2016 Honda Civic models gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support

Honda just announced that its upcoming 2016 Civic model will be supporting both Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto. It’ll have a 7-inch touchscreen to support both platforms. With Apple CarPlay you can do things like get directions, make calls, send and receive messages, and listen to music. You can control this right from the display or by using Siri. Some of the apps it can support include Phone, Messages, Maps, Music, and other compatible third-party apps. It’ll need your device to run iOS 8.4 or later and be an iPhone 5 or later. For Android Auto, you need Android 5.0 or later. It can run features like Google Maps, Google Now, messaging, music, etc.

Source: Honda | Via: Apple Insider

Kenwood ships multimedia receivers with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Want to bless your current ride with the latest, greatest in connected car entertainment? Kenwood just shipped new multimedia receivers that offer Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto compatibility so you can connect them with your smartphone of choice and access all the best features for about the same price you would pay for an off-contract flagship smartphone.

The KENWOOD Excelon DDX9902S and KENWOOD DDX9702S are shipping to retailers, with suggested MSRPs of $950.00 and $900.00, respectively.   

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GMC and Buick cars to get Apple CarPlay, Android Auto to follow

Two more car brands will be getting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support in the near future. General Motors announced the GMC and Buick models that will be Apple and Google’s car software. The 2016 GMC Canyon, Yukon, and Sierra models will be getting an 8-inch IntelliLink infotainment system that has Apple CarPlay. The base model Sierra is unique in the sense that it gets a smaller 7-inch version of IntelliLink. The first three models will get Android Auto at a later date, while the entry-level Sierra will launch in 2016 with both CarPlay and Android Auto support. For Buick, the 2016 Buick Regal and LaCrosse models will be betting an 8-inch IntelliLink system as well. CarPlay will also be arriving first before Android Auto.

CarPlay on both brands will have a similar implementation. The software will give full-screen access to navigation, audio controls, etc. It’ll also let you toggle between Apple’s software, onboard OnStar 4G LTE-connected IntelliLink software, and, eventually, Google’s Android Auto.

Source: CNET

Android Auto to come to most 2016 Cadillac models coming out later this year

Most of the upcoming 2016 Cadillac models will be getting support for Android Auto a bit after the launch. According to General Motors, the support for Google’s car ecosystem will be part of the improvement of Cadillac’s CUE system. The new Cadillac cars will begin arriving summer of this year. There’s no list which cars will be getting Android Auto but the current-gen SRX and the base trim ATS won’t be getting it. The former because its nearing the end of its production life and the latter if you didn’t include the option for the CUE system.

Those who want to take advantage of Android Auto would need an Android device running Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher. And you’ll need to have the Android Auto app.

Source: Android Police