[germinal]

Where are you from?

If the US, then your SA's seem to know nothing about anything. Period.

If Aust then he would have known, at least the broad picture, in early Sept.

If I were you I'd cancel and reorder.

Located in Belgium ( country next to Germany )

I had to pay 7500 euro up front for the Macan. The built is locked, so I don't think I can cancel the order (??)

SA won't be back in office before monday... I'll ask him then. On the other hand I'm so tired of my current car that I probably just take delivery but that does not change the fact that one can be feel left out, bought at the wrong time

 

[ww007]

I hate this thread... Makes me sad... Ordered a macan few months ago, will go in production end of the month... But no CarPlay / updated PCM and LED for me

Kinda makes me feel like I ordered a new but already outdated car

I know te car will drive as good but you know, just feel left out

I know how you feel. I just got delivery of my car a month ago and it barely has 1400 miles and already feels outdated At least you guys who haven't taken delivery yet can cancel your orders / possibly refuse delivery. Love the car but would have been nice to have some kind of warning that changes were coming so soon.

At least it has the Burmester Don't think that's getting outdated anytime soon...

 

[TigerAce]

Has anyone used Carplay before? I am not sure if it works with other languages. Many of my contacts are in asian fonts and do not know if it works. I couldn't find much online...

 

[RJMcInnis]

@Doconefall I hope you are not referring to me? Because otherwise, it's not 2013, so of course I know that Google owns Waze. And over the last 2 years, Google has integrated Waze userbase traffic, and provided Waze with access to Google mapping data, which they partially use. I haven't bashed Google at all. Although, based on their privacy policies, it would be easy to do. I like Waze best due to the user community provided live updates. That is what makes it best of breed.

 

[ottoman101]

Personally, I don't care about missing out on CarPlay for now with my 2015 Macan, but an upgrade to the new PCM sofware with better traffic coverage would be nice.

 

[sboggs]

Since you can't spec PCM w/ Nav if you select Connect, do you lose everything else listed under PCM (High-resolution 7-inch color TFT display (touchscreen) including radio with RDS double-tuner and single CD/DVD drive with audio playback of MP3 music and audio/video DVDs. Storage and playback of up to 5,000 MP3 files on internal 40 GB hard drive.), or is just the Navigation deleted. Very confusing.

 

[row]

I've got to smile reading all the chatter about "what if"... After driving Porsches for thirty plus years the Porsche playbook, since the 993 has been simple: Upgrade some part of the experience every two to four years. The GTS is a prime example. Their product roadmap is usually established over ten years. The incremental HP upgrades are standard operating procedure and they're always a generation behind on electronics. I remember getting some grief from a dealer when I ordered the then new 996... no cup holders ? The response (with a smile)"you should be focused driving the car"
My iPhone 6s integrates perfectly with my standard no frills hi-fi... Waze, maps, music etc...

I'm sticking to the advice I got sixteen years ago... driving the car.

 

[Pokerhobo]

Since you can't spec PCM w/ Nav if you select Connect, do you lose everything else listed under PCM (High-resolution 7-inch color TFT display (touchscreen) including radio with RDS double-tuner and single CD/DVD drive with audio playback of MP3 music and audio/video DVDs. Storage and playback of up to 5,000 MP3 files on internal 40 GB hard drive.), or is just the Navigation deleted. Very confusing.

Connect Plus goes with PCM/Nav, Connect is without PCM/Nav

 

[sboggs]

Ok, now I see under Standard Equipment they list: Porsche Communication Management (PCM) without navigation module, Sound Package Plus with 8 speakers and 150 watts, 7-inch TFT display, RDS double tuner radio, and MP3 compatible single disc CD/DVD player, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio and HD Radio™ Receiver, so I guess you still get pretty much everything except Porsche Nav and maybe the internal hard drive (which I never use anyway) if you choose Connect. So seems like you are trading the Porsche navigation module at $1700 for Connect with CarPlay for only $830. Seems like a pretty good deal unless I'm missing something.

