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Today we’re looking at the AppRadio2 from Pioneer.

Original review with all appropriate links can be found by clicking here.

The AppRadio line is a huge step into the future for in-car audio. Pioneer was first out of the gate with a relatively affordable, practical, and highly functioning 7 inch capacitive touch screen car audio head unit. It's most unique feature and the reason you'll want to read through this review is because the AppRadio 2 can connect to and translate your smartphone's app capabilities into a one of a kind super device on your car's dashboard. You'll be able to use AppRadio optimized versions of some of your favorite apps to listen to music, navigate, find parking, communicate with friends and even check your car's diagnostics with the right accessories attached all on a crisp 7” touchscreen display.

Click here to see a video slideshow of the AppRadio2 in action.

Main advantage: Android and iProduct compatible (some smartphones require adapters iPhone5 and Android), crisp 7” WVGA touchscreen display with multitouch, built in amp (MOSFET 50 W x 4) 2 RCA preouts, subwoofer control, great modern hardware design with high quality materials used, can use your car's existing steering wheel controls, bluetooth audio for phone calls (mic included)

Main concern: no CD/DVD slot, no AUX in, no adjusting display angle, bit of a learning curve, no bluetooth audio for pandora or stored music.

Unique features: built in external GPS means you can turn off your phone's GPS to save battery while connected to AppRadio (turn on “enable mock locations” in your phone's settings)

While it will work with a number or phones, this device was tested exclusively with a Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Someone always has to be brave enough to be the first. Even if a product isn't completely ready for primetime, it's important to release something so that people can become familiar with a new concept. Apple really made their name by being the first extremely simple, yet powerful mp3 player and then smartphone. The early iPhone lacked a lot to be sure, but it did enough well that it changed mobile communication forever. Pioneer has shown that it has the guts that Apple had to start. They took a risk with the AppRadio and it's a great start that has great potential looking forward. Other car audio companies are clearly waiting and looking over Pioneer's shoulder concerning the AppRadio. They waited for Pioneer to make a success of the AppRadio concept and now we are starting to see some copycats emerge built off of ideas learned watching AppRadio. It might work for some of them too, but it's just not a very dignified way to do business and before I even start my real evaluation of the AppRadio 2, I give Pioneer my respect for being brave enough to release such an innovative step forward into uncharted waters.

The AppRadio 2 on it's own is a gorgeous head unit. It's so clean and simple and it's design foreshadows it's function. It floats on your dash as a huge crystal clear glass screen with an almost invisible bezel and a stainless steel “chin” at the bottom that holds the few physical buttons. Volume up/down, a home button, and a menu and back button specifically for Android phones. Pioneer didn't cut corners with materials used, this thing looks and feels like you'd want a piece of the future to look and feel. The AppRadio 2 is first and foremost a blank canvas. It's waiting to be painted with the graphics, sounds, and functionality of your smartphone whether it's an Android or Apple device. While it would be a near perfect product if Pioneer could trust us to control ourselves, we don't do that well unsupervised as drivers. If the AppRadio was a true 1 to 1 mirrored display of our smartphones, we could watch netflix movies and send text messages while driving 90 mph on the freeway. Now you and I might be sensible enough to not abuse the privilege, but plenty of 16 year olds that want to impress their friends in their first cars might not have that same restraint (and they might be driving on the same freeway as you) so try to understand the motivation behind a controlled experience. It's definitely a bit disappointing, but Pioneer offers a very filtered experience of your phone with the AppRadio 2 for now. While some apps can be just about everything they are on your phone, others won't work at all or will display images but not be able to be touch controlled.

