‘App’-rehension: Making the phone-car connection

I don’t know about you, but I sleep with my phone next to my bed. It’s usually the first thing I look at when I wake up, and the last thing I touch before I fall asleep.

It’s my alarm clock, my navigation system, my note-taker, my conduit to connect with friends, my camera and even my wallet. When I leave the house, if I take nothing else with me, I take my phone.

And if I happen to leave my phone at home? Nomophobia.

I have a feeling I’m not an aberration. Thus, it only makes sense that automakers are trying to cash in on society’s attachment to the be-everything inanimate object.

Here’s a few of the cool apps and functions that allow your smartphone to connect to – or even control – your car.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

The biggest trend right now is phone-mirroring software in the form of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Several major automakers -- including General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Volvo – have committed to adding the software to most – if not all – of their vehicles starting in the 2016 model year.

The systems are pretty easy to use; simply wire in your smartphone – Android or Apple – and the car will mirror approved apps such as Pandora, maps, At Bat, Audiobooks, Podcast and music. Not every app on your phone is approved – no Facebook, Twitter or Instagram – and the ones that are will be audio focused. They operate natively through your infotainment screen and help you to keep your hands off your phone.

While some systems work pretty seamlessly with the car’s infotainment system, I’ve found that not all CarPlay and Auto systems are created equal or executed exactly the same. For example, when I tested it in the 2016 Honda Accord, if I was in navigation and listening to XM Radio but tried to access maps or something else in CarPlay, it would assume that I also wanted to listen to my music on my phone. Which I didn’t. The system from Audi is a little less touchy and easier to navigate, but you have to use their multi-media interface controller to access the system as their infotainment system doesn’t have a touch screen.

Remote Start

Throughout the years, I’ve had several test cars with a key fob that has the remote start button. In the dead of winter, I love that I can stand in my kitchen, press the button and, 5 minutes later, walk down my stairs to a warm car with pre-heated seats. My husband feels the same way about the A/C in summer. But the caveat is that you need to be within clicking distance.

Now, automakers like General Motors have smartphone apps that let you do everything from lock your car (or check to make sure it’s locked!) to remotely start it from anywhere you have an app connection. That means you could be paying your check at a restaurant, start your car from the table and then exit to a comfortably cooled or warmed vehicle.

Find my car!

In a busy or unfamiliar parking lot, it could be easy to forget where you parked. Most automaker smartphone apps now give you the ability to find your car on a map with a simple swipe. In a multi-tier parking garage? If you can lock/unlock your doors, you’ll likely be able to honk your horn so that you can follow the sound.

Pandora and other audio apps

In lieu of or in addition to CarPlay and Auto, a lot of vehicles are now coming pre-programmed with some audio apps such as Pandora, Aha or Stitcher. You must first have these apps on your phone, and you must be logged in. But once you connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth, you can easily access the app through the infotainment screen.

We fully appreciate these in-car apps, which help you keep your hands on the wheel – and off your phone!

Coming soon: A digital key

Back in February, Volvo announced something really cool: a digital key. This will allow you to ditch the key fob altogether to both unlock the car and start it. The digital key will come via an app on your phone that works off of Bluetooth. Then you just walk up to the car with your phone in your pocket or purse – and you can unlock the car and start it – just like you would if you had the actual key fob.

The possibilities of what this can do are endless – from enabling UPS to deliver packages to your car with a temporary digital key to various car-sharing or rental car options.

Right now this feature is only in the pilot phase in Sweden, but Volvo hopes to begin releasing the digital key in 2017 for consumer use. No word yet on when this will hit the States.

Pretty soon, things such as your wallet or car keys will be obsolete. Next thing you know, that smartphone will be implanted under your skin as seen in Total Recall. Creepy but kind of cool at the same time.

Then you’ll never have to worry about Nomophobia again!

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