CarPlay

Jailbreak developers are working hard to bring CarPlay functionality to devices running iOS 8. One such project, named CarPlay iOS, is available on Cydia as a preview of what's to come. While the tweak is not sophisticated, CarPlay iOS provides basic Music functionality with the CarPlay interface right on an iPhone or iPad.

Once installed, a CarPlay iOS app icon will appear on the home screen. Opening this app reveals the main CarPlay screen, in this version limited to Music and Now Playing. Listening to a track reveals oversized, high-contrast play controls. This is the essence of what makes CarPlay useful, providing the operating system for in-dash displays and CarPlay-enabled radios.

Apple has added nine new automobile manufacturers to its CarPlay partners list. The new additions include Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Mazda and Ram. This brings Apple's total committed partners to 29. CarPlay will be available with Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo models sometime in 2014, before the rest of the manufacturers on the list catch up in 2015.

The service was introduced last year as "iOS in the Car" before being renamed and unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014. Volvo demoed its CarPlay integration in the new XC90 SUV at the event.

Apple has added MLB.com At Bat to its roster of CarPlay supported apps. The baseball streaming service is the first app to be added to the list of originally supported apps such as Beats Radio and Stitcher.

MLB.com At Bat is free to download on the Apple App Store, however, it costs $20 a year (or $2.99/month) to access the entire 2014 season. The app allows users to listen to Home and Away radio broadcasts, stream out-of-market games, plus more. The app supports all devices running iOS 7.0 or later.

As expected, Apple today announced CarPlay, formerly know as "iOS in the Car," at the Geneva Motor Show. In conjunction with this announcement, Volvo showcased its CarPlay implementation in its new XC90 SUV, which will be available later this year.

Initially revealed at last year's Worldwide Developer's Conference, CarPlay is designed to integrate the driver's iOS device with the vehicle's built-in display/control system. Features familiar to iPhone and iPad users, such as Siri,