For safety reasons, Pioneer only plans to allow certain apps to display and work on the AppRadio. Also, certain of apps are disabled, such as the search function on Pandora. It was unclear whether disabled features are the decision of Pioneer, app makers, or both (one company told me Pioneer locked out a feature, while another said it came up with the features to disable).

And strangely, the way apps work with the AppRadio doesn't seem to have been standardized. With three of the apps, the iOS screen turns into a Pioneer splash screen when you launch an app. But with MotionX, the iOS screen stays active and can display items and information that the AppRadio screen currently doesn't. Also, to switch from one app to another requires you to tap its icon on the iPhone or iPod touch itself, which detracts somewhat from the idea of safety that Pioneer talked a lot about.

The AppRadio also offers AM/FM radio, and access to the music on your device. For the iPod function, there are on-screen buttons that let you scroll though your artists, albums, playlists, and so on. If you hold down a button, it will scroll fast and display the letter of the alphabet you're currently scrolling past. When you play music, you'll see a track's metadata, as well as album art, on the screen.

There's also built-in Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free calling (the kit includes a microphone) and Pioneer told me that all of your iPhone contacts will display on the screen.

Besides the dock connector, there are two additional inputs on the unit. One is for an optional rear camera that will display on the screen when you're backing up the car, the other is for wired remote control to allow the built-in buttons on many steering wheels to control the AppRadio's volume and tracks.