Parrot’s New In-Dash System Will Bring Android Auto and CarPlay to Your Car

Parrot is usually associated with consumer-oriented drones. However, this time at CES 2015, the company took the stage to unveil an in-dash head unit that will bring smiles on both iOS and Android users’ face.

In 2015, most car manufacturers have pledged support for either Apple’s CarPlay or Google’s Android Auto, two systems that will bring the power of their mobile operating systems to the dashboard, but do it in a safe way that won’t be too distracting.

Parrot’s RNB6 is an in-dash head unit running its own version of Android 5.0, but it also has support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This means you don’t need a new car just to get Android Auto or Apple’s CarPlay. Parrot’s RNB 6 head unit will add both to any car you like.

It is a double DIN unit that comes with a impressive 7-inch 720p “IPS Pro” touchscreen, along with a 4 x 55-watt audio amplifier and a wired wide-angle 1080p dash cam (with “Super HDR”). The device runs on a slightly customized version of Android 5.0 that offers media playback, navigation, telephony, dash cam, air control, parking assistance and onboard diagnostics for tire pressure, parking sensors, air conditioning and much more, as well as voice control for some of these features.

Another impressive feature of RNB6 is that it lets you adjust the sound stage inside the car, so that when the driver is by himself or herself, the music can be set to sound as if you’re sitting in the middle instead of off-center. Parrot even offers some presets for certain car models for you to download, and similarly, you can share your presets to help other RNB6 users.

There is no word on price and availability as yet. However, considering the features and Android Auto CarPlay support, we a sure it will be an expensive device when it ships sometime in the second half of 2015.