Convenient but requires a Bluetooth-capable car stereo<\/em><\/p>\n Probably the nicest solution is that of Bluetooth streaming. Originally designed for hands-free calling, car stereo manufacturers quickly included music streaming too.\u00a0With this solution, you just need to have a car stereo with Bluetooth connectivity.<\/p>\n Once you’ve paired your phone and the stereo, you can typically use the stereo’s controls (including those integrated into the steering wheel, if available) to control your phone’s music player and accept or reject incoming calls. Any music you play or calls that you accept will be streamed over the car’s speakers.\u00a0Streaming over Bluetooth does consume a little extra power, so it’s worth investing in a car charger<\/a> too.<\/p>\n The latest option for iPhone owners<\/em><\/p>\n It’s possible to connect your iPhone to your car’s dashboard\u00a0through a recent Apple system called CarPlay<\/a>. You’ll have access to your music, as well as navigation, messages, podcasts and other apps.<\/p>\n It’s only available in a few models from each major manufacturer currently, but adoption is continuing to grow at a steady rate and it’s a great choice for iPhone owners. You can also install CarPlay-compatible car stereos in older vehicles. Compatible with iPhone 5S and later models.<\/p>\n Older car models have a more basic integration with iPhones and iPods, offering a 30 Pin connector to charge your device and allowing your dashboard \/ steering wheel controls to control your music. This is a nice feature on older cars, but isn’t really worth installing on newer models \u2014 go for CarPlay or Bluetooth instead.<\/p>\n The best option for Android users<\/em><\/p>\n Google’s alternative to CarPlay is called Android Auto, and it provides an even cleaner interface to control your phone or tablet from your car’s dashboard. You can access maps, music, messages and many other apps.<\/p>\n Like CarPlay it’s only available on a limited number of recent cars, but these numbers are quickly growing. It’s also possible to find Android Auto car stereos.\u00a0You’ll need a phone running Android 5.0 Lollipop or later, which includes 35% of all active Android devices, and most\u00a0Android phones\u00a0sold in the past two years.<\/p>\n Universal device compatibility, but no control<\/em><\/p>\n Auxiliary input is perhaps the simplest way to get your phone’s music on your car stereo. Just\u00a0plug a 3.5mm stereo cable<\/a>\u00a0into your phone at one end, and into the car stereo at the other.<\/p>\n The auxiliary input option has a few advantages: firstly, it’s often the cheapest option; even inexpensive car stereos will have this option. \u00a0Another point in its favour is compatibility; anything that produces sound through a 3.5mm stereo jack will work. This includes MP3 players of all types, iPods, iPhones, Android phones, BlackBerries, and Windows phones.<\/p>\n One problem with auxiliary input is that you don’t gain the ability to control your music via the car’s controls. It can be quite dangerous to reach for a phone on the seat while driving, so avoid that wherever possible. Instead, put your music on shuffle, enlist your passenger to serve as ‘iPod commander’, or invest in a car holder<\/a>.<\/p>\n Listen to your music on the radio<\/em><\/p>\n The trusty FM transmitter is the first of our methods that don’t require a recent or after-market car stereo. Connect it to your phone using Bluetooth, USB or 3.5mm jack, and it’ll transmit the audio over FM to be picked up with your car’s radio. One excellent example is the Olixar Smartune Bluetooth FM transmitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you use this method, it’s important to make sure that the channel you’re transmitting on is empty; if it is close to other local stations then they will interfere. Most modern FM transmitters will allow you a choice of FM frequencies for this reason, so test each one until you find one that’s free of interference.<\/p>\n One downside to the FM transmitter is that the transmission isn’t perfect; you will find that you will receive better or worse quality based on where the FM transmitter is located in your car; again experimentation is the key to success here. Another is that even at the best possible transmission, you are limited to a fairly low quality signal; approximately equivalent to 48kbps in digital music. This compares\u00a0unfavourably\u00a0to the Bluetooth and auxiliary input methods, which typically stream as high as necessary for the source files.<\/p>\n Old reliable<\/em><\/p>\n Tape adapters are for the most part relegated to use in older vehicles, but I thought I’d include them for the sake of completeness. Essentially, they are dummy cassette tapes with a 3.5mm stereo cable attached, which comes out of the cassette slot and into your phone. You can also find more advanced options \u2014 like the one photographed above \u2014 which include batteries and memory card slots!<\/p>\n While these adapters boast none of the complications of FM adapters, fewer vehicles still have cassette players in the first place. Another downside is the audio quality, which isn’t ideal (as you might expect for something transmitted via magnetic tape.)<\/p>\n Still, the tape adapter is often the solution which works best for older vehicles, and certainly deserves a mention for technological ingenuity.<\/p>\n Rejecting the premise<\/em><\/p>\n![\"41hsfdPTiAL\"](\"https:\/\/www.mobilefun.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/41hsfdPTiAL.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nApple CarPlay<\/h3>\n
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\nAndroid Auto<\/h3>\n
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\nAuxiliary\u00a0Input<\/h3>\n
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\nFM transmitter<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n
\nTape adapter<\/h3>\n
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\nInstall Your Own Speaker<\/h3>\n