A major car manufacturer is moving away from digital touch screens and back to analog for various functions. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Web Bixby, Brittany Smith, Jeff Gamet, Ben Roethig, and Jim Rea discuss how this relates to Apple's CarPlay ambitions and how other car manufacturers are addressing the integration of entertainment and vehicle controls. Panel members share their experiences and preferences.

Today's edition of MacVoices is supported by MacVoices Live!, our weekly live panel discussion of what is going in the Apple space as well as the larger tech world, and how it is impacting you. Join us live at YouTube.com/MacVoicesTV at 8 PM Eastern 5 PM Pacific, or whatever time that is wherever you are and participate in the chat, or catch the edited and segmented versions of the show on the regular MacVoices channels and feeds.

Show Notes:

Chapters:

0:00:58 Analog vs Digital Controls in a Fully Virtual Environment 0:02:23 Challenges with CarPlay and Apple Music Menus 0:03:12 Tesla's screen-only control sparks debate in car industry 0:05:41 Balancing necessary functionality and core functionality in car controls 0:08:34 Tesla's emphasis on voice control and menu navigation 0:09:53 Comparing Apple CarPlay's user-friendly buttons to other interfaces 0:10:34 Frustrations with the Lexus and Tesla Infotainment Systems 0:11:56 Comparing Steps to Listen to Radio Programming 0:13:09 Choosing the Source: Streaming, Apple Music, Satellite, or FM 0:14:17 Cumbersome Menu Navigation in BMW Cars 0:17:59 Challenges and Successes of Voice Control in Infotainment Systems 0:18:41 Potential Issues with Touchscreen-only Infotainment Systems 0:19:36 Teslas with Screens: A Common Sight on the Road 0:20:26 Tesla's Control Alt Delete: Easy Reboot on the Steering Wheel

Links:

Volkswagen is returning to physical buttons instead of touch controls https://www.engadget.com/volkswagen-drivers-want-more-physical-buttons-instead-of-touch-controls-044931087.html

Guests:

Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at [email protected], on Mastodon at @[email protected], and on his blog, Trending At Work.

Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @[email protected] on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @[email protected]

Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He's been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @[email protected] on Mastodon.

Ben Roethig has been in the Apple Ecosystem since the System 7 Days. He is the a former Associate Editor with Geek Beat, Co-Founder of The Tech Hangout and Deconstruct and currently shares his thoughts on RoethigTech. Contact him on Twitter and Mastodon.

Brittany Smith is a trained cognitive neuroscientist who provides ADD/ADHD, technology, and productivity coaching through her business, Devise and Conquer, along with companion video courses for folks with ADHD. She's also the cofounder of The ADHD Guild, a community for nerdy folks with ADHD. She, herself, is a self-designated "well-rounded geek". She can be found on Twitter as @addliberator, on Mastodon as @[email protected], and on YouTube with tech tips.

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00:00:58 Analog vs Digital Controls in a Fully Virtual Environment 00:02:22 Challenges with CarPlay and Apple Music Menus 00:03:12 Tesla's screen-only control sparks debate in car industry 00:05:41 Balancing necessary functionality and core functionality in car controls 00:08:34 Tesla's emphasis on voice control and menu navigation 00:09:53 Comparing Apple CarPlay's user-friendly buttons to other interfaces 00:10:34 Frustrations with the Lexus and Tesla Infotainment Systems 00:11:56 Comparing Steps to Listen to Radio Programming 00:13:08 Choosing the Source: Streaming, Apple Music, Satellite, or FM 00:14:16 Cumbersome Menu Navigation in BMW Cars 00:17:58 Challenges and Successes of Voice Control in Infotainment Systems 00:18:40 Potential Issues with Touchscreen-only Infotainment Systems 00:19:35 Teslas with Screens: A Common Sight on the Road 00:20:26 The Speedometer Story: Driving without Knowing the Speed