http://carstereochick.com/blog/2014/09/10/pioneer-carplay-release-update/

I'm sorry but bullshit. They've been saying they were ready since July. I think around then is when pioneer uk said they were ready right? Yeah whatever.

people still buy iphones???

Good to see Annie blogging again. It's been reported over and over again. The hold up is with Apple. No one with the exception of Ferrari has released CarPlay. Huyndai has not updated the firmware in its vehicles either. Waiting until next week when iOS gets released to the public is a reasonable expectation. After that, frustration is more justified. No one knows what Pioneer was promised when it stated the early summer release. We don't know what issues may have come up with CarPlay during the firmware testing.

More likely, the issues have come up with Pioneer's implementation of CarPlay. If it works in a Ferrari, it should work on our head units too

As CSC posted, word is that all issues have been resolved and we are waiting on Apple to give the go ahead. This is the way they work. If Alpine, other car manufacturers were offering Carplay today I would be concerned. This just isn't happening.

Then how do you explain CarPlay being good to go on Ferrari, but not on Pioneer?

Hi all,

In the conversations I had with two different sources it sounded like the 1st delay was due to Pioneer's implementation and working out bugs and getting it right.  I think the delay pushed it so far back that by time Pioneer was ready, Apple probably decided to hold off on the release until Fall when iPhone 6 started shipping.  Just my guess, but I genuinely believe it is in Apple's hands at this point and I think the information I was given was accurate.  The story never varied and neither source wanted to be named in the article, but we'll see how it pans out (hopefully real soon).  Thanks for linking to my blog by the way, I'm happy to finally have the time to work on it again

I am glad you have joined the site and continue with the great articles.

Welcome to the forum. Glad to have you here.

Then how do you explain CarPlay being good to go on Ferrari, but not on Pioneer?

When an Apple Senior Vice President sits on the board of Ferrari it's not a giant leap to assume that Ferrari would be first out the door. That being said, I don't believe you will be seeing more than a handful of these cars on the road. 

It seems reasonable that Pioneer didn't have the update ready for an early release and as time went buy it made sense that Apple would wait until the release of iOS 8. I guess we'll see next week. After that, there really are no excuses. 

I don't understand how it seems reasonable that Apple would wait until the release of iOS 8.  CarPlay is designed to work with iOS 7.1.whatever, which is already out.  Can you expand on why you feel it is reasonable that they would wait?  I fully agree with your comment regarding Ferrari, I'm just curious to know your thinking on the iOS 8 piece.

One thing to keep in mind is that carplay has to connect to the head units. Each HU is differant and will require work on the manufacturers part to make the intragration functional and smooth. Just because CarPlay is working with one HU, does not mean it is ready to go with any others. CarPlay is not just an app. It is a middleware between the phone and the HU. Pioneer has to get it right, and Apple has to approve it. My guess is that Pioneer is late in getting it right.

Yes, CarPlay works with iOS 7, and was really only "released" with iOS 7.1in March. Given that no head unit was capable of using it in the open it seems like a beta version. It allowed manufacturers to write firmware and for Apple to test 3rd party apps. It was a six month window and as the months went by and iOS 8 was announced I never got the sense that Carplay would happen this summer. Apple will say that a software release (OS X) is due in a given month and they will get it out, but often it is on the last possible day of the month. 

iOS 8 is a pretty decent upgrade to 7. The podcast app (used in Carplay) is on the main screen. Don't forget the rumors of the Apple Maps team having issues and updates to Maps occurring throughout the summer. With all these issues and expected improvements it isn't a stretch for me to think Apple wanted to wait until a general release. 

One thing to keep in mind is that carplay has to connect to the head units. Each HU is differant and will require work on the manufacturers part to make the intragration functional and smooth. Just because CarPlay is working with one HU, does not mean it is ready to go with any others. CarPlay is not just an app. It is a middleware between the phone and the HU. Pioneer has to get it right, and Apple has to approve it. My guess is that Pioneer is late in getting it right.

I think this makes the most sense. Pioneer wants to play the "Apple won't let us release it" card, but the reason Apple might be doing that is because there's something wrong with Pioneer's implementation. So, of course Apple won't give the green light until Pioneer gets it right.

