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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Audi To Announce Android Based Car Entertainment System [CES 2014]


The first piece of rumor from CES 2014 has made its way out. According to a report on the Wall Street Journal, German car manufacturer, Audi AG, is planning to announce its next generation car entertainment system which will be based on Google's Android.

Current Audi car models come equipped with Audi Connect which uses Google Earth imagery for satellite navigation.

Your Next Tesla Model S May Have An Android Emulator For Apps


The current Tesla Model S has a beautiful 17-inch LCD screen in the dashboard for displaying various vehicle functions. It is the largest screen in a vehicle by far. The software inside is built on Linux - Qt which means it is possible to develop pure Android apps for it (Android is just a modified version of Linux).

Evad3rs Try To Clarify Jailbreak Issues, Chinese App Store "Taig" Removed


In a two-part letter posted on their website, jailbreak developers Evad3rs have given clarification through their Twitter account on what possibly went wrong with the latest untethered evasi0n7 jailbreak for iOS 7. Among the many issues present with the jailbreak, users had expressed concern over the inclusion of the Chinese App Store "Taig". 

Taig has since been removed from the jailbreak. Other issues are still being ironed out. Third-party app developers have been scrambling to get their apps in the Cydia store. For now, here are a few excerpts from those letters...

Saturday, December 28, 2013

AUPEO! Radio Gets iOS & Android Makeover


Music streaming apps are aplenty these days but when it comes to choosing an AppRadio compatible app the choices are not many. Apps like Rdio are no longer compatible with Pioneer's head units. Although Pandora seems like the obvious frontrunner, there are a few other apps to chose from.

AUPEO! Radio is one of the few AppRadio compatible apps that is available for both iOS and Android. And it is a decent alternative to Pandora even though there may be a few missing artists in their catalog. The app works great with the AppRadio. And recently an update has revamped the design, making it look even better than before.

Note: The pic above is of the old interface.

Navfree GPS USA Updated To Add HD Maps And More


Navfree GPS USA + Street View is one of the more popular GPS apps for the AppRadio, boasting over 15 million users. An update to the app was made available yesterday with a few improvements.

The app already gets my vote because it has Google's Street View built-in and is fully AppRadio compatible. Beats most of the other GPS apps around in that regard.

A full list of what's new in the latest update version 2.3.46 is below. Both iOS and Android versions of the app were updated in the last few weeks with the same improvements.

Latest Extra Mile App Update Has iOS 7 Improvements


The Extra Mile app was updated a few weeks ago to add iOS 7 support. The interface a changed a bit, becoming flatter to blend with the iOS 7 look. Last week there was another update released with the a few improvements. Description about the latest update and link to download is below the fold.

The Android version of the app hasn't been updated recently and is, in fact, not recommended for download as most features don't work. Both OS versions are AppRadio compatible though.

Monday, December 23, 2013

iOS 7 Untethered Jailbreak Released, But Has Issues [Jailbreak]


Jailbreak enthusiasts were pleasantly surprised yesterday when the long-awaited jailbreak for iOS 7 was released by Evad3rs, the same group responsible for developing the last jailbreak. Almost no one, including app/tweak developers, were expecting the release before Christmas which has raised a few problems.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Will CES 2014 Bring Any Surprises In Car Entertainment? [Opinion]


The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is held every year in Las Vegas, Nevada around the second week of January. The show brings together tech companies which showcase current and upcoming products. The event receives excellent press coverage.

The next installment of the show, CES 2014, is scheduled to be held between January 7-10. Car tech companies will be present at the event as usual. What surprises are in store remains to be seen. Here are some things we may (or may not) see.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Buy The CableJive "dockXtender" Lightning Version From Amazon [Deals]


CableJive's recently released lightning version of the "dockXtender" cable can now be purchased on Amazon for a lower price. It is also eligible via Amazon Prime for FREE two-day shipping. Links to purchase are below the break.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

These Bike2Power Smartphone Mounts Are Designed To Make Bikers Happy

As vehicular smartphone mounts go, some are very functional while others are simply clunky. For bikers though, there are a wide variety of mounts from Bike2Power that offer both functionality and lightweight mounting solutions.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Latest Waze Update Brings Faster Search With Auto-Complete


Waze Social GPS Maps & Traffic app was updated yesterday with better search functionality. You can now search your favorites, contacts, history or even addresses within the United States with auto-complete.

