BMW Link (iPhone App) - Need Help - AusGamers Forums

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BMW Link (iPhone App) - Need Help

Keato

Melbourne, Victoria

477 posts

Smart people of Ausgamers, I call for your assistance.

There is a iPhone App available on the German iTunes store called BMW Link.
It links to the BMW Control unit via Bluetooth and provides iPhone interface to contol things such as Music, GPS and even Air Con.

The issue is, its only available in Germany. Does anyone know how to get this app in Australia (It is a free App).

BMW Link

Youtube Video

08:35am 16/02/12 Permalink

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08:35am 16/02/12 Permalink

Creepy

USA

1861 posts

Isn't it usually a case of you needing to have a billing address (payment method) based in the store's country?

I know I have to constantly flip between a US CC+address and Aus CC+address whenever something's out exclusively for one country.

08:50am 16/02/12 Permalink

mission

Brisbane, Queensland

8358 posts

I don’t mean to derail, but why on earth would this be developed, doesn’t the car have buttons to do this, what is the practical application of it?

The amount of electronic crap put in cars these days is getting out of control imo, mostly useless ‘convenience’ features that aren’t necessary at all and only add complexity and cost to new cars. Give it anther 10 or 20 years and every second hand car is going to be loaded with electronics that will, without doubt, fail at some point resulting in either being stranded or costing a small fortune to fix.

Only a few days a go a new Audi broke down in Sydney and caused a massive traffic jam. The electronics failed, locking the steering and electronic park brake, the car wasn’t going anywhere. There has also been stories of people getting locked inside recent model Porches, having to break the windows to get out :/ Also a BMW that got stuck in Sydney peak hour because the passenger had the remote key in their pocket and got out of the car, the car still worked for another few hundred meters as the driver drove off and then it shut down as no key was in proximity, lol.

10:03am 16/02/12 Permalink

simul

Brisbane, Queensland

1316 posts

I don’t mean to derail, but why on earth would this be developed, doesn’t the car have buttons to do this, what is the practical application of it?

The argument from car companies is that a car lasts 10 years, where as a persons phone is usually replaced every year or two - so by the time the car is 5 years old, the technology in the car is archaic. Additionally people will pay for 3g on their phones, but way less likely in their car. Essentially what this means is car companies can be more innovative and compete around user experience of the car. It also means they can build a community around a set of car APIs, get the developer community involved, leading to better and cooler experiences.

Not saying its necessarily a good thing, but its a nice approach of keeping current. My current car doesn't even have AUX out, so I'm left using a dodgy FM transmitter - so I'm all for them pushing out to other devices.

WWW

10:41am 16/02/12 Permalink

trog

AGN Admin

Brisbane, Queensland

35706 posts

It would also mean you could control those resources from the back seat

WWW

10:45am 16/02/12 Permalink

teq

Brisbane, Queensland

12552 posts

I believe it would be so you can turn the car on, control the music remotely, wind the windows down, control aircon from a distance

ie, you're having breakfast and it's -20 out (Germany) so you turn the car on remotely and set the aircon to a cosy 24 degrees, giving the engine time to warm up etc

or in Australia you might be sitting around fishing (probably not in a BMW but whatevs) and you are listening to the stereo, you can control it from your arm chair

etc

10:56am 16/02/12 Permalink

Damo

Brisbane, Queensland

5929 posts

Didn't nokia do this for James bond in Tomorrow never dies?

Ps. I still want it!

11:19am 16/02/12 Permalink

skythra

Brisbane, Queensland

5208 posts

I don’t mean to derail, but why on earth would this be developed, doesn’t the car have buttons to do this, what is the practical application of it?

So backseat passengers don't have to take their seatbelt off or annoy the driver to change the channel for them?

I dunno, kids these days love their iphone apps.

12:46pm 16/02/12 Permalink

Keato

Melbourne, Victoria

486 posts

Well, I wanted it cause it looks cool.

01:38pm 16/02/12 Permalink

scuzzy

Brisbane, Queensland

15163 posts

I seriously doubt this uses Bluetooth and requires a physical dock or cable.

01:50pm 16/02/12 Permalink

Keato

Melbourne, Victoria

488 posts

I have the manual, just missing the IPA :)

7. The Bluetooth connection is established
automatically if the iPhone was registered
successfully.
Up to eight iPhones can be registered on the
BMW Station.

It may use both, but it does require Bluetooth for several functions of the integration. The manual is 61 pages and I am not going to read it until I can get the App, but from my flick through, it mostly mentions Bluetooth under troubleshooting apps not working.

Not giving you a hard time, I appreciate all the responses.

02:23pm 16/02/12 Permalink

scuzzy

Brisbane, Queensland

15164 posts

So BMW Link is the software that connects to the BMW Station?

03:13pm 16/02/12 Permalink

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03:13pm 16/02/12 Permalink

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