tech:

taffy

Apple Launches CarPlay For Cars

apple-carplay

Apple has launched CarPlay, along with auto manufacturers. CarPlay lets iPhone users make calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages with just a word or a touch. Users can control CarPlay from the car’s native interface or by pushing-and-holding the voice control button on the steering wheel to activate Siri.

Greg Joswiak (Vice president, iPhone and iOS Product Marketing, Apple): CarPlay has been designed from the ground up to provide drivers with an incredible experience using their iPhone in the car.

Vehicles from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo will premiere CarPlay to their drivers this week. Additional auto manufacturers bringing CarPlay to their drivers include BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota.

How does Apple CarPlay work?

Once iPhone is connected to a vehicle with CarPlay integration, Siri lets users access contacts, make calls, return missed calls or listen to voicemails. When incoming messages or notifications arrive, Siri provides an eyes-free experience by responding to requests through voice commands, by reading drivers’ messages, and letting them dictate responses or make a call.

CarPlay also works with Maps to anticipate destinations based on recent trips via contacts, emails or texts, and provides routing instructions, traffic conditions and ETA. Users can also ask Siri and receive spoken turn-by-turn directions, along with Maps, which will appear on the car’s built-in display.

CarPlay gives drivers access to their music, podcasts, audiobooks and iTunes Radio through listening choices from the car’s built-in controls, or through Siri. CarPlay also supports third-party audio like Spotify and iHeartRadio.

Apple CarPlay is available as an update to iOS 7 and works with lightning-enabled iPhones, including iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5. CarPlay will be available in cars shipping in 2014.

[Image courtesy: Volvo]

Just in

Apple sued in a landmark iPhone monopoly lawsuit — CNN

The US Justice Department and more than a dozen states filed a blockbuster antitrust lawsuit against Apple on Thursday, accusing the giant company of illegally monopolizing the smartphone market, writes Brian Fung, Hannah Rabinowitz and Evan Perez.

Google is bringing satellite messaging to Android 15 — The Verge

Google’s second developer preview for Android 15 has arrived, bringing long-awaited support for satellite connectivity alongside several improvements to contactless payments, multi-language recognition, volume consistency, and interaction with PDFs via apps, writes Jess Weatherbed. 

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman is paid more than the heads of Meta, Pinterest, and Snap — combined — QZ

Reddit co-founder and CEO Steve Huffman has been blasted by Redditors and in media reports over his recently-revealed, super-sized pay package of $193 million in 2023, writes Laura Bratton. 

British AI pioneer Mustafa Suleyman joins Microsoft — BBC

Microsoft has announced British Artificial Intelligence pioneer Mustafa Suleyman will lead its newly-formed division, Microsoft AI, according to the BBC report. 

UnitedHealth Group has paid more than $2 billion to providers following cyberattack — CNBC

UnitedHealth Group said Monday that it’s paid out more than $2 billion to help health-care providers who have been affected by the cyberattack on subsidiary Change Healthcare, writes Ashley Capoot.