Roger Fingas
Streaming music service Pandora has quietly updated its iPhone app with support for Apple's CarPlay, giving listeners a more convenient interface for compatible vehicles and aftermarket headunits.
CarPlay functions are unmentioned in Pandora's release notes, or even on Apple's website, but should nevertheless be available when an iPhone connects to a vehicle. After selecting the app from the homescreen, users should see a simplified menu with premade stations, as well as the option to shuffle all of them for variety.
A Now Playing window offers menu options to vote a track up or down, despite the potential distraction to drivers.
Relatively few iPhone apps have introduced support for CarPlay since the platform launched in 2014. Apart from a few Apple apps, like Maps and Music, some examples include Spotify, Rdio, and Overcast.
Part of the problem is that relatively few vehicles even support the standard. Automakers like Honda, Porsche, Chevrolet, and Volkswagen are now on board, but typically only in select 2016 models. Older cars can be upgraded via headunits from Alpine, Kenwood, or Pioneer, but these cost several hundred dollars each plus installation expenses.
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17 Comments
I seem to remember more than 1 year ago a few manufacturers saying that they would introduce CarPlay for 2015 models. One year on and it appears very few mass market cars have CarPlay as standard. Not sure if this just as the lead in times for changes to car production are so long or if there are other reasons for CarPals slow appearance.
So if I need a car sometime soon, should I buy a current car that supports CarPlay, or wait a few years for the Apple Car? Fun choices...
Call me crazy but I am still unconvinced by paying to have all of this stuff integrated into the head unit.
If I were buying a brand new car today, which is unlikely since its price drops like a rock the second you drive it off the lot. I would pass on CarPlay, Android Auto, or any integrated navigation system unless they were free or cheaper than not having them.
As long as the car allows for connecting the phone to the stereo over blue tooth, my phone can easily handle everything these dash systems do. And I am already used to exactly how it works and where everything I need is located. The touch screens on these head units are almost always abysmal as well. If I need directions I regularly look them up on my phone before I even enter the vehicle. Additionally I almost always plug my phone in as I place it in its little holder every time I get in the car if its a trip longer than a few minutes.
I am not sold on much of this in-dash stuff other than a decent radio that sounds great and can connect via blue tooth to control music and calls, and tell me when/where the next turn is. Which is all coming from my phone.
Call me crazy but I am still unconvinced by paying to have all of this stuff integrated into the head unit.
If I were buying a brand new car today, which is unlikely since its price drops like a rock the second you drive it off the lot. I would pass on CarPlay, Android Auto, or any integrated navigation system unless they were free or cheaper than not having them.
As long as the car allows for connecting the phone to the stereo over blue tooth, my phone can easily handle everything these dash systems do. And I am already used to exactly how it works and where everything I need is located. The touch screens on these head units are almost always abysmal as well. If I need directions I regularly look them up on my phone before I even enter the vehicle. Additionally I almost always plug my phone in as I place it in its little holder every time I get in the car if its a trip longer than a few minutes.
I am not sold on much of this in-dash stuff other than a decent radio that sounds great and can connect via blue tooth to control music and calls, and tell me when/where the next turn is. Which is all coming from my phone.
I tend to agree. The only app I would ever want with CarPlay would be to have Waze (my navigation app of choice), and there's no chance in hell of that happening.
I seem to remember more than 1 year ago a few manufacturers saying that they would introduce CarPlay for 2015 models. One year on and it appears very few mass market cars have CarPlay as standard. Not sure if this just as the lead in times for changes to car production are so long or if there are other reasons for CarPals slow appearance.
Nope. They're in 2016 cars. Porsche, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and more.
A lot of car companies were satisfied with MFI that got song/artist/album on the dash, going full touchscreen is a reach they're getting used to.