[G30M]

Originally Posted by odiesback

At this rate soon the whole windshield will be obstructed by the screen… then they will use a front camera to project the front view on to the screen lol…

we already have cameras in place of side wing mirrors and rear view mirror so - yeah that would be logical next step!

[G30M]

on a more serious note, maybe has something to do with Huawei tech

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tec...ean-automakers

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by odiesback

At this rate soon the whole windshield will be obstructed by the screen… then they will use a front camera to project the front view on to the screen lol…

You joke but they literally talked about this as a possibility for new class vehicles! And it’s in the demo video as augmented reality

[RCtennis3811]

Well, looks like it's pretty much official - the only current iDrive 8 vehicle that will get an OTA update to iDrive 8.5 is the 7. The iX will eventually get a new head unit that runs 8.5, but it won't get the OTA update.

https://www.bmwblog.com/2023/01/10/b...ve9-idrive8-5/

[ramparts]

Colour me shocked.

Horrific fragmentation, but enevitable given the platform switch.

Only positive on this is once it’s “done”, we should get actually upgrades from 9 to 10/11 on all vehicles

[wlfpck]

Originally Posted by ramparts

Colour me shocked.

Horrific fragmentation, but enevitable given the platform switch.

Only positive on this is once it’s “done”, we should get actually upgrades from 9 to 10/11 on all vehicles

I think for everyone on a non-9... we'll just have to wait for aftermarket android based replacements.

Kind of like Audi/VW folks use RSNav aftermarket stuff.

[SetAlias]

Originally Posted by Quadruple VANOS

Apple builds a better mousetrap; then people complain their competitors are at a disadvantage? Cry me a river.

This is the flawed logic that apple apologists do, they think apple is better and people are upset about that, false. Apple is behind on technology and has been for a decade. I don't care that ppl enjoy their apples or pixels or whatever they want, I just want these companies to build products that let their customers communicate with people that don't use their same product. It's anti consumer, and ppl that go "oh well you don't have an apple too bad" are helping them build you a worse product.

[odiesback]

Originally Posted by G99M5

we already have cameras in place of side wing mirrors and rear view mirror so - yeah that would be logical next step!

Yeah but those for areas you can’t see or yo help see better… not to project on what we can see without help… one of those things trying to provide a solution for a made up problem…

[G30M]

Originally Posted by odiesback

Yeah but those for areas you can’t see or yo help see better… not to project on what we can see without help… one of those things trying to provide a solution for a made up problem…

like this, but 10 years later

[G30M]

Originally Posted by ramparts

Colour me shocked.

Horrific fragmentation, but enevitable given the platform switch.

Only positive on this is once it’s “done”, we should get actually upgrades from 9 to 10/11 on all vehicles

on the brighter side, everything will become Teslas so we won't hear anymore bickering between camps

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by G99M5

on the brighter side, everything will become Teslas so we won't hear anymore bickering between camps

Yea, we will all be as miserable as each other 😂😂😂😂😂

[dadaabmw]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

lol BMW seriously?

So the 5-Series launching on a brand new platform will get iDrive 8.5, but the X1 will get iDrive 9? lol what a joke.

Then they show iDrive 8.5 is a dead end on arrival as they are ditching their own platform for Android Auto.

They really are struggling hard with the shift toward more technological features.

They’re not ditching their system for Android Auto, Android Auto is a different thing. Their new system is based on Android, which is an open source operating system.

[matbl]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

lol BMW seriously?

So the 5-Series launching on a brand new platform will get iDrive 8.5, but the X1 will get iDrive 9? lol what a joke.

Then they show iDrive 8.5 is a dead end on arrival as they are ditching their own platform for Android Auto.

They really are struggling hard with the shift toward more technological features.

Probably because the new 5 is based on the same as the 7 while the new iX3 (SOP in '25) is Neue Klasse based.
At least according to https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=901686

[GreysenPaige]

Originally Posted by whirlprick

confusing. will existing 2023 3 series with idrive 8 get an OTA update to 8.5? i've had the car 2 months. information seems to say 7 series will, but not sure why 3s would not (other than we aren't as expensive).
———————————

https://www.team-bhp.com/news/bmw-idrive-85-coming-soon-offers-smartphone-interface#:~:text=All%20models%20currently%20runni ng%20the,over%2Dthe%2Dair%20update

"BMW is all set to roll out its new iDrive 8.5 infotainment update in the coming months. All models currently running the iDrive 8 system, will get the new software via an over-the-air update. This includes the brand's i4, iX, 7 Series, X5, X6, X7 and the plug-in hybrid XM."