There are a couple of other improvements added to version 3.7.7 too. Both, iOS and Android versions of the app have been updated. Links to update/download this latest version along with complete details about the update are below.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

CableJive Releases "dockXtender" Lightning Cable Extension [Video]


The long wait for a reliable lightning cable extension may finally be over. CableJive, makers of the original dockXtender 30-pin cable, have now released a lightning version of this product which is available for immediate purchase. 

Lightning cable extension is sought after by Pioneer AppRadio 2 and 3 users who use an iPhone 5/5S/5C, to hide messy cables from the dashboard. Details on how and where to purchase along with price information is included below.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Sygic GPS App Now Offers Head-Up Display Feature For Only $5


Windshield GPS projection devices seem to be the trend these days. First there was "Garmin HUD" which started the trend, followed by Pioneer Electronics themselves that announced "NavGate". Both those devices project GPS directions onto the windshield within the driver's field of vision. 

Garmin's device is priced at around $150 and is available within the US. Pioneer's NavGate, on the other hand, was announced only for Europe and is available for a whopping £600 ($980). 

Now there is a cheaper alternative from GPS app-maker, Sygic. The Sygic app can give you a projected GPS display for an additional in-app purchase of $5. iOS and Android versions of the app are available and will both work as a head-up display.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Next Generation HondaLink Connectivity Announced, Very AppRadio-esque [Video]


As scheduled, Honda announced its next generation HondaLink connectivity system earlier today. Honda made the announcement via a Google Hangout. The new HondaLink puts a smartphone-like interface inside the car, with the ability to run a few apps off of your smartphone. Sounds a lot like AppRadio technology from Pioneer which was launched back in 2011.

Currently, only the 2014 Honda Civic will have the next generation HondaLink system. The 2015 Honda Fit will be the next car to include the system.

Today's announcement has plenty of details. I have included links to the complete press release from Honda along with a few highlights about today's announcement. There is also the whole Google Hangout video you can watch below (26 minutes).

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Easy On, Easy Off - Meet The NEO GRAB Universal Smartphone Holder [Review]



Car mounts are an important component of driving helping you keep your hands on the steering wheel while having a clear view of your phone. Over the last few weeks I have reviewed a couple of smartphone car mounts; the minimalistic Kenu Airframe and the magnetic Wallee M. They both have their own pros and cons.

The mount we are reviewing today is the NEO GRAB Universal Smartphone Holder. I have been using it in my car over the past week.

Friday, November 29, 2013

AppRadio 3 (SPH-DA210) At Lowest Price Ever On Amazon [Holiday 2013 Deals]


Pioneer AppRadio 3 (SPH-DA210) prices have fallen to an all-time low today. Although, big box retailers and PioneerElectronics.com list the price at $499, you can buy a brand new AppRadio 3 on Amazon for much less than that retail price.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Honda To Launch New In-Car Smartphone Connectivity System On December 3


Earlier this week, we posted about improved "iOS in the Car" coming soon in the 2014 Honda Civic, according to a report on 9to5Mac. According to the report, a source close to Honda had suggested "more than just simple mirroring" with their next generation in-vehicle connectivity system.

We've now learned that Honda will hold a Google Hangout Event to announce this new and improved in-car smartphone integration system.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Very Few Deals On Car Electronics At Best Buy This Year [Black Friday Deals]


Big box retailer, Best Buy, has plenty of deals for Black Friday storewide. But when it comes to Car Electronics, there aren't too many deals to choose from.

This year stores will open on Thanksgiving Day at 6 PM across the country. In other words, Black Friday will start on a Thursday, and go on until Sunday. Some other retailers have included the following Monday as a part of the Black Friday routine. Confused?

Anyways, here are the Car Electronics deals available at my local Best Buy in Northern California...

Get Free 2-Day Shipping From PioneerElectronics.com [Black Friday Deals]


Black Friday brings great deals on most items every year. This year Pioneer Electronics is offering "Free 2-day Shipping" on all products on their website. The free 2nd Day Air Service is available for customers within the continental U.S. only.

Additionally, there are discounts available on products too. Details are below.

