Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution
While some carmakers are trying to convince us that Android Auto and CarPlay are very limited from a feature perspective (I'm looking at you, GM!), app developers have no intention of giving up on these two platforms.
The latest to come up with an exciting announcement is the NCAA, which has updated the March Madness Live app with great new features.
If you're a big college basketball fan, you probably know already that the March Madness app received Android Auto and CarPlay support last year. It was a welcome update that allowed users to follow the games while driving, but with this new update, the NCAA pushes the experience a step further.
The latest announcement includes many new goodies, including live activities and live updates widgets for iPhone users, and you should check out the full press release embedded below for the full information.
Since we're here to discuss the Android Auto and CarPlay news, the update also includes expanded live game radio for both platforms. I'm certain you knew you could listen to live radio broadcasts via other channels, but thanks to this update, the live radio is available thanks to Westwood One for all 67 games under the same roof. Everything is now available in the updated March Madness app, so you no longer have to switch to third-party software.
You'll find the live radio bundled with the app on the Android Auto and CarPlay screen once you update the app on your smartphone to the latest version.
While the Android Auto and CarPlay app ecosystems keep growing, I can't help but wonder why some developers ignore this feature for their vehicle experience. Sports apps should come with live radio support pre-loaded, especially if the live streams are already available via other apps. Nobody likes to mess with third-party software when you should get this content as a first-party feature, and the NCAA is making an important step in providing basketball fans with the content they need.
Meanwhile, Android Auto and CarPlay haven't yet officially opened their doors to YouTube. While an official YouTube client can allow audio in the background when the vehicle is in motion and provide the full experience when it's parked, neither Google nor Apple seem interested in whitelisting the popular app.
YouTube is already available on Android Automotive, with all content restricted when the vehicle starts moving. YouTube is also live on Android Auto and CarPlay with third-party hacks, so the experience is already available for drivers, regardless of whether parent companies allow it. Google has never commented on plans to bring YouTube behind the wheel for non-AAOS drivers, so drivers have no option but to turn to those third-party solutions that unlock the full experience, even while driving (which is still a big no-no behind the wheel).
If you're a big college basketball fan, you probably know already that the March Madness app received Android Auto and CarPlay support last year. It was a welcome update that allowed users to follow the games while driving, but with this new update, the NCAA pushes the experience a step further.
The latest announcement includes many new goodies, including live activities and live updates widgets for iPhone users, and you should check out the full press release embedded below for the full information.
Since we're here to discuss the Android Auto and CarPlay news, the update also includes expanded live game radio for both platforms. I'm certain you knew you could listen to live radio broadcasts via other channels, but thanks to this update, the live radio is available thanks to Westwood One for all 67 games under the same roof. Everything is now available in the updated March Madness app, so you no longer have to switch to third-party software.
You'll find the live radio bundled with the app on the Android Auto and CarPlay screen once you update the app on your smartphone to the latest version.
While the Android Auto and CarPlay app ecosystems keep growing, I can't help but wonder why some developers ignore this feature for their vehicle experience. Sports apps should come with live radio support pre-loaded, especially if the live streams are already available via other apps. Nobody likes to mess with third-party software when you should get this content as a first-party feature, and the NCAA is making an important step in providing basketball fans with the content they need.
Meanwhile, Android Auto and CarPlay haven't yet officially opened their doors to YouTube. While an official YouTube client can allow audio in the background when the vehicle is in motion and provide the full experience when it's parked, neither Google nor Apple seem interested in whitelisting the popular app.
YouTube is already available on Android Automotive, with all content restricted when the vehicle starts moving. YouTube is also live on Android Auto and CarPlay with third-party hacks, so the experience is already available for drivers, regardless of whether parent companies allow it. Google has never commented on plans to bring YouTube behind the wheel for non-AAOS drivers, so drivers have no option but to turn to those third-party solutions that unlock the full experience, even while driving (which is still a big no-no behind the wheel).
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