GADGETS: Kit, I need you buddy: 5 things you can do with Apple CarPlay

Apple announced CarPlay – its connected car platform – earlier this year, but it was restricted to models made by Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. However, Pioneer has just opened it up to the masses – it's launched the SPH-DA120, which supports CarPlay as standard, and made its other in-car RECEIVERS compatible using a firmware update.

"CarPlay enriches THE IPHONE experience in the vehicle by providing a safer way to access THE IPHONE features they want to use most while driving," according to Pioneer. But what exactly can CarPlay do? Fasten your seat belts, we're about to find out.

1 Satnav

CarPlay does away with the need to fix your iPhone to the windscreen using a cumbersome cradle. Instead, the maps will show up on the central display, giving you turn-by-turn navigation. It uses Apple Maps rather than Google Maps or TomTom. While many of us remember Apple Maps as a catastrophe when it launched, it has got a lot better, though it won't be as accurate as more advanced systems. Still, doing away with the cradle is a boon. And Apple was so embarrassed by Apple Maps it issued an apology, which is almost unheard of for the company, so we're sure it's learned its lesson.

2 Voice controls

Handily for an in-car system, voice controls play a major part in how you interact with it. They come courtesy of Siri, Apple's digital assistant found in the iPhone. You can find a song and start it playing, and operate the whole system just by speaking. Press a button, and Siri will tune in to what you're saying (it's not listening all the time, so Toto won't start playing if you're discussing hair metal songs). Of course, if you'd rather interact with the system yourself, you can use your car's touchscreen, or the physical controls instead. The choice is yours.

3 Read out your text messages

Siri really comes into its own when you're in the car, focussing on the road. It will read out your text messages – so better hope they don't contain anything juicy if you have passengers in the car – and you can dictate your own messages too. Michael Knight couldn't have done it better.

4 Handsfree calls

Like many satnavs, CarPlay also lets you make and take calls handsfree by syncing to your iPhone. Again, Siri is on-hand to help out – just say who you want to call and it'll buzz them for you. The only thing Siri can't do is drive the car for you. Though we're sure it's only a matter of time.

5 Stream internet radio

Using your iPhone's data connection, you can stream music to CarPlay and blast it through your car's speakers. Apple also allows third parties to MAKE APPS for CarPlay, and Spotify is already signed up, so you can stream millions of songs to your jam jar. The Podcast app and Stitcher are also compatible, broadening your audio options considerably.