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Audi announces CarPlay for 2015
2015 looks like it may be a great year for smartphone integration in cars. On the heels of yesterday's announcements from Hyundai, Honda, and Volvo, German automaker Audi announced plans to support both Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto. In a public statement, Audi board member of Technical Development Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg had this to say: Our customers want to be 'always on' and use the services they know from their smartphones in cars as well," says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Technical Development at AUDI AG. "In this regard, we are working closely with leading companies like Google and Apple. In the future, customers will be able to use the functions available to them on their smartphones via the operating systems in their cars as well. User friendliness and low distraction are important parameters for integrating these functions. Data security also plays a vital role. We are separating the vehicle-related functions from the infotainment features, thereby securing the data against unauthorized access. The customer has to give express consent for the use of data generated in the vehicle," This news is exciting as it marks the first time Audi has publicly spoken about its relationship with Apple. The company was a founding member of the Google Open Automative Alliance and previously had only announced plans to work with Android integration. Thankfully for iOS users, drivers will now be able to choose which platform they wish to use in their new cars.
Volvo, Honda, Hyundai cars to be cross-compatible with iOS, Android
Volvo announced today that it is joining the Open Automotive Alliance and will be bringing Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto to its vehicles in the future. Starting with the new XC90, Volvo's cars will use a brand new Scalable Product Architecture which allows the cars to be compatible with both services. Hyundai and Honda have also both confirmed that while they are introducing Android Auto to their vehicles in the future, they will still offer CarPlay as well. In Honda's case, the cars will be able to automatically detect the driver's smart phone OS. Since the introduction of Apple's CarPlay service, the question has hung in the air about if iOS and Android based car integration systems could co-exist. Cross compatibility is important; there are plenty of families with members who have different phones across multiple operating systems. Beyond just the usability issue, there are market forces to consider. For these in-car control systems to truly take off they're going to need a large rate of adoption. It would be short-sighted for a car company to tell customers who just spent tens of thousands of dollars on a new car that they need to buy a brand new phone just to use of of the car's main features. The good news is more and more manufactures are announcing cross compatibility as they announce their smartphone connectable vehicles. Let's hope for the best.
Add Apple CarPlay to your existing ride with Pioneer's latest head units
If you're an iPhone user who's dying to try out the new auto-friendly CarPlay interface, but can't quite shell out the big bucks for a new Ferrari, Pioneer has good news for you: It recently announced that all of its 2014 NEX head units will be CarPlay-compatible. Indeed, if you already purchased one of Pioneer's five aftermarket receiver models that were released earlier this year, you too can have CarPlay with a simple firmware update that's coming out in a few months. I had the opportunity to see this in action with a Pioneer AVIC-8000NEX installed in a Toyota Sienna a couple days ago, and it's exactly how it would appear in a car with CarPlay already built in.
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for May 16, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Apple, EA test free in-app purchases and more news for May 16, 2014
Don't start your weekend without a dose of Apple news. Today we've got free in-app purchases, CarPlay and a lot of retail revenue for Apple. Apple and EA are trying out free in-app purchases. Apple and game maker EA are trying out something new. EA is issuing promo codes that give players 10 "gold," the virtual currency in Real Racing 3. Typically, 10 gold is a two-dollar purchase in RR3. Until now, promo codes from Apple were restricted to paid app giveaways. Pioneer's NEX In-Dash Systems will receive a CarPlay update soon. Eager to check out CarPlay, Apple's in-dash solution for iOS in your car? One more avenue to the touch-friendly promised land is about to be unveiled. Pioneer has promised that a firmware update for the NEX In-Dash System will enable CarPlay, and that it should be out in "a few weeks." Apple averages more sales per square foot than any other retailer. A recent study has confirmed what you might suspect after visiting a packed-to-the-rafters Apple Store. The company generates more sales per square foot than any other retailer in the US. You want numbers? Apple averaged US$4,551 in sales per square foot of retail space over the past 12 months, beating out heavyweights like Tiffany & Co., Coach, and Murphy USA. But Apple is doomed.
