iOS 14 can turn your iPhone into a car key

iOS 14 offers a lot of new features for users to take advantage of, but we haven't mentioned the automotive and mobility features the mobile platform offers. Apple is also improving Apple Maps and CarPlay experience with this new version of its operating system.

One of the more notable additions is turning your iPhone into your car's key with the aptly named Car Key. The feature is coming in the fall, with support for iOS 13 as well. It'll first work with the new 2021 BMW 5-Series, with other vehicles and automakers expected to support the feature next year. 

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Google Podcasts adds CarPlay support on iOS

Google Podcasts now supports CarPlay on iOS to make it "more easily and safely listen while you drive." It arrives as part of version 2.0 of the app's iOS version. Google Podcasts will now have a simpler interface with three tabs: Home, Explore, and Activity. The Home tab shows you new episodes of subscribed shows, Explore has recommended shows and episodes, and Activity displays your listening history, downloaded podcasts, and queued episodes. You get an option to download new episodes of podcasts you subscribe to automatically. 

The update also brings with it "several bug fixes to improve performance. You can download Google Podcasts here.

Source: 9to5Google

Apple CarPlay now supports third-party maps on its dashboard

Thanks to iOS 13.4, Apple CarPlay gets third-party map integration in the dashboard. Apple's in-car interface supports different apps on its dashboard to work side by side. But for navigation, Apple Maps was your only option until this update appeared. Now, apps like Google Maps and Waze can be used on the dashboard's split-screen option.

Apple has been working on improving its own Maps app, but a lot of people still prefer Google's options and other third-party map apps. This inclusion will help make CarPlay more useful to more users. iOS 13.4 also brings in-call information on the CarPlay dashboard.

Source: The Verge

Review: Waze navigation app on Apple CarPlay

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Apple CarPlay users have been rather limited when it comes to the built-in navigation app. For the longest time, Apple Maps was the default application on CarPlay and it worked in conjunction with Siri for voice commands and for navigating to locations hands-free.

Thanks to iOS 12, however, users who might opt for Google Maps or Waze, can now use these apps for navigation on their Apple CarPlay head units, provided they have the latest version of Apple's software and the apps themselves.

I've tested Waze on Apple CarPlay for the past week on a 2019 Buick Enclave Avenir. This is a luxurious 7-seater SUV decked out with all the finery Buick has been known for. Aside from rear and front moonroofs, heated seats, its own WiFi hotspot and an astounding array of front, rear and 360' parking cameras the Enclave Avenir has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on tap.

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