Latest news with #infotainment
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
As Rivian embraces Google with Maps integration, it shuts out Apple CarPlay
Rivian (RIVN) is tightening its relationship with Google (GOOG, GOOGL), leaving Apple (AAPL) and CarPlay out in the cold. Rivian said today that it is incorporating Google Maps natively into its infotainment system, meaning Google routing, time of arrival, traffic, and satellite imagery will be "seamlessly integrated" into Rivian's navigation system. Using Google's Automotive SDK for Maps, Rivian can build its own custom navigation system on top of Google Maps. This will give drivers the freshest mapping and traffic data, along with updated ETA info and "arrival range" at destination, a critical piece of information for users, directly within Rivian navigation. Charging information, such as where to stop, user preferences, and the location's overall score, will be included, as well as locations for the bespoke Rivian Charging Network. The addition of Google Maps is welcome news for Rivian owners, with one owner saying the prior system "always" suggested longer routes compared to Google Maps, for example. Rivian's embrace of Google Maps comes as other manufacturers like GM (GM) push ahead with deeper integration of Google products. GM's EVs, for example, no longer have Apple CarPlay compatibility, though its gas-powered vehicles do. This has been a huge issue for customers who have come to live with CarPlay as the de facto standard for car connectivity. Apple says more than 800 vehicles globally support CarPlay; Apple has also said in the past that 79% of new car buyers insist that the vehicle is CarPlay compliant. Read more: How to find the best luxury car insurance A third-party McKinsey study found that the percentage is closer to roughly a third of buyers insisting on CarPlay, but nonetheless, consumers are making their preferences heard. "Like most corporate decisions, this one is driven by revenue in the hyper-subscription world we now occupy," industry analyst Karl Brauer of told Yahoo Finance back when GM ditched CarPlay for its EVs. By keeping Apple out, GM can charge users for services offered through its native UI systems, like the automaker's SuperCruise semiautonomous software. Tesla has been offering subscription services for years now, with "enhanced connectivity" for some features and subscription pricing for its full self-driving (FSD). Read more: 6 steps to find cheap car insurance in 2025 GM would also prefer to keep all the data coming from its customers, which it can remarket in a number of ways (but not all), and not have to pay a license fee to Apple for CarPlay. Rivian is likely making the same bet. And as a tech-forward company that makes its own software, Rivian does not want to cede its entire design language and user experience to Apple. However, Rivian does point out that it does include Apple Music, and in the future Apple EnergyKit integration will be coming for home smart charging - but no CarPlay. Rivian owners have been clamoring for CarPlay in forums like Reddit, so a smaller move like Google Maps integration, following Rivian's prior Google inclusions of Search, Cast, and YouTube, for example, may give its owners some of the functionality they desire. Tesla famously does not allow Apple CarPlay or Google's Android projection software in its infotainment system, and never has. Thus far, the lack of CarPlay hasn't hurt Tesla EV sales over the past few years, or at least that hasn't been a cited reason for declining sales in recent quarters. Pras Subramanian is the lead auto reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
As Rivian embraces Google with Maps integration, it shuts out Apple and CarPlay
Rivian (RIVN) is tightening its relationship with Google (GOOG, GOOGL), leaving Apple (AAPL) and CarPlay out in the cold. Rivian said today that it is incorporating Google Maps natively into its infotainment system, meaning Google routing, time of arrival, traffic, and satellite imagery will be "seamlessly integrated" into Rivian's navigation system. Using Google's Automotive SDK for Maps, Rivian can build its own custom navigation system on top of Google Maps. This will give drivers the freshest mapping and traffic data, along with updated ETA info and "arrival range" at destination, a critical piece of information for users, directly within Rivian navigation. Charging information, such as where to stop, user preferences, and the location's overall score, will be included, as well as locations for the bespoke Rivian Charging Network. The addition of Google Maps is welcome news for Rivian owners, with one owner saying the prior system "always" suggested longer routes compared to Google Maps, for example. Rivian's embrace of Google Maps comes as other manufacturers like GM (GM) push ahead with deeper integration of Google products. GM's EVs, for example, no longer have Apple CarPlay compatibility, though its gas-powered vehicles do. This has been a huge issue for customers who have come to live with CarPlay as the de facto standard for car connectivity. Apple says more than 800 vehicles globally support CarPlay; Apple has also said in the past that 79% of new car buyers insist that the vehicle is CarPlay compliant. Read more: How to find the best luxury car insurance