If you spend any amount of time behind the wheel, upgrading your car or truck with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto from Street Smart Automotive Solutions near Jackson is a wise investment. These information and communication interfaces allow you to keep your eyes on the road while making phone calls, choosing entertainment options and requesting navigation directions. No single technology since the implementation of hands-free calling has increased driving safety more.
What Is Apple CarPlay?
Apple CarPlay is a piece of software that runs on the multimedia receiver in your car or truck. The software communicates with your iPhone to gain access to the internet and the Siri voice recognition engine. When you initiate the voice recognition feature (typically by holding a button on the steering wheel), your radio listens to your command and sends it to your phone. The phone uses the vehicle interface to provide an appropriate response.
You can use CarPlay to make phone calls to a specific phone number, to a contact stored in your phone or to a business based on an internet search. You can ask the system to play music stored on your phone by song name, artist or album. If you have installed third-party apps like Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio or Tidal, you can control them using voice commands. Amazon Music, Google Play Music, SiriusXM Radio and Radio Disney are also supported. Finally, you can use Audible, Audiobooks.com, Podcasts, Downcast or Apple Audiobooks to make your commute or adventure more entertaining.
Turn-by-Turn Navigation Options
One of the more popular elements of CarPlay is GPS-based navigation. You can choose Apple Maps, Google Maps or Waze to provide efficient and detailed turn-by-turn directions to a specific address or business almost anywhere in North America. All three solutions use real-time traffic flow information in major metropolitan areas to route you around accidents and congestion.
Android Auto Makes Driving Safe
Android Auto, in its latest version, provides the same features and functions as Apple CarPlay, minus support for Apple Maps navigation. Android Auto uses Google Assistant for voice recognition. Significantly more apps are supported by Android, including chat apps like WhatsApp Messenger, Hangouts, WeChat and Skype.
Smartphone Vehicle Integration Options
There are several ways to upgrade your vehicle with these smartphone connectivity technologies. If your vehicle can accommodate it, a new multimedia receiver from a company like Kenwood is a great choice. This solution also provides the option of a backup camera and, depending on the model of radio, support for a multitude of digital media files like FLAC, WAV and DSD.
If we can’t replace the radio in your vehicle, there are several integration solutions for vehicles from General Motors, Range Rover, Jaguar, Lexus, Porsche and Volkswagen that work with the factory-installed touchscreen.
Vehicle Technology Upgrade by Street Smart
If you’re curious about the options available to add Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to your vehicle, we invite you to visit Street Smart Automotive Solutions in Flowood. One of our consultants would be happy to evaluate your vehicle and work with you to create a solution that meets your needs. If you can’t visit the store during regular business hours, please give us a call or send our team an e-mail using our contact form.