Alpine Introduces $900 Infotainment System With Wireless CarPlay
While wireless CarPlay implementations have been supported since iOS 9, the functionality has so far been limited to BMW models. That will change next month, however, as Alpine has introduced a new aftermarket system with wireless CarPlay that will be available in February for a suggested price of $900.
The wireless support enables drivers to connect an iPhone to CarPlay via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to make and receive calls, access text messages, play music, get directions, check traffic conditions, and more. Previous standard and aftermarket CarPlay configurations have required connecting an iPhone with a Lightning cable.
Alpine's new iLX-107 in-dash receiver, which debuted at CES 2017 this week, features a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, LED backlighting, and standard AM/FM radio functionality. Alpine offers five other aftermarket CarPlay systems with screen sizes ranging from 7-9 inches, priced from $900 to $4,000.
While the iLX-107 has a $900 list price, resellers may offer it at cheaper price points as seen with previous Alpine models. Prospective buyers looking for cheaper options should consider aftermarket systems without wireless CarPlay from Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood, JVC, JBL, Sony, and other manufacturers.
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Top Rated Comments
It is very limited in functionality, I guess because of safety. The supported apps are very limited. I believe the only navigation app supported is Apple Map, which sucks.
I think I would like it a lot more if Waze was supported.
I own the ILX-007 for a while now and I would like to chime in on my personal experience. You can take it for what its worth. I don't care. Maybe this could help someone make a decision.
1. The touch sensitivity on this screen annoys me. Half the time you have to press it harder.
2. Why is it only CarPlay? Why couldn't they do what Sony did and include android as well?
3. For any car audio guy out there - this still has 2v pre outs. What a joke. 4v is standard.
4. It looks the same. Thats good and bad. The good - still looks sleek.. The bad.... see those touch buttons for volume up and down.. lol unless you have steering wheel buttons, good luck. your going to take your eyes off the road to find it each time... then get annoyed when your pressing it just to raise it from 4 to 17 in volume... and then when it doesn't actually register your touch you'll be extremely annoyed.
5. Im not sure about the ILX-107, but the ILX-007.... no natural scrolling and no pinch to zoom. if this ends up being the same then you can bet your ass that they used the same lower spec hardware. which means your paying such a premium price for a product that does nothing but mirror your iPhone and its hardware is not even sufficient to keep up with apples standards.
6. This is now on apples side... CarPlay is great for music and talking and maps... want to use another map? yea right. want to watch videos? nope. not even in park mode.. your SOL. i find myself picking up my phone and actually looking through the music library because i feel more distracted and wasting time looking at the ilx-007... i can do it faster on the iPhone...
its a love hate relationship with CarPlay in general..... its great but you can clearly tell theres a lack of r&D involved...
Android Auto is, for many reason, the superior product. Apple's UI choices in recent years (CarPlay / Apple TV) leave much to be desired.
Since I have an iPhone and not an Android, I am purchasing an aftermarket Chinese Android radio, which offers WAY more functionality than any name brand radio does:
Waze / GMaps / YouTube / Apple Music / Spotify / Pandora / Weather Radar / Web browser / Shazam / Rear Camera support....the list goes on.
Steering wheel controls work, they're cheaper, sometimes they can be fitted to look stock, and have larger, higher quality multi-touch displays that can be seen clearly in the daytime. They also self-dim at night.
I was excited about CarPlay, but Android has won this battle for my money.