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Bogdan Popa

12,968  ARTICLES

Personal motto:

"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow" - Jeff Valdez, Stand-up Comedian.

Staff Writer
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Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world, and more often than not, you’ll see him writing about the whole thing with a typing speed that a traffic camera could easily issue a ticket for.

He typically carries both an iPhone and Android device because there’s no such thing as the perfect phone, and he drives a car that some say is blue, others say is green.

His guilty pleasure is finding bugs in Android Auto (cc @Google, you’d better keep an eye on his reports, as these could actually help you refine the experience behind the wheel), and he occasionally tries out all kinds of weird gadgets that many people didn’t even know they exist.

His daily tech arsenal also includes a smartwatch and earbuds because that’s how geeks rock, as well as a laptop that has nothing in common with fruit.

Bogdan’s long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space in the trunk for his kid’s toys, as well as convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as the phones that these two companies build.

When he’s not writing about cars, Bogdan’s probably trying to fit a bike in the 375-liter trunk of his car or posting tech stuff for autoevolution’s sister site Softpedia.
Sony Launches New CarPlay Media Receiver, Bad News for Android Auto Fans
Sony Launches New CarPlay Media Receiver, Bad News for Android Auto Fans

23 Apr 2024, 11:00 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / There are multiple ways to get CarPlay and Android Auto in a car that shipped without such capabilities (especially if it's older), and the most common is installing an aftermarket media receiver. You'll be amazed by the plethora of op...

 
Widespread Google Maps Issue Causes the App to Freeze on iPhones
Widespread Google Maps Issue Causes the App to Freeze on iPhones

23 Apr 2024, 03:39 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / I typically use Google Maps on CarPlay when I drive, and despite the missing features and the experience downgrade compared to Android Auto, I still find the app a helpful companion behind the wheel. However, I occasionally use Google Maps on my...

 
Thief Steals Car, Takes It to a Car Wash, Puts in Gas, Has a Good Time. AirTag Inside
Thief Steals Car, Takes It to a Car Wash, Puts in Gas, Has a Good Time. AirTag Inside

23 Apr 2024, 03:16 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / An Apple AirTag has recently helped the owner of a stolen car recover the vehicle in only a few hours, sharing location information and helping the owner determine where the thief was driving. It happened in Long Beach, where a resident named Ph...

 
Mysterious 1959 Chevrolet Impala Emerges After 15 Years, More Questions Than Answers
Mysterious 1959 Chevrolet Impala Emerges After 15 Years, More Questions Than Answers

22 Apr 2024, 23:16 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Presented in 1956 and pushed to mass production two years later, the Impala was an overnight sensation. It launched in 1958 as the top Bel Air version, and Chevrolet needed only a few months to sketch the long-term strategy. The Impala gained se...

 
Family-Owned 1969 Pontiac GTO Is a Mysterious Surprise, "Bigger Project Than Thought"
Family-Owned 1969 Pontiac GTO Is a Mysterious Surprise, "Bigger Project Than Thought"

22 Apr 2024, 22:00 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / I'm certain the first thing any Pontiac fanboy can think of when hearing about a 1969 GTO is the "Judge" package. The $337.02 package has become incredibly desirable today, especially in all-original condition and with the Ram Air...

 
From Barn Find to Spotless in 26 Years: Custom 1962 Chevy Nova Flexes Unique Upgrades
From Barn Find to Spotless in 26 Years: Custom 1962 Chevy Nova Flexes Unique Upgrades

22 Apr 2024, 21:06 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / The Chevy Nova was almost an overnight hit, with the GM brand producing over 326,000 units in the first year on the market. Most Novas rolled off the assembly lines with a six-cylinder engine under the hood – about 302,000 units, with the L4 ...

 
Google Maps Alternative Gets Massive Update on iPhone, Good News for CarPlay
Google Maps Alternative Gets Massive Update on iPhone, Good News for CarPlay

22 Apr 2024, 11:00 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / The chances are that you've already come across OsmAnd if you were looking for a Google Maps alternative, as the application is one of the most advanced free navigation solutions currently on the market. In addition to its impressive featur...

 
Polestar Phone Revealed Ahead of Official Launch: Shut Up and Take My Money
Polestar Phone Revealed Ahead of Official Launch: Shut Up and Take My Money

22 Apr 2024, 04:38 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / The technology world is slowly but surely expanding into the automotive space, and Xiaomi is a pioneer of this unavoidable transition. The Chinese tech behemoth launched a car, and Apple planned to follow in its footsteps until the ambitious Apple ...

 
Huge Google Maps Update Spotted: CarPlay Users to Get Traffic Reports
Huge Google Maps Update Spotted: CarPlay Users to Get Traffic Reports

22 Apr 2024, 03:34 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Google Maps and Waze belong to the same company, but despite offering navigation features, they are different animals with different purposes. This is why Google keeps both around, turning Google Maps into an almighty navigation app that include...

