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Apple rolled out its CarPlay iPhone connection for cars at the Geneva Motor Show this week with Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo demonstrating the application, and 13 other automakers also signed on to ship “down the road,” as Apple copywriters put it. CarPlay replicates the iPhone interface on the car’s center stack display, uses the car’s built-in controls, and takes orders from Siri as well. It goes far beyond Siri Eyes Free. 

Any car with a USB jack or streaming Bluetooth is capable of playing music and hands-free calling from an iPhone. CarPlay adds significant robustness through the replication of the iPhone display on the center stack display and the ability to call on more of the functionality of your phone.Apple Maps is supported for navigation. Apple says CarPlay intuits possible destinations from recent calls and messages you’ve gotten. Free navigation from your iPhone might make it tough for automakers to charge more than a couple hundred dollars for built-in navigation. If a car costs less than $20,000, some automakers might just give up. They’ll be stuck with the cost of putting in an LCD display ($100), but they may be stuck with unsold cars if they don’t and the completion does.Apple says CarPlay provides access to music, podcasts, and audiobooks, as before with simpler USB or Bluetooth connections. CarPlay supports iTunes Radio as well as selected third-party apps, such as Beats Radio, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and Stitch