Podcasts for iOS is now properly outfitted for Siri and CarPlay
Folks that spin favorites through Podcasts on iOS to endure the workday can nab an update that should boost listening sessions. Version 2.1 of the standalone app boasts improved browsing by episode, complete with Unplayed and Feed (available for download or stream) tabs for easy access. You can also save favorites for offline enjoyment and tweak the settings to automatically delete selections once you've listened. Siri integration finally makes its debut as well, allowing voice-activated commands like "play podcasts" or specific stations with "play Stuff You Should Know" for the virtual assistant. There's also CarPlay support added in to prep for its arrival in autos in the months to come. If you haven't been alerted to the new version just yet, hit the source link that follows to snatch it up.
Hyundai's bringing Apple's CarPlay to some new Sonata models
It's becoming a trend to see more and more companies integrate their products with Apple's CarPlay, whether it be car manufacturers or makers of in-dash systems. The latest to join the movement is Hyundai, announcing that navigation-equipped 2015 Sonata models will feature the recently unveiled in-car infotainment system from Apple. Hyundai says that adopting CarPlay was an easy decision for its engineers, since it provides an interface that's already familiar to iPhone users and takes advantage of the new Sonata's 8-inch touchscreen. More importantly, Hyundai's plan to feature CarPlay makes it one of the more cost-effective brands to do so -- and that's a great thing, because not everyone can afford a Merdeces or a Ferrari.
Daily Roundup: Amazon's first phone, Project Ara developer conference and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for April 15, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Apple confirms after-market CarPlay and other news for April 15, 2014
A new subscription plan from Microsoft, after-market CarPlay and more gorgeous hardware from Twelve South. Here's this morning's news. Apple has confirmed to The Verge that after-market CarPlay solutions will be made available. The company did not offer much more detail than that. It's interesting, as The Verge points out, that in this scenario Apple does not have control over the hardware running its software. Speaking of CarPlay, Pioneer has announced that its in-dash systems will support the technology this summer. And here I thought I was cool because my Mazda mini van does Bluetooth. Apple's court-appointed monitor says the company is becoming increasingly cooperative. You'll remember that Apple is now legally required to monitoring by Michael Bromwich as a result of a trial regarding ebook pricing. Apple's relationship with Bromwich has been contentious to say the least, but in a recent report he noted that "...we are starting to see the original pledges of cooperation and collaboration, which for many months were at odds with the company's actions, fulfilled." It's so nice when huge corporations and court-appointed monitors get along. Twelve South has announced a wooden, adjustable version of its BookArc laptop stand, called the BookArc möd. As you might suspect, it's lovely. Microsoft has launched its Office 365 Personal subscription plan. Now, a customer can choose a personal subscription for one Mac or PC plus one tablet for US$69.99 per year or $6.99 per month. The plan was announced last month.
Apple CarPlay coming to Pioneer's in-dash systems this summer
Apple CarPlay in an aftermarket dash system? You bet! And you may not even need to spend a dime. Pioneer's NEX line of five in-dash head units, priced from $700 to a whopping $1,400, will score CarPlay compatibility through a firmware update in early summer. NEX owners with an iPhone 5, 5c or 5s will be able to use Apple Maps for navigation, listen to music and other iTunes content, and tap Siri to make phone calls and send text messages. Pioneer's devices already in stores will be able to take advantage, so there's no need to wait for CarPlay integration to go live before picking one up.
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for April 14, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Apple releases iOS 7.1 with CarPlay support
After pushing out several betas, Apple's finally ready to roll out its latest firmware update to the masses. iOS 7.1 is now available as a free download, and as expected, it adds a few new features to the mix. The new update should be heading your direction if you own an iPhone 4 or newer, iPad 2 or newer, either iPad mini or a fifth-generation iPod touch. Among the usual smattering of tweaks to the iOS UI and bug fixes, the most notable feature improvement is the inclusion of CarPlay support and fixes for the random reboot problem many iOS 7 users have been experiencing.
Talkcast tonight, 7pm PDT/10pm EDT: Sprung forward edition!
