4/4/2023: CarPlay and Android Auto advice

In praise of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Plus: Alexa phone calls, new music tricks, and Google’s Assistant abandonment

Jared Newman

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April 4, 2023

Thanks to a boneheaded decision by General Motors, I’ve got CarPlay and Android Auto on the brain.

Last week, the auto maker announced that it will stop equipping future electric vehicles with Apple’s and Google’s respective phone projection systems, starting with the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV. GM says it’s doing this to provide “seamless access” to its own dashboard system, which it’s developing in partnership with Google. An equally likely explanation: It wants to collect more data and sell more subscription services without any phone-based infotainment systems getting in the way.