Volkswagen has started building in support for Apple's CarPlay technology in some of its vehicles. However, the car maker said this week that a planned demo of wireless CarPlay support during CES 2016 was blocked by Apple for unnamed reasons.

According to Car and Driver:

The article points out that iOS 9 does allow for wireless connections from an iPhone to a CarPlay-based vehicle. However, there are no cars that can support that feature yet.

Source: Car and Driver

CES 2016 usually has a lot of the same iPhone accessories you've come to expect, but audio company Audeze did show off an impressive looking headset, the Audeze SINE planar magnetic headphones. We got a chance to check out at the show, and see how iPhone users can connect to this headset with Audeze's optional Lightning cable.

Audeze says the SINE is their lightest headphone they have made so far. The exclusive Lightning cable option can stream a complete 24-bit digital signal through a high quality DSP and DAC to offer better sound quality directly from the iPhone. The SINE will go on sale in late January for the price of $499.

What do you think of the Audeze SINE planar magnetic headphones? Let us know in the comments!

Kenwood has announced its 2016 car product lineup at CES 2016, including eight new head units with support for CarPlay. The new receivers are a part of both the standard Kenwood line, as well as the Kenwood eXcelon product group.

For 2016, the Kendwood head units received a processor upgrade, which allows the units to start up faster. Kenwood also focused on sound quality with this year's products, with select eXcelon units gaining support for 192KHz, 24-bit FLAC or WAV embedded files. All 2016 models also feature support for pairing two devices over Bluetooth simultaneously.

Press release:

KENWOOD Introduces 15 New Multimedia Receivers for 2016

Expanded smartphone support, higher-quality calls and faster processing deliver a premium user experience

LAS VEGAS – January 7, 2016 (MEDIAWIRE) – Kenwood USA, manufacturer of advanced-technology driver entertainment systems, will debut its 2016 product lineup at International CES. The collection includes 15 new double-DIN multimedia receivers—12 of which supplant the previous year's models—across the KENWOOD and KENWOOD eXcelon lines. Key improvements address consumers' desire to seamlessly and safely access smartphone-centric apps through an intuitive interface, as well as performance enhancements to support onboard navigation and source selection.

The 2016 multimedia platform received a processor upgrade resulting in improved stability and faster startup. The additional power also supports a completely new graphic user interface that delivers album art, navigation instructions and source selection in vibrant color and clarity. To personalize the interface, users can add shortcuts to their most-used sources on the home screen, select from a variety of backgrounds and switch between information sources by swiping across the display. For models with built-in Guidance by Garmin®, navigation maps and icons are more informative, and routing and recalculating are faster, thanks to new solid-state memory and a doubling of data transfer speeds.

The number of models embedded with Apple CarPlay™ has increased from four to eight, encompassing the four new topline models across KENWOOD and KENWOOD eXcelon. When a compatible iPhone® is connected to the receiver via USB, the Apple CarPlay interface lets the user access select entertainment and information smartphone apps on the receiver's display, as well as use Siri® to make selections, provide navigation directions and deliver search results by voice.

As well, the number of units equipped with Android Auto™ has doubled to four models in 2016. Created to extend the Android experience into the vehicle environment, Android Auto provides useful information at the right time, in addition to turn-by-turn navigation, music selection and more. A combination of voice and simplified touch menus lets the driver access Android Auto's features with minimal distraction. Phones connected through the USB port now benefit from new rapid-charging technology that delivers up to 1.5 amps.

Sound quality was enhanced in the 2016 line. Available on select KENWOOD eXcelon receivers, High-Resolution Audio Playback decodes up to 192KHz, 24-bit FLAC- or WAV-embedded files from media connected through the USB port, which now supports more types of storage media. For all 2016 receivers, a built-in 13-band equalizer enables precise audio adjustments. To further tailor audio to the vehicle environment, the user can access new features to adjust digital time alignment, sound stage height, ambiance and volume based on ambient road noise, powering the built-in amplifier or external amplifiers through three sets of RCA outputs.

Previously featured only on key models, all 2016 receivers now support the ability to have two phones actively connected via Bluetooth at the same time, letting the driver and passenger select which phone will be broadcast through the audio system. All models also receive the latest Hands-Free profile, supporting high-quality calls at twice the bandwidth of the previous profile.

In addition to audio and the user interface, all 2016 multimedia units can now better interface with the larger vehicle world. Each supports connection of two cameras (front and rear view) to help avoid obstacles while parking and maneuvering. Most new units also support connection with iDataLink® Maestro, an add-on vehicle gateway device that enables the receiver to read vehicle information, control specific factory features and connect to factory installed entertainment and safety peripherals.

The 2016 multimedia lineup will be on display during the upcoming International CES in Las Vegas, January 6-9 at Booth #1702 in the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more details, please visit the KENWOOD website at www.kenwood.com/usa .

