Point by point:
How is Mazda Connected?
It's not. There used to be a wi-fi client so that you could tether the car to a phone in hotspot mode but the've disabled this feature in the latest releases.
I, for one, am glad they did this. Having a WiFi hotspot in the car is simply another avenue of attack on the car, esp. if the WPA passwd is some default or something easily guessable (Z00mZ00m anyone?). If any other in-car devices are connected via WiFi, that connection can be easily interrupted as well. I don't even know when I'd use it. Now that I think of it, putting in some ridiculously long password and limiting it's access somehow would be kinda cool if it broadcasts its SSID. Then w/o even connecting to the WiFi system, I could use Tasker on my phone to go into "Car Mode" whenever it is within range of the WiFi network and I'm moving at more than 10mph.
The aim was to use online services such as Pandora or Aha, both options still available in the Infotainment with no way now to use it, but those services are not available outside of the USA for copyright reasons. The "Mazda Connect" service was to add things like gas prices, traffic and weather to the Nav, but Mazda has discontinued this service, which is probably why they disabled the wi-fi.
My understanding is that Pandora and Aha don't use the WiFi at all. None of the apps really do. Pandora and Wifi actually use the data connection in your phone. The car could interface with your phone via WiFi or USB. USB is going to be a more reliable connection, and can charge your battery rather than drain it. USB, though physically tethered, is the better option. The way it works is you listen to Pandora on your phone. You use your phone's data connections and everything. Then you tether your phone to the Connect system. It pulls the audio into the car's stereo system, and the App in the car makes calls to the software on the phone to change stations, etc. IOW, for actual connectivity to the world outside the car, the Connect system uses your phone's data connection, unless I am somehow mistaken?
Traffic and weather usually come into the car via a longer range network than WiFi. Typically that type of data comes in via the cellular network or a sat. connection, or via GPS. THis makes me wonder why they would discontinue this service?
Are there an iOS/Android apps and are they useful?
No Apple or Android apps per say yet, this will have to wait for CarPlay or Android Auto when (if) they come out with it.
There aren't any native apps. THis is the thing. If they go with CarPlay they all but shut out the Android people. If they go with Android Auto they all but shut out the iPhone people. OpenCar allows HTML5 apps to essentially remotely control certain apps on your phone, no matter what brand. I'm not sure what the minimum requirements are for the app on your phone in order to remotely control them through the dash, but if you are savvy enough you can write and upload such an app. Not the same as having a full-fledged native app though. It would be nice if the system supported MHL (so you can mirror your android or iPhone screen on the dash) and mirrorlink (so the touch screen can actually remotely control the phone) and all those problems will be agnostic-ly solved. Supposedly Hondas next gen in-car system supports this (it's available in every Honda market EXCEPT the USA - facepalm!).
How is the navigation?
It's ok, as good as you could expect from static Navteq maps. I like that you can update them yourself via the SD card and the Mazda Toolbox software (free updates for 3 years), but I'm a big fan of Google Maps, and the fact that the traffic maps are discontinued now that wi-fi is officially off, it lacks that little humph that Google Map or even Garmin devices have had for years.
Yeah, Mazda makes it so easy to upgrade! When I was looking at the Lexus CT200h a while back, they wanted $150 for the upgrade. And the upgrade was done via a cryptographically signed USB dongle that only the dealers had. I believe that even if you are out of the free upgrades time period the current cost of system upgrades is $15 and that's it.
Good to know that the maps are decent. I prefer Google Maps (and really Waze) as well. THe nice thing is that the little cubby below the stereo and A/C, in front of the gear shift, is just about the perfect size to put a smart phone with it's screen facing you and convenient for glancing at those maps. I was able to put my Note Edge in there and the fit was great. SO then I get 2 screens in the car.
