CarPlay with AAOS - Benefits?

[GRAF]

So, my new-to-me XC40 has the AAOS. With this I can get Spotify and Tunein, Waze and of course Google Maps. What is there that’s an advantage that’s only available via CarPlay?

[eugen61]

You might use apps on your iPhone via Apple CarPlay that are not yet available for AAOS. I can’t think of any other advantage in using CarPlay until your data usage plan is free and unlimited in AAOS.

[GRAF]

That’s was pretty much what I was thinking. I don’t have unlimited data on my ‘phone at present, though I used to have. I still think, after the 4 years (well, 3 1/4 years in my case) free Volvo SIM is up it would be cheaper to buy a data SIM than cough up £10 a month to go unlimited on the ‘phone.

[eugen61]

…unless you drive in an area where Volvo’s SIM has spotty network coverage and your iPhone is connected to a different network provider with good coverage. In that case using your iPhone via CarPlay would ensure uninterrupted music streaming.

[itsmarc]

I think my question would be - why use the absolutely awful/unfinished AAOS infotainment when a much more polished Carplay is available?

Firstly, music - I mainly listen to lossless audio files (over 3000 of them) - curated with smart playlists, playlists, and the native Apple music app is vastly superior to anything AAOS has (I tried Audiowagen and it's quite basic by comparison). Even when I'm not using my own library and want to listen to something new on Spotify, I require the ability to download my playlists to play offline (as much of my driving is in the Scottish highlands where streaming is often simply not viable due to poor/no signal) - and currently the AAOS media apps I've tried do not support that feature.

Secondly - while I generally prefer Google Maps to Apple Maps, I found recently that using Apple Maps for navigation actually provides a better experience in AAOS - which surprised me for obvious reasons. Basically, when using the built-in Nav, I see the Nav in both AAOS on the centre display, and also the digital instrument cluster, but the instrument display shows very little information about the trip. Also, when using that, if I switch to Carplay for media, then I no longer see the nav on the centre display. Then, if I use Google Maps inside car play (and have the Carplay combined page that shows media and nav) I can see the directions in the centre display, but not the instrument cluster. However, when using Apple Maps - I see the mapping on both displays (and it actually looks a lot better than Google Maps IMO) and it gives more info about the trip in the intrument cluster.

So until AAOS matures (and it definitely needs it), Carplay absolutely walks all over AAOS for infotainment and nav - at least for my use.

[gedger]

For me it's principally TomTom as I've found google maps to be poor when towing. I also have all my music and playlists on the iPhone. I do prefer the way messages are handled under CarPlay but that's not a biggy. As the wireless charger doesn't work I tend to plug the phone in anyway so using CarPlay isn't a hassle.

[m@rk]

It's down to the apps you use
I use Apple Music for music
I use iMessage for messaging
I will use Apple maps over Google maps (or worse, Waze) for "turn by turn" navigation any day of the week
I use Siri extensively
So in my case, CarPlay gives me access to all of this where as AAOS would not

[JFDIT]

If you're in the android camp then there is no question what you use!
Has anyone tried the AAOS native Sygic navigation app?