If you’ve got an iPhone, iPod touch or an iPad that has Siri built-in and happen to own the right Honda or Acura car, then you can now drive into a dealer and have Siri Eyes Free installed after Honda announced its immediate availability via a press release.
Siri, which allows users to control their iOS device using just their voice, is almost ready made for use in a car, and Siri Eyes Free takes that one step further by allowing drivers to keep not just their hands on the wheel, but also their eyes on the road.
With this new package installed on a 2013 -2014 Honda Accord and 2013 Acura RDX or ILX, drivers will be able to invoke Siri using their car’s own systems rather than having to reach for their iOS device, making the whole experience less distracting and ultimately, safer. The audio feedback from Siri will also be relayed through the car’s own speakers, with voice input being taken in via its microphone too. Now you can keep your iPhone in your pocket and use Siri.
Siri Eyes Free also prevents the iOS device’s screen from illuminating, which again helps to reduce distraction when driving.
On the list of things that Siri will be able to do via Siri Eyes Free is:
- 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
The car models which will get Siri Eyes Free as listed explicitly by Honda are as follows: 2013-2014 Honda Accord, Acura RDX and ILX.
Siri is available on iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPad (3rd and 4th generations), iPad Air, iPad mini and iPod touch (5th generation) and with all iOS devices moving forward likely to also feature Siri, we expect more and more car manufacturers to begin to take advantage of what iOS and Siri have to offer.
Apple is already hard at work on what it calls ‘iOS in the Car,’ which while currently listed as ‘Coming Soon’ on its website, promises to take integration between iOS and a car’s built-in navigation and media systems to a whole new level. Honda is already on board with ‘iOS in the Car,’ which will come as no surprise following this latest news.
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