EC Touch For AppRadio Gets New Icon, Fixes Bugs With Latest Update


EC Touch for AppRadio has been updated to version 3.0.6 today with a few bug fixes and improvements. The app is AppRadio compatible and available only for iOS. Full details about today's update are below.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Honda To Offer Improved "iOS In The Car" With The 2014 Civic [Report]


According to a report on 9to5Mac, the new 2014 Civic will be the first Honda models to feature Apple's "iOS in the Car". But unlike a few other car companies that offer iOS in the Car, Honda could add one other highly sought-after feature.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Pandora Still Wins Over Other Music Streaming Services On AppRadio [Poll Results]


We recently ran a poll here at AppRadioWorld asking which music streaming you most commonly use with your AppRadio. The results aren't very surprising. Even though iTunes Radio has gained popularity since its release, it still hasn't done enough to challenge our poll winner.

Check out the complete results below.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

2014 Buick LaCrosse Features New IntelliLink In-Car Entertainment [Video]


The 2014 Buick LaCrosse is now available with Buick's new and improved IntelliLink system. The next-generation Buick IntelliLink includes new hardware, features and functionality. More details are below including a video showcasing the new features.

The new in-car entertainment system features a high-resolution, 8-inch diagonal touchscreen with swipe-and-drag functionality. Here's a list of some of the features from Buick's website...

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

iOS 7.0.4 Does Not Fix AppRadio Screen Resizing Issue


The title of this post says it all.

iOS 7.0.4 was released a few days ago and since then I've received a few questions asking whether it fixes the annoying screen resizing issue with the AppRadio. The answer is NO, it does not.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Join The AppRadio Discussion At AppRadioWorld Forums


AppRadioWorld Forums has had many interesting discussions already. If you didn't know it yet, it is a great place to get your AppRadio questions answered. But it isn't limited to AppRadio only. The forum is open to all discussions related to car technology.

iGo Primo Is A Premium GPS App, At A Premium Price [Video]


There are quite a few free apps that will fulfill your AppRadio navigation needs. If you're looking for an iOS app with dedicated GPS features, you may want to check out iGo Primo. While there are various iGo Primo apps available based on geographic location, this post is about iGo Primo North America.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Screen Resizing Issue Affects First Generation AppRadios Too


A couple of days ago we had reported about the screen resizing issue that affects AppRadio 2 and AppRadio 3 users using the lightning digital AV adapter. Turns out the issue affects first generation AppRadio (SPH-DA01, SPH-DA02) users too. So those using the 30-pin cable with an iPhone 4 or 4S are also affected.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Pioneer AR Experience App Updated To Include New Receiver Models


A few months ago I posted a media release from Pioneer Electronics announcing their new augmented reality app. This app helps you decide which receiver to buy for your car. It's also a one-stop shop for getting information about all the features offered.

The app is called Pioneer AR (Augmented Reality) Experience and it has been updated today to include the new 2014 receiver models.

Here's a list of what's new in the app...

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

AppRadio Screen Resizing Issue Continues, No Fix In Sight


AppRadio users who use an iPhone 5 or later to connect to their head units have been experiencing a screen resizing issue when using AppRadio Mode for quite a while now. The screen resizes to a lower resolution when connected using an Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter.

There's no specific trigger which causes this to happen, it happens at random. And once resized to a smaller resolution, the screen doesn't go back to fullscreen.

Monday, November 11, 2013

The Wallee M iPhone Car Mount Mounted In The Car: Review Part 2 [Pictures]


As promised in part 1 of our Wallee M iPhone Car Mount review, here are some pictures of how the mount looks in action. The suction cup gives you the option of mounting it either on your dashboard or the windshield of your car. There are a few notes I would like to add to the review though.

Read the rest of our review and view the additional pictures below.

Note: The mounting disk I've used when mounting on the dashboard was the one I got with my Garmin GPS (which I haven't used for a while now).

Friday, November 8, 2013

Enjoy Pandora Internet Radio Ad-Free Through A Pioneer Receiver


For a limited time (till the end of 2013) Pioneer Electronics is offering an ad-free Pandora music streaming experience when connected to any one of their select head units. There are over 20 head units that are compatible with this offer.

Pioneer has a webpage set up explaining the offer along with a list of receivers that are supported. Surprisingly, AppRadio 3 is not one of them. Full details are below.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Not All Upcoming Pioneer DVD Receivers To Be Compatible With iPhone 5


There are five new DVD receivers coming from Pioneer in a few weeks and all boast AppRadio Mode along with other features. But one of the five will not be compatible with iPhone 5 (or 5C/5S) or any iDevice with a lightning connector.

