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Friday, June 28, 2013

Latest Beta Of AppRadio Extensions Works With iPhone 5 And AppRadio 2 [Jailbreak]


AppRadio Extensions or AppEx is a jailbreak tweak for iOS which enhances AppRadio functionality. Thanks to the endless efforts of its developer, Mike DeCaro, the latest beta version of the tweak has been made compatible with the iPhone 5 running iOS 6. You can now fully control your iPhone through your AppRadio 2's touchscreen. Here are some initial thoughts.

Which Navigation App Do You Use Most With AppRadio? [Poll Results]


These past few days we've been running a poll on this site asking which navigation app you use most commonly with your AppRadio Mode enabled car stereo. The results are in and aren't too surprising…

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

AppRadio 3 Purchase Doesn't Include Any Android Or iOS Connection Cables

Most AppRadio 3 cables are "sold separately" 

If you've purchased an AppRadio 3 or simply gone through the online manual for the device on Pioneer's website you'll realize that the head unit doesn't include any iPhone or Android connection cable. All connectivity kits have to be purchased separately.

Monday, June 24, 2013

AppRadio 3 Back Ordered At Most Authorized Dealers


Within a couple of days of being available for purchase, stock of Pioneer AppRadio 3 head units (SPH-DA210 - CD/DVD drive model) have dwindled. The car stereo is back ordered at most big box retailers like Best Buy and online dealers like Abt and Crutchfield. In fact, back order delays at Abt go up to 7 to 10 days.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Pioneer AppRadio 2 (SPH-DA100) Prices Slashed At Best Buy


With AppRadio 3 being available for purchase already Best Buy has cut prices on the AppRadio 2 considerably. AppRadio 2 used to be priced at $399 all this while. However, the car stereo is not available for purchase online but in stores only. The new price is below...

Best Buy Is Now Shipping Pioneer AppRadio 3


Big box retailer, Best Buy, is now shipping Pioneer AppRadio 3. The CD/DVD model (SPH-DA210) can be purchased for $499.99. Still no word on the non-drive model (SPH-DA110) which will be priced at $400.

Friday, June 21, 2013

How To Install Head Unit Firmware Updates Using A Mac [How-To]


Pioneer head unit firmware updates require installation using a USB flash drive or micro-SD Card (first generation AppRadio). Updates usually come as two files that have to be installed one after the other. One of the requirements is having the installation files in the root folder of the drive being used. And the file should be the only one present on the drive. Some users have found it difficult to perform the update using a Mac because formatting a drive on the Mac writes hidden files onto the drive which gives an error on the head unit while updating. Here is a workaround to the update process when using a Mac.

AppRadio 3 Now Available For Purchase From Pioneer

One of the two AppRadio 3 models is now available for purchase directly through Pioneer. As promised, Pioneer has made AppRadio 3 available this Summer, albeit on the first day of Summer today.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

You'll Need A Windows PC To Install Pioneer Firmware Updates


If you, like myself, use a Mac then installing firmware updates for your Pioneer head unit may run into a few roadblocks. The most common being an error message that says something to the tune of being unable to update OS because more than one file exists on the drive. Pioneer requires firmware updates to be done by loading one file at a time in the root folder of the USB drive. Here's what happens when you try to do that on a Mac.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Here's Pioneer's Firmware Update Time-Table...


Pioneer had posted this following graphic showing its planned release of firmware updates for its AppRadio Mode enabled head units on Facebook in April. In case you haven't seen it or are wondering when your particular head unit will get updated check out the picture below. Most updates have already been released. The updates are aimed at adding iPhone 5 compatibility.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

AppRadio 3 New Feature Poll Results Are In...


This week our poll aimed at finding out which AppRadio 3 feature are you all most excited about. The results are in!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

How To Check Your AppRadio 2 Firmware Version [How-To]


If you want to find out what the current firmware version on your AppRadio 2 is, here's how to do it. It can't be found in the 'Settings' menu but is easy to find. It is important to know what the firmware version is especially before performing firmware upgrades. Check out the graphic below from Pioneer Europe.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Think Voice-To-Text Is Less Distracting While Driving? Think Again!


Apple's Siri Eyes Free is a new feature which is going to be at the center of your driving experience in a few months. It uses voice to perform most supported functions on an iOS device. The feature is included in the upcoming AppRadio 3 from Pioneer. Press a button to activate Siri and speak your command and the voice assistant does the rest. Commands include "Read me my text message", "Reply to that message saying…" or "Play songs by Aerosmith". As the name suggests, Siri Eyes Free is designed to avoid having to look or touch your phone while driving. Google Voice does the same thing on an Android device. Sounds safer than talking on the cell phone, right? Well, think again.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Will iTunes Radio Have An Independent AppRadio Interface?


Apple announced their very own music streaming service, iTunes Radio, at WWDC 2013 earlier this week. The service takes direct aim at other similar services like Pandora, Spotify etc. in what is a field filled with many competitors. iTunes Radio will be a free service with ads or if you're an iTunes Match subscriber the service will be ad free. Pioneer is probably working on changes to AppRadio firmware to make it work with iOS 7 but will it have an independent AppRadio interface for iTunes Radio? Here are some thoughts.

