Just saw this article about it:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2690753/apple-carplay-goes-live-in-pioneer-nex-and-appradio-systems-giving-real-people-early-dibs-for-once.html#tk.rss_all

I hope it is working decently with new iPhones now...

Now all we have to do is buy the new radios and trust that Pioneer now do regular updates to support new phones/firmwares every year, no thanks!

Pfftt... can't even get their spec page right. WTF.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/AppRadio/AppRadio+4+(SPH-DA120)

Look at the screen resolution...

I wish they hadn't downgraded to a 6.2" screen. I like it otherwise. I'm definitely waiting for the Alpine ILX-007, which should be out this month and list between $500-$700. 

I wish they hadn't downgraded to a 6.2" screen. I like it otherwise. I'm definitely waiting for the Alpine ILX-007, which should be out this month and list between $500-$700.

 

Probably for saving on the cost. But I cannot imagine that a inch is that much more expensive...

Terrible. I've been trying to get on their website all day to get a peek at this new unit but it's been down all day. 

Terrible. I've been trying to get on their website all day to get a peek at this new unit but it's been down all day.

 

I've been trying to get to their sites from LTE, and I was thinking I had bad radio coverage. But then, every other site I've tried were snappy.

I can understand why they have not updated the AppRadio software in all the time they had with iOS 8 beta, or why they took more than their initial time frame (available summer 2014) for the NEX update, if they just can't maintain a web server properly. A web server is a very simple tool to maintain those days. If they cannot successfully do it in 2014, no wonder why their firmware/software roadmap sucks...

I'd like to have enough confidence in them to put another $600 for an AppRadio 4 for my car, but I'm just not sure they deserve it.

I guess the good part is that the App Radio 4 can also play anything via USB now. If CarPlay or App Mode compatability becomes an issue, at least you still have the option of other sources.

My iPhone 6 with App Radio 2 on the other hand, is just a stupid AM/FM radio when App Mode decides to take a dump. iOS 8.0.2 seems a little bit more stable now with less bluetooth dropouts. I think the bluetooth issue is an Apple thing and only on the iPhone 6/6+, so hopefully 8.0.3 is coming soon.  

Bought and installed

All seems good so far, feel free to ask any questions.

Bought and installed

 

All seems good so far, feel free to ask any questions.

I couldn't find any store online that are selling any. How much did you pay for it? I hope you got a better price than the $600 MSRP.

What did you have previously?

Bought and installed

 

All seems good so far, feel free to ask any questions.

Hey Mate,

Just wondering if you installed a Bypass for it (micro bypass)?  Does the same bypass for Appradio 3 work with Appradio 4?

If thats a yes, im buying one straight away.

Cheers,

I should have specific I'm from the UK.

I paid £350 including tax which is $556 so maybe us Brits are getting a cheaper deal for once as it seems the standard price it's launched at here.

Again, not sure if it's UK specific, but all I had to do for bypass is ground the green wire. I was upgrading from the Appradio 3 and in fact all the wiring and accessories are identical so all I did was swap the head units over and it was fine. The AR3 should sell for around £200 so the total upgrade cost is £150, 

I think it's worth it as Carplay (although there's not enough apps yet) is much easier to use than Appradio. All of those annoying times you have to reconnect, or manually relaunch the app are gone. Another great new feature (for me anyway!) is that you can browse your library when you are streaming via Bluetooth, which wasn't possible before. You can also plug in a USB drive full of media at the same time as being on Carplay as there are 2 USB sockets.

@fruitbat04

I like what you say about the unit. Exactly what I was expecting when I bought my app radio 2: smooth functionality.

I which I had the cash right now. But it is more and more on my wish list...

Thanks for the information mate.  I would have thought you would need more than just grounding the green wire.  I think ill just assume its the same bypass as the AR3.

Did you buy it online?  Do you have a link to the website?

Hopefully they ship to Australia.

Where did you buy it from?

Any idea if you can plug an iPod classic into the usb ports?

http://www.halfords.com/sat-nav-audio/car-audio/dab-radios-car-stereos/pioneer-sph-da120-with-apple-carplay

As I say, I think the bypass is easier in the UK and Europe for some reason. We've only ever had to ground a wire which is usually only grounded with the handbrake to get it working. I'd imagine that whatever works for the AR3 should work with the 4 though, although that's not a guarantee!

The manual says you need a CD- IU201S cable which plugs in a proprietary socket for 30 pin Apple devices. I will try with my girlfriends iPod at the weekend though. I suspect you'd only get audio though and no apps/video if it were an iPod touch.

Cheers €429 in Ireland, none in stock yet.
I wonder how much I'd get for my AR2, will check out ebay now, if I could get €150 for it be worth the upgrade. Perfect for android users.

I wonder if the AR2 and AR 4 have the same inputs on the back and I can upgrade as y ou did just by removing and installing back the new unit. I'do hate to have to rewrite everything, it is a nightmare!!

Does the AR4 comes with the GPS module and the microphone, or our have to buy it separately?

I wonder if the AR2 and AR 4 have the same inputs on the back and I can upgrade as y ou did just by removing and installing back the new unit. I'do hate to have to rewrite everything, it is a nightmare!!

 

Does the AR4 comes with the GPS module and the microphone, or our have to buy it separately?

Yes, the AR2 and AR3 have identical inputs and leads, so you will be able to do the same as me. The AR4 also comes with mic and GPS which again is identical. You can just switch the head unit and leave everything else as is.

Only issue I had was with the reverse camera. When I did my AR3 install, I was a bit lazy and didn't ground the power for the camera because it could get a ground via the video jack. For whatever reason, this doesn't work on the AR4, but when I grounded the camera to the chassis, it worked fine.

Yes, the AR2 and AR3 have identical inputs and leads, so you will be able to do the same as me. The AR4 also comes with mic and GPS which again is identical. You can just switch the head unit and leave everything else as is.

 

Only issue I had was with the reverse camera. When I did my AR3 install, I was a bit lazy and didn't ground the power for the camera because it could get a ground via the video jack. For whatever reason, this doesn't work on the AR4, but when I grounded the camera to the chassis, it worked fine.

That is very cool. So it should be an easy swap.

I expect my backup camera to work without any issue as it is already grounded properly.

What reverse camera are you's using, thinking of getting one when I upgrade to AR4, wide angle?

What reverse camera are you's using, thinking of getting one when I upgrade to AR4, wide angle?

Mine is this model:

http://www.crimestopper.com/products/safetyplus/cameras/sv6818emII.html

Another thing I should mention about the AR4 which is really cool is that if you don't have the guidance lines built into the camera, you can superimpose them and calibrate, which you couldn't do before.

It looks like the whole unit got more features, not just CarPlay addition. I'm almost disappointed having bought last year...

That all looks cool, I'm sold, is it just a standard apple lightning cable you need to use?