All New 2014 Pioneer DVD Receivers Will Allow Pandora Station Creation


Yesterday's press release from Pioneer announcing their new devices for 2014, had one bit of information regarding Pandora that's quite interesting. All new 2014 Pioneer DVD receivers will allow users to quickly create new Pandora stations while connected to an iPhone or compatible Android smartphone. This is something you can't do with current receivers.

An excerpt from the press release is below.

EC Touch Won't Play Your DRM Protected iTunes Videos


EC Touch is a one-stop app for all your entertainment needs and is AppRadio compatible. There are plenty of features that make the app quite awesome. You can stream music from Spotify, SoundCloud or the music stored in your iPhone, play YouTube videos, use apps like INRIX Traffic, Waze etc or even play videos stored in your iPhone.

There's one issue with playing videos downloaded from iTunes though. If the videos are DRM (Digital Rights Management) protected (most of them are), you won't be able to play them through EC Touch.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Stezza Is A Classy Looking Music App For Your AppRadio [App Review]
















UPDATE: The FREE App Giveaway is over. Thanks to all those who tweeted this post.

FREE APP GIVEAWAY... Read after the page break!

There's a beautiful new music app available in the App Store (iOS only) which is AppRadio compatible. It's called Stezza and quite unsurprisingly has received 5/5 star reviews on iTunes.

Stezza easily is the best looking music app for the AppRadio. The interface is Windows 8-esque, as in the buttons are arranged like tiles. You only see the buttons you need to control your music like Pause/Play, Back, Forward, Shuffle and Loop.

2014 Pioneer AVH Receivers Will Need New CD-IV203 Kit For AppRadio Mode


With today's 2014 device lineup announcement, Pioneer Electronics has informed everyone about a new cable kit which will be required for iPhone 5 users wishing to use AppRadio mode with its new devices. The new kit is the CD-IV203 which will be priced at $50. Details are below.

Pioneer Announces 2014 Multimedia Receiver Lineup, No AppRadio 4


In an email sent out this morning, Pioneer Electronics has announced its 2014 lineup of devices. There are new in-dash multimedia DVD receivers, CD receivers, amplifiers and speakers coming next year. There's no mention of an AppRadio 4 though.

A complete list of devices is below the break along with excerpted details about new enhancements to the in-car entertainment experience and pricing information.

Spotify Comes To AppRadio Via EC Touch, TuneIn Drops Support


EC Touch for AppRadio (iOS only) just keeps getting better! There are quite a few new things happening with the app these last few days, most of them good. The best improvements of them all is Spotify integration.

The latest version of EC Touch for AppRadio, version 3.0.5, adds the following changes...

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Here's A Comprehensive List Of AppRadio Compatible Apps From Pioneer UK


If you want to know which apps are AppRadio compatible you should check out this list from Pioneer Europe. It includes a full description of each app, links to download from either the App Store or Google Play, pricing information and even embedded videos for some apps.

The link is below.

Navfree GPS Should Be The Default Maps App On The AppRadio [Opinion]


Long gone are the days when Google Maps used to be the default Maps app on iOS and AppRadio. Back then the app used to actually work when used in AppRadio Mode. These days, the default Maps application on the AppRadio doesn't provide navigation. Even though it uses Google Maps it is quite useless.

There are quite a few alternatives to feed your navigational needs. Waze is one I use quite often. MotionX GPS Drive requires a $25 subscription to work with in AppRadio Mode. The Google Maps or Apple Maps applications aren't AppRadio compatible but can be used in mirroring mode.

There's one navigation app which has been quietly flying under the radar for quite a while now. The app is called Navfree GPS USA + Street View. It is free to download for iOS and Android.

AppRadio Mode Works A Lot Better With Android Compared To iOS [Video]


I stumbled across this YouTube video earlier today which shows what the Android experience with an AppRadio 3 is like. From the video you can tell how snappy AppRadio Mode is. With iOS the AppRadio Mode interface takes much longer to launch on pressing the home button.

In the video from "cartoyzks", which is actually a very good feature review of the AppRadio 3, a Samsung Galaxy S4 is used to connect to the AppRadio 3 using the Samsung AllShare Cast Dongle which provides a wireless connection. I must say, the video makes me wish I had an Samsung Galaxy phone to use with my AppRadio 3.

