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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.
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.
Related Roundup: CarPlay
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28 months ago
I wouldn't get too excited about Alpine's latest CarPlay. Major let down IMO.
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...
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...
28 months ago
Car play itself is designed poorly. It's limited due to safety and you have to switch between apps to use GPS / music simultaneously. Not to mention, it only supports Apple Maps.
I was excited about CarPlay at first, but after using two different aftermarket CP head units, I am mostly disappointed in it.
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.
28 months ago
My question is the 2v preouts....does that support faster charing for an iPhone like the iPad charger does?
I'm not sure where you saw this, but I would bet money that they are talking about pre-out audio for amps and stuff.
28 months ago
Car play itself is designed poorly. It's limited due to safety and you have to switch between apps to use GPS / music simultaneously. Not to mention, it only supports Apple Maps.
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.
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.
28 months ago
It would be nice if Alpine would actually update the firmware on the ILX-007 at least *ONCE* to fix some of the bugs before forcing this new stuff on us.
28 months ago
Oh yeah, That's exactly what I want; is to sit in a chair with my iPhone, and use the most battery draining features of it, all while being 6 inches away from a charging source, and not charge it. o_O
28 months ago
The wireless support enables drivers to connect an iPhone to CarPlay via 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.
I would enjoy wireless CarPlay, but I would worry about the bugs. CarPlay is buggy sometimes, and sometimes the only way to fix it is to unplug it and re-plug it again.
How would this work for wireless CP? I guess you might be able to turn off WiFi.
Another question, can you easily change what phone is connected to CarPlay? Example, if I sometimes drive my Wife's car. Now, I just plug it in, but with wireless, will there be an option on the screen to choose what phone to connect if my wife and I are in the same car?
28 months ago
Wireless AirPlay was announced with iOS9. The fact that it's only now starting to roll out means there were either serious problems with it, or Apple for some reason wanted the wired version to be rolled out wider at first? Either case, fail...
28 months ago
While wireless CarPlay implementations have been supported since iOS 9, the functionality has so far been limited to a single BMW model ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/13/wireless-carplay-2017-bmw-5-series/').
Limited by Apple for some reason.
28 months ago
Looking to go this route.
Installed a Pioneer AppRadio 3 a couple years ago. Allows me to use Waze, Pandora, and other apps from the 7" touchscreen but does require it be plugged in. Pioneer abandons all support and updates for their products quickly though and it hasn't seen an update in years. Looking to go the CarPlay route so I'm not limited by the stereo updates.
Installed a Pioneer AppRadio 3 a couple years ago. Allows me to use Waze, Pandora, and other apps from the 7" touchscreen but does require it be plugged in. Pioneer abandons all support and updates for their products quickly though and it hasn't seen an update in years. Looking to go the CarPlay route so I'm not limited by the stereo updates.
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