[hisdigness]

I am part of two separate threads on the Spotify forums to get them to fully integrate with my 2017 M240i using my Android phone (Pixel XL). One of the threads was marked implemented so we opened a new one and started a hashtag on Twitter. LOL!

I have never used twitter until now and I am hoping we can use it as a tool to shed some light and get this fixed finally. If you have the time, please contact @spotifycares and use #SpotifyBMWfail to ask for the fix. Maybe they will actually get this going with enough folks asking publicly.

This is assuming you care of course.

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Liv...age/9#comments

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by hisdigness

I am part of two separate threads on the Spotify forums to get them to fully integrate with my 2017 M240i using my Android phone (Pixel XL). One of the threads was marked implemented so we opened a new one and started a hashtag on Twitter. LOL!

I have never used twitter until now and I am hoping we can use it as a tool to shed some light and get this fixed finally. If you have the time, please contact @spotifycares and use #SpotifyBMWfail to ask for the fix. Maybe they will actually get this going with enough folks asking publicly.

This is assuming you care of course.

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Liv...age/9#comments

Here's the deal: BMW has an agreement with Apple to prioritize connectivity to iOS devices in its cars. This agreement has been in place for a number of years. It is likely very similar in structure to the same agreement it has with Harman/Kardon and Bang & Olafson to supply audio system hardware, tuning, and R&D.

This is why CarPlay is available (and why BMW was the first make to include Wi-Fi-enabled, fully integrated CarPlay wireless this past February) instead of Android Auto. This is why iPhone-specific Snap-in brackets are manufactured instead of those for Samsung, Motorola, HTC, etc. This is why iDrive has full iTunes compatibility. This is why BMW Apps only works with iOS devices. Etc., etc., etc.

So unless you and many others can convince both BMW and Apple -- particularly Apple -- to abandon this agreement, it's not going to happen. I say "particularly" Apple because, as I'm sure you're aware, Apple is hyper-protective of its properties and niche markets, not to mention that it's a far, far, far (did I say far?) larger company than BMW is.

Apple holds the cards here, not BMW. This is why when Spotify (or any other integrated app) stops working properly in BMW or Mini vehicles because of an update, Spotify gets a fix patch available STAT: usually within a week. This is not because Spotify is afraid that it will lose customers; this is because Apple MAKES Spotify do this because it's contingent on the aforementioned agreement. BMW actually has very, very little to do with that stuff.

A word of advice for the future: learn where the buck stops with third-party supplier agreements. It's not with BMW here. Trust me on this.

[BEM-S4]

You also have to take into account the OTT business model in general, which has historically been a difficult one to monetize. Using Pandora as a proxy, since they're public and have readily available info, they did $1.4 billion in sales last year. $1.1 of that was advertising. So from Pandora / Spotify perspective what's the real focus? Making sure your music plays on supported devices so that the big fat advertising cheddar keeps flowing is priority 1-100. Whether or not your Android plays nicely with your BMW, especially considering the massive headwinds that Viffermike describes above, is way down the list.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by hisdigness

I am part of two separate threads on the Spotify forums to get them to fully integrate with my 2017 M240i using my Android phone (Pixel XL). One of the threads was marked implemented so we opened a new one and started a hashtag on Twitter. LOL!

I have never used twitter until now and I am hoping we can use it as a tool to shed some light and get this fixed finally. If you have the time, please contact @spotifycares and use #SpotifyBMWfail to ask for the fix. Maybe they will actually get this going with enough folks asking publicly.

This is assuming you care of course.

https://community.spotify.com/t5/Liv...age/9#comments

Before considering if we care, we have understand what the &^#% you're talking about!?!? Spotify isn't for removing stains?

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Before considering if we care, we have understand what the &^#% you're talking about!?!? Spotify isn't for removing stains?

Bwahahahaha!! That was good.

As for Spotify, I tried it at home because I was looking for a 2nd source of music with my Echo. But the free version sucked.. Haven't used them in months. I now just stick with the music service on Amazon.

But I do wish iDrive supported Android Auto.. Because I just don't like Apple.

[RoundelM3]

Not sure how true it is that "Apple is a bigger company than BMW", nor do I really care. Given the choice of an Apple "device" or a BMW automobile, I sure as hell know which one matters most and is far more important. Pretty hard to get from place to place on an iPhone or whatever the drones are salivating over these days.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Not sure how true it is that "Apple is a bigger company than BMW", nor do I really care. Given the choice of an Apple "device" or a BMW automobile, I sure as hell know which one matters most and is far more important. Pretty hard to get from place to place on an iPhone or whatever the drones are salivating over these days.

One measure:
Annual net revenue (2015)
Apple Inc.: $234 billion
BMW AG: $92 billion

And another:
Gross profit (2015)
Apple Inc.: $94 billion (40 percent return)
BMW AG: $24 billion (26 percent return)

Yeah.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

One measure:
Annual net revenue (2015)
Apple Inc.: $234 billion
BMW AG: $92 billion

And another:
Gross profit (2015)
Apple Inc.: $94 billion (40 percent return)
BMW AG: $24 billion (26 percent return)

Yeah.

Wall Street analysts also estimate 750 million installed base for iPhones. There are roughly 1 billion cars in service all over the world, including all makes and models. So yes, there are a LOT more iPhone users than BMW drivers.