As for Ferrari getting it first, I think we all expected that. But once that happened, Pioneer should have had it out there shortly after. As that hasn't happened, that seems to suggest even more strongly that Pioneer still hasn't gotten their programming right and Apple keeps sending them back to fix it.

Here is the way I see it, and why Apple is likely holding off until iOS 8... Carplay is baked into iOS. CarPlay can only be updated when the iPhone's iOS is updated. Apple has probably fixed some bugs and made improvements in the iOS 8 version of CarPlay. Since there were already delays, they probably want to just release the latest iOS 8 version of CarPlay to the masses, rather than the iOS 7.1 version which was released months ago. I agree with the sentiment that if Pioneer does not release CarPlay alongside iOS 8 (or shortly there after), then there are some serious issues.

Here is the way I see it, and why Apple is likely holding off until iOS 8... Carplay is baked into iOS. CarPlay can only be updated when the iPhone's iOS is updated. Apple has probably fixed some bugs and made improvements in the iOS 8 version of CarPlay. Since there were already delays, they probably want to just release the latest iOS 8 version of CarPlay to the masses, rather than the iOS 7.1 version which was released months ago. I agree with the sentiment that if Pioneer does not release CarPlay alongside iOS 8 (or shortly there after), then there are some serious issues.

Except it's been released to Ferrari.

I don't understand how it seems reasonable that Apple would wait until the release of iOS 8. CarPlay is designed to work with iOS 7.1.whatever, which is already out. Can you expand on why you feel it is reasonable that they would wait? I fully agree with your comment regarding Ferrari, I'm just curious to know your thinking on the iOS 8 piece.

2. CarPlay will be seen by a majority of users when they buy cars that have OEM support for it which won't happen for years anyways. Apple has a much stronger incentive to make sure that any implementation from the manufacturers is done right over fast than they normally already do because car makers don't often update their software after they leave the factory, so if it comes out buggy from GM or Honda or anyone else that middleware will stay buggy for the life of the car. People don't buy new cars every year like cell phones. If carplay sucks on a camaro because GM made a buggy carplay middleware program carplay will forever suck in that camaro.

3. Aftermarket headunits like those from alpine and pioneer are the easiest way for reviewers to judge carplay. If pioneer made their carplay implementation as solid as they did Appradio the reviews would come back universally terrible and apple would have a black eye with the oems and getting them to adopt CarPlay.

4. Apple never promised summer or anything less than 2014 from the OEM manufacturers and soon for pioneer and alpine. They didn't even promise 2014 for pioneer and alpine. Any view of a delay for Apple CarPlay is pioneers fault for stating it would be ready in "weeks not months" back in may and originally listing "early summer" for a launch date.

As for Ferrari getting it first, I think we all expected that. But once that happened, Pioneer should have had it out there shortly after. As that hasn't happened, that seems to suggest even more strongly that Pioneer still hasn't gotten their programming right and Apple keeps sending them back to fix it.

Ferrari just released a couple of days ago.  Two weeks from now wouldn't be all that far away in the grand scheme of things.

Eddie Cue of Apple is on Ferrari's board, and the number of users from new Ferrari's is minuscule compared to the number that will be from Pioneer users. That's why I said released to the masses!

Two weeks from now and it officially won't be Summer 2014 anymore.

And iOS 8 will be released next Friday. Like I said...one more week and then no excuses.

So go buy a Ferrari!!  Then you'll have it.... 

It seems reasonable that Pioneer didn't have the update ready for an early release and as time went buy it made sense that Apple would wait until the release of iOS 8. I guess we'll see next week. After that, there really are no excuses. 

Why would Pioneer (or Apple) delay until iOS 8 is released when Carplay on the NEX may not even support iOS 8?

Based on my experience with AppRadio mode on the NEX, my bet is that Pioneer's Carplay implementation is being delayed due to showstopper bugs.

IOS 8 works fine. I've been using it since Tuesday. Do you think the firmware may include enhancements to iOS 8?

Here is another article...

http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/11/gms-connected-car-strategy-shifts-gears-will-use-apples-carplay-android-auto/

Note this sentence

"Apple is nearly ready to debut its Carplay service.."

That does not sound like Carplay has truly been unleashed onto the general public. We should stope the conspiracy theories for now and wait to see who is next to deploy Carplay. If it anothe car manufacturer is next out then we can point fingers at Pioneer.