While some carmakers believe that blocking Android Auto and CarPlay is the right way to go in the long term, most are fully committed to offering mobile phone projection in their cars.
As a result, the app ecosystem keeps growing, with drivers getting new solutions regularly. This time, the parking app JustPark is the big name that joins the Android Auto and CarPlay fun, as the official app has just been updated with support for the two platforms.
Parking apps and Android Auto and CarPlay are a match made in heaven. While such software has been around for quite some time on mobile devices, allowing users to find a parking space and then pay for it in a matter of seconds, their expansion to the large screen on the dashboard happens at a rather slow pace.
JustPark is now joining Android Auto and CarPlay with nearly the entire set of features. However, drivers must know that the mobile device still controls most features (this is mobile phone projection, after all), so certain settings, such as the payment details, are only available on the smartphone.
JustPark lands on Android Auto and CarPlay with a full user interface and voice command integration. As such, if you want to search for a parking space close to your location, you can just say something like, "Hey, Siri, find parking on JustPark." The command also works for Google Assistant.
The application then searches for nearby parking spaces, displays the available ones, and lets you navigate to the location. Using the saved payment details (credit card information), the application allows users to pay for parking right from the screen. Like on mobile devices, JustPark also allows users to extend the booking made on Android Auto and CarPlay. However, this option is only available from a smartphone; obviously, you don't have to be near the car. Just make sure you are logged in with the same account.
The experience with JustPark is as straightforward as you'd expect it to be, and its interface is incredibly easy to navigate.
The number of Android Auto and CarPlay applications keeps growing, making mobile phone projection even more useful in modern cars. Apple says nearly 8 in 10 new-car buyers in the United States are specifically interested in CarPlay and wouldn’t otherwise order a vehicle missing the feature. Google says Android Auto is expected to reach 200 million vehicles by the end of the year, with many more running the app thanks to aftermarket head unit upgrades.
If you want to try out JustPark on Android Auto and CarPlay, you need to upgrade the app to the latest versions. They are already available for download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones. Full profile
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