Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
BMW Denies Report of Electric Car Discussions With Apple
German carmaker BMW on Thursday denied that its discussions with Apple involved developing an electric car, according to Reuters. German automotive magazine Auto Motor und Sport reported hours earlier that Apple and BMW were in close negotiations about developing the automaker's all-electric i3 vehicle into a so-called "Apple Car." 
The German report claimed that the electric car could be manufactured by BMW and sold at Apple Stores, with Apple developing a full-fledged operating system for the vehicle that integrates with the car's fuel consumption and driving data. It is plausible that Apple is working to expand its CarPlay efforts on the dashboard, but it remains to be seen how closely integrated the platform will be with future vehicles.
Multiple reports claim that Apple is working on an electric car that is possibly self-driving and could enter production in 2020. Some other reports, however, downplay the rumors by suggesting that Apple is working on expanding its presence in vehicles through CarPlay. Any electric car project at Apple is likely in the early stages of research and development at this time.
"The BMW spokesman said: 'We are in regular talks with companies from the IT and telecommunications sector, including Apple, concerning topics like connected vehicles. Developing or building a car is not a topic of these discussions.'"
The German report claimed that the electric car could be manufactured by BMW and sold at Apple Stores, with Apple developing a full-fledged operating system for the vehicle that integrates with the car's fuel consumption and driving data. It is plausible that Apple is working to expand its CarPlay efforts on the dashboard, but it remains to be seen how closely integrated the platform will be with future vehicles.
Multiple reports claim that Apple is working on an electric car that is possibly self-driving and could enter production in 2020. Some other reports, however, downplay the rumors by suggesting that Apple is working on expanding its presence in vehicles through CarPlay. Any electric car project at Apple is likely in the early stages of research and development at this time.
Related Roundup: Apple Car
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59 months ago
Meh...
I'm guessing BMW is as scared of Apple making a car as Apple is of BMW making a phone.
To those saying Apple moved from the PC industry to the phone industry so cars is OK: c'mon, be serious for a minute.
I'm guessing BMW is as scared of Apple making a car as Apple is of BMW making a phone.
To those saying Apple moved from the PC industry to the phone industry so cars is OK: c'mon, be serious for a minute.
59 months ago
Uhg look at that dashboard:mad:, I don't understand why car dashboards still have to look like 80's stereo towers. Although car designers are capable of designing nice clean dashboards, they're only used in concept cars.
59 months ago
Don't get me started on the buttons. BMWs and other german makes tend to have dozens of buttons scattered all over the place that perform various functions. Tesla seems to have taken the right approach. Only two buttons!
The upside of buttons in a car is that they provide tactile feedback, so you can find your way around by fiddling in the center section, and keep your eyes on the road. A touch screen needs you to look at it in order to navigate it.
59 months ago
Uhg look at that dashboard:mad:, I don't understand why car dashboards still have to look like 80's stereo towers. Although car designers are capable of designing nice clean dashboards, they're only used in concept cars.
I can't comment for all cars, but if you've ever driven that car in the picture, BMW 5 series, it's a really fun drive, the dash is very functional. It's my daily car and it has been my best driving experience.
59 months ago
If all they are doing is allowing Apple to control the software behind the screen then I can't see why they would be that bothered. It would mean that the likes of BMW no longer have to employ people in software anymore and can give it over to someone who can arguably do a better job. Plenty of car manufacturers have let Apple install car play which pretty much overrides their own sat nav software with maps.
The software engineers do more than infotainment. ;) So the companies will always need people in software.
Not sure where you get the plenty of manufactures from. CarPlay support has only been installed on 2 cars to date: The Ferrari FF and the 'Segg Regera. That's not plenty. Controlling the sat nav is a long, long, long, long way from controlling the car's other functions.
59 months ago
It seems German engineering sees complexity as the utmost expression of excellence / elegance vs Apple/Steve Jobs seeing simplicity as the utmost expression of excellence / elegance. (Not to put words/thoughts into people I don't know). Interesting opposite ends of the spectrum.
The moment I read word BMW I knew it is BS. Why would Apple collaborate with one of the crap-mobile world leader. If Apple would be anything like BMW it would be tiny niche player in the junk phone market. Thanks but no thanks BMW, keep your junk for yourselves! Over engineered and unreliable is the word. Oops both of these terms/words are missing from German vocabulary or mean absolutely opposite of English, well that explains it. LOL
59 months ago
The moment I read word BMW I knew it is BS. Why would Apple collaborate with one of the crap-mobile world leader. If Apple would be anything like BMW it would be tiny niche player in the junk phone market. Thanks but no thanks BMW, keep your junk for yourselves! Over engineered and unreliable is the word. Oops both of these terms/words are missing from German vocabulary or mean absolutely opposite of English, well that explains it. LOL
Oh my, you seem rather angry. I've been nothing but happy with all the BMWs I've driven, as have my colleagues - my company has almost a dozen BMWs across 3 countries here in Europe that do on average 40,000km per year, and no-one has had any issues, apart from the odd speeding ticket. But we did have quite a few issues with vehicles from the VW (including Skoda/Audi), let alone the issues my colleagues across the pond in the US had with their US and Japanese cars (which kept being recalled).
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In additon people are going to be making adjustments while driving. They need something to happen instantly.
Nobody has the time to dangerously navigate through menus whilst doing 100.
Or 240km/h here on the Autobahn - don't hate us, come visit and join us :cool:
59 months ago
Don't get me started on the buttons. BMWs and other german makes tend to have dozens of buttons scattered all over the place that perform various functions. Tesla seems to have taken the right approach. Only two buttons!
I've owned my i3 for about 7 months and find the minimal dash design refreshing and zen like to drive.
We did cross shop the Model S and the i3 has a good mix of physical buttons which is lacking form the giant touch screen in the Tesla. I can adjust things like volume, temperature, seat heaters, radio presets without taking my eyes off the road, or using the voice controls. At the time Tesla didn't have routing around traffic in the Nav and that was one of the killer features for me, saving a lot of time on my commute. Tesla added that in October 2014 though.
I traded my Mercedes ML63 AMG and don't miss the 6.2L v8, 503 hp, or the 9 MPG.
I think people need to keep in mind that BMW was the first car company to support iPod integration in 2004 (http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2004/06/21iPod-Your-BMW.html). It's not out of the question that BMW and Apple are working together on something.
59 months ago
The upside of buttons in a car is that they provide tactile feedback, so you can find your way around by fiddling in the center section, and keep your eyes on the road. A touch screen needs you to look at it in order to navigate it.
In additon people are going to be making adjustments while driving. They need something to happen instantly.
Nobody has the time to dangerously navigate through menus whilst doing 100.
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