 

[Martin]

So seems like you are trading the Porsche navigation module at $1700 for Connect with CarPlay for only $830. Seems like a pretty good deal unless I'm missing something.

The only drag is that if you want Sport Chrono and CarPlay, you have to get Connect Plus and PCM w/ Nav - an expensive set of options.

 

[kermit]

Went to Porsche Centre Brisbane yesterday for the release of the 911 Series 2 to specifically have a play with CarPlay; it's standard on Australian 911's, $1090 Connect Plus option on Macans and 718s. Here's my thoughts.

TL DR
If you have an iPhone and want the extra level of integration I think it's worth the money.

First up it requires a Lightning/USB cable connection, which is under the centre armrest. Plug your iPhone in and the PCM asks if you want to use it in iPod or CarPlay mode. Chose CarPlay and the CarPlay button appears bottom right on the PCM screen (http://steeringnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2016-Porsche-911-Carrera-PCM-7-inch-screen.jpg). Touch it and you then see the standard Apple CarPlay interface. The car didn't lock my iPhone screen like some other manufactures do.

The new PCM. It has a frameless glass screen with an anti-reflective coating and thus capacitive, but it's no bigger than the previous PCM screen. The graphics and fonts look cleaner, and just like the previous PCM you don't have to use the touch screen; you can operate it 100% with the buttons and knobs, this also applies to CarPlay.

Now CarPlay. First thing I noticed was the sidebar was on the right. In this screenshot it's on the left (http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2014/03/carplay_3.jpg?retina); I guess this is because all the screenshots on the web are from lefthand drive cars. The sidebar displays, from top to bottom: time, signal strength, cell connection type, Home button.

If you chose to flip your signal strength from dots to numbers (http://cdn.redmondpie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/iPhone-Signal-Strength.png) then you'll see the numbers in the sidebar also. If you don't have a cell connection then nothing will be displayed in this spot in the sidebar.

In this screenshot (http://c.mobilegeeks.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/porsche-911-carplay.jpg) you can see the Porsche icon. Tapping it, or using the right knob to trigger it, will return you to the PCM menu (http://steeringnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2016-Porsche-911-Carrera-PCM-7-inch-screen.jpg).

On my iPhone I had four third party apps show up on the second screen; Downcast, Overcast, Spotify, and Pandora. All these, and the standard Apple apps performed flawlessly, and navigating any app was easier, for me, using the rotary knob than touching the screen - I'm of the opinion that without tactile feedback you aren't as accurate when you are meant to be concentrating on driving. It is easy to tap and swipe; scrolling is smooth and response is instant. The only downside is you can't pinch to zoom in Maps, I guess Porsche haven't implemented multitouch or Apple haven't enabled it in the specification, but there are + & - buttons to zoom in and out. Maps also has 3D and locate me buttons.

The best way to think of CarPlay is it's a projected display of your iPhone. Things are bigger, and theoretically, easier to use by removing complexity. An example, trigger the Phone app and Siri is activated, if you have an Internet connection, otherwise Siri lets you know you don't. Without Siri you can still navigate your favourites, recents, and contacts lists as well as the keypad and voicemail (http://b.cdnbrm.com/images/prm/home...TouchClarity/images/articles/mobile-electronics/carplay/apple-carplay-phone.jpg).

I love my music so I have about 5000 songs on my iPhone; I've also filled my Macan's Jukebox (seriously, who thinks 40GB is enough space!); and I also have a 2006 80GB iPod (7000 odd songs) plugged in pretty well permanently. The CarPlay Music app is easier to use than my Macan's PCM, except music wouldn't restart after something else needed to make sound, like Siri. I didn't test any of my three podcast, or the other two music apps, for this issue but I assume they would have the same failure to restart issue. This is Apple's problem.

I'm sure it would take me many hours of use to actually find more niggles, like it did with my Macan's PCM, but it is an improvement and if Apple puts more effort into CarPlay them we get those changes for free.

Those who complain about what apps are/aren't available, well that's on Apple and third party developers. At this point in time I give Porsche five stars for its implementation.

