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Sunday, January 31, 2016

[UPDATE] Getting A New Google Nexus 5X For Android Auto? Read This First



This post has been pasted to the top of this page. Newer posts may be below.

UPDATE: The Google Nexus 6P comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable that you need to connect to your car's dashboard or head unit. I have made the necessary changes in this post. The Nexus 5X does not include this cable.

Google announced two new Nexus phones in September of last year - Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. Both devices feature plenty of new features including fingerprint sensors and faster processors. The phones are also the only two devices that come pre-installed with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google's latest software.

With Marshmallow, users get access to Android Auto. I recently got my hands on a Nexus 5X for the purpose of testing it out with my Pioneer AVH-4100NEX which supports Android Auto. Although you would think getting Android Auto working would be a simple plug-and-play operation it isn't.

If you are planning on upgrading your smartphone to the Nexus 5X to be able to use Android Auto right out of the box, you may want to read this first.

Friday, January 29, 2016

Waze 4.0 For Android Screenshots Leaked, Update Coming Soon [Video]


For over 3 months now, iOS users have enjoyed the new version of Waze even before Android users have had a taste. Version 4.0 for iOS was released in October last year and Google, that owns Waze, for some reason hasn't released an equivalent Android update since.

But seems like we are closer than ever to version 4.0 of Waze for Android as screenshots of the newest version have surfaced thanks to the website Android Police. They even made a YouTube video that shows you around the entirely overhauled app.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Project Titan May Be Delayed As Apple Stops New Hirings


Apple's Project Titan has garnered some unwanted attention in last few days. The electric car project has been Apple's big secret with a speculated completion date sometime in 2020. But a couple of recent setbacks could put that date in jeopardy.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Apple's Project Titan Chief Reportedly Leaving The Company


Apple's electric car endeavor, Project Titan, hasn't been so 'secretive' after all. Even though the company has never confirmed they are working on a car, we've already had plenty of leaked information about the project.

Now, according to a report on The Wall Street Journal, a veteran Apple executive in charge of leading Project Titan is leaving the company.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Ford Will Integrate Android Auto And CarPlay In All 2017 Sync 3 Models


Just before CES 2016, Ford announced plans of bringing Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to its vehicles' dashboards. It's good news for future Ford owners and even some existing ones.

According to Ford, every 2017 model year car equipped with Sync 3, which is its latest infotainment system, will have Android Auto and CarPlay capabilities preinstalled. But what about 2016 cars with Sync 3? Worry not.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Anker Makes The Best Lightning Cables At Affordable Prices [Opinion]


Third-party lightning cables are a dime a dozen these days. Head over to online retailers like eBay or Amazon and search for some. The choices can be overwhelming and not all of them may be reliable.

You could always buy the original cable directly from Apple if you're willing to shell out $20 for it. There are cheaper alternatives that are reliable though. And a few third-party cable makers even offer a warranty.

I use a third-party cable made by Anker in my car to use CarPlay or AppRadio Mode. I have another Anker cable connected to a simple 12V USB charger too for the times I only need to charge my phone. Cables used in the car are perhaps prone to more wear compared to the ones you use at home.

The most common problem with charging cables is fraying, either at the USB end or lightning end. Recently, one of my Anker cables stopped working as the lightning end came loose. I decided to contact Anker support to check if I had any warranty I could avail of.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Did Waze Really Drop Pioneer AppRadio Mode Support?


When it comes to navigation apps, Waze is perhaps one of the most popular choices. Whether you've been using it on your car's Pioneer head unit equipped with AppRadio Mode, or on your smartphone itself, Waze gives users plenty of relevant information.

Google owns Waze and has integrated some of the best features of the app in the native Google Maps app. But seems like about a week ago, the AppRadio Mode support in Waze was dropped by Google. I was first made aware of this by one of our readers, Alfonso.

When I launched AppRadio Mode on my Pioneer AVH-4100NEX to check this out for myself, I saw Waze still appears on the homescreen. So has Waze really dropped AppRadio Mode support?

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Self-Driving Cars Make Mistakes Too, Google Reveals [Report]


Just because a self-driving car has the latest safety technology in it doesn't absolve it from making mistakes. In a report submitted to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Google has reported the exact number of times its autonomous vehicle has slipped up and forced a driver to take over during testing.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

US DOT Unveils $4 Billion Proposal To Expedite Self-Driving Vehicle Development


Self-driving cars may arrive sooner than expected.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx has revealed as a part of President Obama's 2017 Budget proposal, a 10-year, nearly $4 billion investment to accelerate the development and adoption of safe vehicle automation through real-world pilot projects.