Pioneer AppRadio 2 Comes Fitted In Alfa Romeo MiTo Live


In April of this year Alfa Romeo launched a new limited edition Alfa MiTo Live which comes fitted with a Pioneer AppRadio 2 as its standard entertainment system. This is the first instance of an AppRadio coming factory installed in a car. The Italian car manufacturer's MiTo Live is aimed at young drivers who use smartphones and have a connected lifestyle.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

It's Official, Waze Now Belongs To Google, Not Facebook


Google has snapped up the social navigation and traffic app, Waze, for the rumored price of $1 billion. Although reported earlier that social networking giant, Facebook, was looking to buy Waze, looks like Google managed to beat them to it.

Monday, June 10, 2013

iOS In The Car Homescreen Will Look Like This...


The picture above is what you'll see on your car's head unit screen when making a call while in 'iOS in the Car' mode. Notice the electronic 'Home' button. I wonder if long pressing this will activate Siri or will cars come with dedicated Siri buttons. This is what the homescreen will look like...

Things Pioneer Needs To Work On...


With the announcement of Apple's latest iOS installment, iOS 7, the bar has been raised for Pioneer to make it's current and upcoming head units work efficiently. iOS 7 is completely revamped, some might even say unrecognizable from its predecessor. There are a ton of new features that will make every iOS device running it feel completely new. So what does Pioneer have to do to make the transition a smooth one. Here's my take on it.

Apple Is Bringing 'iOS In The Car' Through Car Manufacturers, But When?


At today's WWDC 2013 keynote, Apple announced a new feature, 'iOS in the Car'. It's designed to do what it says, bring Apple's mobile operating system to your car. With the help of iOS 7 which was announced today, 'iOS in the Car' will integrate your iOS device with your in-dash system. For this, your vehicle needs to be 'equipped with iOS in the Car'. Here are some more details.

iOS 7 To Take Center Stage At WWDC 2013 Later Today


Apple's annual World Wide Developer Conference 2013 (WWDC 2013) kicks off in San Francisco, California in a few hours from now. The highlight of the five-day event will be the customary keynote address at the beginning of the show at 10 a.m. local time where Apple CEO Time Cook is expected to unveil details about the next generation iOS 7.

Alpine Beat Pioneer At MirrorLink Integration With The ICS-X7HD [Video]


Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. already has a head unit out since April of this year with MirrorLink connectivity. The ICS-X7HD is a 7-inch double-DIN receiver with a flurry of new features that most devices in the category don't have. I'm talking Siri Eyes Free, 3 RCA Pre-Outs and built-in HD radio apart from MirrorLink compatibility.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Scosche ControlFREQ - An App Controlled Stereo Receiver [Video]


Scosche is a popular accessory maker for cell phones and tablets. Late last year they introduced their first car stereo. The single-DIN receiver capable of being controlled wirelessly through a smartphone app is called ControlFREQ. Here are a few details.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

GPS Makers Are Integrating Smartphone Functionality In Their Devices

Magellan SmartGPS®
GPS devices are losing ground in the current market thanks to smartphones. I personally can't remember the last time I used my Garmin Nuvi 3790T. All my navigation these days is done with my iPhone 5 and AppRadio 2. GPS makers, however, won't go out so easily. Many of them are now integrating smartphone functionality in their devices thereby using your cell phone's data connection to enhance your driving experience.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

The AppRadio Compatible Device List Has Grown


I often get asked whether certain Android phones will work with the AppRadio 2 or AppRadio Mode enabled head units. Pioneer has a list of devices on it's website that are AppRadio compatible. This list has grown in number since last June. Various iOS and Android phones are now compatible. Some other devices like the Samsung Galaxy S III which is not on this list also work with AppRadio 2. The device list is below the page break.

iHeartRadio Fans Check Out iHeartAuto [Video]


iHeartRadio is one of the more popular internet radio station streaming apps around. Now there is an Auto version of the app called iHeartAuto which is AppRadio compatible. Both iOS and Android versions are available. There's an "App Spotlight" video from Pioneer featuring the app below.

In Case You Missed It Here's The AppRadio 3 Video From Pioneer [Video]


Pioneer's new AppRadio 3 will be launched this summer in two different models. There is a new website with all the information you need about these devices. There is also a video posted there which shows what features to expect. In case you haven't checked it out already, here it is...

AppRadio 3 Disk Drive Poll Results Are In...


We ran a poll over the last few days asking whether the DVD drive feature on the upcoming AppRadio 3 was necessary. The results are in!

Monday, June 3, 2013

AppRadio 3 Specifications Compared To AppRadio 2 [Image]


If you want to compare Pioneer's latest AppRadio head unit with it's previous generation device you'd have to click through a couple of pages on their website. You can't really compare the two side by side. So I thought I could put together both specifications to compare in one glance. Check out the graphic below. All the following information can also be found on Pioneer's AppRadio site.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Here's Another ARLiberator User Video [Video]


YouTube user "danterakin" has posted a video online showing his Samsung Galaxy Note 2 working through ARLiberator with the AVH-X8500BHS. The video is below.