A third-party McKinsey study found that the percentage is closer to roughly a third of buyers insisting on CarPlay, but nonetheless, consumers are making their preferences heard. "Like most corporate decisions, this one is driven by revenue in the hyper-subscription world we now occupy," industry analyst Karl Brauer of told Yahoo Finance back when GM ditched CarPlay for its EVs. By keeping Apple out, GM can charge users for services offered through its native UI systems, like the automaker's SuperCruise semiautonomous software. Tesla has been offering subscription services for years now, with "enhanced connectivity" for some features and subscription pricing for its full self-driving (FSD). Read more: 6 steps to find cheap car insurance in 2025 GM would also prefer to keep all the data coming from its customers, which it can remarket in a number of ways (but not all), and not have to pay a license fee to Apple for CarPlay. Rivian is likely making the same bet. And as a tech-forward company that makes its own software, Rivian does not want to cede its entire design language and user experience to Apple. Rivian owners have been clamoring for CarPlay in forums like Reddit, so a smaller move like Google Maps integration, following Rivian's prior Google inclusions of Search, Cast, and YouTube, for example, may give its owners some of the functionality they desire. Tesla famously does not allow Apple CarPlay or Google's Android projection software in its infotainment system, and never has. Thus far, the lack of CarPlay hasn't hurt Tesla EV sales over the past few years, or at least that hasn't been a cited reason for declining sales in recent quarters. Pras Subramanian is the lead auto reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Moment offers advanced infotainment for over 500 train sets in Europe
Moment, an entertainment and onboard service solutions provider, has announced that it has equipped more than 500 train sets in Europe with onboard infotainment systems. Through its entertainment offerings, Moment has established itself as a partner for leading European train companies such as TGV Inoui, OUIGO France and Spain, Lyria, Intercités, and SNCF Grand Voyageur lounges. Additionally, the company is poised to reveal an upcoming significant partnership. Moment's infotainment platform, reaching more than 135 million passengers annually, serves as an entertainment and information hub that passengers can access on their own devices during travel. Content such as films, documentaries, news, games, and music is stored in advance on onboard servers, ensuring passengers can access these offerings without interruption during their trip, even without an internet connection. This innovation transforms the journey experience by allowing operators to present a wide array of digital offerings from start to finish, complementing the existing Wi-Fi service. Moment's solutions are designed to be mobile-optimised, featuring fast loading times and a dark mode for a comfortable viewing experience. The company's offerings are not limited to entertainment; they also include travel information, onboard menus, digital retail experiences, and advertising opportunities. Moment CEO and co-founder Tanguy Morel said: 'In a transport sector undergoing major transformation, delivering high-quality digital services to passengers with elevated expectations is crucial. 'Moment works hand in hand with operators to develop iconic passenger experiences featuring an evolving range of services, from entertainment to shopping and information, meeting the needs of all passenger profiles. The agility of our technology provides a reliable solution.' With the rail market poised for significant growth, Moment's platform is well-positioned to meet the increasing demand for enhanced passenger services. The company has plans to expand globally, with new international offices set to open in Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Singapore, and Miami. "Moment offers advanced infotainment for over 500 train sets in Europe" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Drive
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Mazda Admits It Was Wrong About Touchscreens, Bets On Steering Wheel Controls
The latest car news, reviews, and features. For the past several years, Mazda has remained the sole mainstream holdout in the broader industry push toward touch-based infotainment systems, relying instead on a now-anachronistic, console-mounted dial. It wasn't bad to use, and it leaned heavily into Mazda's 'hands on the wheel, eyes on the road' safety philosophy. But after a generation of development as the only major outlier in the industry, the company is now pivoting to a conventional, touchscreen-style experience—and axing most of its physical controls in the process. 