[rebop]

I hope this is an appropriate place for this discussion.

Has anyone used this?

Carista OBD2 App | Diagnose, customize and service your car

VERY inexpensive at $40 for the OBD device and $20 for the app. I always worry about changing something that will create issues. And it does not seem like it does ALL that much, but very intriguing. Would be interested in knowing if anyone has experience and opinions.

~Bob

 

[Ohio Joe]

here is some info from the A5OC forum...

http://www.a5oc.com/forums/audi-a5-s5-tech/99001-alternative-vcds-vagcom-carista.html

 

[Edward]

Looks pretty promising to me. There is another thread "Cobalt Blue Metallic" by localbrew. He did a few mods by Carista. I just asked him a few questions regarding the folding mirror.

 

[PuroMexicano]

More good comments on Audiworld.com

http://www.audiworld.com/forums/q3-discussion-195/power-folding-mirrors-lock-thanks-carista-2890283/

 

[rebop]

More and more interesting. I just want to be sure it can't break anything nor cause any warranty questions. But it does look pretty cool.

~Bob

 

[boblepp]

Ordered it today for Monday delivery. Will advise what happens!!

 

[rebop]

Looking forward to your report!

 

[rnlabas]

It won't break anything. It does the same thing that VCDS does for its VERY limited capability. If it's enough, go for it. I'm not sure though that the source code used has been 'appropriated' legally or not. If Ross-Tech were to think not, I believe Uwe would sue them...as far as I know they haven't.

 

[boblepp]

From my reading it avoids the user having to twiddle bits and bytes directly so I am assuming they can write code to change the same bits as VAGCOM for any or all functions. Does it look to you that it is inherently limited to the more simple changes and could not do some of the mods??

 

[rnlabas]

Well in theory, it can be programmed to do the same, but SOMEONE has to do that. If you end up doing it yourself, you're doing the same thing as with VCDS. If you don't, then somebody at Carista's gonna do it and guess what. Somebody (now you) has to pay their development and software work to do it and the price goes where? UP !

And IF you can do it, somebody has to provide the coding. If THAT becomes Ross-Tech's either by accident or intent, then THEY are gonna get hot about their hard-earned R&D walking out the door for free or cheap, and that's just bad mojo.

 

[Q3User]

This reminds me of an Apple vs. Android conversation.

 

[boblepp]

Well in theory, it can be programmed to do the same, but SOMEONE has to do that. ...snip....

Since the user interface is documented in a Youtube clip (below).. I can state that it presents Yes/No, On/Off and numeric choices for the user to tap, then it twiddles bits without exposing the coding directly to the user.

I found one reference to how the interface works...

You can get your gauge needles and scales to be lit even when headlights are off with Carista. All you need to do is plug in your OBD adapter, open the Carista app on Android or iOS, click “CUSTOMIZE”, then go to “Instruments / Display / Dings” and set both of the following settings to YES:

Gauge needles lit even when headlights are off
Gauge scales lit even when headlights are off

I am guessing that if the actual bit/byte settings are documented anywhere in/for VCDS they can turn those into easy toggles for the user and apply the correct bits behind the scenes.

I have written a few iPhone apps and can state that the user interface toggles and value selections are dead easy to implement and the meat of their code is behind the scenes twiddling away.

With your permission I would find a missing settings that you can do in VCDS and ask them to add it to their product. Maybe they have their hands on every known VCDS setting already. Maybe they can access oil pressure!! They access temperature and issue warnings as it rises.

For about $60 (I had an Amazon free gift card for $15) I will try it out, whereas VCDS is a CAD$400 solution for me.

They added an option to decide if the attached car is affected by Dieselgate and are even handing out "Not Affected" stickers, cute! https://www.facebook.com/caristaapp Check July 20 for a video of Carista running on Android but without the "pro" change ability.

A Youtube clip at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhZ_GiHraEM shows the interface in action. There are other unrelated companies using the Carista name, personal care and budget planning....

 

[rnlabas]

I agree that Carista IS fiddling the codes exactly like VCDS does, just has a prettier and simpler, more user-friendly GUI. What I'm concerned about is the source of Carista's codes. These essentially belong to VAG, not even Ross-Tech, BUT - HOW those codes are actually used in any interface may infringe on Ross-Tech's intellectual property. And I have no idea if or how that may be true or not. I believe that Ross-Tech will be very aggressive in protecting their work and IP - as well they should. They have already done so with cheap Asian copies of the interfaces that attempt to use Ross-Tech's free software (VCDS) without legal hardware codes to make it work correctly.

