Radio King Journal

The Blog

Practical guides and honest advice on car audio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, reversing cameras and in-car tech — written by the team fitting them every day in Dublin.

Apple CarPlay

How to Add Apple CarPlay to Any Car

Apple CarPlay can be added to almost any car in three ways: replace the factory stereo with a CarPlay head unit, fit a plug-in CarPlay interface behind the factory screen, or use the manufacturer’s own retrofit or activation where one exists. Which route fits your car depends on the dash opening and the screen it came with.

6 March 2025 4 min read

Reversing Cameras

Choosing the Perfect Reversing Camera for Your Vehicle

A reversing camera shows what is behind the car on the dash screen the moment reverse is selected. Choose by mount (number plate or brake light), night vision, wired or wireless, and whether it can show on your existing screen. Wired cameras give the most reliable picture; we fit both types at our Dublin workshop.

3 January 2025 3 min read

Apple CarPlay

Exploring the Evolution and Potential of CarPlay Systems

Next-generation Apple CarPlay, announced at WWDC 2022, goes beyond mirroring the iPhone: it can take over every screen in the car, including the instrument cluster and climate controls, while still running from the phone. Carmakers are split between adopting it and protecting their own systems; here is what that means for drivers and for cars already on the road.

25 December 2024 3 min read

Mercedes C-Class dashboard with a Radio King Android head unit running CarPlay, fitted in Dublin

Apple CarPlay

Benefits of Installing CarPlay Systems

Fitting Apple CarPlay puts navigation, calls, messages and music on the car’s own screen and under Siri, so the phone stays in your pocket. The main benefits are fewer distractions, live traffic in Google Maps or Waze, and a higher resale value. CarPlay can be retrofitted to almost any car at our Dublin workshop.

20 December 2024 3 min read

Opel Insignia with a 10-inch Android head unit showing the CarPlay home screen

Apple CarPlay

The Ultimate Guide to the Best CarPlay Apps in 2024

The best CarPlay apps are Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze for navigation, WhatsApp and Telegram for messaging, and Spotify, Apple Music and Audible for the drive itself. Nothing is installed separately: any compatible app on your iPhone appears on the car screen automatically once CarPlay is connected.

2 December 2024 5 min read

Honda Accord with a Radio King Android head unit in the Dublin workshop

Car Audio

What People Also Ask About Car Audio?

Car audio is still worth upgrading: a modern head unit, an amplifier, better speakers and a subwoofer turn a factory system into one that plays streaming, calls and navigation clearly at any volume. Here are the questions people ask most about car audio, answered by the team that fits these systems in Dublin.

27 November 2024 5 min read

Truck cab with a Radio King Android head unit fitted next to the original radio

Car Audio

The Impact of Car Radios on Driving Experience: What You Need to Know

A modern car radio does far more than play FM: it puts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, hands-free calls, a reversing camera and live navigation on one screen, which makes driving safer and less tiring. Here is how car radios evolved, what today’s head units add, and how to pick one for the way you drive in Ireland.

21 November 2024 7 min read

Nissan Qashqai with an Android head unit playing YouTube while parked

Android Auto

The Ultimate Guide to Watching YouTube on Android Auto

YouTube is not officially available on Android Auto, but it can be watched while parked by installing CarStream through AAAD (Android Auto Apps Downloader) on your phone. On an Android head unit like the ones we fit in Dublin, YouTube and Netflix run natively with no workaround. Here is the step-by-step, plus the safety rules.

14 November 2024 5 min read

Opel van dashboard with the original factory radio before an upgrade at Radio King

Car Audio

Why Buying Car Radios Online Yourself is a Bad Idea

Buying an Android car radio from AliExpress or Amazon costs more in the end: the specs are often false, there is no real warranty or support, the harness may not match an Irish, UK or Japanese-market car, and a cheap unit can damage the wiring. Radio King sells only tested units and fits them in Dublin with a one-year warranty.

9 September 2024 6 min read

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SpongeBobKillah

Fats friendly and service is next level, always communicating about the work and giving up to dates

2 weeks ago
A

Alonso Houlihan

Radioking converted the radio in my Japanese import, looks great and great service

2 weeks ago
C

Csaba Sarkadi

They installed Replacement media centre into my Japanese import Nissan Note in record time. Everything works great so far.

2 weeks ago
M

Musa Karabacak

Excellent service from Radio King. They supplied and professionally installed a 70mai T800 three-channel camera system in my taxi, covering the front, rear and passenger cabin. The wiring was fitted neatly and everything was fully…

2 weeks ago
T

Triona

A new radio fitted and the staff were fabulous - fair prices and great service

3 weeks ago
C

Carmel Mulholland

Very pleasant staff and fitted the carphone mike quickly. Working very well.

3 weeks ago
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Zoila Romero

The Experience was excelent. I got the screen radio I wanted and a web cámara. The staff is very friendly and respecful. I highly recomend them.

3 weeks ago
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Giles Lloyd

Very helpful and knowledgeable guys delighted with dash cam so far. Thanks again.

3 weeks ago

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The Blog

How to Add Apple CarPlay to Any Car

Choosing the Perfect Reversing Camera for Your Vehicle

Exploring the Evolution and Potential of CarPlay Systems

Benefits of Installing CarPlay Systems

The Ultimate Guide to the Best CarPlay Apps in 2024

What People Also Ask About Car Audio?

The Impact of Car Radios on Driving Experience: What You Need to Know

The Ultimate Guide to Watching YouTube on Android Auto

Why Buying Car Radios Online Yourself is a Bad Idea

Want a setup like this?

What our customers say

SpongeBobKillah

Alonso Houlihan

Csaba Sarkadi

Musa Karabacak

Triona

Carmel Mulholland

Zoila Romero

Giles Lloyd

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