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Apple CarPlay Coming to Older Cars?

Angela Moscaritolo
 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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UPDATE: Alpine confirmed that it will indeed offer aftermarket products that will be compatible with CarPlay, as will Pioneer. "Alpine's first CarPlay compatible products will be available for the American and European aftermarket later in 2014. Model numbers and pricing will be announced at the time of launch," the company said in a statement.

Original Story:
New car owners aren't the only ones who will be able to take advantage of Apple's CarPlay technology.

Car electronics manufacturer Alpine is prepping a standalone aftermarket console that will support Apple's new in-car iOS platform, according to a new report from Japanese business newspaper Nikkei. The device will reportedly be available in the U.S. and Europe this fall for around $500 to $700.

The Alpine system will be compatible with the iPhone 5 and newer models, letting drivers view maps from their phone on a 7-inch screen and use voice commands to access messages, make calls, and play music. It will also read your messages and directions out loud.

Alpine is aiming to be the first to market with an aftermarket CarPlay product, but it's not the only company looking to support the Apple technology. Car device maker Clarion is also working on a CarPlay-enabled in-dash system and eventually plans to support the feature in its aftermarket and OEM products, according to MacRumors.

Unveiled last month, CarPlay is billed as a "smarter, safer way to use your iPhone in the car." It syncs your iPhone with your car's built-in display and features Siri voice control, letting you easily get directions, make calls, send and receive messages, and listen to music while keeping your hands on the steering wheel.

CarPlay will make its debut this year in select cars from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo. Other car makers said to be embracing the technology include: BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Subaru, Suzuki, and Toyota. Those with older cars, however, are thus far out of luck, but solutions from the likes of Alpine and Clarion could change that.

For more, see 5 Things to Know About Apple CarPlay.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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