New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple's CarPlay Works Alongside BlackBerry's QNX Car Platform

Tuesday March 4, 2014 10:14 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple's newly unveiled CarPlay iOS vehicle integration system, which allows an iPhone to take over the in-dash display of a car, has been designed to work with BlackBerry's QNX operating system. The QNX Car Platform powers many in-car infotainment systems and includes a mobile connectivity framework that supports many mobile development environments, including iOS.

carplay_3
In a statement made to Lucas Atkins of N4BB, BlackBerry's Paul Leroux confirmed that CarPlay works alongside the QNX systems installed in many cars.
Connectivity to smartphones and other mobile devices is a key strength of QNX Software Systems' platform for car infotainment systems, and many automakers and tier one automotive suppliers use our platform to implement smartphone/head-unit integration in their vehicles. We have a long-standing partnership with Apple to ensure high-quality connectivity with their devices, and this partnership extends to support for Apple CarPlay.
CarPlay, which requires an iPhone to function, can be likened to Apple's AirPlay, mirroring the iPhone's display and functionality to the existing in-car infotainment system.

Since CarPlay was announced yesterday, multiple manufacturers, including Volvo, Ferrari, and Mercedes-Benz have shown off vehicles with CarPlay integration. Other manufacturers, such as Honda, Jaguar, Hyundai, and more, are expected to launch vehicles with CarPlay support in 2014.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
[ 73 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
crackbookpro
65 months ago
Automobiles then homes... Apple is expanding their macro markets with Tim at helm.

SJ would be proud.
Rating: 11 Votes
Avatar
paradox00
65 months ago

Sure. But Apple is about integrating hardware and software, with CarPlay, Apple doesn't control anything.


CarPlay runs off the iPhone, which Apple controls, and Apple can ask for whatever specs they need from head unit in exchange for licensing CarPlay compatibility. Your complaint makes as much sense as complaining that speaker docks and home theatre receivers suck because Apple doesn't control the hardware.

Know what would really suck? Buying a car that only worked with iPhones. Good thing CarPlay doesn't work that way.
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
TC03
65 months ago
This sucks. CarPlay is merely a layer using someone else's OS with someone else's hardware, seemingly.

I doubt Apple can leverage the quality and UX we're familiair with without fully integrating the hardware and software.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
mikeo007
65 months ago
Thanks for actually reporting on this properly. So many poorly researched articles out there are taking this quote and twisting it in such a way that it looks like Carplay is actually based on QNX.

Carplay is just an iOS extension, it's not some standalone thing. It works with a variety of cars too, not just QNX ones (the Volvo that they demo'd for instance is based on Android).
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
LordVic
65 months ago
This is actually fantastic news.

it means that existing QNX based car systems MIGHT be capable of having software update to bring CarPlay to existing cars, rather than be exclusive for new models...

However, it is the car industry. I'm doubtful that'll happen, even if technologically feasible.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
Meicyn
65 months ago
Wonder if this has anything to do with why Ford decided to ditch Microsoft Sync in favor of QNX very recently for future MyFordTouch updates.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
bbbb4b
65 months ago

This is great news. It sheds some light on how it will work if you don't own an iPhone.

The Apple Extremists are probably screaming at the top of their lungs with outrage, lol.


My God. I can actually feel your embarrassment for that comment.
My condolences.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
mikefla
65 months ago

Any chance that we will be able to integrate this into a car that doesn't have it from the factory. I would love to be able to do that.

You can, I found this for Toyota/Lexus:

http://www.vaistech.com/site/home.php

There may be other products out there. I just don't want to install after market stuff specially if it's Made in China and it's cheaply made junk. I know nothing about the above product but it looks kinda cool. Installation doesn't look too hard but you still need to stick boxes and wires somewhere which I'm not a big fan of on a higher end type car.

-Mike

----------

This is actually fantastic news.

it means that existing QNX based car systems MIGHT be capable of having software update to bring CarPlay to existing cars, rather than be exclusive for new models...

However, it is the car industry. I'm doubtful that'll happen, even if technologically feasible.


Probably won't happen. Unfortunately car manufactures even the high end ones you can't upgrade anything as far as software/firmware to add new features which I hope will change one day because it really sucks. What are we supposed to do if we want this Apple CarPlay all go out and buy new cars? WTF.....

-Mike

----------

Wonder if this has anything to do with why Ford decided to ditch Microsoft Sync in favor of QNX very recently for future MyFordTouch updates.

Maybe because Microsoft sucks and all they come up with these days is crap?

-Mike
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
badNameErr
65 months ago

Sure. But Apple is about integrating hardware and software, with CarPlay, Apple doesn't control anything.


CarPlay runs ON the iPhone. Not on the embedded OS in the car. CarPlay streams video data which is displayed by the car. The car sends user event data back to the iPhone. The car is just like an external display. It's like AirPlay. Get it?

Your iPhone is the brains of CarPlay.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
dss10
65 months ago
Pony tail and suit, check.
Gold iPhone, check.
Mercedes Benz, check.
Jerks around Michelle Schmitz, check.


Is this guy not a jerk?
Rating: 2 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]