infotainment
Latest
Hummer EV 'supertruck' has a UI built on Unreal Engine and runs Android
We've seen the outside of GMC's new 1,000HP Hummer EV, but now you can see the in-car display too. It runs on Android and was designed using Unreal Engine.
Crowdfunded dongle brings wireless Android Auto to more cars
A crowdfunded project aims to add wireless Android Auto to many cars through a USB dongle.
Google teases third-party navigation and charging apps on Android Auto
Right now, Android Auto and Android Automotive support two types of third-party apps: media and messaging.
Mercedes' new touchscreen controls eliminate 27 physical buttons
Mercedes' second-gen MBUX system will replace 27 physical buttons with touchscreen, voice, gesture and gaze controls.
Jaguar's 2021 I-Pace features faster charging and an improved infotainment system
The Jaguar I-Pace has been updated for 2021.
Tesla's Arcade adds 'Fallout Shelter' for in-car play
A new Tesla software update adds the 'Fallout Shelter' game.
CarPlay in your classic Porsche, just what you needed
If you're lucky enough to own a classic Porsche, the German automaker has something special to let you update it in style.
Android Auto is coming to Harley-Davidson motorcycles
With the exception of a couple of late stragglers, Android Auto has become commonplace on most cars. Not so with motorcycles. But that's about to change with Harley-Davidson announcing that it plans to update some of its existing motorcycles to support Android Auto.
Fiat Chrysler's Android-based Uconnect 5 supports Alexa and wireless CarPlay
Fiat Chrysler's collaboration with Google on in-car Android tech is bearing fruit. The car maker has unveiled an Android-based Uconnect 5 infotainment system that should help it keep up with an influx of modern tech. It includes personalization for up to five drivers, and an interface that takes better advantage of screen real estate with "cards" that provide fast access to features like your media or phone contacts. You can order food or pre-authorize fuel, too. However, some of the biggest changes lie underneath the surface -- this is as much about acknowledging the rapid evolution of car tech as anything else.
Amazon is bringing Fire TV to cars and Dolby Atmos to its soundbars
Amazon plans to bring its Fire TV platform to in-car entertainment systems. Today, Amazon announced that Fire TV Edition for Auto will appear in future BMW and Fiat Chrysler vehicles. It will include access to Alexa, a touchscreen interface and offline playback capabilities. Content will be available through the vehicle's WiFi or LTE connection, a mobile hotspot or a WAN-enabled device.
Cadillac’s 2021 Escalade will boast a 38-inch curved OLED screen
In a teaser video published today, Cadillac offers a glimpse of the 38-inch, curved OLED screen that will arrive in its 2021 Escalade. Cadillac says the display will have "twice the pixel density of a 4K television." It didn't share much beyond that but plans to reveal the Escalade during Oscars week, on February 4th.
BMW will finally support Android Auto in July 2020
BMW's effort to drag its phone integration into the modern era extends beyond ditching Apple CarPlay fees. The automaker is finally introducing Android Auto to its cars as of July 2020, when it'll be available in any vehicle using BMW Operating System 7.0 or later. It's a wireless connection, so you'll initially be limited to certain Google- and Samsung-made phones, but it should save you the trouble of plugging in when you just want some quick directions home.
BMW will drop its Apple CarPlay fees (updated)
For years BMW has charged customers for access to Apple CarPlay. Initially, the automaker charged a $300 lifetime fee, but this summer, it introduced a yearly subscription model at $80 per year. That didn't go over well with drivers, especially because Apple doesn't charge car manufactures a fee to use CarPlay. Now, BMW says it will no longer charge a subscription fee for cars equipped with Apple Car Play in the US.
Ford's Sync 4 system will add wireless CarPlay and Android Auto support
Almost five years after it introduced Sync 3, Ford is updating its in-car infotainment system with a lot of features its customers have been requesting for years. When Sync 4 arrives in select Ford vehicles starting in 2020, it'll include wireless support for both CarPlay and Android Auto. Moreover, some Sync 4 vehicles will include wireless charging, so you'll be able to take one less cable with you when you go for a drive in one of the company's new cars.
Volvo's electric XC40 will use an Android infotainment system
Volvo's electric XC40 will represent an upgrade to in-cabin tech, not just the powerplant. The automaker has continued its teaser campaign for the EV by revealing that it will use an infotainment system based on Android Automotive, just like the cars from its Polestar performance brand. That provides access to handy Google services like Assistant, Maps and the Play Store, but it's also a milestone for Volvo itself. This will be the first Volvo to receive over-the-air updates for its core software, not just apps and map data -- your center console won't be frozen in time.
Alexa is coming to newer GM vehicles in 2020
The US's largest automaker is about to add Alexa to its vehicles. Starting in the first half of 2020, General Motors plans to update 2018 and newer Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadilac model cars, trucks and crossovers to feature the digital assistant. The automaker says the rollout marks the biggest auto-related expansion of Alexa to date.
Alexa Auto adds offline capabilities that work in tunnels and parking garages
Having an Alexa-enabled car is convenient if you want to make a call, check the weather or order groceries while you drive. But that convenience quickly disintegrates when you drive through tunnels, parking garages or remote areas and lose signal. Amazon wants to fix that. Today, it released version 2.0 of its Alexa Auto SDK, which now comes with a bunch of offline functions.
Google Assistant and Maps are coming to GM vehicles in 2021
GM and Google are working to bring a voice assistant, embedded navigation and in-vehicle apps to Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles beginning in 2021. The companies announced the partnership today, and according to GM, it plans to eventually roll the tech out in all vehicle brands.
Google opens Android infotainment system to third-party media apps
Now that Google has a full-fledged car infotainment platform in Android Automotive, it's opening the door to apps built for that platform. As of Google I/O, developers will have the power to create media apps for Android Automotive-equipped cars like the upcoming Polestar 2. It's using the same underlying framework as Android Auto, which should ensure that a favorite music or audiobook app will work properly across different touchscreen sizes and car customizations.
You can soon order Domino's pizza from your car's touchscreen
Domino's is continuing its quest to let you order pizza through every device imaginable. It's partnering with Xevo on an app that can order pies through your car's infotainment system, no tethered smartphone required. You can avoid distractions by placing an Easy Order or repeating your last order, and track your food's progress. There's also an option to make an order by phone in case you have a complex request or just prefer human contact.
