Toyota has just announced new apps and features in a forthcoming update for its app-enabled Entune in-dash infotainment systems, which will come just a few months after Ford released its 2013 MyFord Touch update. While Entune — which requires a smartphone for data connectivity — already has Bing and Pandora apps, this update will add iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, and OpenTable to the mix.
For supported models, Toyota is also expanding its vehicles' voice recognition capabilities. Currently, Entune's voice recognition feature is limited to querying the navigation systems' supported functions, but Toyota's update will extend this to all the forthcoming apps. This means you'll be able to ask for things like movie tickets and and restaurant reservations using natural language, according to Toyota. Some Entune models will have varying support for the above features, for example "Premium HDD Navigation with Entune" and "Display Navigation with Entune" systems will only get added voice recognition, while "Display Audio with Navigation and Entune" will get the full gamut of app support. Toyota is planning on launching the update sometime this summer.