Everything begins with a detailed warning to not operate the head unit while driving, fair enough. Commonly called a “nanny” or “nag” screen, a quick click of a button brings you into the AppRadio's main start screen. You'll be greeted by a large modern clock and day of the week indicator to start. Behind that is a wallpaper that can be changed through your smartphone app's menu setting. Below the clock, you'll find 5 icons (radio, iPod, apps, Pandora, and Phone) and with nothing connected to the device, 3 of them (iPod, apps, Pandora) will be grayed out by default. By itself, the AppRadio is simply an FM/AM radio and a speakerphone for hands-free bluetooth calling and that's about it. Connect an iPod and you can play your music, connect a phone through the appropriate cable and you can listen to Pandora or go into AppRadio mode where the real fun starts. A swipe to the right will bring up a second page of options, an expanded settings screen which actually offers a bit to look at. Next an “OFF” button that puts the device in a standby mode that amounts to a screensaver, full screen background and small clock. The last button is a display off button that will let the screen go black if you find a time you need the darkness.

Again, AppRadio2 will work with many different makes and models of smartphone, but it was clearly designed with the iPhone 4/4S in mind. You'll find a very intuitive and polished experience with that phone. Connect the included cable and go. While it can technically be made to work using the iPhone 5 and Android phones, you won't find anywhere near the same out of the box functionality. Whichever phone you use, you'll need to go to your appropriate app store first, Google or Apple, and download at least two apps to get started. The main AppRadio app that is the basis for your phone's connection, and the CarKeyboard app that will also need to be enabled for touchscreen keyboard use while using the AppRadio. The unit looks for these apps and will not function fully without them. Aside from helping your phone communicate with your AppRadio 2, the AppRadio app scans you're already installed programs and tells you which will work with appradio. The apps are the easiest part of getting started with the AppRadio 2 on Android. The part that gets a bit tricky is finding the correct adapter.

If you own one of the Galaxy line of smartphones then you know that Samsung has elected for a single micro USB input on most of their phones. The same port charges and syncs but what if you'd like to output HD video from your powerful phone? MHL, or Mobile High-Definition Link is the answer. MHL allows you to connect a micro USB cord to your phone which is attached to an adapter that turns the signal into an HDMI output that supports up to 1080p HD video and 7.1 surround audio while also charging your device. As simple as they are to use, MHL adapters aren't simple to choose. First and foremost you need to know if you need a 5pin or an 11pin adapter. The Galaxy S3, S4 and Note 2 need 11pin and older galaxy phones need a 5 pin. After that you need to know how much power your phone draws while charging. The MHL adapter needs to be connected to a power source to be able to charge your phone while it converts the video signal. The Galaxy Note 2 draws a very thirsty 2.1 amps of power which is the same as the iPad and most other tablets. The included iPod cable can be disconnected and reveals a full sized female USB port. That USB port outputs 1A charging that is enough for most smartphones including the iPhone. While it will work with some phones, unfortunately it's not enough to keep up with the Note 2. If you were to use a normal 1A car charger (or the AppRadio's included USB charging cable) with this setup everything would still work, but you wouldn't be able to charge your phone. In fact, it would drain battery because of all the work that it's doing. For the Galaxy Note 2 you'll need the following:

-an 11pin MHL adapter

-a microUSB charging cable

-a 2.1A car adapter

-an HDMI cable

These items are easy enough to get, but you need to know what specific pieces you'll need for the best outcome. For the MHL adapter, an abundance of counterfeits have flooded some of the big ecommerce sites, this automatically rules out Amazon and eBay unfortunately. Some copies are identical on the outside and plain garbage on the inside. They will make your setup charge inconsistently or not at all and make your picture signal choppy when connected to the AppRadio 2. Smartphone forums are littered with frustrated people that tried to save a buck on a cheap adapter, you'll see them blaming the head unit but trust me here, there is only one real way to do this. I like a deal as much as anyone, but unfortunately this is a case where you'll need to go to the manufacturer and pay retail. Luckily Samsung is always offering large discounts on it's own accessories up to even 50% off in some promotions. A quick Google search will show you the current deals available. Now that you've collected all of the pieces, you'll need to connect them and get started.

click here to read PART TWO which includes pricing, links to purchase, and optional accessories