A remote application server that operates cooperatively with an embedded radio receiver (52) in a vehicle can include a standalone portable device (12 or 60) having memory (41) for storing and independently presenting audio or data wirelessly received by the embedded receiver and a communication interface (45) in the standalone portable device for receiving audio and data received at the embedded receiver and for transferring audio or data or both to and from a computer network (49) when coupled to the network and for uploading stored audio or data or both to a user interface (57) when coupled to the embedded receiver. The server can include a processor (46) in the standalone portable device for remotely running applications on the standalone portable device that are presented on the user interface coupled to the embedded receiver via a thin client (71) resident in the user interface or embedded receiver.