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.   

The DDX9902S and DDX9702S are currently the only aftermarket receivers equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that allow users to switch between connecting an iPhone or Android-based phone without having to manually change settings or reset the unit. This enables multiple drivers of the same vehicle to plug in the phone of their choice and enjoy their entertainment options and driver-centric apps.

Once a smartphone is plugged in, voice recognition and voice playback become the primary means of controlling audio and entertainment from the smartphone. With Apple CarPlay, Siri enables users to control, read and reply to messages and more by simply speaking, and provides access to music, podcasts, and Apple Maps for full-featured, voice-controlled navigation.

With Android Auto, Google voice actions let drivers and passengers play music selections, get driving directions and hear turn-by-turn navigation, while informative Google Now cards highlight location- and preference-aware information at the right time.

The two double-DIN DDX units are designed to be the center of a vehicle's entertainment and information system. A large, 6.95-inch resistive touch display puts navigation, back-up camera view (camera required, sold separately), and a wealth of audio / video entertainment options at the driver's fingertips. Each is equipped with Bluetooth technology to enable handsfree phone conversations as well as playback of streaming media from a Bluetooth-enabled phone or media device.

Source: Kenwood