Apple Music / Tidal

[schofier]

Anybody use either of these music services using the online services direct from the Infotainment system? If yes, would you recommend either of them? Obviously I would need to sign up to one of these but one thing I'm not clear about is whether or not I would also need to pay for an extension of Cupra Connect once my initial year is up. I'm hoping not.

I'm currently using Amazon Music via Android Auto and it's pretty bad. You can only play Amazon's recommended playlists or albums, when it actually bothers to play anything. I think Depeche Mode were thinking of my experience when they wrote "Enjoy the Silence".

 

[marjohn56]

You can use whatever music service you like via android auto, better to use the data connection you have on your phone rather than the more expensive data package that VAG vehicles use. Just make sure it's compatible with Android Auto first, load the music app on your phone and before subscribing see if it comes up as one of the available apps within Android Auto on the car's touchscreen, pretty sure Deezer and Tidal do.

Personally I use Media Monkey which is set up to use my own music server at home, more complex I know, but I can still use voice commands etc, and I only get to listen to the stuff I want to listen to. That said, with all these services it depends on the cell network, which can be pretty dire in some areas where I can barely get any data at all, in which case I just switch to a USB drive that's permenantly plugged in.

*** edit ***

Note I do not use the cars data package, I use the phones Wifi ( Mobile Hotspot ) and the car connects to the phone, not the other way around.

 

[schofier]

I assumed that the built-in support for Apple Music/Tidal could be configured to use my phone as a hotspot. Only reason I thought about doing this was to bypass Android Auto. I haven't read any good things about any of the streaming services with AA. Maybe I should get an SD to usb-c converter and use the SD card from my old Ateca and leave it permanently plugged in like you suggest.

Does anyone have any good things to say about any of the streaming services, either via Android Auto or via the built-in support (Applr/Tidal)

 

[marjohn56]

I read a lot about people having issues with AA and the infotainment system generally. TBF I have found, at least for me, that AA has worked flawlessly as has the infotainment system, no reboots, freezing or any other problems. The phone is set to automaticallly switch its hotspot on as soon as it detects the bluetooth connection, AA loads automatically and that's it. All I'm waiting patiently for now is the new AA Coolwalk UI to work on the my phone and the Cupra, sometime this year with a bit of luck.
Regarding the music services, as I said in my original comment, I use my own server but I did use Amazon music from time to tiime. I think Amazon have shot themselves in the foot with the recent changes to thier service, the fact you can only give a skip command a few times an hour means you have listen to tracks you would normally skip, the result of that is I dont use Amazon music anymore.
You don't have to use a SD card though they work fine with an adaptor, my backup when streaming doesn't work due to poor signals is a small solid state HD - that also allows me to play video on the infotainment system - when the car is stationary of course.

 

[schofier]

My biggest complaint with Amazon music and AA is that you can only choose to play music Amazon suggests. Can't even play my own playlists if Amazon deem them unworthy, when it works at all.
Tried an iPhone with Apple music and Carplay today and it just worked. Maybe it's time to make the change from Android to iOS. Shudder.

It's a shame because otherwise Amazon Music is great. Cheaper than the rest if you're a prime member and high quality streams too.

 

[marjohn56]

Up until the last change you could create your own playlists on Amazon Music, we had a several, a couple for driving and a few for household things such as BBQ's and parties, really easy to just say 'Alexa, play my xxxx playlist' or whatever; all those are gone now, lost forever. From what I read on reddit they are haemorrhaging Prime customers at the end of contract, Amazon Music was the added value that sold it to many. Although I have my own server etc Amazon music as you say was great, especially if you have a household full of echo units.
I cannot bring myself to switch back to Apple, my last iPhone and tablets were IOS 3 or thereabouts. SWMBO uses Apple hardware, as yet I've not connected her iPhone to the Cupra, it's a task that'll happen when the spring comes and she wants to use the car again.