At the moment, there are only a few apps that are available, but because they should be relatively easy to port, Pioneer is hopeful that more developers will develop “Pioneer Centric Apps”. Google Maps works, and INRIX, MotionX-GPS Drive, Rdio, and Pandora Radio are available as well.
AppRadio is really about iPhone 4 integration, and although Pioneer did not talk about an Android version, they have certainly left the door open. I believe that, today, iOS has an off-screen rendering API that is more suitable for AppRadio’s needs, but Android will probably catch-up in a not-so-distant future.
The pricing remains an big variable. At “less than $500”, AppRadio could possibly compete with car makers’ in-dash options. However, the price of the installation will vary depending on the brand of your car, so you’ll have to do some research. Also, keep in mind that some iPhone apps won’t work properly if you don’t have an active 3G connection.
All in all, this is exactly the reason why I dream of more standardization in the auto-industry. I would love to be able to remove my in-dash system and replace it with something new/better. AppRadio relies on the iPhone 4 (and beyond) to be the “brains” of the operation, and that makes it future-ready to some extent. At some point, there will be a need to get a higher resolution display, and possibly one that’s a bit more sensitive.
In the past, Pioneer has successfully introduced XM radio as an add-on, that later became a standard option. Maybe history can repeat itself, but it’s most definitely too early to tell. What do you think?
Specifications highlights