How to navigate smartphone apps in your car | members only

_MY CAR HAS AN APP FROM THE AUTOMAKER, BUT I’VE NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO IT. I’M NOT REALLY DOING MUCH WITH THE CAR’S DASHBOARD SCREEN EITHER, WHICH I USE FOR THE RADIO AND TO PEEK AT

THE BACKUP CAMERA._ _FRIENDS HAVE TOLD ME THAT I CAN BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL FEATURES FOR THE CAR JUST BY PLUGGING IN MY SMARTPHONE AND USING EITHER ANDROID AUTO OR APPLE CARPLAY. CAN YOU

TELL ME MORE?_ Cars have been described as computers on wheels for a few years now, which means that your software-driven automobile is a lot smarter than you think. And I’m not even

broaching the subject of cars that can drive or park themselves. Some of the latest, and in many cases, most luxurious newish vehicles boast fancy displays and advanced infotainment

dashboard touchscreens, some that even use augmented reality (AR) tech. AR projects digital information on top of the real world. Today’s cars are also packed with numerous safety-oriented

features, from the backup cameras you mentioned to blind-spot monitoring systems. But even smaller and less extravagant screens can display lots of useful information, sometimes when the

vehicle is due for maintenance. RELATED: Lost in a Parking Lot? Eight Ways to Find Your Car BRINGING YOUR APPLE, ANDROID SMARTPHONE INTO YOUR VEHICLE You asked specifically about Android

Auto and CarPlay, which loosely mirror what’s on the Android handsets or iPhones they symbiotically rely on. On the car’s built-in display, these platforms surface GPS driving directions as

well as let you make and field calls; exchange messages; and hear audiobooks, music, podcasts and far-away radio stations. In the car's display, you will see icons for compatible

Android Auto or CarPlay apps, such as Google or Apple Maps, that also reflect what’s on your phone. The goal is to present all this in a manner that’s not supposed to distract the driver.

ASK THE TECH GURU Engage these platforms by tapping the app icons on the car’s display, pressing a button on the steering wheel, and/or using your voice to summon and direct the Google

Assistant on Android or Siri on the iPhone hands free. When I use CarPlay on a 2018 Honda Accord, I frequently ask Siri to play a given song or genre of music. You haven’t specified what

kind of car you have, but the gist of your question suggests it may be an older vehicle that lacks the latest bells and whistles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, part of

the Department of Transportation, began requiring backup cameras in all vehicles less than 10,000 pounds as of May 2018, but some manufacturers started adding them earlier. That weight

threshold includes all cars and SUVs and excludes only the heaviest pick-ups and vans. Those backup cameras became a good reason for screens to spread beyond luxury models. You also haven’t

indicated what kind of phone you own. Neither Android Auto nor CarPlay is cross platform, so if you have an Android handset, you can’t use it with CarPlay, just as you can’t use Android Auto

with an iPhone. But if a family member, say, has a phone on the other platform, you each may be able to take advantage of your phone’s preferred auto app, depending on the vehicle and which

phone is connected. I’ve connected a Samsung Galaxy and listened to music via Android Auto on the Honda. RELATED: Cool Car Gadgets and Accessories to Help You in an Emergency