Honda, Acura Cars Now Featuring Siri Eyes Free Integration
by Joe White
November 27, 2013
Apple's Siri Eyes Free feature is now available in select Honda and Acura cars, allowing users to call in Siri "to perform a number of specific tasks," manufacturer American Honda Motor Co., Inc. explained in a press release.
The news means iPhone users can interact with their smartphone while keeping "their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel," the press release explains; Siri Eyes Free is initially available as a dealer-installed feature for the 2013-2014 Honda Accord and 2013 Acura RDX and ILX models.
Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and logistics at American Honda, said: "Honda recognizes the power of Siri Eyes Free to meet connectivity and convenience needs of its customers in a responsible manner. With technology becoming further integrated into people's lives, we are happy to provide next-generation connectivity and meet our customer's ever-changing needs."
As Honda explains in its press release, features include:
General Motors announced recently that it is bringing support for Siri Eyes Free to select 2014 car models, too. However, there's more. American Honda adds that on Dec. 3, it'll be hosting a Google Hangout to announce "additional Siri functionality" at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. The press release explains:
- 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
Additional Siri Eyes Free functionality available on Honda vehicles will be revealed on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 featuring Honda connected car experts. To join the discussion on December 3 at 10 a.m. Pacific, please visit: https://plus.google.com/+Honda.Further information isn't available, though another iOS-related in-car feature, appropriately called "iOS in the Car," has been in the pipeline for some time. Rather than offering connected access to Siri, iOS in the Car provides users with an in-car display featuring access to a Phone app, Maps app, Music app, and more. Back in July, Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook called the interesting feature one "key focus" of his company's, however iOS in the Car didn't make its anticipated appearance in iOS 7. As such, we're expecting to hear more on this front in the near future. We'll keep you updated with further information as we receive it. In the meantime, see: Microsoft Once Again Takes Aim At Apple's iPad In New Surface Ads, Will You Stack Up Well Against Other Blitzers In Tetris Blitz's New Tournaments Mode?, and Notefile 2.0 Features iOS 7 Interface Refresh, iCloud Keychain Support And More.