Watch the video below the break and see for yourselves. This is sure to make all you iOS users with AppRadios jealous.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Power Of Magnets - The Wallee M iPhone Car Mount Review: Part 1 [Pictures]


Smartphone car mounts have become a very important component of the driving experience. Having a good car mount takes away the risk of handling your phone while driving. And there is nothing like having your phone mounted in a way that is easily visible while driving without distraction.

I currently go back and forth between a couple of mounts in my car (a custom-made mount and the Kenu Airframe). I have now found a third option which is very practical and probably the easiest to use.

While my custom-made made requires me to slide the phone in and the Airframe is a vent mount, my third option is a suction mount for the windshield or dashboard and uses magnets to hold the phone in place.

The Wallee M iPhone Car Mount is a high quality mount that works like a charm. In this first part review there are unboxing pictures along with a general description of the mount. The second part (coming soon) will show the mount in action in my car. Thanks to the folks over at Studio Proper (the Australian makers of this product) for sending out one of these mounts for review.

Note: This mount requires a Wallee M Case for your iPhone. Cases are available only for iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5C and 5S. This review is of the mount only.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Android 4.4 KitKat Released But Not Available For All Devices


Google's latest mobile OS, Android 4.4 KitKat, has been officially released yesterday and will be available for download soon. Not all devices will get the update yet though. There's only a handful of smartphones and tablets which will be able to enjoy the update on release.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Another Video Shows Samsung Wi-Fi AllShare Cast Working With AppRadio 3 [Video]


Samsung's Wi-Fi AllShare HUB is a compact display receiver which mirrors your smartphone's screen on any external display. One YouTube user, "jimmiedogg12", has uploaded a video showing how the device works with Pioneer AppRadio 3.

The advantage of using a device like this is the wireless connection. There's no need to use an MHL or any other connector. The HUB connects to the AppRadio 3 through an HDMI cable.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Latest First Gen AppRadio Update Requires Previous Firmware Version Installed


First generation AppRadios (SPH-DA01 & SPH-DA02) got firmware updates a few days ago. One of the prerequisites for the update was having the previous firmware version installed. In other words, if you skipped the previous update you will have to first update to the previous version and then to the latest update.

Download links are below.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Here's Why I Use Pandora, And Not iTunes Radio, With My AppRadio [Opinion]


iTunes Radio has been available for use for exactly 35 days today. At Apple's media event yesterday, CEO Tim Cook announced that nearly 20 million users had used the service and played over 1 billion songs within the first month. Although it sounds staggering, it really isn't as popular as Pandora yet.

App Update Roundup: Pandora Radio, MIXTRAX, StreamS HiFi Radio, MotionX GPS Drive [10/24/13]


AppRadio compatible apps keep getting updated to add iOS 7 support. These past few days the following apps have been updated... Pandora Radio, MIXTRAX, StreamS HiFi Radio and MotionX GPS Drive. Details about each update and links to download from the App Store are included below. Updates are for iOS versions only.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Garmin HUD Puts Directions In Your Field Of Vision [Amazon Deals]


Back in July we reported Garmin's announcement of a new product called Head-Up Display or HUD. This device is a portable display for smartphone navigation apps. It is a projector which displays directions on a little area of the windshield. You can choose to have it display directions right in your field of vision while driving.

[BREAKING] US Firmware Updates For First Gen AppRadios Now Available


It was only a matter of time. Moments after making firmware updates available to European and UK first generation AppRadio users, Pioneer Electronics USA has now posted the same update for its American customers. The updates are available for SPH-DA01 and SPH-DA02 models.

Those of you using the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S running iOS 7 should be relieved now. Compatibility  for these devices has been restored.

Full details and links are below.

[BREAKING] First Gen AppRadio Firmware Update Available With iOS 7 Support (EU/UK)


Just when we were starting to think Pioneer Electronics won't add iOS 7 support for first generation AppRadios, they seem to have redeemed themselves (dare I say, yet again!). This morning Pioneer Europe has put out a firmware update for the SPH-DA01 and SPH-DA02.

These updates are available for EUROPEAN AND UNITED KINGDOM USERS ONLY as of now. Hopefully US user support will follow.

If you are in the US, DO NOT update your AppRadios using these firmware files.

Full details and links are below the page break.