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Good news, radio fiends: iHeartRadio and Rdio apps confirmed for Apple CarPlay – UPDATE

best CarPlay apps
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Apple’s CarPlay infotainment system is meant to seamlessly integrate smartphone and dashboard, but the actual apps that will be compatible with the new system has only begun to trickle out.

According to Apple Insider, iHeartRadio and Rdio music services will be on that list. They were both reportedly updated last week to include compatibility with CarPlay.

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These apps join Spotify, CBS News Radio, MLB At Bat, and Stitcher Radio in the CarPlay-compatible club. Beats Music is advertised as compatible as well, but details on the CarPlay-specific version haven’t been released yet.

Hopefully the new apps will jibe better with CarPlay than Spotify, which has been having problems since launch, including giving users a blank screen, or just crashing entirely.

Native iPhone apps are included in CarPlay, which allows drivers to use all apps using a car’s built-in controls or with voice commands, with the intended purpose of reducing distraction.

Related: Apple CarPlay review

CarPlay is offered as an update to iOS 7 for Lightning-equipped phones, but the vehicular side of the equation is less clear cut.

At the Geneva Motor Show back in March, Apple named Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo as the first automakers to offer CarPlay, but they’ve been hesitant to disclose details since then.

The only confirmed models with CarPlay so far are the Ferrari FF and 2015 Hyundai Sonata, although the system is also available through aftermarket Pioneer NEX-series head units.

However, expect the floodgates to open soon. BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Subaru, Suzuki, and Toyota have all signed on to offer CarPlay at some nonspecific future date.

UPDATE: The original version of this article listed the Ferrari FF as the only car confirmed to get Apple CarPlay so far. Hyundai has also confirmed the feature for the 2015 Sonata.

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Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
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Further reading

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