CES officially opened today, and the show floor was absolutely packed with the latest and greatest wares from companies around the globe. Sure, a lot of the big announcements were yesterday, but that didn't stop anybody from rolling out even more new gadgets and services. This is CES, after all, and what's a day of CES without a bunch of new tech? 06 January

HP goes premium

Early in its tenure HP was a pioneering electronics manufacturer, but somewhere along the way they got lost. Well HP has been beating their way back to amazing products, and this year at CES rolled out several impressive new offerings. Take the HP Spectre x360, which got an optional quad HD OLED display panel, and the obscenely-thin HP EliteBook Folio. HP still makes commodity hardware, sure, but the path they've taken to the premium end of the spectrum is resulting in some really great products.

• Hands-on with the 13-inch HP Spectre x360 with QHD OLED display
• Hands-on with HP's impressively thin EliteBook Folio

Netflix Everywhere

As Netflix CEO Reed Hastings took to the stage in Las Vegas for the CES 2016 keynote, Netflix went live in 130 new countries, bringing the video streaming service to virtually every country in the world. Notable new additions for Netflix included Russia, India and South Korea.

• Netflix comes to 130 countries, including India

Samsung Gear S2 Classic 18K rose gold and platinum hands-on

Samsung has expanded its line of Tizen smartwatches with new, shinier models aimed at female buyers. The new rose gold Gear S2 Classic comes with a white leather band, while the platinum model is bundled with a black leather strap.

• Samsung introduces new rose gold and platinum Gear S2 smartwatches

Dell's insane new OLED monitor is only $5,000

Normally we wouldn't spend a lot of time talking about a monitor, but we'll make an exception for this one. Dell today announced a new 30-inch 4K UltraSharp monitor, and it's the first to pack OLED display technology. This brings a few benefits, including narrow bezels and a narrow body, but it's the picture itself that's the big story. OLED brings intense colors and near-infinite black levels to the party, plus a ridiculously-fast 0.1ms refresh rate.

• Here is Dell's astonishing $5,000 UltraSharp 30-inch OLED monitor
• Dell adds new 4K OLED, InfinityEdge and wireless monitors to its lineup

Fossil Q Grant and Q54 Pilot

Fossil has a multi-pronged approach to smartwatches — those with screens, and those without. The new Q Grant and Q54 Pilot land in the second camp: They look like "regular" mechanical watches, but have smartwatch-like features baked into the back.

These watches have mechanical movements and all of the style of the standard Grant and Pilot 54 watches from Fossil, but can also track your steps and alert you of notifications from your phone. A neat balance to strike if you're not all-in with the smartwatch trend just yet.

• Hands-on with Fossil's Q Grant and Q54 Pilot

Alcatel OneTouch comes to Windows Mobile

The Fierce XL is coming to T-Mobile

We've already had Acer jump in on the premium end of Windows 10 Mobile, now Alcatel OneTouch is here to round out the bottom. Their Fierce XL is coming to T-Mobile, and while it's not the most beastly of phones, but at $140 it's damned impressive. We're looking at a 5.5-inch 720p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 processor, and an 8MP camera all wrapped in a colorful cyan body. The lower end is where Windows Phones have seen the most success, and the Fierce XL is bringing Alcatel OneTouch's expertise in that market to the fore.

• Alcatel OneTouch Fierce XL Windows 10 Mobile smartphone announced, coming to T-Mobile
• Hands-on with the T-Mobile Alcatel OneTouch Fierce XL with Windows 10 Mobile

The Honor 5X is coming to America

$199 for a solid phone from Huawei's sub-brand

Huawei's Honor sub-brand hits the U.S. this year with the arrival of the Honor 5X, a new, affordable handset around the $199 mark that delivers capable smartphone hardware features like a 1080p display, a metal chassis and a 13-megapixel camera with LED flash. On the software side it's still packing Android 5.1 Lollipop, but the Honor 5X has a lot to offer in other areas.

• Honor 5X hands-on

Razer's new ultrabook is thin but mighty

Plus a Thunderbolt 3 dock that brings desktop-class graphics to the party

Razer's a gaming company at it's core, so you'd be forgiven for being confused at first by the new Razer Blade. By all measures it's a pretty typical ultrabook (though with Razer-styling), but plug it into the Razer Core box with a Thunderbolt 3 cable and suddenly you've got desktop-class graphics power. Portability when you need it, a rocking gaming machine when you want it. Oh, and that Thunderbolt 3 cable? It also provides power to the laptop. We're finally at one cable to rule them all.

• The full tour of the new Razer Blade Stealth 12.5-inch ultimate gaming Ultrabook
• The Razer Core adds desktop-class graphics to Razer's slick new ultrabook

The everything else that is CES

CES is more than just smartphones and tablets and laptops and watches. It's put on by the Consumer Technology Association, after all. At CES you can find just about everything that takes an electrical current (and some things that don't). And more than any other electronics trade show, CES defines the trends that we can expect to see in the coming year. And this year, it's all about connecting every facet of your home to you.

