Radio once ruled the car. Now, digital dashboards, smartphone interfaces, and new “infotainment” systems are disrupting the car-listening experience … for broadcasters and car-buyers.
Audi and AT&T announced the first car model to include high-speed (4G LTE) Internet connectivity built into the car. The feature offers convenience at a price. After a six-month free-trial period, the owner must pay $99 for six more months, or $499 for 30 months, for a data plan. Would you buy an in-car data plan? Vote your preference! Continue Reading
Audi announced today that its 2015 A3 will be the first car equipped with high-speed 4G LTE Internet connectivity, provided by AT&T. The new A3 will roll out later this month. With this new car, Audi is driving fast down the road of in-car connection to online services such as online radio. Continue Reading
GM automaker Chevrolet announced over the weekend that Beats Music will be included in selected 2015 model cars, via the Chevrolet AppShop. AppShop is an in-car download service that works similarly to Apple’s App Store and Google Play for Android apps. Continue Reading
The best view we’ve seen of Apple’s new CarPlay app-control system for the car comes from Engadget, which created a “hands on” video of the system inside a Ferrari. This comes from the Geneva International Motor Show, where Apple announced CarPlay. Ferrari is one of three partner automakers for its launch; the other two are Mercedes-Benz and Volvo. Continue Reading
RAIN News managing editor Brad Hill was questioned about Apple’s CarPlay initiative on the Tech Shift segment of WBEZ’s Afternoon Shift program. WBEZ is a public FM station, and the originator of NPR’s widely-syndicated Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me program. Tech Shift is hosted by Niala Boodhoo. Click to listen. Continue Reading
Jake Sigal describes himself as a passionate music lover, and he founded Livio in 2008 with a $10,000 loan from his parents. He is a featured speaker at RAIN Summit West, April 6th in Las Vegas, where he will be on the Dashboard Dynamics panel. We spoke to Sigal by phone. Continue Reading
Apple and a trio of car companies used the Geneva International Motor Show to announce the roll-out of CarPlay, formerly called iOS in the Car. CarPlay will hit the road later this year in selected Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo models. Not all music apps will work — Pandora is excluded. Continue Reading
The study says that Digital and HD Radio formats will never scale to replace FM, and auto manufacturers will continue to include FM receivers in cars for many years. But listening to FM will gradually be replaced by streaming radio and music services as more and more cars become connected. Continue Reading
Ford will switch from Microsoft to BlackBerry’s QNX platform to power Ford’s SYNC digital dashboard. BlackBerry’s QNX is a major player in car dashboards. An analyst says that the loss of Ford as a client would be a “funeral ceremony” for Microsoft’s automotive operating system division. Continue Reading
National Public Radio has scored a distribution victory with an agreement to make the NPR listening app available to drivers of GM’s Internet-connected cars. The digital dashboards of those cars will offer to download the app and make it a featured selection. Continue Reading
Pandora announced its inclusion in the newly-introduced 2015 Chrysler 200. It is the first Chrysler to feature built-in Pandora access in the dash. Chrysler is the 25th major car company to partner with Pandora for in-car Internet radio listening. The 200 model made a splash at this week’s Detroit Auto Show. Continue Reading
NextRadio would be in every car if Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan had his wish. Speaking in yesterday’s earnings call to investors, scheduled during CES week when connected cars were the focus in Vegas, Smulyan and CFO Patrick Walsh focused on NextRadio quite a bit. Does iHeartRadio compete with NextRadio? Continue Reading