Wife loves Apple Music, doesn't use a cell phone. No native app. Suggestions? Opinion on my plan?

[AtomicInternet]

I'm confused why you don't just download her Apple music songs to a 256GB thumb drive and plug it into the car. That wouldn't require any connectivity or a spare iPhone. The native MP3 player isn't terrible, I converted all my wife's Apple music to MP3. I admit that was years ago and maybe you can't do that anymore.

But I'm also confused why you're switching vehicles due to politics. Your wife won't be satisfied with a different EV if she's already hooked on the top-notch Tesla infotainment, especially given your limited technology integration options.

Sponsored

 

[leehinde]

While yes there is some inconvenience to the way she goes about using technology, I assure you it's far better than the phone addicted alternative.

Are those the choices? All in or all out?

Apple Music on the Mach-E requires a phone with a cell subscription.

 

[mdolan92869]

I'm confused why you don't just download her Apple music songs to a 256GB thumb drive and plug it into the car. That wouldn't require any connectivity or a spare iPhone. The native MP3 player isn't terrible, I converted all my wife's Apple music to MP3. I admit that was years ago and maybe you can't do that anymore.

But I'm also confused why you're switching vehicles due to politics. Your wife won't be satisfied with a different EV if she's already hooked on the top-notch Tesla infotainment, especially given your limited technology integration options.

Apple Music is also a streaming service, so she may have 0 songs to put onto a thumb drive. You can listen to almost anything in the same way you can with Spotify.

But to do this in a moving car is going to require a cell data session to stream. Not sure there's a way around that.

 

[Sikkun]

Using an old phone that is going to stop working with Apple Music way sooner than the much more expensive one you already have that would work much longer, isn’t a great solution.

Now for whatever reason your still buying a new model smart phone, to, well not use.

While also paying for Apple Music, to well not get used (at least while the phone is off 23.9 hours out of the day).

So it really sounds like your solution is to pay for something that isn’t Apple Music to listen to music.

Therefor paying for in car data and the apps the car supports are your only options.

Or using the radio.

 

[LinkRS]

My wife is kind, compassionate, hot, fun, wealthy, my son's mother and loves to have a good time. People looking at their phones for hours a day is not good or normal even though almost everyone does it. Yes this is a bit of a PITA but it's a small price to pay. Most cars I look over into have the guy driving and the girl is sitting there on the phone. This is orders of magnitude better. Let's attempt to keep the replies to functional solutions. Thanks!

My sincere apologies about all of the negativity towards your spouse, I thought we were better than that in this forum. She sounds like an amazing person, and that you are lucky to have her. With regards to your dilemma, your use of the iPhone 12 would work, but CarPlay connection in general can sometimes be glitchy. So you will want to be able to access the device occasionally. Also, CarPlay will have a dedicated card in the Mach-E interface. When I am using CarPlay in my 2023 model, I just go all-in. Leave it on the CarPlay card, use Apple Maps, and ignore the Ford apps. She would have a less complicated experience that way.

How does she manage her Apple Music play lists and such now? Did she do it in the native Tesla Apple Music app? I normally control mine through Siri in the car, and then everything else directly on the phone. Also, I believe that Apple has an Apple Music App for Android. Maybe using an Android device with Android Auto would work better than CarPlay? I can't be of any help there though. Good luck!

 

[phantasms]

I'm confused why you don't just download her Apple music songs to a 256GB thumb drive and plug it into the car. That wouldn't require any connectivity or a spare iPhone. The native MP3 player isn't terrible, I converted all my wife's Apple music to MP3. I admit that was years ago and maybe you can't do that anymore.

But I'm also confused why you're switching vehicles due to politics. Your wife won't be satisfied with a different EV if she's already hooked on the top-notch Tesla infotainment, especially given your limited technology integration options.

The thumb drive is a good idea I will consider based on how well the system lets you get through all those songs. Love the RS! I just picked up an "RS" myself but I have a feeling yours is probably far more fun on the road than mine and that's what counts. You have excellent taste in cars. We have a new gen Model 3 Performance "my car" and she had a Cybertruck that was matte red "her car". She loved the thing but it was a highly political machine in the wrong direction for us personally and we somehow were lucky enough to get Tesla to buy it back after 16,000 miles for almost what we paid for it. So, we need a car one way or another. She loves the Y but refuses to buy another Tesla, so Mach E it is. Also my buddy did the visual design on this car, Castriota, and it looks great. Additionally, it's only real shortcoming, charging speed, isn't much of an issue for her as when we drive a long distance we take the 3. I can see the enthusiasm for these things so I know it's good stuff.

My sincere apologies about all of the negativity towards your spouse, I thought we were better than that in this forum. She sounds like an amazing person, and that you are lucky to have her. With regards to your dilemma, your use of the iPhone 12 would work, but CarPlay connection in general can sometimes be glitchy. So you will want to be able to access the device occasionally. Also, CarPlay will have a dedicated card in the Mach-E interface. When I am using CarPlay in my 2023 model, I just go all-in. Leave it on the CarPlay card, use Apple Maps, and ignore the Ford apps. She would have a less complicated experience that way.