All-new dial-in experience! See below -- do not call into Talkshoe, we won't be there. Be sure to set up Fuze Meeting before the show if you want to join in live. Hopefully you (select) Americans have had long enough today to recover from "springing forward" last night, and can spend some time with the TUAW talkcast! This evening we'll be spending a bit of time discussing the CarPlay announcement, and other news of the week with the usual suspects. You're more than welcome to join! Reminder on new-style talkcasting: With some help from the fine folks at Fuze, we're using a new system to record the show. This should let everyone listen in live -- and, if you want, raise your hand as you would in the Talkshoe room to get unmuted and chime in. You can join the call in progress (meeting # is 20099010) at 10 pm ET from any computer via this link; if you download the Mac or Windows Fuze clients ahead of time, you'll get better audio and a slicker experience, but browser-only will work fine. Just click the phone icon to join the audio once you're in. Using an iPhone or iPad? Grab the native clients from the App Store and get busy. (Even Android users can join the party.) Still feel like using the conventional phone dial-in? Just call 775-996-3562 and enter the meeting number 20099010, then press #. While the Fuze web and native clients have a chat channel, we'd like to reserve that for host participants, requests to talk and other real-time alerts... so the full-on chat for the show will appear in this very post at 10 pm tonight. You'll need Twitter, Facebook or Chatroll credentials to participate in the chat. We'll remind everyone to check back in at that time. See you tonight!
Weekly Roundup: Bitcoin founder unveiled, Apple CarPlay hands-on and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Mercedes wants to bring CarPlay to older vehicles this year
The biggest catch of Apple's CarPlay (aside from platform support) is its limitation to newer vehicles; at last check, most people won't buy a new car just to get better smartphone integration. Mercifully, Mercedes-Benz tells 9to5 Mac that it's planning to deliver an "after market solution" for older cars by the end of 2014. The automaker isn't providing many details, although there's a good chance that its solution involves more than a simple software upgrade. Other brands haven't outlined their plans for aftermarket CarPlay support, but it's early days -- don't be surprised if there are more announcements once manufacturers are ready to show their cards.
Engadget goes hands-on with CarPlay and other news from March 4, 2014
Sister site Engadget and other sites are starting to get a hands-on look at Apple's CarPlay system, one of the holdovers from last year's WWDC. As Engadget observes: The first thing we noticed is how speedy everything is. Apps load quickly, and Siri's contextual algorithms hastily recognized our voice commands and responded appropriately. Apple has also implemented safety features to ensure services do not draw your attention away from the road and push forward its "hands-free" theme. For example, when we sent or received a message from a contact, Siri would only read the message back to us and we never once got the chance to see its contents. You can see the full video above. Other news from Tuesday afternoon includes: RadioShack plans to close 1,100 of its stores, meaning that for some, they will have to seek elsewhere to get an iPhone. Apple has won a patent that is designed to listen to your voicemail as the message is being recorded in an effort to screen calls. John Gruber has "heard from a little birdie" that the iTunes Festival app for the US festival requires iOS 7.1, ergo it should drop any time now. We at TUAW got to try out TwelveSouth's SurfacePad for the iPhone during Macworld/iWorld 2013, and now there's a version out for the iPad mini. For those holding out for a larger version for the iPad Air, it should be on the way in the spring. And kick back with these features: Gazelle, Apple, security, and your iPhone My cat Cinnamon reviews Friskies Cat Fishing 2 Neptor Portable Battery Pack proves power accessories can be stylish A history of Samsung advertising gone wrong
Daily Roundup: Apple CarPlay hands-on, G Pro 2 review and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Hands-on with Apple's CarPlay: when Siri met Ferrari (video)
Apple's in-car infotainment system has been a long time coming. After it was announced at the company's annual WWDC conference in June last year, "iOS in the Car" flew under the radar, only to undergo a rebrand and launch publicly yesterday under a new moniker: CarPlay. Sharing part of its name with the company's AirPlay media-streaming protocol, CarPlay combines all of the iPhone's most important features and mirrors them inside the car, allowing car owners to call, text, navigate and listen to music (and more) using touch- or Siri-based voice inputs. The new in-car interface is compatible with new Ferrari, Mercedes and Volvo models unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, and it's there that we got the chance to test Apple's automotive assistant inside a suitably equipped Ferrari FF coupe.
Daily Roundup: Engadget's 10th birthday, Apple announces CarPlay, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
