Honda today announced the launch of Siri "Eyes Free" integration for select Honda and Acura vehicles. The functionality, which launches as a dealer-installed accessory for the 2013-2014 Honda Accord and 2013 Acura RDX and ILX models, allows users to interact with Siri hands-free systems in these cars without having to take their eyes off of the road.
Owners can direct Siri to perform a number of specific tasks while they keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Using Eyes Free mode, Siri takes hands-free functionality even further and helps minimize distractions by keeping an iOS device's screen from lighting up.
Additional functionality includes:
- Sending text messages and e-mails - Reading incoming text messages and emails - Setting up calendar entries, reminders, and alarms - Checking the weather - Turn-by-turn voice navigation (when the audio system is set to Bluetooth® Audio or iPod mode) - Sports scores and stock quotes
The launch of Siri Eyes Free for Honda and Acura vehicles, which was first announced in January, is just the first step in extending the iOS experience to vehicles, and Honda will be holding a Google Hangout next Tuesday at 10:00 AM Pacific Time to make further announcements about iOS integration for the company's vehicles.
One of the iOS 7 features highlighted by Apple at the operating system's initial unveiling in June was "iOS in the Car", a system for interacting with iOS devices not only through Siri Eyes Free but also through in-dash displays in vehicles. The feature did not launch with the rest of iOS 7, and Apple continues to list iOS in the Car as "Coming Soon".
Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued.
The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models.
In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring.
There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category.
M4...
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker.
In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19.
"Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag.
The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle.
Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by Juli Clover
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch.
All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by Joe Rossignol
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week.
Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far.
Apple Intelligence for Siri
Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
Friday February 14, 2025 6:03 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple released the HomePod mini in November 2020, followed by the AirTag in May 2021, and both still remain first-generation products.
Fortunately, rumors suggest that both the HomePod mini and the AirTag will finally be updated at some point this year.
Below, we recap rumors about the HomePod mini 2 and AirTag 2.
HomePod mini 2
In January 2025, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is ...
"Siri, text Mom I'm driving"
"Ok, I'll text 'I'm diving'"
"No, driving"
"I didn't understand"
"I am driving"
"That is nice"
"Text that I am driving!"
"Ok. Text to who?"
"I just crashed my car. Call me an ambulance."
"Ok, from now on, I'll call you 'An Ambulance'"
"Siri, text Mom I'm driving"
"Ok, I'll text 'I'm diving'"
"No, driving"
"I didn't understand"
"I am driving"
"That is nice"
"Text that I am driving!"
"Ok. Text to who?"
"I just crashed my car. Call me an ambulance."
"Ok, from now on, I'll call you 'An Ambulance'"
That's pretty funny. Of course, if Google were to make a version of this it would be something like.
"Google, text Mom I'll pick her up in ten minutes."
"Ok, but before I do that you will need to listen to this ad for virtual driving lessons from our advertiser."
--Ad Plays Here--
"Google, have you sent that text message yet?"
"Not, yet. I noticed that you are driving toward an outlet store. I will send the text message after you listen to this ad for the outlet store coming up."
--Ad Plays Here--
"Google, have you sent that text message yet?!"
"Not yet. I am detecting that you are stressed out. I will send the text message after you listen to this ad about stress relief products from our advertiser."
--Ad Plays Here--
"I detected that you have now arrived at your mother's house. Sending the text now."
"Thanks for nothing @#%!@"
--Mother gets into car--
"I just got your text. The network must have been slow."
"Yeah... That's the problem."
"Google, how do I get to the nearest Chinese restaurant?"
"Drive 500ft forward and turn right on 35th street."
"Thank you."
"While we are driving, I reviewed your Google search history and thought that you might find this ad for hard core porn videos from our advertisers interesting."
Awesome! I really want to get a new car and I think it would like Siri Eyes Free as a feature. I would like to see some more car manufactures open up to this as their current offerings have been pretty lame IMO.