As noted previously I've now had CarPlay in my existing SUV via aftermarket Pioneer 6100nx and use it all the time. It's far superior to even InControl Pro and it means little or no need to interact with the physical phone. Ive spent a good bit of time at dealer using InControl Pro and even though it is nice looking and fairly speedy it is primitive compared to CarPlay. InControl apps are a poor mimicry of CarPlay. From the Apple App Store reviews of the Jaguar InControl iPhone app reviews: "Worst app in the App Store. Please fire Peter Vinik for releasing this and enable CarPlay" and "Takes over your iPhone, apps are low featured poor substitutes for the very limited number of apps supported." The reviews for the Land Rover version are more numerous and scathing.
I've seen a fair number of complaints elsewhere online about how cumbersome they are to use as well.
Here's a video of a Bosch engineer demonstrating InControl apps:
http://youtu.be/-te1cd33-w4
Note:
- Bosch/Jaguar/LR has to approve apps and apps have to be written to InControl so very limited appeal to app developers
- It locks your phone off, over-protective Germanic nannying, what if my passenger wants to use phone which happens all the time in my car
- note is music no access to podcasts, I do a lot of long distance driving across Colorado and use that time to catch up on a bunch of finance podcasts
- in general no real consistent familiar design in apps
The Jaguar process for them is cumbersome as well:
Jaguar InControl® Apps - FAQ | Jaguar USA
"
InControl Apps must be selected when the vehicle is ordered as the hardware can only be fitted at the factory. "
Also from the review cited in prior reply above:
" The good news is that since CarPlay lives on your phone and is totally under the control of Apple, updates come fairly frequently. There have already been several updates, and iOS 9.3 will improve the Music app."
I'd be interested in knowing when and where it's documented that Jaguar has said CarPlay will be available for InControl? My dealer says they have zero indication this is coming.
The closest I've seen is this quote from a CNET review of FX:
"However, Jaguar officials insist they won't have to reengineer the whole works to accommodate these technologies, so it probably won't be more than a year or so before these features become available." - unclear if this means a model year or two or a software upgrade in a year or two.
Interestingly Volvo is doing an upgrade for XC90 bringing CarPlay: "
XC90 owners who took delivery of their vehicle before November 23, 2015 can schedule an appointment at their local Volvo retailer to receive a complimentary CarPlay update. Customers receiving their vehicle after that date may purchase CarPlay through their retailers for $300. Available applications such as Pandora, Yelp, Find Parking, updated navigation maps and traffic information are provided via a courtesy update for all XC90 customers."
BTW, there are Jaguar developed simulator apps in the Apple App Store that let you play with a simulation of either InControl Pro or InControl
This isn't that big a deal to me obviously since I ordered the F Pace but geez this whiffs of many strategic dead ends in computer industry; proprietary platform lock in, limited user base to attract software developers, overly controlling engineering, etc. For the price of InControl Pro as an add on one ought to get CarPlay or Android/Google alternatives included particularly since Porsche, GM and many others across the price spectrum are rolling it out as standard and for $800 to $1,000 you can get full nav, entertainment and CarPlay retrofitted into existing vehicles via Pioneer or similar.