Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolucija
The latest to come with an exciting announcement is the NCAA, which has updated the March Madness Live app with some great new features.
If you’re a big college basketball fan, you probably already know that the March Madness app got Android Auto and CarPlay support last year. It was a welcome update that allowed users to follow games while driving, but with this new update, the NCAA is pushing the experience a step further.
The latest announcement includes many new benefits, including live activities and live update widgets for iPhone users, and you should check out the full press release embedded below for all the information.
Since we’re here to talk about what’s new about Android Auto and CarPlay, the update also includes an expanded live game radio for both platforms. I’m sure you knew you could listen to live radio broadcasts through other channels, but thanks to this update, live radio is available thanks to Westwood One for all 67 games under one roof. Everything is now available in the updated March Madness app, so you no longer have to switch to third-party software.
You’ll find live radio bundled with the Android Auto and CarPlay on-screen app once you’ve updated the app on your smartphone to the latest version.
As the Android Auto and CarPlay app ecosystems grow, I can’t help but wonder why some developers are ignoring this feature for their in-vehicle experience. Sports apps should come with live radio support preloaded, especially if live streams are already available through other apps. No one likes messing with third-party software when you should be getting this content as a first-party feature, and the NCAA is taking an important step in giving basketball fans the content they need.
Meanwhile, Android Auto and CarPlay haven’t officially opened their doors to YouTube yet. While the official YouTube client can allow background audio when the vehicle is in motion and provide a full experience when parked, neither Google nor Apple seem interested in whitelisting the popular app.
YouTube is already available on Android Automotive, and all content is limited when the vehicle is started. YouTube also works live on Android Auto and CarPlay with third-party hacks, so the experience is already available to drivers, regardless of whether the parent companies allow it. Google has never commented on plans to bring YouTube behind the wheel for non-AAOS drivers, so drivers have no choice but to turn to third-party solutions that unlock the full experience, even while driving (which is still a big no-no behind the wheel). .