More details are below.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Wonder No More - Apple Posts List Of All Car Models That Offer CarPlay


Apple CarPlay may soon become a standard feature in all vehicles. The car dashboard software has gained steady momentum over the past year. And recent events suggest Apple is serious about furthering the technology.

There are two ways of getting CarPlay - buying a new car that offers the software or installing an aftermarket CarPlay head unit in the car you already own.

Until now, Apple has only provided a list of manufacturers that are on-board with offering CarPlay in their vehicles. But just recently, Apple has added a page on their website with a complete list of current and upcoming vehicles that will offer CarPlay.

Monday, January 11, 2016

JVC Announces Its First Apple CarPlay Receiver At CES 2016


Although JVC and Kenwood merged to form a single subsidiary in the United States back in 2014, the companies have continued to manufacture products with individual branding. The same goes for aftermarket head units.

JVC Mobile made a splash at CES 2016 by announcing a new Apple CarPlay head unit, a first for the brand.

The newly announced KW-V820BT is CarPlay capable and instantly becomes the company's flagship receiver. It includes a host of other features in addition to CarPlay. Additional details are after the page break.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Apple Blocked Volkswagen From Demonstrating Wireless CarPlay At CES [Report]


Almost everyone interested in car technology was taken by surprise at the absence of car hardware capable of wireless CarPlay at this year's CES. It was expected that car manufacturers would be the first to showcase the hardware in their upcoming vehicles. Aftermarket manufacturers were also expected to have some insight on the technology.

The annual event disappointed in the wireless CarPlay regard. There were plenty of CarPlay tidbits in general but none suggesting wireless CarPlay even exists.

But a latest news report from Car and Driver suggests Apple may have something to do with it.

Check Out Kenwood's Latest CarPlay & Android Auto Receivers From CES 2016


Kenwood joined Pioneer and Alpine as the third aftermarket manufacturer to sell CarPlay head units last year. Now, the company has announced four new dashboard receivers at CES 2016, bringing the total number of receivers that support Apple's in-car technology to eight.

Android Auto models have also doubled from two to four.

Here's a rundown of the newly announced hardware...

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Where Is All The Wireless CarPlay Hardware At CES 2016?


I'll be honest. I was hoping for a bevy of wireless CarPlay hardware at CES 2016. But so far, all aftermarket manufacturers have disappointed.

Pioneer Electronics announced third-generation NEX head units at the event but none of the five devices offer wireless CarPlay connectivity. There is no news coming from automakers either regarding this feature.

So, is there still hope we will see anything in this regard at CES 2016?

Delphi Showcases Vehicle To Everything (V2E) Technology In Self-Driving Audi [CES 2016]


A few months ago, aftermarket manufacturer Delphi went on a cross-country road trip from San Francisco to New York in a self-driving Audi equipped with their latest "Vehicle to Everything" or V2E software. Put simply, V2E makes a car aware of more obstacles thereby making the drive safer while your hands are off the steering wheel.

The Verge has posted an excellent video of a test drive around Las Vegas at CES 2016. Check it out below for an idea on how the technology works.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

[BREAKING] Pioneer Announces Third-Generation NEX Head Units At CES 2016


Pioneer Electronics has announced its latest iteration of NEX head units at the Consumer Electronics Show 2016 in Las Vegas. The third-generation head units are an upgrade from the previous generation but have retained the predictable model numbering sequence.

Five new head units were announced today: AVIC-8200NEX, AVIC-7200NEX, AVIC-6200NEX, AVIC-5200NEX and AVH-4200NEX. More details are below the page break.

JBL Announces CarPlay & Android Auto Head Unit Priced Under $400 [CES 2016]


Aftermarket head unit manufacturer JBL is creating a big splash at CES 2016 with the announcement of a new double-DIN head unit that is direct competition for the currently low priced options. The JBL Legend CP100 will bring Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and a variety of other features to your dashboard in the coming weeks.

The head unit is on display at the tech show in Las Vegas this week. The company is giving a lot of details on what to expect.

Pioneer Will Build Systems To Support Autonomous Driving By Year 2020 [CES 2016]


The Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2016) got off to great start in Las Vegas today. There is a ton of news coming out of the show related to car technology and entertainment, none bigger than what Pioneer Electronics has announced.

According to a press release, the aftermarket manufacturer is foraging into the autonomous driving market by building systems that support the technology. All the juicy details are below.