Apple CarPlay Vs Google Auto: Which Will Win Out?

Jon Bentley considers the advancement of connecting our phones to our cars and where it's heading for in-car infotainment

- Jon Bentley

When I first drove a car with Apple's CarPlay in 2014, I was bowled over. I thought it was genuinely big thing, ranking alongside the likes of video streaming and your first digital camera. Simply by plugging your phone into the dashboard, you were no longer dependent on dumb and costly-to-update sat navs, you could bring your own entertainment with you in different cars, and enjoy hands-free operation of your phone, through simplified versions of apps. All while the phone was charging and without any clumsy mounts cluttering your view ahead. Android Auto, launched in 2015, achieved similar magic for Android users.