 
Rare 1972 Plymouth Cricket Emerges As a British Surprise, Needs Urgent TLC
Rare 1972 Plymouth Cricket Emerges As a British Surprise, Needs Urgent TLC

22 Apr 2024, 00:00 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Few people heard of the Plymouth Cricket, and even fewer remember how it came to be. As a rebadged version of the Hilman Avenger, the Cricket landed in North America in 1971, as Chrysler was looking for an easy way to expand its small car offering....

 
99.99% Original: 1963 Chevrolet Impala Just Went on a 250-Mile Trip With No Problems
99.99% Original: 1963 Chevrolet Impala Just Went on a 250-Mile Trip With No Problems

21 Apr 2024, 22:16 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / 1963 brought the Impala Super Sport to the front page of newspapers thanks to another important achievement in Chevy's yard. The GM brand produced the 50 millionth vehicle, and the Impala Super Sport was chosen to be the milestone car rolli...

 
1965 Dodge Coronet Is an "Original Barn-Find Survivor," Interior a Little Sunbaked
1965 Dodge Coronet Is an "Original Barn-Find Survivor," Interior a Little Sunbaked

21 Apr 2024, 21:10 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Customers stepping inside a Dodge dealership in 1965 had to pay at least $2,267 for a Coronet. This was the base price of a six-cylinder Coronet, with the V8 carrying a starting price tag of $2,361. The price increased gradually as you picked an...

 
Next-Gen Google Maps: New Feature Scans User Reviews for Precise Navigation
Next-Gen Google Maps: New Feature Scans User Reviews for Precise Navigation

21 Apr 2024, 09:56 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Google is continuously looking for new ways to provide accurate location information, and considering the rapid EV adoption, the company wants to convert Google Maps into the most advanced solution for finding charging stations. The search firm ...

 
1973 Chevrolet "Millionth Vega" Emerges in Original Orange, Unrestored and Unaltered
1973 Chevrolet "Millionth Vega" Emerges in Original Orange, Unrestored and Unaltered

21 Apr 2024, 09:12 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / The short-lived Vega entered production in 1970 to launch as a 1971 model year, and while I won't discuss the plethora of issues that led to this nameplate getting the axe in 1977, it's still worth reminding that the car was almost an ins...

 
New Android Auto Update: Version 11.8 Now Available for All Users
New Android Auto Update: Version 11.8 Now Available for All Users

21 Apr 2024, 07:36 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Google has already promised several improvements for Android Auto users, and every update is received with much excitement by the user base. While the search giant typically ties new features to a server-controlled rollout, keeping Android Auto ...

 
This Android Auto and CarPlay Wireless Adapter Lets You Stream Videos to Your Car
This Android Auto and CarPlay Wireless Adapter Lets You Stream Videos to Your Car

20 Apr 2024, 15:13 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Let's be honest about it: Android Auto and CarPlay adapters have been around for many years, but AAWireless pushed this product category to a new level, making the conversion from cables to wireless as easy as 1-2-3. AAWireless also brought...

 
Barn Hiding a 1974 Chevrolet Nova Opens Its Doors After 32 Years
Barn Hiding a 1974 Chevrolet Nova Opens Its Doors After 32 Years

20 Apr 2024, 11:25 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / From a production perspective, the 1974 Nova was a record-breaking model. With over 390,000 units sold, it was the best-selling iteration since its launch in 1962, surpassing the 1963 performance when 372K units rolled off the assembly lines. Ho...

 
Low-Mile Survivor: 1973 Chevrolet Corvette L82 Emerges With 22K Miles, Unrestored
Low-Mile Survivor: 1973 Chevrolet Corvette L82 Emerges With 22K Miles, Unrestored

20 Apr 2024, 10:21 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Corvette sales were already on the rise, so the 1973 performance didn't bring any surprises, with the coupe still accounting for most units leaving the assembly plant. Chevrolet produced 30,464 units in 1973, and the coupe accounted for ove...

 
Police: We Also Use Waze, And Please Tag Us on the Map
Police: We Also Use Waze, And Please Tag Us on the Map

19 Apr 2024, 16:37 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / Let's be honest about it: many people use Waze specifically for police reports, as they want to reduce the likelihood of getting a ticket for speeding. The support for police reports has long been a controversial feature, and I won't s...

 
Time to Shine: 1964 Chevy Impala Has "Only 2 Holes" in the Floor, Full Restoration Needed
Time to Shine: 1964 Chevy Impala Has "Only 2 Holes" in the Floor, Full Restoration Needed

19 Apr 2024, 13:08 UTC · By: Bogdan Popa / With a new generation on the radar, it didn't make sense for Chevrolet to invest heavily in the 1964 Impala. And yet, the GM brand still introduced welcome refinements, including the engine department, where the 409 was again a worthy big-bloc...

 

Stories by Bogdan Popa