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A hands-on comparison found Google Maps' Gemini assistant can be triggered by voice alone on Android Auto, while on CarPlay it requires tapping a button that appeared only late in testing. Google's own help page reportedly still listed Gemini as unavailable for CarPlay at the time, and route changes such as adding stops or finding alternate paths home were slower to process on CarPlay than on Android Auto.
A tech advisory explains that habitually wearing only one earbud from a pair—whether for calls, lectures, or driving—causes that bud's battery to degrade faster than its twin, creating an imbalance. It recommends using transparency or ambient mode instead, which lets wearers hear their surroundings while keeping both buds in, or relying on speakerphone and car systems like Apple CarPlay for calls while driving.
Ford is retooling its Louisville Assembly Plant with a $2 billion investment in a Universal EV Production System that uses fewer parts, cooling connections and wiring to cut manufacturing costs for its upcoming Fathom EV, while still including smartphone integration like CarPlay and Android Auto. Slate, a newer EV maker building its pickup from scratch, has reportedly chosen to omit that infotainment feature as part of a more stripped-down approach.
In a recent Vergecast episode, hosts David Pierce and Nilay Patel discussed Apple's recent wave of hardware experimentation, including a touchscreen-equipped MacBook Pro and an iPhone with multiple display elements. They also covered Instagram's push into long-form video and CEO Adam Mosseri's challenges balancing the platform's power with AI-generated content concerns, alongside other tech news including Anthropic's IPO plans and Anduril's new laptops.
Apple has released iOS 27.2, which changes CarPlay's Podcasts app by replacing the Up Next section with New Episodes and Continue Playing tabs. The update also extends Siri's AI upgrades to CarPlay, letting the assistant recall prior conversations and pull from voicemails, Safari history, Calendar attendees, and Messages photos to answer questions.
Apple's iOS 27.2 release reorganizes the Podcasts app with new 'New Episodes' and 'Continue Playing' sections on the Home tab, replacing the old 'Up Next' queue. The update also extends Siri AI's enhanced capabilities to CarPlay, letting the assistant recall past conversations and pull answers from Messages photos, Calendar attendees, voicemails, and Safari history. The release also adds a redesigned Apple Music icon and minor app design tweaks tied to last week's Apple Music rebrand.
Twelve South has launched Airfly View, a new version of its wireless audio dongle that adds a small built-in display for guided setup in 24 languages. The $79.99 device connects Bluetooth headphones to any headphone jack, including airplane seatback screens, cars, and gym equipment, offers up to 16 hours of battery life, and supports two simultaneous headphone connections plus Auracast broadcasting. It's available now on Amazon in black and coastal colors.
Apple restricts which iPhone apps can appear in CarPlay to a limited set of approved categories, which explains why apps like Gmail, Apple Fitness or Calculator don't show up even though they could technically run there. Apple has been gradually loosening these restrictions over time, expanding the range of app types allowed. Users can also check Settings > General > CarPlay to add and reorder any compatible apps they may have missed enabling.
Apple has clarified that HomeView's support for third-party apps works through the same mirroring technology used in CarPlay, rather than running apps natively. When an iPhone is nearby, HomeView can access compatible apps, but all processing happens on the iPhone itself. Currently only CarPlay-compatible audio and video apps, such as Spotify and Deezer, are supported, with no option to install apps directly on the device.
Apple's CarPlay bell icon signals that Siri is set to automatically read incoming messages aloud from first- and third-party apps. Users can adjust this behavior in iPhone Settings under Notifications > Announce Notifications > CarPlay, choosing to always announce, always silence, or remember the previous setting.
Using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto can drain phone batteries and cause overheating because the device simultaneously runs normal phone functions and powers a tablet-like dashboard display, including a constantly updating map. The guidance recommends using a wired connection when possible, while cautioning that constant charging can itself generate heat, and suggests setting charge limits in phone settings or keeping the device in a cool, shaded spot in the car.
A guide advises shoppers to confirm their car already has built-in wired CarPlay before buying a wireless adapter, since these devices only convert existing USB CarPlay to wireless rather than adding CarPlay to cars that lack it. It also recommends checking compatible-vehicle lists, matching USB-A or USB-C ports, and verifying iOS compatibility, citing Amzfeel's adapter as one claiming support for over 800 vehicle models.