[pz619]

Well, I feel for you if that's worth anything. But I'm happy to report that both my Pandora and Spotify work flawlessly with my iphone/235i.

Anyone tried Tidal with the car?

[pz619]

Also, on the Fortune 500 list Apple is listed third. As for as brand value they have been trading spots with Alphabet over the past few years. So yeah, significantly larger than BMW.

[kdog26372]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Not sure how true it is that "Apple is a bigger company than BMW", nor do I really care. Given the choice of an Apple "device" or a BMW automobile, I sure as hell know which one matters most and is far more important. Pretty hard to get from place to place on an iPhone or whatever the drones are salivating over these days.

BMW is worth about $61b and Apple is worth $746b and they have over $250b in just cash. They could buy BMW 3X over and and still have more cash on hand than what BMW is worth. Everything the poster said is 100% true.
I like stuff that works without issue. I have a BMW that works and an iPhone that works as well; clearly BMW and Apple have a solid partnership while Droid doesn't. Calling Apple users drones his kinda the pot calling the kettle black. If only Droids worked with my BMW I'd be inclined to switch to Droid as it's a phone with apps and those apps are useless if they don't work with my everyday life, part of which is the 2 hours/day I'm in my car.
The decision tree flows pretty easy; what's most important the car or the phone? The car of course, just like you implied above. Next decision, ok what phone works with that car? The Apple, ok I guess I'll buy the iPhone if I'm driving a BMW. If the decision is to keep the Droid that doesn't work with the car then it would appear you are the drone to the Droid device, no?

[BMWZ4]

And what's apples share in the desktop world?...5% maybe 10%? And what's apples iOS share compared to android? Only Apple folks would pay $500+ for a PHONE...who's the drone?

[M235iguy]

You couldn't pay me to use an apple device. Apple is trash period.

[Luddy]

Originally Posted by M235iguy

You couldn't pay me to use an apple device. Apple is trash period.

Eh everyone has different reasons. The place I work will only pay for your phone and monthly bill if it is an iPhone. The phone is also yours if you leave the company. So of course I would pick an iPhone.

[German1967]

No comments...

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Luddy

Eh everyone has different reasons. The place I work will only pay for your phone and monthly bill if it is an iPhone. The phone is also yours if you leave the company. So of course I would pick an iPhone.

At the last two corporations, we were/are just handed an new iPhone for overall use, replaced every two years, as needed. No reason for alternatives. And, other than a phonecall via bluetooth, my phone is unused when in the car, by desire, so any other connectivity is unnecessary. Music via Sirius.

[B_Rice]

I just use Bluetooth audio and skip to next track on spotify.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

And what's apples share in the desktop world?...5% maybe 10%? And what's apples iOS share compared to android? Only Apple folks would pay $500+ for a PHONE...who's the drone?

Originally Posted by M235iguy

You couldn't pay me to use an apple device. Apple is trash period.

Ooooh. Soap box time!:

Point 1: Apple is the only manufacturer that makes OS X laptops and desktops. Last time I checked, at least 10 manufacturers make PCs. So Apple's cut of the laptop/desktop market is actually fairly stout.

Point 2: See Point 1 and apply it to smartphones, but cut the Android manufacturers to 4-5. Again: stout. If you want specifics: In January, iPhones had a 31 percent share in the US. Samsung (Android) isn't far behind at 29 percent for second place.

Point 3: The Samsung Galaxy S8 is running about $750. A new iPhone 7 Plus is $770. So the price argument is moot.

Kicker 1: One can run both OS X and Windows on a Mac. Can't do that on any PC.

Kicker 2: Viruses. OS X devices can get 'em, but it's a lot less of a problem than on PCs. This has been the case since the 1980s.

Look: Not everyone likes Apple. Hell: Not everyone likes BMW. I'm a creative, so I tend to gravitate toward Apple devices personally despite the company's protectionist practices. But I'm also open-minded and understand the allure of Android and open-source software development.

There are pros and cons to both. That doesn't give me the right to demand that all third-party gadgetry work with both platforms, or one platform over the other. That's the province of open competition and business, because that will ultimately determine which technology wins in the long term.

Want proof? One word: BlackBerry. Another: Nokia.

:: drops mic ::

[Questofthetune]

I really don't think you can say Apple is trash... I mean not liking something doesn't mean it's trash lol.

[hisdigness]

Apple is in no way trash. I use a mac for my laptop. I simply prefer Android for my phone. BMW has setup their side, this is an issue for Spotify to resolve now. I created this thread to see if any other Android folks are out there and if so, perhaps you can throw your voice in. Spotify now claims they are working to make their app fully integrate on all BMW models equipped with iDrive 5.0, just like it does when using an iPhone.

[FlexMagnum]

Originally Posted by German1967

No comments...

Is your phone being held by a specific holder? If so, where did you get it?

Also, 6, 6 plus, 7, 7 plus?

[German1967]

Originally Posted by FlexMagnum

Is your phone being held by a specific holder? If so, where did you get it?

Also, 6, 6 plus, 7, 7 plus?

Belkin cup holder mount. You can get it on amazon. Fits 6 and 7, not sure about Plus size.

https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Car-Ho...p+holder+mount