really believe this would be a match made in heaven in a future EX30