Several car manufacturers are planning to remove or reduce support for Apple CarPlay in vehicles starting in 2026, favoring proprietary infotainment systems instead. The shift is driven largely by electric vehicles, which need tighter software integration for functions like battery preconditioning and charging controls that CarPlay cannot manage as a simple phone-mirroring layer.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
Roku streaming devices include an auto power saving setting that puts the device into low power mode and attempts to turn off the connected TV after 20 minutes of inactivity. Users experiencing unexpected shutdowns can wake the device via the TV, remote, mobile app, or casting tools, or disable the setting entirely to prevent it from happening again.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
Google is highlighting that many persistent Android Auto connectivity problems stem not from the phone but from outdated software running on a car's infotainment system. The company recommends restarting the infotainment unit and, for aftermarket head units like Pioneer or Kenwood, checking the manufacturer's website for firmware updates.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-12
As Rockstar Games prepares to release Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 after 13 years of anticipation, a segment of right-wing gamers has begun criticizing the title for perceived 'woke' content, including its first mandatory female protagonist, Lucia Caminos, and her evolving relationship with co-lead Jason Duval. This backlash follows a pattern seen since Gamergate, where some male gamers have voiced suspicion toward gender and LGBTQ representation in game development.
wired.com
· 2026-09-12
Artist Morry Kolman released a Grand Theft Auto V mod called Grand Theft Automated License Plate Reader, which scatters 235 replica Flock Safety cameras across Los Santos and rewards players $600 for each one they destroy. The mod also mimics real-world surveillance behavior, extending police chase cooldowns near cameras and occasionally triggering false police responses to mirror reported ALPR errors.
wired.com
· 2026-09-09
Google Maps users on Android Auto are reporting that the recently rolled-out live speedometer and speed-limit indicator have vanished from the app. Some drivers also say markers for stop signs and traffic lights, which had appeared alongside the feature, are no longer showing up. The speedometer had only begun reaching beta testers in July after Google added a feature long available on mobile and on Apple CarPlay.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-08
Multiple Waze users report that switching the app from split-screen to full-screen view on Android Auto causes the navigation information box—showing ETA, arrival time, next turn, and remaining distance—to vanish. Some say the data briefly reappears when an alert pops up, only to disappear again once the alert clears, while at least one user reports the map failing to center properly in either view. Android Authority has contacted Google, and it remains unclear whether the fault lies with a recent Android Auto or Waze update.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-08
GM's 2027 configurator listings show the Cadillac Lyriq still offering CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, despite the company's 2023 announcement that it would drop the phone-mirroring features from future EVs. A Cadillac spokesperson said the brand is evolving its infotainment strategy based on customer feedback while also focusing on its own native interface.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-08
While most major publishers are shifting release dates to avoid clashing with Grand Theft Auto VI's November 19th launch, Nintendo is standing firm with its remastered Ocarina of Time, one of the few major non-port titles still slated for that month. Numerous other publishers have crowded September with releases like Star Wars Zero Company and Marvel's Wolverine to sidestep GTA VI's anticipated dominance.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-08
Stefano Cataldi, a neuroscientist at Columbia University studying serotonin's role in cognition, is weighing whether to leave bench research entirely to focus on science policy work. He is a delegate for the United Auto Workers union representing postdocs and research scientists, and last year he founded SCOPE, a Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory-backed program that teaches scientists about policy, communication and career resources.
nature.com
· 2026-09-08
General Motors is removing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from most of its gas and electric vehicles, replacing them with a native infotainment system built around Google's Gemini AI assistant. However, the 2027 Cadillac Lyriq EV will reportedly retain support for both phone-mirroring platforms, making it the only GM electric vehicle sold in North America to do so.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-07
Nintendo will air a dedicated Legend of Zelda showcase on September 8 at 10AM ET, lasting roughly 30 minutes, separate from its regular Switch 2 Direct later that week. The stream is expected to cover the Ocarina of Time remake, likely with a release date, plus new details on the upcoming live-action Zelda film set for an April 2026 theatrical release.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-07