• CES 2016: The Toaster-Fridge Awakens—in 4K HDR

CES started as a trade show for retail. In the '80s and '90s, it was a venue for great technology intros such as the CD (1981), the DVD, (1986) and HDTV (1998). By 2000, CES was the place to launch major products such as Xbox (2001). When I look at this year's show, I see a lot of things no one needs, and few people will want. It's a Sharper Image catalog brought to life, the ultimate "Why? Because I can!" So why is it still an important event? It's the place to try and spot the new, new thing that might get consumers to replace the old, old thing. So far, I don't see it but here's what I do see.

Car Wars are the new platform wars

When Ford first came to CES, no one could understand why. Today it's obvious. The next consumer electronics platform war will be fought behind the wheel. I expect to hear a lot more from Apple and Google on this topic. As for Microsoft? The idea of MS Office in the car is truly frightening. Friends don't let friends PowerPoint and drive. As I like to say, PCs may have bugs but (Volkswagen) Bugs don't need PCs.

4K HDR is the New 3D

I understand vendors need to find a way to sell new TVs. Screens are large enough, (too large? If I offered you a 150" TV, where would you put it?) it's hard to make TV's thinner, and 3D was a total flop. I'm just not convinced 4K HDR will do the job. When I look at the best 4K HDR screens, they don't offer much improvement over a great 1080p HD experience (especially on smaller screens, at shorter distances). Even for those who can appreciate the quality, there's very little content available right now to justify the cost (unless you like Spiderman 2 an awful lot). We're not past the largest TV replacement cycle since color TV, and consumers aren't looking to buy again.

Fitness trackers are the new gym memberships

Uni-task fitness trackers aren't going to go the distance. Consumers will treat these things as they treat gym memberships; a great purchase in January but forgotten by March. Most will end up in drawers after their batteries run out a few times. I'm sure some good stuff will survive but by this time next year more than one company won't be around. Also, adding a clock to a fitness tracker doesn't make it a watch... but that's a topic for another day.

Drones are the new… something

There's a fascination with flying things that interfere with airplanes, infringe on privacy, and are generally a nuisance at best and a danger at worst. It's the perfect gadget no one needs (unless you're calling in an airstrike) but will sell in the millions before they are banned.

Finally…

Apple casts a shadow over CES… Again

I'm not talking about 2007 when the iPhone introduction stole the show. (Remember the great new stuff introduced at CES that year? Me neither.) I'm not talking about the hundreds of Apple-related products on display every year. I am talking about the Apple presence shown, in every device I see, inspired by everything from Macbook to Apple Watch. If you're going to steal, only steal from the best.

That homage is ok for me, though. CES isn't just for the retail trade anymore. It's a place where visionaries try to show us the future, aspire to create the next thing to change people's lives, and find their own way to Think Different. No matter what, it still makes me smile. A lot.

It looks like popular accessory maker Griffin is far from done with its CES 2016 announcements, as the company has just introduced new color options for some of its popular desktop accessories. On tap are new gray, gold and black versions of the PowerMate Bluetooth, Elevator, and Guide accessories that perfectly match the available colors of the MacBook

The PowerMate Bluetooth, which acts as a wireless controller allowing users to streamline routine tasks by replicating frequently used key commands and the like, is particularly interesting. In addition to a new set of colors on the outside, each color option features a different glow on the base. The gray sports a blue glow, while the gold and black feature a white and red glow, respectively.

Like the PowerMate Bluetooth, the Elevator laptop stand — which, as its name implies, elevates your MacBook to a slightly more comfortable position — is getting the same set of new color options. And finally, Griffin's cable management accessory, Guide, will also be available in gold, gray and silver offerings, in addition to the current orange option.

Griffin says that the new Elevator and Guide color options will be available for $40 each starting in March 2016, while the new PowerMate Bluetooth colors will be available sometime in Q2 2016 for $60. And if you happen to be at CES 2016, you can check out the new accessory options at Griffin's booth.

Fiat Chrysler has become the latest car maker to officially announce its support of CarPlay. It revealed as part of its CES 2016 announcements that a select number of its vehicles will have CarPlay support sometime in 2016.

Details of that support are scarce at the moment, but Fiat Chrysler did say that the support will be included with its new fourth-generation UConnect systems with its 8.4-inch screen, along with a select number of other cars. Specific details, such as a launch date and the actual car models, have yet to be revealed. However, UConnect will be demoed at CES inside the 2016 Dodge Charger Pursuit. This news comes a few hours after Ford revealed CarPlay support for all of its 2017 car models.

Source: Fiat Chrysler