TuneIn Radio is a longtime player in the Internet radio game. And while it might seem a little odd to be talking Internet radio in the car when we have access to millions of songs in various traditional music apps (not to mention satellite radio coming standard on just about anything new, and available in most aftermarket units), terrestrial radio isn't going anywhere anytime soon. And TuneIn — with its free version having been installed more than 100 million times from Google Play — brings the online component for that.
Access Apple CarPlay or Android Auto features with this 7-inch Alpine mech-less A/V receiver. It comes with a SiriusXM SXV300 connect vehicle tuner to let you enjoy favorite satellite and online radio programs in your car. TuneIn Radio - Radio & Music is posted in Music & Audio category and is developed by TuneIn Inc. The average rating is 5.0 out of 5 stars on our website. However, this app was rated 4.4 out of 5 stars according to different rating platforms.
The use case is easy enough to figure out. Say you've got a favorite radio station from home, or even from other part of the world. TuneIn can bring it to you. Sports. News. Talk. Music. All there in one handy app. (I've used it locally for years with phones that don't have an FM tuner.) And more recently TuneIn has integration podcasts into its repertoire. So it's a perfect fit for Android Auto, really.
Let's take a quick look.
You install TuneIn just like you would any other Android Auto app. That is, it's on your phone, inside the regular app. No special downloads or anything. And TuneIn Radio Pro works just fine, too.) (For more, see our primer on the basics of Android Auto.) You'll access TuneIn by pressing and holding on the music icon, then selecting the app.
If you have to have Internet radio in your car, this is how you do it.
The menu structure is the same as every other Android Auto media app. That's good and bad. It's familiar, and it's easy to drill through. But TuneIn suffers from the same problem we've seen in other apps. It's possible to drill down so far that you run into the safety block — that 'For safety reasons, no more items can be displayed' message that you get after too many taps on the screen, as if it's your fault for trying to get to the item in the menu.
Voice commands work just fine, though. But, again, that's assuming you know exactly what you want to listen to. And we had problems with the podcast section not populating, which probably also explains why we couldn't use voice commands to launch the Android Central Podcast. (TuneIn can play it just fine on the Amazon Echo, for what it's worth.)
There aren't really any controls other than that. No real playlists or track skipping or anything, for the obvious reasons. Just an easy(ish) way to bring Internet radio into your car.
All About Android AutoMaindebunkingInterview: We sat down with two 5G experts to debunk recent conspiracies
We sat down with two 5G experts to learn more about the technology and debunked a few myths along the way.
Android is no longer just an operating system you choose to get on your smartphone or tablet. The industry is evolving and welcoming new platforms, form factors and applications. You can now even opt to get Android Auto with your car!
Android Auto is relatively new, so we know you will need some help trying to figure out which apps you should get for those long commutes and road trips. One of our favorites happens to be TuneIn Radio, so let’s show you what it’s all about!
What is TuneIn Radio all about?![]()
The idea is very simple. TuneIn Radio harnesses the power of broadcast radio stations and web podcasts. Yes, you can listen to actual radio stations through the internet. The app goes as far as offering international stations, so some of us may even feel a little closer to home while driving around town listening to TuneIn Radio.
As it goes with any other Android Auto-supported app, you can control TuneIn via voice commands and never really take your eyes off the road. It’s still not the best option for those trying to discover new stations and podcasts, but you could pull your car over for that (hopefully you will!). Voice commands are pretty much for those who know exactly what they want to listen to.
How do I get TuneIn Radio?
Interested? You can get yourself signed up by downloading the TuneIn Radio app from the Google Play Store. By the way, there is no need to download any special apps for Android Auto. All the vehicle-focused functionality is built into the smartphone app, as it should be.
Oh, and it’s also available for all kinds of devices and platforms, so it’s not really only for Android Auto users. We can all take advantage of this awesome app.
Android Auto Tune In Radio OnlineWrapping up!
We are expecting Android Auto to boom and reach many vehicles in the coming years, so expect us to cover more applications and services like this one. I personally use TuneIn radio all the time, so I can’t wait to enjoy it with Android Auto. Hopefully I can afford a new vehicle soon!
If you are lucky enough to have an Android Auto-equipped vehicle, though, do give TuneIn Radio and tell us what you think about it in the comments below! By the way, you can learn more about Android Auto by checking out our review on the 2015 Hyundai Sonata.
Comments
Android Auto Tune In Radio StationsPlease enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
December 2020
Categories |