BMW Apps - First Impressions...

[alexmish]

So I've splurged $250 on BMW apps (well, actually less, as it is a lease), so far all I have to say - it sucks! (I have iPhone 5)

1. You must use OEM Apple white cable to get it to work (or if you have cradle for your iPhone 4/4s). It does NOT work with Y-split cable. It does not seem to work via Bluetooth audio neither;

2. To get it to work, you must install FREE BMW "Connected" app, and launch it in order to establish connection via the cable. You can't lock the phone, and you must keep the App running in the foreground (so if you want to switch to another app, the connection breaks!)

3. It will read your Facebook posts and show you the calendar (from your iPhone). The display format are limited to what BMW Nav screen can show, it is low-tech, no graphics (you can't see Facebook image posts - at least I could not figure out how to...). I dont have Twitter, so can't comment on it.

4. The BMW Radio seems to be OK. Assume it will eat-into your data plan;

5. The BMW "News" is just that - the news of BMW, not the world/local news... Marketing of BMW stuff...

6. It shows, on the main screen, you odometer mileage, gallons left in the tank, fuel range - that is assuming you had it connected to the car. There is no Over-The-Air updates. All data flows via the cable.


So all in all so far - not worth $. I'll play more to see if there are any hidden gems.