![]() ![]() The irony in holding out is that BMW is also shunning BlackBerry users who have since switched to an Android-based device. And without Android support, there is no way to get Google Maps onto the infotainment screen. As I expected, neither voice assistant worked for me in this car. ![]() The lack of Android support extends to Google Now and Assistant. Granted, not everyone knows that, but it’s one workaround, in case that’s an issue. Using a VPN before launching Android Auto helps cover tracks and anonymizes usage. They have a point, but it’s also something that can be rectified. Why the cold shoulder? In keeping with its mantra about privacy, the automaker is apparently unsatisfied with how much personal data and tracking Google does through the platform. Where’s Android Auto?īMW purposely left out Android Auto from its current system, even though it can more than handle it. It’s one of the rare instances where a playlist can appear on CarPlay’s side, and an map on the other. The width of the 6.5-inch display is such that it can allocate a third of the display to something else. Audio playback would stop instead of pausing, forcing me to press play again every time I used it. Siri works really well when CarPlay is running, except BMW’s own voice assistant got finicky under those circumstances. ![]() I thought it was neat that the Map button would go to Apple Maps whenever CarPlay was running, instead of the factory navigation map. The level of integration here has its ups and downs. However, I do appreciate that Siri can at least launch CarPlay apps by voice now. It would be great if Siri already had an index of the music on these music apps, so that drivers could simply say what they wanted to hear, but Apple still hasn’t done that. Cycling through Spotify, TuneIn or Apple Music was very similar, only the dial was better at sifting through playlists than swiping up or down. These are anecdotal nuances, of course, but they speak to how Apple will adapt CarPlay to accommodate different automakers. It was as if I had to count how many clicks the wheel made before knowing where I was on the screen without really looking. Tapping something on a screen is pretty instant. The one problem is the extra time it takes to look at and confirm a selection. It took some getting used to, yet felt surprisingly seamless after a short while. Normally, it would be as simple as tapping an icon to launch an app, but in this case, I had to spin the dial to highlight the icon I wanted. The lack of touch on the display makes the rotary dial the key navigation method, which felt strange at first when cycling through CarPlay’s interface. It will work wirelessly while the phone isn’t being charged, or is charging via the charging pad. CarPlay’s impactĬarPlay’s inclusion does make for some interesting integration. I didn’t have to plug my iPhone in once I first set it up. Siri Eyes Free worked through the onboard voice control when connected via Bluetooth, and certain apps, like Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and Yelp were well-integrated too.īringing Apple into the dashboard was a pill BMW arguably didn’t want to swallow, but it fits in so well here that the platform works wirelessly. For whatever reason, BMW chose not to include it last year when it had the opportunity. The biggest addition here is CarPlay, part of the $750 smartphone connectivity package from the dealer. The ConnectedDrive interface and feature set will feel like an improvement to anyone with an older BMW, though the 4 Series doesn’t add anything from what the 7 Series first unveiled. Prepaid data plans are available beyond that, which are really no different in price than competitors. ![]() Like other automakers, BMW offers 3GB for three months to start, whichever expires first. An in-car Wi-Fi hotspot and Qi wireless charging pad are now included in the infotainment package. The rest of the layout is clearly based on what was introduced in the 7 Series. Also missing from this series are the gesture controls, which were first introduced in the 7 Series last year, and now currently offered down to the 5. Only the 5 Series and above currently offer it. That’s in line with how iDrive has always functioned - capacitive touchscreens were just added last year - only touch-sensitivity hasn’t trickled down to the 4 Series yet. That means the rotary dial and shortcut buttons around are the only navigation method. Despite making its head unit screen touch-sensitive in the higher models, the 440i Coupé is older school in that it doesn’t recognize touch input at all. ![]()
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