Set your phone to “auto answer” before you drive so if a call comes in you don’t need to touch anything to take it.More: 12 texting tricks you didn’t know the iPhone could do Assorted tipsĪ few added suggestions to remain safe (and productive) while on the road: More: Are you ready to upgrade your iPhone? The app works with iPhone but not for reading email.īoth messageLOUD and Speaking Email have excellent customer support, based on my experience. There are two things I didn’t like, however: You cannot reply using your voice (the app maker claims it’s not advisable for safety reasons), and you need to tap the screen to skip messages, which, curiously, is supposed to be safer, messageLOUD says, though voice commands will be added soon. It worked as promised: messageLOUD will first announce whom the message is from, and what platform, such as Facebook Messenger, email or a text message. After I choose a comfortable playback speed, how much of a message to read and desired voice (based on my phone’s speech options, Google or Samsung), I set the app to initiate when it detects my vehicle’s Bluetooth connection. The app also supports multiple languages. This clever app reads your text messages, emails (Gmail, Yahoo, IMAP, Microsoft Exchange and many others) and instant messages from all major platforms such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype, WeChat, Slack, Snapchat and others. MessageLOUD (free for text messages, $0.99/month for all other platforms) I tested a bunch of free and paid apps, and here are two of the best – though both had some shortcomings. More: These hands-free phone tricks can prevent distracted driving Third-party apps You need an Android phone for this Alexa functionality, but iOS will be supported by year-end. Prices for the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback start at just under $20,000, while the 2019 Avalon starts at about $35,000. While other automakers offer some limited Alexa functionality – such as basic in-vehicle commands or starting your vehicle remotely – with these new models you can ask everything from music and audiobooks to directions and recommended destinations to weather and sports scores to even controlling your smart home devices while on the road (such as asking Alexa to adjust the air conditioner or turn on the lights). Speaking of personal assistants, it’s worth noting Toyota and Lexus have just shipped their first 2019 vehicles with full support for Amazon Alexa. You’ll have access to all your contacts, messages, music, maps and other info – while keeping your eyes on the road and hands upon the wheel, as the late Jim Morrison once famously sang.īe aware, however, Android Auto will not read your email to you without a third-party app (see below). The process is similar with Android Auto: First connect your Android smartphone, and when you want to access something, press the button on the steering wheel, which activates Google Assistant, and then ask a question or give a command. You can also initiate a message such as “Tell Susan Smith I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”īut when it comes to email, you’ll be notified how many messages you have in your inbox and the subject line for each, but the contents of the email won’t be read to you, nor can you dictate your reply through CarPlay. When it comes to hearing messages, press the push-to-talk button on the steering wheel to activate Siri, your personal assistant that resides on your phone, and give a command such as “Read me my texts” or “Read me my email.” With the former, you can hear the messages through your car’s speakers and reply using your voice.
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