Pioneer expands Apple CarPlay compatible lineup with AppRadio 4 for $599

CarPlay is Apple's iOS for vehicles that puts the power of iPhones in cars and enables various entertainment, navigation and even Siri integration features hands free. A lot of these features are coming to CarPlay enabled cars but for those of us who love their older cars and want to make them smarter, Pioneer's AppRadio 4 line of head units brings the goods.

Pioneer announced that the Apple CarPlay-compatible fourth generation AppRadio 4 (SPH-DA210) has shipped and is currently available at Canadian retail at a suggested retail price of $599. Here's a demo of CarPlay in action. Hit jump for all the details.

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Audi, Mazda, Jeep, Chrysler and Alfa Romeo rally behind Apple's CarPlay connected platform

The connected car platform wars are heating up. Audi, Mazda, Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat and Alfa Romeo have joined the growing list of Apple CarPlay partners whose upcoming models will offer the ability for users to plug in their iPhones and control various functions and apps right from their car's touchscreen or via Siri.

Many of these manufacturers and sub-brands are also part of Google's Open Automotive Alliance which means the type of smartphone you own may be a big determining factor on the next car you buy. CarPlay has 31 partners so far and companies like Pioneer and Alpine are creating CarPlay head units for those of us with older cars but who want the latest tech. Check out our video demo of Apple's CarPlay on the sexy $300,000 Ferrari FF.

Source: Apple

Apple releases iOS 7.1 update

Apple has made iOS 7.1 update available. The biggest update to the latest version of the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad operating system six months after iOS 7 launched. The update brings various bug fixes. For the iPhone 5s, the update weighs in at about 256 MB.  Hit jump for the full specs of the update.

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