'It's all new,' Mazda's Stefan Meisterfeld, U.S. VP of operations, told The Drive in a one-on-one interview. And not just 'new,' but a ground-up redesign, Mazda said, and not just a re-skin of its existing operating system, and even that is underselling it somewhat. '[It] will be powered by Google built-in technology. So we have Google Maps natively integrated, we have access to the Google Play Store. The Google Assistant will enhance the voice control. And that's very important for us because despite this large touch screen, we continue to believe in our safety philosophy, hands on the wheel, eyes on the road,' Meisterfeld said. The first car to embrace this strategy is the company's redesigned CX-5, which is the best-selling model in its lineup by far. The CX-5 and its close sibling, the CX-50, comprise more than 50% of Mazda's total volume—all in just one segment. Put another way, there's a lot riding on this redesign, and Mazda knows it. But it's not just the navigation and other digital features that are moving behind the touchscreen interface with this generation; Mazda swept the dashboard of most of its knobs and switches, including the controls for the audio and climate control systems. Both are now found in the central, 15.6-inch screen. And according to Meisterfeld, this is what customers were asking for. 'We conducted customer research and we have been working on this for quite a while because we really want it to be intuitive, easy to use, easy to operate, and at the same time, as I mentioned, we want to adhere to our safety philosophy,' he said. 'But yeah, customer feedback has definitely been a part of the decision making process.' But since Mazda was late to adopt the touchscreen, it may already be positioning itself somewhat behind the 8-Ball. As we've heard from others in the business, customers love to look at their touchscreens, but they're not nearly as enthusiastic about how they work. Some, including Hyundai, are even predicting an industry-wide retreat from glass interfaces in the near future. To hedge against this, Mazda redesigned the CX-5's steering wheel. 'We have also developed an all new steering wheel layout with physical buttons where you can quite intuitively control most of the critical functions while driving so that you can keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, which as I mentioned, is really critical to our safety philosophy,' Meisterfeld told us. He said further details about the new wheel controls would be revealed closer to launch, but from what we're hearing so far, it sounds like we'll be seeing more than just a simple collection of redundant shortcuts. 'We believe that now with the integration of Google Assistant, which is very critical with the voice command and this newly designed steering wheel, that we can offer this together with this large touchscreen so that we don't have the situation where people want to control parts of the vehicle and are not focused on the road,' Meisterfeld said. It's Mazda's hope that this integration of different technologies will strike a balance between satisfying customers' interests in the latest tech and preserving occupant safety. It's a big swing at a strange time; we'll see if Mazda connects. Got a news tip? Send it our way at tips@
Auto Blog
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Amazon is selling a ‘seamless' $80 adapter that adds wireless Apple CarPlay to your vehicle for just $40
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. More than a decade has passed since Apple introduced CarPlay, an intuitive software solution that puts car-friendly versions of iPhone apps on your infotainment display. While some automakers now support wireless CarPlay, many still require a USB connection. Thankfully, plenty of third-party adapters exist to help you cut the cord on Apple CarPlay. Revered for its low latency, this one from Jemluse is on sale for just $40 at Amazon — half off the list price. Jemluse Wireless CarPlay Adapter, $40 (was $80) at Amazon The internet is flooded with cheap, low-quality accessories claiming to turn your wired CarPlay connection wireless. What sets this particular Jemluse model apart is the 7A microchip housed inside its sleek, compact enclosure. An 8-core processor powers its 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. As a result, Jemluse says its adapter is ten times faster than its downmarket competitors, and it's a lot less likely to periodically disconnect. 'The Wireless CarPlay Adapter performs well with stable, fast connections and no lag or dropouts during navigation, music, or messaging,' said one shopper. 'A plus for me is that it connects to my phone every time I get into the car! No need to constantly sit there and reconnect my phone to a cable!' 'Setup was a breeze—plug and play with no fuss—and within seconds, my CarPlay was up and running wirelessly,' remarked another customer. Constructed from aluminum alloy, the Jemluse wireless CarPlay adapter is also more durable and less susceptible to corrosion than plastic dongles, so you won't have to think about replacing it for a long time, if ever. In fact, the company has put it through the ringer, subjecting its cables and metal shells to over 50,000 stress tests, including benchmarks for corrosion, durability, and extreme heat and cold exposure. It survived temperatures as low as -20 degrees celsius and as high as 70 degrees celsius. 'Its sleek, black design fits seamlessly into my car's interior, and it's compact, so it doesn't take up much space,' a reviewer added. 'It's hardly noticeable, but I love how I don't have to hassle with cables!' The best-selling wireless CarPlay adapter at Amazon is only on sale for a limited time, so if your in-car tech setup is due for an upgrade, act now before this 50% discount expires. About the Author Gabe Carey View Profile