Carista obviously does NOT use VCDS, but rather another method to recode the CAN. This is NOT illegal, but on the other hand, which codes and how they are implemented may still be someone else's (e.g. Ross-Tech's) IP and if so, may be at risk...

 

[rnlabas]

Also the codes we see and find on line (and have been for years) are by now perhaps public domain, so those codes are prolly okay to distribute and use. Perhaps Carista has created their own hardware-specific interface completely different and cheaper and easier to use than either Ross-Tech's interface and VCDS. If so, bully for them - competition is good for us in the end.

 

[boblepp]

Also the codes we see and find on line (and have been for years) are by now perhaps public domain, so those codes are prolly okay to distribute and use. Perhaps Carista has created their own hardware-specific interface completely different and cheaper and easier to use than either Ross-Tech's interface and VCDS. If so, bully for them - competition is good for us in the end.

I agree. If they can make the mods people want for $20 one time then fine. They will never have the richness of the VCDS PC app.

Apple App developers depend on volume, $20 a shot times 30,000 customers is as good as $300 each from 2,000 users. And Apple takes 30% off the top.

 

[cmeobe]

After getting frustrated by the cost of the Ross-Tech cable I decided to purchase the Carista adapter ($40 Amazon) and pro app ($20 app store) about two weeks ago. I was able to make two adjustments that were important to me:
(1) make the sunroof and windows close via remote long press
(2) make the side mirrors fold-in when locking via remote {had to email Carista support for a beta version of this adjustment}

It seems a lot simpler and less expensive than the Ross-Tech/VCDS solution (unless you already have the Ross-Tech cable, which I didn't/don't), but it was enough to adjust the few minor things which I was looking to change.

I'll update this post if I experience any issues with the Carista adapter/pro app.

 

[boblepp]

..Snip...

I'll update this post if I experience any issues with the Carista adapter/pro app.

Using the latest iPhone beta...

Folding mirrors only works if you select driver side as a minimum. Will not fold the passenger only.

Long press to open windows and sunroof will only tip the roof, not slide it open.

They are working on exposing the hidden menu page, whatever that does.

Trying to set on interior lighting control is rejected.

But the needle sweep is way cool! as is fog lamps for turning lights, and turning off the wink of a DRL when turn signal activates. I liked four flashes for the lane change tap.

Carista is working on fixes they say.

 

[Q3User]

Carista is definitely for the plug & play iPhone type crowd.
Very easy to use but wholly dependent on the developer to accommodate program requests - which may take time esp. with the different vehicles they support.

So Carista adoptees will not get the benefit of the community crowd source data experience & innovation that has been build up over the years that VAGCOM has gotten.

And there is a part of me that suspect the Carista developers hang around the various VAGCOM threads on the net to crib their codes from VCDS into the Carista interface.
So what was once an enthusiast shareware via an interface cable has now been commoditized at a lower price & simplified down for the casual user.

Making things look pretty obviously sells.

 

[deverelle]

Using the latest iPhone beta...

Folding mirrors only works if you select driver side as a minimum. Will not fold the passenger only.

Long press to open windows and sunroof will only tip the roof, not slide it open.

They are working on exposing the hidden menu page, whatever that does.

Trying to set on interior lighting control is rejected.

But the needle sweep is way cool! as is fog lamps for turning lights, and turning off the wink of a DRL when turn signal activates. I liked four flashes for the lane change tap.

Carista is working on fixes they say.

I bought the Carista too, but I could not get the mirrors to fold with the beta. I set them both to fold in, and nada.

 

[boblepp]

I bought the Carista too, but I could not get the mirrors to fold with the beta. I set them both to fold in, and nada.

They just released a new beta so maybe try that one.

Carista OBD2 3.0 (300001) for iOS is ready to test

I noticed today the mirrors fold also when you hold the door handle lock button a few seconds, not just with the remote.

Maybe we got different beta versions.

Try toggling both off, saving each, and then toggle back on saving each one.