Have Apple CarPlay compatible in-dash system in your car? Want to use Google Maps turn-by-turn navigation while in CarPlay mode? Here's a workaround of sorts to use Google Maps navigation with Apple CarPlay.
2016 looks set to be a big year for Tesla, not just with its own business pushing forward but more and more of the traditional auto makers jumping onto the electric bandwagon. Not many will be competing with Tesla's high-end cars, but then again, it's the mid-range car like the upcoming Tesla Model 3 that the company is itself starting to focus on. When that mid-range Model 3 car do arrive later this year, it might be the first to take advantage of Tesla's new thinking as far as apps are concerned.
Apple and Google are eagerly taking shots at the next-generation in-car infotainment systems with CarPlay and Android Auto, respectively. Normally available as separate services on dedicated receivers from various manufacturers, Pioneer has started to ship its first aftermarket system with both CarPlay and Android Auto included in one unit. Head over the jump for further information.
Apple’s CarPlay has suffered more false starts than an old Ford, but it may finally be starting to get a foothold in the automotive world. While you can go out and buy a new Ferrari with CarPlay built in, that doesn’t help those of us with cars already parked in our garages. What we need is aftermarket solutions.
CarPlay, Apple's in-car flavor of iOS, was first announced way back at the Worldwide Developers Conference of 2013, and only with this year's iOS 7.1 did iPhones finally see support for the feature. But while users can now enjoy CarPlay integration provided that their infotainment system is supportive of it, the specialized interface is not something that users can access outside of their cars; or at least it wasn't meant to be until said software was preparing to be bundled up and released as a jailbreak tweak.
I think that the jailbreak community has already excelled itself in terms of the quality and sheer tenacity of the tweaks we've seen since Pangu8 was rolled out last month, and with seemingly no end to how iOS can be manipulated, one ambitious developer has begun a project to port the external CarPlay software onto iPhones and iPads. Essentially, instead of using a standard infotainment system, a user would feasibly be able to mount their iOS device and use that as the complete in-auto CarPlay system, and although it's quite buggy and not yet ready for prime time, it's very promising indeed.
Apple first announced its intention to extend its iOS ecosystem to cars was first announced way back at 2013's Worldwide Developers' Conference, but it was only early this year with the release of iOS 7.1 that devices could properly support it. Many car manufacturers have signed up to include CarPlay as a standard feature, but sound and general infotainment specialist Pioneer has been one of a small number of companies to pledge aftermarket support. A short while ago, the first batch of CarPlay-ready in-car systems were launched, but given their fledgling nature, most of us have yet to see what this new Apple-integrated hardware is really made of. One early adopter, who also just so happens to be a member of a tech. repair company, has already had some extensive time with one of Pioneer's new receivers, and for the benefit of the masses, has posted a series of walkthrough clips.
Earlier on this year, Apple rolled out iOS 7.1 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and among a number of changes, bug fixes and new additions, one of the flagship features was the introduction of CarPlay. Announced as iOS in the Car back at WWDC 2013, CarPlay means that users could remain connected while driving without distraction from the road, and not only does the feature promote road safety, but also offers a broad range of functionality thanks largely to the Siri voice assistant. It has long since been known that audio giant Pioneer would be among the first to retail its own fleet of aftermarket, CarPlay-ready infotainment systems, and today, five of its line-up will offer full-on support of Apple's in-car flavor of iOS via firmware update.
With the smartphone market now fully fleshed out, companies like Apple and Google are now looking to try and find the next big growth market, which means both firms are now throwing as much at the metaphorical wall as possible, just to see what, if anything, sticks. Apple has already made a play for the car, while Google's push in wearables is easy to see in its Android Wear and Google Glass product.
Apple's CarPlay, first announced as iOS in the Car, finally rolled out with iOS 7.1, but until the supported cars begin rolling out later on in the year, we can't really get up close and personal with the new interface. Pioneer, as we heard a short while ago, will be offering an aftermarket option for those who don't wish to go out and buy a whole new car, and today, the audio specialist has given us a taster in the form of a demo clip.
