Review: Pioneer AppRadio, bringing iOS apps to the car dashboard

The Pioneer AppRadio will ship in late June for “under $500,” Pioneer executives said. A version that includes Android support will require a hardware revision, but it should be a future addition. The AppRadio is something a bit more intelligent than a “dumb terminal” for the iOS apps on your smartphone. The device uses a massive 6.1-inch, gesture-enabled capacitive touch screen that can be mounted in the center dash, and connects to either an Apple iPhone 4 or an iPod touch. But, only a certain number of apps can be used on the AppRadio, and if the AppRadio is disconnected, the apps magically vanish from the in-dash display. The AppRadio also allows users to use their apps in a safe manner, Cardenas said, and the company prohibited app developers from including certain functions that the company felt would distract the driver unnecessarily from the road, such as manually creating a station in Pandora, for example.

What is it:

Here it is, ladies and nerds: the Pioneer AppRadio. As the name implies it’s centered around applications in a smartphone-ish sort of way. All the big boys are here: RDIO, Pandora, and Google Maps along with the driver-centric apps of INRIX and MotionX-GPS Drive. This is possible through the Pioneer AppRadio iOS app that serves up data and app access to the head-unit from a connected iPhone or iPod touch. It lacks the native iOS support we had incorrectly heard it has, but features enough compelling features to earn a good deal of respect.

A WVGA (800 x 480) 6.1-inch capacitive multitouch serves up all the action. But there’s nothing behind it. The screen doesn’t flip down to reveal a fancy iPhone dock or even an optical drive. iPhones and iPod touches connect to the unit through a Dock Connector cable that hooks into the rear of the radio so it’s up to the installer to hide this wire.

Key features:

These days, iPod connectivity has practically become a standard feature on new cars but Pioneer’s AppRadio aims to do a lot more than simply play tunes stored on an iDevice. The system consists of a head unit featuring a 6.1-inch capacitive touchscreen that, when connected via the 30-pin connector to an iPhone or 4th gen iPod touch running the AppRadio app. can display and control not only your iPod music, but also compatible apps.

Currently the only compatible apps available are MotionX-GPS Drive, Inrix, Rdio and Pandora, plus the iPhone’s Google Maps and iPod music library. But Pioneer expects the list of AppRadio compatible apps to grow. When new apps become available from third-party developers, the AppRadio app on the iDevice will automatically notify users and provide a link to the app on the iTunes Store. Pioneer says it also plans to upgrade AppRadio to support future iOS device software and hardware updates.

What’s innovative:

As a leading innovator in iPhone and iPad navigation, Fullpower-MotionX, has worked with Pioneer to improve the iPhone’s in car experience. MotionX-GPS Drive customers can take advantage of Pioneer AppRadio’s capacitive touchscreen for enhanced access to the popular turn-by-turn navigation solution accessing its breakthrough 3D maps, real-time traffic information, live point of interest data along with Facebook and Wikipedia integration.

“Pioneer is rethinking connectivity by tapping into the power of the smartphone, while simultaneously providing a solution that safely merges the consumer’s connected lifestyle into the vehicle,” said Ted Cardenas, director of marketing for the car electronics division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “AppRadio fully embraces the iPhone, which has become the window to our mobile connectivity and provides a comprehensive and safer way to use apps in the car.”

Price and availability:

• Control compatible apps from the convenience of the industry’s first capacitive, multi-touch display
• Designed to grow with iOS and an expanding library of compatible apps
• Compatible with iPhone® 4 and iPod Touch® 4th Gen

Suggested Price: $399.99

The up side:

1. Your Dash Just Got Smarter

2. Rethinking Connectivity

3. MotionX-GPS Drive is the next-generation turn-by-turn driving solution for the iPhone. With always live, always up-to-date information, MotionX helps you find what you’re looking for and get there fast with live door-to-door guidance.

4. Stay Entertained

• Rdio is an unlimited, on-demand social music service that brings music alive by letting subscribers listen to as many songs as they want, anytime, anywhere, and discover and share new music with friends

The down side:

Now of course there’s nothing concrete at this point about what the Kore actually is. The registration information lists the technical contact at Motorola Mobility, and the domain’s nameservers confirm it, so at least we’re not getting worked up over the wrong half of Motorola here.