[mencio]

That's great news if 100% correct after so many speculations of whether this would be available to all i8 systems. On the other hands it sucks that for some they will just get the hands of i8 and then have to re-learn and get used to 8.5.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by ramparts

Colour me shocked.

Horrific fragmentation, but enevitable given the platform switch.

Only positive on this is once it’s “done”, we should get actually upgrades from 9 to 10/11 on all vehicles

BMW has had fragmented versions of iDrive across their lineup for pretty much as long as iDrive has existed. No surprise that it continues.

[Artemis]

I miss the practicality of the iDrive rotary dial inside my 2024 BMW X1 (U11). Still can't get my head around the decision of BMW to shelve it on this recent model featuring iDrive 8.5. It should have remained. Using the dial allows less distraction, it's safer, more intuitive and practical. No need to lurch forward to tick all sorts of icons buried in menus on a screen.

"BMW Doesn’t Want You To Use The iDrive Knob Anymore" (March 2023):
https://www.theautopian.com/bmw-does...-knob-anymore/

"The iDrive controller as we know it certainly had a rocky start, but it eventually achieved its goal. It was ergonomically brilliant, as its location in the console meant drivers didn’t have to lean forward to prod a screen. It kept grubby fingerprints off a shiny surface, encouraged the use of hard controls, and operated with sublime tactility. Every click, press, and jog had satisfying resistance that felt fitting for a premium vehicle. As much as we’re used to touchscreens on mobile devices, humans like mechanical interfaces. While it’s too soon to say for sure that the iDrive controller is dead, I’ll strangely miss it if it goes. There’s something sad about the prospect of losing a familiar frenemy. Plus, although rotary controls aren’t perfect, BMW’s pivot toward touchscreens looks clunkier than what we’ve seen with knob-focused interfaces. Funny, that."

And about physical buttons: Volkswagen and Hyundai decided to bring back more physical buttons - a proper choice in my book:

• "Volkswagen Reintroduces Physical Buttons in Cars After Negative Touchscreen Feedback" (Nov 2024)
  https://www.technetbooks.com/2024/11...-physical.html
  "Volkswagen has announced plans to redesign its vehicles, bringing back physical buttons in response to customer feedback regarding the difficulties of using fully touch-sensitive controls.
  New models will feature physical buttons for essential functions, prioritizing user convenience and returning to a more traditional control scheme. Volkswagen plans to add further physical buttons for frequently used features in the future, reducing reliance on touchscreens.
• "Hyundai Going Back To Physical Buttons Because American Buyers Don’t Like Touchscreens" (Nov 2024)
  https://www.carscoops.com/2024/11/hy...-touchscreens/
  "But when a car is jiggling over bumps and you’re taking your eyes off the road too long to locate a digital switch because you can’t simply reach out and find it by feel, you know touchscreen tech is not without problems. And what’s frustrating for many drivers is that making a simple change to a feature often takes more time and effort now than it did when that feature was controlled by a simple dial or button."

[3sofar]

I'm still amazed that after so many years of touch screens in cars the manufacturers keep going down this path - decades of automotive UX design ignored to make vehicles more flashy looking but more dangerous by requiring you to take your eyes off the road for basic functions.

[brianeck]

Originally Posted by Artemis

I miss the practicality of the iDrive rotary dial inside my 2024 BMW X1 (U11). Still can't get my head around the decision of BMW to shelve it on this recent model featuring iDrive 8.5. It should have remained. Using the dial allows less distraction, it's safer, more intuitive and practical. No need to lurch forward to tick all sorts of icons buried in menus on a screen.