How does she manage her Apple Music play lists and such now? Did she do it in the native Tesla Apple Music app? I normally control mine through Siri in the car, and then everything else directly on the phone. Also, I believe that Apple has an Apple Music App for Android. Maybe using an Android device with Android Auto would work better than CarPlay? I can't be of any help there though. Good luck!

Thank you, I really appreciate your kind words. She utilizes many aspects of Apple Music as with the T the whole thing appears much like opening the Music app on a computer. Playlists, obscure buddhist albums, searching with the keyboard for a song [when I'm driving] and using the voice assist to play music.

Based on all these replies I see no matter what I do it's not going to be exactly the same or maybe exactly as good, but there are several reasonable options to choose from and none of which are a limiter in purchasing this awesome machine.

Thank you all!

Best,
Gene

 

[GreaseMonkey]

My sincere apologies about all of the negativity towards your spouse, I thought we were better than that in this forum. She sounds like an amazing person, and that you are lucky to have her. With regards to your dilemma, your use of the iPhone 12 would work, but CarPlay connection in general can sometimes be glitchy. So you will want to be able to access the device occasionally. Also, CarPlay will have a dedicated card in the Mach-E interface. When I am using CarPlay in my 2023 model, I just go all-in. Leave it on the CarPlay card, use Apple Maps, and ignore the Ford apps. She would have a less complicated experience that way.

How does she manage her Apple Music play lists and such now? Did she do it in the native Tesla Apple Music app? I normally control mine through Siri in the car, and then everything else directly on the phone. Also, I believe that Apple has an Apple Music App for Android. Maybe using an Android device with Android Auto would work better than CarPlay? I can't be of any help there though. Good luck!

All the negativity? Dude, it was a joke. One that many found to be funny, btw.

 

[music_cities]

What an interesting problem to have. I wouldn't goof around with the old iPhone, if she doesn't want to have a phone don't try to hide an old one in the car. I'd say that Apple Music isn't right for her, sadly. I use Apple Music myself, so I can appreciate the love she has, but I don't think it's worth it trying to build her an Apple Music solution, without at least trying out the easier options first:

* Premium Connectivity which can use Amazon Music or Spotify.

* I'd build her a nice USB stick of MP3 files of all her favourite songs.

I'd do both: buy Premium Connectivity, and build that USB stick. Then she'll know you love her

Some features of Ford Premium Connectivity include:​

• Streaming: Listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks from services like Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, and Pandora

 

[Buh-Bye Tesla]

Another thing to be missed from Tesla native apps is Apple CarPlay not showing what’s playing unless CarPlay is in split screen mode… I like my Waze/Maps full screen.

Anyway, reading this thread now cost me $25. I ordered a 256gb super low profile flash drive. That’ll fit my entire old music library that is mostly lossless.

I put some files on an old flash I had laying around to try today. It was easy to navigate and on the plus side it shows the song name too on the Ford screen media tile.

 

[ARK]

One other possible solution is for her to get an iPad with cellular capability and add it to your mobile plan. She can just keep the iPad in the car and I believe should be able to connect it via bluetooth to the car like a phone.

Since it would be an iPad, she doesn't have to enable iMessages or text forwarding or allow for calls to come through on it.

Not totally sure if it would work as I haven't tried it myself, but it would allow you to add another device to your cellular plan, usually for quite a bit cheaper than a phone line, and with no phone/text/email set up, would basically just be a medium to get Apple Music in the car, with the added benefit that you could take the iPad other places where you might want music but without a working phone.

Good luck!

 

[LinkRS]

All the negativity? Dude, it was a joke. One that many found to be funny, btw.

OP didn’t think so, which was clear by their responses.

 

[music_cities]

To further complicate things, Tesla allowed full access to your Apple Music library, as it did on other apps.

Apple Car Play limits access to your entire library unless you are not moving, you have to rely on asking Siri to play anything.

Hey everyone I tried it out, it seems you can access your entire Apple Music library through Media (regular old-school usb connection or usb connection) rather than through CarPlay.

In other words, it’s possible to access Apple Music on an iPhone without using CarPlay, and then it’s not limited in motion.

 

[Buh-Bye Tesla]

And as long it’s downloaded I believe?

 

[Buh-Bye Tesla]

WTF…Ford disables searching USB while moving as well!

 

[Shepherd]

Thank you. Have you had any time with the Ford hotspot? Is it something that's very automatic such that the CarPlay phone will reliably start working upon startup? Thanks!

I did the free trial after buying my car last year. The iPhone can join the Mach-E Wi-Fi and use streaming apps just like if you were on your home Wi-Fi. I canceled after the trial as I didn’t use it that much because I have cell data on my phone. The AT&T reception was great in my area. iPhone will connect to CarPlay through bluetooth or the USB/Lightning cable

Sponsored