Smartlink (mirrorlink/AndroidAuto/Carplay) seems to be a fairly new idea. At Fabia launch time I heard Mirrorlink available from build week 22. Now they appear to have Smartlink which makes a lot more sense, I was given a build date of start of June.

I think dealers are near last to hear about these features/ when available/ how they work. I suppose if info is available to early then people will delay their purchase.

Im guessing Smartgate will be an optional extra. Smartlink will be standard on certain models.

Connectivity breakdown for New Superb. I assume the breakdown of features with each headunit model will be pretty similiar for Octy.

http://www.skoda-auto.com/en/models/new-superb/infotainment

As I understand, SmartGate seems like a very expensive Wifi-enabled OBD2 adaptor which provides  Car diagnostics to a mobile app. The 'Skoda MFA' app is like "Torque" (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque for android... and similar for IOS). Skoda seem to have created a good set of applications based on car diagnostics, but I do not think it is much more sophisticated than a good OBD2 adaptor, starting from $15-$20 and which can also be fitted to all cars which have OBD2 connector (all new cars), no need for installation.

 

My 2c

Yiannis

As I understand, SmartGate seems like a very expensive Wifi-enabled OBD2 adaptor which provides  Car diagnostics to a mobile app. The 'Skoda MFA' app is like "Torque" (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque for android... and similar for IOS). Skoda seem to have created a good set of applications based on car diagnostics, but I do not think it is much more sophisticated than a good OBD2 adaptor, starting from $15-$20 and which can also be fitted to all cars which have OBD2 connector (all new cars), no need for installation.

 

My 2c

Yiannis

The thing is that SmartGate also lets you control the multimedia. Pretty much everything you can do on the touch screen you can do via SmartGate.

The thing is that SmartGate also lets you control the multimedia. Pretty much everything you can do on the touch screen you can do via SmartGate.

So the backseat driver can also be the backseat DJ?

So the backseat driver can also be the backseat DJ?

And the backseat navigator.

The thing is that SmartGate also lets you control the multimedia. Pretty much everything you can do on the touch screen you can do via SmartGate.

Interesting. How? Any manuals or videos etc?

And the backseat navigator.

Can this be used to plan the routes in your livingroom and transfer them to the car later on?

Possibly, I haven't tried it out since the App is over 600 MB and I don't have that much free space on my iPad at the moment...

As promised, I have an update on Smartgate...

I had it ordered by a local dealer from Skoda as a retrofit part. The Irish dealer system could not locate the part, I had to provide the item code from the Skoda eShop.

The part arrived within 1 week and has since been retrofitted to my car. It works perfectly. I have tried the Skoda Drive, Performance, MFA Pro and Motosound apps.

It's a gimmick but it's cool all the same. The only issue I have is that, due to the fact it's a WiFi connection, my phone loses data connectivity. It thinks it's connected to WiFi so stops looking for 3G/4G...

Also, some of you may remember a MirrorLink issue/query I had where my Amundsen was saying MirrorLink had to be activated using a key. Yesterday I received the following from Skoda Ireland:

Hi, we've received an update on Mirrorlink for you. Your car will need to be updated by your local dealer by purchasing an activation code, price and availability to be confirmed in an estimated 3 weeks. Mirrorlink is a licensed product so there will be a fee to use the feature. Would you like us to get in touch with your local dealer to arrange for them to contact you? Thanks.

Wondering now where SmartLink fits into all of this?... I wonder will my Amundsen(with newly activated MirrorLink) just receive a software update to enable SmartLink?...

SB

Who did the retro-fit of SmartGate for you - the dealer?

 

Is your Amundsen the new MIB2 version as well?

You should be able to sort this by doing a manual configuration of wifi, without a default gateway. The phone should then know that internet isn't accessible on the wifi link and use cellular data.

 

The only issue I have is that, due to the fact it's a WiFi connection, my phone loses data connectivity. It thinks it's connected to WiFi so stops looking for 3G/4G...
 

So is mirrorlink going to be available for the Bolero head unit as well?

The other way to do tis would perhaps be to tether your 3/4g phone to the car so it would get signal in and sent out by wifi?

As promised, I have an update on Smartgate...

I had it ordered by a local dealer from Skoda as a retrofit part. The Irish dealer system could not locate the part, I had to provide the item code from the Skoda eShop.

The part arrived within 1 week and has since been retrofitted to my car. It works perfectly. I have tried the Skoda Drive, Performance, MFA Pro and Motosound apps.

It's a gimmick but it's cool all the same. The only issue I have is that, due to the fact it's a WiFi connection, my phone loses data connectivity. It thinks it's connected to WiFi so stops looking for 3G/4G...

Also, some of you may remember a MirrorLink issue/query I had where my Amundsen was saying MirrorLink had to be activated using a key. Yesterday I received the following from Skoda Ireland:

Wondering now where SmartLink fits into all of this?... I wonder will my Amundsen(with newly activated MirrorLink) just receive a software update to enable SmartLink?...

SB

Very interesting! When was your car manufactured? Does this imply that MirrorLink is just a software upgrade?

Remember this is on a 2015 Yeti so may well have the MIB2 unit which will not be in the O3 until May.

Ah, too bad. Mine is made next week... Should've waited some weeks...

Really hope ML will be possible even in my O3,even though it seems kinda lame to have to use a cable. Maybe it will be wireless later?

Remember this is on a 2015 Yeti so may well have the MIB2 unit which will not be in the O3 until May.

 

But do Mirrorlink actually require any hardware at all? It should be just software, at least on the Columbus (doesnt it run some kind of windows?). 

Edited 31 March, 201511 yr by Gromle

True, but as if yet I haven't seen anywhere that has confirmed a software upgrade will be available for MIB1 units. A couple of people have been told explicitly that it will not be available. The best I have seen is rumour of a hardware upgrade programme.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

It all depends on Skoda. A software update should do the trick, if they make one...

*crosses fingers* SmartGate is neat, but I could really use SmartLink.

I hope that I can get Apple CarPlay retrofitted

I hope that I can get Apple CarPlay retrofitted

Its all about the software, so if Skoda wants it, we can all have it.

I don't quite get where SmartLink fits into this. Is it just a collective label they put on CarPlay, MirrorLink and Android Car?

Its all about the software, so if Skoda wants it, we can all have it.

 

It's not quite that simple.  Apple does place some minimum hardware requirements on display size and resolution - and the Amundsen in my Mk3 would fail these requirements.

 

Even more importantly, reports have suggested that "Apple will have all of its CarPlay hardware go through the MFi program, which means the product will require an authentication chip that aims to prevent unofficial products from offering the CarPlay feature."

 

http://9to5mac.com/2014/12/11/apple-carplay-mfi-standards/

 

If correct, that would mean that retrospectively adding CarPlay to existing units will be all but impossible.

 

Edit: D'Oh - of course if you have the official licensed Apple/Mitsumi interface to your head unit then you do have this authentication chip already.  My Amundsen still fails the screen size/resolution requirements though....

Edited 1 April, 201511 yr by iriches