Android Auto

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on Android Auto:

Add a folding CarPlay display to your ride for just $96

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Equip any car with a voice-activated touchscreen for under $100.
Don't suffer without CarPlay. This affordable touchscreen is easy to install.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Got a car that needs an Apple CarPlay screen? The easiest (and cheapest) way to add CarPlay (or Android Auto) to an older car is to add an aftermarket touchscreen display.

CarPlay puts Apple Maps, Apple Music, podcasts and much more right on your dashboard. This 6.8-inch folding touchscreen is your cheap ticket to the CarPlay party — it’s on sale for just $95.99 (regularly $159).

10-inch touchscreen car display gives you CarPlay (or Android Auto) for just $126

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This 10-inch wireless touchscreen car display can upgrade your ride for under $110.
Save over 40% on a wireless touchscreen Bluetooth display compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Apple CarPlay is a popular perk of many newer cars, but you no longer need a luxury model to enjoy a modern driving experience. For a limited time, it’s cheaper than you’d imagine to add a CarPlay display to any vehicle. This affordable car touchscreen works with Android Auto, too.

How budget-friendly is it? You can currently purchase this 10-inch wireless touchscreen car display that works with both major infotainment platforms for only $125.99 (regularly $199). That’s 37% off a car accessory that supplies access to various helpful and safety-focused features.

Add wireless CarPlay to almost any car for just $105

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This $105 HUD can connect to almost any car.
Connect this Heads Up Display to almost any car for $105.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want an easy way to add CarPlay to your car? Cars old and new can get an upgrade with this 9-inch car display that supports both Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto.

Enhance your ride without replacing your car’s head unit with this touchscreen car display for just $104.99. That’s 63% off the regular price, making this simple solution one of the cheapest ways to add CarPlay to any vehicle. However, this deal’s only available for a limited time.

Using CarPlay is more dangerous than texting while driving, study claims

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BMW could ditch its pricey annual subscription cost for CarPlay
CarPlay: good for your infotainment system, not your reaction times.
Photo: Sony

Using Apple’s CarPlay platform in its current state is worse for drivers’ reaction times than being high on weed, at the drink-drive legal limit, or texting behind the wheel, a new study claims.

IAM RoadSmart, the biggest road U.K. safety charity, analyzed the impact of various in-car distractions. While CarPlay may make the experience of using your car’s infotainment system more enjoyable, the group’s research concludes that it certainly won’t make you a better driver.

“The fundamental issue of these systems [is that they require] you to take your eyes off the road ahead,” Neil Greig, policy and research director for IAM RoadSmart, told Cult of Mac. However, Greig said steps could be taken to make systems like CarPlay safer.

Uconnect 5 brings CarPlay to all Fiat Chrysler vehicles in USA

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uconnect
The new Uconnect 5 home screen.
Photo: FCA

Apple’s CarPlay infotainment system is finally coming to all of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in North America thanks to a little help from Android.

Fiat Chrysler revealed its new Uconnect 5 platform for cars today that is five times faster than the previous version. FCA says Uconnect 5 was built with future growth in mind and comes with support for CarPlay along with Android Auto and Alexa. It’s basically the Swiss-army knife of in-dash infotainment systems.

Amazon wants to challenge CarPlay and Android Auto

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Connect the Amazon Echo Dot to your existing speaker system, and you bingo! -- your speakers just got smarts.
Amazon wants to move Alexa from the home into our cars.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Amazon is trying to move in on Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto by convincing carmakers to bake in Alexa as an in-car infotainment technology.

According to a new report, Amazon is scaling up its Echo Auto ambitions. It has already convinced BMW and Audi to adopt the tech. It is now supposedly trying to get other automakers to sign up as well.

CarPlay tops Android Auto in latest customer satisfaction rankings

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CarPlay
CarPlay is taking over the auto market.
Photo: Hyundai

Apple’s CarPlay software for automobiles is quickly becoming a must-have feature for new car buyers, according to the latest rankings from J.D. Power.

Even though it was released four years ago, CarPlay is just starting to catch on with consumers who want a phone mirroring system on their dash. And when it comes to Apple vs Google, CarPlay’s satisfaction rating is significantly better than Android Autos.

Apple Music is getting a massive upgrade on Android

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music streaming
The latest release also includes Chromecast support.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple Music is about to get a big upgrade on Android.

A beta version of its next major update reveals Android Auto support is on the way. A number of other new features will also be added to bring the Android version of the app in line with its counterpart on iOS.