"BMW Doesn’t Want You To Use The iDrive Knob Anymore" (March 2023):
https://www.theautopian.com/bmw-does...-knob-anymore/

"The iDrive controller as we know it certainly had a rocky start, but it eventually achieved its goal. It was ergonomically brilliant, as its location in the console meant drivers didn’t have to lean forward to prod a screen. It kept grubby fingerprints off a shiny surface, encouraged the use of hard controls, and operated with sublime tactility. Every click, press, and jog had satisfying resistance that felt fitting for a premium vehicle. As much as we’re used to touchscreens on mobile devices, humans like mechanical interfaces. While it’s too soon to say for sure that the iDrive controller is dead, I’ll strangely miss it if it goes. There’s something sad about the prospect of losing a familiar frenemy. Plus, although rotary controls aren’t perfect, BMW’s pivot toward touchscreens looks clunkier than what we’ve seen with knob-focused interfaces. Funny, that."

And about physical buttons: Volkswagen and Hyundai decided to bring back more physical buttons - a proper choice in my book:

• "Volkswagen Reintroduces Physical Buttons in Cars After Negative Touchscreen Feedback" (Nov 2024)
  https://www.technetbooks.com/2024/11...-physical.html
  "Volkswagen has announced plans to redesign its vehicles, bringing back physical buttons in response to customer feedback regarding the difficulties of using fully touch-sensitive controls.
  New models will feature physical buttons for essential functions, prioritizing user convenience and returning to a more traditional control scheme. Volkswagen plans to add further physical buttons for frequently used features in the future, reducing reliance on touchscreens.
• "Hyundai Going Back To Physical Buttons Because American Buyers Don’t Like Touchscreens" (Nov 2024)
  https://www.carscoops.com/2024/11/hy...-touchscreens/
  "But when a car is jiggling over bumps and you’re taking your eyes off the road too long to locate a digital switch because you can’t simply reach out and find it by feel, you know touchscreen tech is not without problems. And what’s frustrating for many drivers is that making a simple change to a feature often takes more time and effort now than it did when that feature was controlled by a simple dial or button."

Thank goodness. Honestly it's hilarious how bad car designers just are at flat out copying one another and not offering unique products. The next awful trend is the full width brake lights everyone just keeps making bigger. It is SO DISTRACTING driving behind a new Audi, VW, or Taos, or Dodge in the fog at night.

Even the front lights are getting completely out of control distracting. There should be more regulations on that stuff it's genuinely unsafe - meanwhile any kind of non factory lighting on the car is a ticketable offense but someone can drive a cyber truck up my ass with a whole LED light bar blinding me.

[silvermanor]

Originally Posted by brianeck

Thank goodness. Honestly it's hilarious how bad car designers just are at flat out copying one another and not offering unique products. The next awful trend is the full width brake lights everyone just keeps making bigger. It is SO DISTRACTING driving behind a new Audi, VW, or Taos, or Dodge in the fog at night.

Even the front lights are getting completely out of control distracting. There should be more regulations on that stuff it's genuinely unsafe - meanwhile any kind of non factory lighting on the car is a ticketable offense but someone can drive a cyber truck up my ass with a whole LED light bar blinding me.

The new VWs immediately come to mind. The led strip across the front looks so tacky and cheap. It's like someone bought an led strip from AliExpress and stuck it across the grille.

[CeEl]

Panoramic IDrive

https://www.bmwblog.com/2025/01/04/b...ve-hud-teaser/

Sure it will look great but hope it works with polarized sun glasses. And please keep the rotary knob. Unless you put in a ‘real’ shifter (not that little toggle switch, although I kinda got used to it now) and need the space for that.

[brianeck]

Originally Posted by CeEl

Panoramic IDrive

https://www.bmwblog.com/2025/01/04/b...ve-hud-teaser/

Sure it will look great but hope it works with polarized sun glasses. And please keep the rotary knob. Unless you put in a ‘real’ shifter (not that little toggle switch, although I kinda got used to it now) and need the space for that.

Hahahaha - they are going to take away MORE physical buttons, and everything has to be in the windscreen? How in the world are you supposed to access it? Voice only? Gestures? Steering wheel buttons? LOL. Legit they had just about been industry leading with Idrive after fine tuning it for years, and now they are just pealing it all back.

Next they'll literally just tell us "there is no User Interface, there is just an App in your phone" drive at your own risk.