Cars and radio are a classic combination, helping motorists remain calm in traffic jams or simply enjoy the open road a little more, and the BBC is aiming to make car radio more flexible by allowing its iPlayer Radio app to work with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Reliance on FM airwaves can mean that a sudden dip into a black spot can see the Northern drawl of Nick Grimshaw or the enthusiastic patter of Chris Evans turn into a crackle of static, rather reducing the aural pleasures of the BBC’s radio stations.
But with the iPlayer Radio app, the BBC’s stations are streamed over a data connection, meaning when your Android mobile or iPhone is plugged into a car that supports the Android Auto and CarPlay mobile interfaces, you can enjoy the glut of BBC radio stations without relying on a FM or DAB signal. Of course, you are reliant instead on a decent mobile signal and data connection, but even in the deepest parts of rural Britain there’s at least some basic coverage.
The simplified interface Android Auto and CarPlay provide on top on an infotainment system allows for simple navigation of the app, with the goal of preventing a driver from being distracted from having their eyes off the road for too long.
The iPlayer Radio app itself is fairly well featured, with four sections to help motorists quickly select stations, access podcasts and shows that have been downloaded onto their mobile, select shows to listen to at a later date, and a shortcut to stations that the user has subscribed to.
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Do you own a car that’s compatible with Android Auto or CarPlay? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
