Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Audio / Video
  4. Cars
  5. Mobile
  6. Legacy Archives

Siri in your dash: Apple CarPlay now available for Pioneer NEX-series receivers

By
Add as a preferred source on Google

Read our full Apple CarPlay review.

It took a while since it was first introduced, but Apple’s CarPlay is finally available in aftermarket car audio systems, including five of Pioneer’s NEX in-dash receivers and one  brand-new offering, announced today.

Recommended Videos

Pioneer announced this evening that owners of the AVIC-8000NEX ($1400), AVIC-7000NEX ($1200), AVIC-6000NEX ($900), AVIC-5000NEX ($750) and AVIC4000NEX ($700) are eligible for a firmware update that will make their existing in-dash receivers CarPlay ready. The company also announced a new addition to its lineup, the AppRadio 4 (SPH-DA120 – $600) which, at $600, sits as the least expensive way to put CarPlay in your ride.

To upgrade their receivers with the new CarPlay functionality, existing owners of eligible in-dash receivers need only snag a USB thumb drive and head to www.pioneerelectronics.com/firmware to download the firmware, free of charge. Pioneer cautions self-installers that the USB port 1 in its head units must be used in order to install the new firmware. Those not interested in the DIY method can head to authorized Pioneer dealers to have the update professionally installed —  a dealer locator is available here.

For those not familiar, CarPlay is a new version of Apple’s mobile operating system that’s been designed for use in the car. The idea is to move popular functions to an in-dash touchscreen in order to eliminate the need to pick up a phone while driving (which is both dangerous and also illegal in most US states). With CarPlay, users have the option to have Siri read text messages aloud, then dictate a response, make or receive phone calls with Siri’s assistance, navigate using Apple Maps, and listen to their music, podcasts and, of course, iTunes Radio. Users must have the latest version of iOS installed on their iPhone 5, iPhone 5c iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus.

In addition to the Siri-assisted functions listed above, certain popular apps will be available on-screen with one-touch access, just as they would be on an iPhone or iPad. When we test drove a beta version of CarPlay a few months ago, Pandora was present, but notably absent was Spotify. Since then, Apple has added Spotify, along with Beats Music and a handful of other apps, in a list of apps which will eventually be supported. Exactly when these apps will be available remains unknown, according to Pioneer .

Digital Trends has an AVIC-8000NEX installed and will be taking CarPlay on the road for a hands-on report and full review. Check back soon for a full report on Apple’s play to expand its reach into your car.

Caleb Denison
Caleb Denison
Former Editor at Large
Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched expertise in AV and…
Topics
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8: Everything we know about the upcoming clamshell folding phone
Of the three phones expected to arrive at Galaxy Unpacked, the Flip 8 is shaping up to be the most underwhelming.
Three Galaxy Z Flip 7 models next to each other

The Fold 8 Ultra could get a sharper display, a more powerful chipset, a new camera, and a larger battery. Samsung’s purported wider foldable, the Fold 8, is expected to solve the most common problem with tall-body, narrow cover screens by adopting a new aspect ratio. The Flip 8, on the other hand, could only debut with a new chip, and not a Snapdragon one. 

The Flip 7 wasn’t a bad clamshell by any measure. However, it's been one year, and the memory crisis has already hit the smartphone market hard. In a tricky cost-to-margin situation, the Flip 8 could end up getting a price hike without any major improvements, and that might not sit well with potential buyers.

Read more
Google Contacts borrows a handy iPhone trick to make sharing your number easier
google-contacts-app

Google is rolling out a small but useful update to the Contacts app on Android that makes it much easier to find and share your own contact details. Instead of digging through settings or creating a separate contact for yourself, you'll now see a dedicated 'Your Info' card at the very top of your contacts list.

The feature gives you quick access to your phone number, email addresses, and other personal details while also adding a faster way to share them with others. The update is arriving with Google Contacts version 4.83.13.940538822 and is rolling out widely (via 9to5Google).

Read more
Another Apple price hike just landed, this time on Apple One
Family and Premier Apple One subscribers will now pay $24 more each year.
Apple One

Apple has raised the monthly price of its Family and Premier Apple One bundles in the US. The Family plan now costs $27.95 per month, up from $25.95, while Premier has climbed from $37.95 to $39.95. Both plans are now $2 more expensive each month, adding another $24 to the annual bill. The Individual plan remains unchanged at $19.95 per month.

The increase arrives shortly after Apple raised subscription prices for Apple Music across its student, individual, and family plans. New AppleCare+ customers buying coverage for Macs and iPads have also been hit by higher prices recently.

Read more