Apple’s CarPlay is less distracting than your car’s built-in infotainment system

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BMW cancels its ridiculous CarPlay subscription fee
BMW cancels its ridiculous CarPlay subscription fee
Photo: Apple

Many new cars come with in-dash navigation and entertainment systems created by automobile makers. For safer, less-distracted driving, they should use Apple CarPlay instead.

That’s the result of a study done by AAA that compared CarPlay to Google’s Android Auto and the native infotainment systems found in five 2017/2018 vehicles.

CarPlay and Android Auto are fast becoming standard for new cars

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CarPlay
CarPlay and Android Auto were found on roughly half of new cars sold in Q1.
Photo: Hyundai

Compared to iOS or even macOS, Apple’s CarPlay in-vehicle standard seems relatively minor in terms of importance. However, according to a new report, in-car systems such as this are rapidly becoming the norm.

In the first three months of this year, analysts at Canalys suggest that Apple’s CarPlay or Google’s Android Auto were available in 46 percent of new vehicles sold in Europe, and 52 percent of new vehicles sold in the U.S.

Live blog: Google I/O 2018 delivers the future of Android and more

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Sundar Pichai at Google IO
What does Google have in store for us this year?
Photo: Google

Google I/O 2018 kicks off in less than an hour.

There’s loads to look forward to this year, including an update on Android P, and previews of what’s to come for Chrome, the Google Assistant, Android Auto, and more. The recently-rebranded Wear OS may also get some much-needed attention.

Google is live-streaming its big keynote, which kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific. If you can’t tune in, follow our live blog below to stay up to date with everything that’s happening in Mountain View.

5 big things to expect from Google I/O 2018

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Google IO 2018
Google I/O starts today!
Photo: Google

Google I/O 2018 is right around the corner. You may not be all that excited for it if you only ever use Apple devices, but you should be. Google’s plans for the future of its platforms could well shape the future of all smartphones, wearables, and more.

They will also tell us how Google intends to keep up with and fight Apple’s latest devices, including iPhone X, which is quite literally changing the face of Android-powered devices.

Here are five big things we’re expecting from this year’s Google I/O keynote, which kicks off on Tuesday, May 8.

Longtime holdout Toyota finally embraces CarPlay

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Toyota Avalon CarPlay
CarPlay will be available in the 2019 Toyota Avalon.
Photo: Toyota

Toyota has confirmed it will finally embrace CarPlay in its 2019 Avalon and other vehicles launching this year. The Japanese firm is one of the last major automakers to adopt Apple’s platform, which will be available with all standard packages.

Pioneer’s latest head units ship with CarPlay as standard

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Pioneer's new NEX series plays nicely with iPhone.
Pioneer's new NEX series plays nicely with iPhone.
Photo: Pioneer

Pioneer today unveiled its latest lineup of NEX aftermarket head units — all of which come with CarPlay as standard.

Each features an improved touchscreen up to 7 inches in size, and Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calls and media streaming. They can access Spotify on your iPhone without using CarPlay, in addition to videos stored on a USB stick.

DIY update adds CarPlay to your Hyundai

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CarPlay
CarPlay has a new arrival.
Photo: Hyundai

Hyundai car owners can now get Apple’s CarPlay technology on their dashboard thanks to a new Do-It-Yourself update that has been made available for 2015, 2016, and 2017 car models.

The free update doesn’t even require a trip to the dealer to be installed, and if you want Android Auto, the software can add that too.

Porsche picks CarPlay thanks to Apple’s privacy policies

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CarPlay pays off for car manufacturers.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s “We don’t want to know” non-snooping data protection policy may not be making it too many friends in government, but it’s certainly won over Porsche.

According to a new report, Porsche opted to go with Apple’s CarPlay platform over Google’s Android Auto for its new 911 Carrera and Carrera S models. The reason? The massive disparity in data the two companies demand.

What it’s like to get a cup of coffee with CarPlay and Android

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CarPlay and Android Auto are Apple and Google’s first attempts to slowly invade the automobile, but finding a car that supports them hasn’t been easy the past year. If you’ve been curious what it’s like to drive around with either system, the folks at Consumer Reports put the two systems head-to-head during a morning drive to get coffee.

Each interface has its promises, but the report also highlights a lot of areas that need to be worked on — like how you can’t change your car’s FM radio while using Apple Maps. Unlike your car system though, CarPlay and Android Auto will probably be upgraded every year, giving you new features each year, just like your smartphone

Here’s what it’s like to ride with CarPlay and Android :