Used in the above review was a 2014 iPhone 6 64GB running iOS 9.2.1 and a non-Apple Ligthning/USB cable.

 

[NETX]

Kermit thank ya much for the detailed & nicely stated post, well done IMO.

 

[SCZRN]

Excellent review, thank you for removing some of the mystery for us!

 

[PygmyOctopus]

The only downside is you can't pinch to zoom in Maps, I guess Porsche haven't implemented multitouch or Apple haven't enabled it in the specification, but there are + & - buttons to zoom in and out. Maps also has 3D and locate me buttons.

Great review @kermit .

One question. You mention that multitouch was not implemented for maps. This is a feature I was looking forward to

Have a look at this video around 1:10, also appears at a later point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgkRPCaq4vA&feature=youtu.be

This was shot by @MrSam with a new Euro 911 in mid Jan. It clearly shows him pinch-zooming a map. I think here he was using the PCM mapping app, not Carplay. Could it be that multitouch only works with the PCM and not Carplay? Did you try with both or only Apple?

I know several of the Connect+ options have been omitted for Aus, sure hoping they haven't dumbed down the maps etc.

 

[kermit]

Great YouTube find @PygmyOctopus. I only tried the CarPlay functionality and not the general PCM functions. That is definitely multitouch in action with the PCM maps. I'd take a guess that the issue of its non-existence in Apple Maps lies with Apple.

That's really dumb of Porsche to change the speed limit indicator's position to overlay the distance remaining indicator (towards the end of video).

What are the missing Connect+ functions are you referring too?

 

[PygmyOctopus]

Great YouTube find @PygmyOctopus . I only tried the CarPlay functionality and not the general PCM functions. That is definitely multitouch in action with the PCM maps. I'd take a guess that the issue of its non-existence in Apple Maps lies with Apple.

That's really dumb of Porsche to change the speed limit indicator's position to overlay the distance remaining indicator (towards the end of video).

What are the missing Connect+ functions are you referring too?

We miss on basically all of it. We just get connect, but renamed and repriced as connect+

The actual missing bits are:
Porsche Car Connect app
Porsche Connect app
Online nav, Google earth
Google streetview
WiFi hotspot
Smartphone storage/charging tray - although I think this bit may not have been confirmed for any Macan yet

Buy hey, things look set to change in 2018 when the new Motor vehicle standards Act will hopefully come into force.

 

[srdiam]

I hope when CarPlay becomes wireless it will be available to everyone who has it already...

 

[ghstudio]

I wish they would just split out google maps/traffic for those of us who use android phones.

I think "carplay like" becomes interesting when you have wireless connectivity AND charging. I want to just put my phone down and have it connect with my car without fearing that I will lose the battery power I need when I get to my destination. Today, we have neither...soon there will be wireless connectivity but wireless charging is still very limited and not available, as far as I know, in any car.

 

[mertoun]

I was really worried about this need to plug my phone into a cable. Really worried. So I tried an experiment. On 10 iterations it took me an average 0.2 seconds to plug in my phone. Calculating the impact of this I foresee 0.4 seconds lost, per day, from plugging in my phone. I'm going to have to ask the coffee shop to speed up the espresso's, because I'm losing minutes per day waiting for them.

 

[ghstudio]

I was really worried about this need to plug my phone into a cable. Really worried. So I tried an experiment. On 10 iterations it took me an average 0.2 seconds to plug in my phone. Calculating the impact of this I foresee 0.4 seconds lost, per day, from plugging in my phone. I'm going to have to ask the coffee shop to speed up the espresso's, because I'm losing minutes per day waiting for them.

That's cute, but it misses the point. You really shouldn't have to plug your phone in at all, given today's technology. If a woman has it in her handbag, there's no reason to take it out. If it's in my backpack, why not just leave it there if I don't need recharging,,,,at least that's coming but whether it's going to work on the 2017 PCM remains to be seen.

Also, there is rarely a good place to put the phone once plugged in...the 911 looks like it has a tray...and that's good...but why isn't it a charger as well.