Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are game-changing smartphone interfaces, and now wireless versions of both systems are rolling out in new cars. If you’ve got an older car with wired Android Auto only, though, Motorola is unveiling a way to cut the cord at CES 2022.
The Motorola MA1 is an adapter that can add wireless Android Auto to existing cars. Motorola said in a press release that it licenses the technology from Google. Since the company hasn’t made a similar arrangement with Apple, CarPlay users are out of luck for now.
The MA1 plugs into a vehicle’s USB port and connects automatically via Bluetooth. Once connected, it enables all of the features of Android Auto, including projection of Google Maps, Spotify, and other phone-based apps onto the car’s infotainment system, but without fumbling for a cable. Wireless Android Auto operates at speeds up to 5 GHz, according to Motorola.
The MA1 is scheduled to go on sale January 28, 2022, with a starting price of $90 online and in stores. In addition to an Android Auto-equipped car, users need a phone running Android 11 or higher, with an active data plan, Motorola noted.
Since its initial release in 2015, Android Auto (along with Apple CarPlay, which launched in 2014) has become a must-have feature in new cars because of its ease of use. Drivers get the same familiar apps and interface from their phones, but without having to pick those phones up while driving. Instead, they can use a car’s built-in touchscreen and voice controls for a (slightly) less distracting experience.
Motorola estimates that Android Auto is available on over 100 million cars today, although most still use the wired version. Some automakers, such as Ford and Hyundai, have begun offering wireless Android Auto (and wireless Apple CarPlay), but only recently and only on certain models.
Meanwhile, Google is looking for even greater integration between Android and automotive infotainment systems. The tech giant has developed an entire Android Automotive OS for cars, which is currently available in some Volvo models and the Polestar 2, from the Swedish automaker’s EV spinoff brand. This takes things a bit further than basic Android Auto by building apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant right into the car.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.