Siri's ability to speak notifications is great in the right circumstances, but if it won't shut up about incoming alerts in the car, you can turn this off. Back in Settings on your phone, choose Notifications Announce Notifications. If you want to use this feature outside of CarPlay, keep the top toggle on and select the CarPlay menu. There, disable Announce Messages and Siri won't read anything that comes in during a trip. Back on the Announce Notifications page, you might also want to turn on Reply Without Confirmation.

If Siri suddenly remembers how to do its job as soon as the phone leaves CarPlay, the connection becomes highly suspect. For wired and wireless CarPlay, the potential connection problems are a little different. If you're using wired CarPlay, Apple suggests using a different USB cable or a compatible USB port. Wireless CarPlay requires both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, with Auto-Join turned on for the CarPlay network, so either connection can cause odd behavior even if the CarPlay interface appears to be working normally. Apple's troubleshooting list includes restarting the iPhone and the vehicle, forgetting the car under Settings General CarPlay and pairing it again.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 is Feb. 25 Valve's Steam Machine: Everything we know Tesla CarPlay is coming but it's reportedly being held back by low iOS 26 adoption numbers According to a Bloomberg report, there are some compatibility issues to work out between Apple Maps and Tesla's in-car navigation. We're still waiting for Apple CarPlay compatibility for Tesla EVs, but it's been pushed back thanks to a slight hitch with iOS 26, according to's Mark Gurman. In the latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said that Tesla's plans to adopt CarPlay have been delayed due to app compatibility issues as well as low adoption rates for iOS 26 . It's been a long wait for Tesla drivers who want CarPlay compatibility, especially since initial rumors indicated a late 2025 rollout and reported that Tesla was testing CarPlay in its vehicles in November. However, Gurman's latest newsletter revealed that there were some compatibility issues between Apple Maps and Tesla's in-house navigation software, which also supports the self-driving features.

Valve's Steam Machine: Everything we know The apps can be voice-controlled, but can't replace Siri. Apple plans to allow third-party voice-controlled AI apps in CarPlay, reports . Siri is the default voice assistant for things like controlling music and looking up directions, but future AI apps in CarPlay could handle the complicated, open-ended requests Siri can't answer. The expanded support would let developers like OpenAI or Google offer versions of their ChatGPT and Gemini apps for CarPlay. Similar functionality is possible just by connecting a smartphone to a car over Bluetooth and using an AI app's voice mode, but CarPlay support would presumably make the process a little more seamless.

Honda is joining the ranks of automakers embracing Google's services. As teased last year, the company has announced that the 2023 Accord sedan's high-end Touring trim will be the brand's first car with Google built-in as standard. You'll have out-of-the-dealership access to Google Assistant, Google Maps and the Play Store on the vehicle's 12.3-inch infotainment display. You can tweak the climate control, navigate or download a favorite music app without relying on your phone. GM offers three free years of Google built-in access for vehicles like the GMC Yukon, but requires a $15 monthly subscription after that.

Few things are more annoying than when Siri hijacks your AirPods to read aloud a string of text messages while you're listening to a hilarious podcast episode or a great song. The feature allows Siri to announce notifications for iMessage, Reminders, and third-party apps (like Slack, Snapchat, Twitter, WhatsApp, and more) through your AirPods, Beats, and CarPlay. You can also reply to alerts hands-free. In theory, it sounds super useful, but for those who tend to receive a lot of notifications at once (from things like busy group chats or Twitter replies), it can be irritating. While it's not enabled by default, you might've accidentally turned it on via a pop-up while pairing new AirPods (or Beats) or when upgrading to iOS 15.

The follow-up to Apple's $300 HomePod has finally arrived, with the smaller, spherical HomePod mini, complete with onboard Siri and a new "intercom" feature. The new smart speaker is slated to arrive next month. Unveiled alongside the iPhone 12 during Apple's "Hi, Speed" event on Tuesday, the $99 HomePod mini (pre-orders begin November 6 for shipping on November 16) takes a page from Amazon's revamped Echo speakers (or is it the other way around?) with a ball-shaped, fabric-covered industrial design. Set to arrive in white and space gray flavors, the HomePod mini has a backlit touchpad on top with integrated volume and playback controls. The new HomePod mini comes equipped with a full-range driver and dual passive radiators, while the speaker itself is powered by Apple's S5 chip. Inside the 3.3-inch shell is a full-range, neodymium magnet-powered dynamic driver, a pair of force-cancelling passive radiators, and an acoustic wave guide at the bottom that's designed to deliver 360-degree sound.

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, one of the world's top-selling automakers, has decided to go with Google's Android operating system to run its dashboard information and entertainment features. The change, which won't roll out until 2021, means that users will get Android features such as Google Maps, Waze and the hands-free Google Assistant, without having to connect a phone. They'll also be able to download auto-specific apps, such as those that find and pay for parking spaces, from the Google Play Store. The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, one of the world's top-selling automakers, has decided to go with Google's Android operating system to run its dashboard. The change, which won't roll out until 2021, means that users will get Android features such as Google Maps, Waze and the hands-free Google Assistant, without having to connect a phone.

Apple's new iPhones will understandably grab the spotlight at the company's media shindig Wednesday at its Cupertino headquarters. But no less important for iPhone (and iPad) owners who have no intention of dashing off for the latest models, will be the official release of iOS 12. It is the software at the core of these devices that promises to freshen them up with new features and tools, including possibly adding zing to an aging handset, even one as old as the iPhone 5S. That means you should be able to install iOS 12 (which you can do for free) soon after Apple's press event. Just be aware that some of the features arriving with the latest software will require or work better on more recent hardware.

Out in September, the 2019 Lexus ES 350 (from $39,500) supports Amazon Alexa, therefore you can use your voice to talk to the popular A.I. assistant and even control your smart home devices while on the road. The only thing worse than a driver distracted by a phone call is when their eyes aren't on the road and both hands aren't on the wheel. We see it almost every day now – someone beside you on the road is texting, emailing or instant messaging, all the while driving a 4,000-pound vehicle. While safety experts agree the best thing to do is to simply wait until you're not behind the wheel, many are turning to technology to remain productive while commuting to and from the office. In fact, there are a few ways you can hear your messages in a human-like voice, and in many cases these tools allow you to reply using your voice.