New Pioneer AppRadio 4 (SPH-DA120) Devices Ship With Firmware Version 1.08

I recently received an interesting tip and the picture above from one of our readers, Ian. He recently purchased a Pioneer AppRadio 4 (SPH-DA120) and discovered it's running firmware version 1.08. What makes this interesting is that Pioneer's website only has version 1.07 as the latest firmware which was available back in October, 2014.

Version 1.08 is nowhere to be found for download on any of Pioneer's websites (US or Global). Whether there's anything different in version 1.08 from the previous 1.07 is not clearly known, but a forum thread in Apple Support Communities may offer some clues.

Meet KeySmart - The Modern, Seamless Key Carrying Solution

This product has nothing to do with Car Technology, but has everything to do with the bunch of keys that hang around your car keys. Meet KeySmart - an innovative way to organize the keys you lug around with you, everywhere you go.

KeySmart puts all your keys in order in a sleek looking contraption. Check out more details below.

Siri Could Soon Give You Navigation Instructions Like A Human

By now, we are all used to the computerized tone of voice assistants like Siri giving us navigation instructions. How often does this happen: Siri says, "Your destination is on the right," but you still fail to see that little donut shop you're looking for.

That mechanical way of getting directions may change soon though. Instead of saying, "Your destination is on the right", Siri could soon be telling you, "Your destination is behind OfficeMax." In other words, more human-like.

Why should we expect this change?

Watch The Heads-Up Display On The 2015 Hyundai Genesis In Action [Video]

The 2015 Hyundai Genesis features all the latest safety technology available at the moment. Multiple sensors built into the vehicle helps drivers stay safe at all times.

All the relevant information gathered from these sensors is projected on the heads-up display in the Genesis. The display which is in the driver's line of sight yet meant to be non-distracting, will display information on like speed, navigation, Lane Departure Warning System, and Blind Spot Detection.

The folks over at AutoBlog took the 2015 Hyundai Genesis for a spin recently and demonstrated just how the heads-up display works. Watch the video below...

Nearly 5 Months Later, My AppRadio 4 Anti-Glare Screen Protector Still Rocks!

If you own a double-DIN head unit in your car (or any device with a glossy screen), you must have experience glare on a bright and sunny day. Most often the glare makes it impossible to read the screen. I used to hate not being able to see the screen on my Pioneer AppRadio 4 (SPH-DA120), especially when using navigation.

But I managed to solve the glare problem quite successfully about 5 months ago with a DIY screen protector. I posted my experience and a short how-to guide here and that post has been quite popular ever since.

Today, nearly 5 months later, I am happy to report that the screen protector still rocks and continues to keep the glare away along with a couple of other issues!

[UPDATE] Apple Watch & CarPlay - Can They Work Simultaneously With An iPhone?

THIS POST HAS BEEN REPOSTED DUE TO AN UPDATE. NEWER POSTS MAY BE BELOW.

UPDATE: It turns out that CarPlay works without a Bluetooth connection at the moment. With Bluetooth turned off on the iPhone, I connected it to my AppRadio 4 and CarPlay launched without an alert. I was even able to make a phone call without Bluetooth, which begs the question: Does CarPlay require Bluetooth at all? This may change when CarPlay goes wireless though. I have updated this post to reflect this new finding.

The first wave of preorders for the Apple Watch reached customers yesterday. What I've been curious to know is whether you can use your Apple Watch to control CarPlay in any way.

In a post a few weeks back, I threw some speculations around on this topic and what the possibilities would be for an Apple Watch to play nice with CarPlay. These are the few thoughts I had...

BMW Shows Off Smart Eyewear Called MINI Augmented Vision

Google Glass may have failed at becoming a reality but Augmented Reality (AR) devices haven't lost the battle yet. A few companies are still investing in the technology and BMW is one of them.

The automaker unveiled MINI Augmented Vision recently, a pair of smart eyeglasses which are powered by MINI Connected. The project is aimed at "fusing mobility/automotive applications with the driver-centric MINI lifestyle".

BMW made the announcement through its MINI website in a press release last week. Check out what the glasses look like...

Waze Headed To Android Auto, Could Make Your Drive Smarter

Waze is coming to Android Auto. But not in the way you think.

According to a report published on Mashable, Google is planning on bringing some of Waze's most powerful and useful features to their in-car software. Integrating Waze into Android Auto's mapping service could make your drive smarter. But there's more!

HTC Working On An In-Car Infotainment System To Rival Android Auto, CarPlay [Rumor]

Smartphone manufacturer HTC is rumored to be working on a brand new in-car infotainment system to rival Google's Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The project is being codenamed "Cello" and will bring things like navigation, media, and even night vision to your car's dashboard.

Here are some extra details...

This Koomus Car Mount Will Work With Any Smartphone You Own [Car Mount Spotlight]

Finding the perfect car mount for your smartphone isn't always easy. Depending on the vehicle you drive and your dashboard setup, your choices will vary. So if you're in a hunt for a good smartphone car mount, this may be one to look at.

The Koomus Air Vent Universal Smartphone Car Mount supports almost every smartphone in the market at the moment. It has plenty of nifty features too. More details are below the break.