Many of our clients here at California Car Sounds and Tint in Campbell have told us that since the launch of Bluetooth, no technology has made their daily commute safer than Apple CarPlay. Launched in 2014, CarPlay is a software suite built into the multimedia receiver in your vehicle that uses voice recognition to perform commonly used commands. Let’s look at the key features of CarPlay in detail.
How CarPlay Works
Using CarPlay is easy. Simply plug your iPhone 5 (or newer) into the USB port on your radio and hit the CarPlay button. A function menu will appear, listing all the compatible applications available. Tap the home button and ask for what you want. The Siri voice recognition engine on your phone will interpret your request and perform the function you want. You can keep your eyes on the road while you are informed, entertained or communicating with your friends, family or coworkers.
In many vehicles, we can program one of the buttons on your steering wheel to activate CarPlay to listen to your command request, so you can keep your hands on the wheel at all times.
Texting and Phone Calls
Incoming text messages can be read to you, and the option to dictate a response is provided at the end of the message. You can also initiate a text by simply asking. Making a phone call is equally easy. Ask the system to dial by name using the contacts on your phone or simply say a phone number. If you aren’t sure of a number, the system will search the Internet using the business name and location you provide.
Apple CarPlay Navigation
Using Apple Maps, you can get turn-by-turn navigation directions by simply asking for an address. You can search for an address using the Internet in the navigation system as well. Real-time traffic flow information is used to optimize your route and avoid road closures, accidents and congestion.
Non-Stop Entertainment
CarPlay will let you choose a song or artist from the music on your phone or access a number of streaming services, including Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify and iHeartRadio. You can also enjoy a book or conversation using Podcast, Audiobooks, Audible, or Audiobooks.com. Radio Disney, MLB At Bat, CBS Radio and even Amazon Music and Google Play Music have apps compatible with CarPlay.
Rock-Solid Performance
The beauty of CarPlay is that Apple manages the system hardware and software to provide reliable and efficient performance. Every radio model that has CarPlay is thoroughly tested by Apple to comply with its performance requirements.
Upgrade Your Vehicle with Apple CarPlay
If you spend a lot of time in your vehicle and find you are always on the phone or missing text messages, drop into California Car Sounds and Tint and talk to our sales team. We’ll look at your vehicle and help you choose a CarPlay solution from Alpine or Pioneer that fits your vehicle and your budget. Our team of expert technicians can integrate that new receiver into your dash and make it look like it came right off the assembly line. If you have any questions about CarPlay, give us a call at 408-378-0409 or send us an e-mail using our online contact page.
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