Apple Launching All-New CarPlay Experience in 2023 With These 5 Key Features

[MVMNT]

Every car is an Apple Car

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I got a 2022 Chevrolet with built-in wireless CarPlay, replaced my 2020 Chevrolet with wired CarPlay + aftermarket wireless adapter. Having made use of it, wireless CarPlay is a MUST-HAVE in any future vehicles, and I'm quite confident in saying when it's time to replace this current car, I'll be looking for most of these features to be supported in my next car... if a car doesn't have them, I'll just keep looking.

"Most" of the features - if it doesn't support "FM Radio App" I'll be fine with that 🤣 who listens to radio any more???

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Must be just yours. I can have radio (FM, AM, SXM) running while using CarPlay. Even get two separate volume sliders when adjusting volume from the steering wheel. One for whatever music I’m playing and one for map guidance / Siri.

I had a free few months of Sirius XM when I bought my car, so I played with that a bit. On my car, it would continue to play XM even when in the CarPlay screen. But for volume, it would adjust whatever audio happened to be playing... if I hit the volume buttons on the steering wheel (or adjust the knob on the dash) while listening to music, it adjusts music volume. If I want to adjust map guidance, I have to wait until it's SAYING something, and adjust the volume at that point. Kind of odd but at the same time, easy to understand so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[jwdsail]

And now the uphill climb over the next decade to get car manufacturers to adopt the FM radio integration alone…

AM radio support by 2033!

 

[jwdsail]

BMW will probably require a subscription to make it work ...

 

[seinman]

You don't actually even have CarPlay do you? If you did, you would know that CarPlay takes over the infotainment screen and the audio of your car. In order to see (or more importantly hear) the radio, you have to exit CarPlay. It has been that way since the beginning.

You’re right about the touchscreen controls, but vehicle-based audio will play over the CarPlay interface if your vehicle or head unit manufacturer implemented CarPlay correctly. It’ll even fade down the music playing from AM/FM/XM to read directions from CarPlay then fade it back up, all while showing the CarPlay interface on the display. I frequently listen to XM and change channels with steering wheel controls while CarPlay shows my navigation.

 

[Kar98]

Changing sources. Changing to something not a preset.

I can cycle through input sources (FM, AM, SXM, BT, optional Pandora, Spotify, Aux but I have those turned off) with the input source button on the wheel, but yeah, can't change between non preset stations without minimizing CarPlay first.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

They might need to figure out how to get CarPlay to work without turning your phone into a space heater, too.

 

[jmgregory1]

I wonder what the Apple sales team calling on automakers have had to deal with over the years - same thing for Android Auto teams. I would bet that automakers were initially total jerks about allowing their head units to be taken over by connected phones a few years ago. Now they’re offering up full control of the electronics, or at least to over-lay the car’s own systems.

 

[Chazak]

Wonderful. Too bad no auto manufacturer will support it. It will be just like shelf space in the supermarket - a good product with no where to go.

 

[Chazak]

Haha. All the brands of vehicles that no one buys anymore. Strange.

Sounds more like economic envy than anything else.

 

[Roadster Lewis]

As an ex automotive infotainment software engineer this all sounds very interesting. However, my first thought when anything is controlling the instrument cluster is what ASIL (Automotive Safety Integrity Level) is needed? Will iOS have to be ASIL rated?

The article did not make it clear, but I expect that this will still run on the iPhone, with extra APIs opened up, rather than running on the cars infotainment ECU (like Android Automotive).

Don't you think that there will be software updates for this, which would allow compatibility going back a few models?

I expect not. I expect that implementing these new features will be a fairly big change for infotainment modules in a car, although it is likely to mostly be a software change, there isn’t always that much headroom on the hardware.

Carmakers are so completely terrible at software, thank goodness, hope it’s a trend. Can’t we make all the same arguments they are making for a phone? A car is a platform, I want my own software.

Apple are definitely better than the automotive industry at user interface software, but there’s a lot of stuff that you don’t see, where I am glad of all of the automotive requirements.

I don't think we'll have to wait for 2023 or greater cars. Most vehicles now support software/firmware updates that would allow the manufacturer to drop in an API for CarPlay. The question is, will they do it based on the demand? I certainly hope so, because this would be a game changer. I would gladly welcome Apple's UI into my vehicle over what's there now.

I doubt many cars will be updated, but that some of the changes will be available.

FM radio? No DAB?

I guess this is because Apple are a US centric company, and DAB isn’t available in America, or is either satellite radio (Sirius) or HD FM (IBOC). However, as I expect that this will just be opening up a “tuner” API, hopefully it will work for all sorts of broadcast radio.

Land Rover rolled out wireless Apple CarPlay as a free OTA upgrade last year and my vehicle received the upgrade despite being a year old. And over the last 2 years I have received numerous other enhancements for free courtesy of these updates. So you never know!

Would be nice if this new version of CarPlay could also commandeer the HUD, I find myself always opting for the Land Rover navigation solution because it provides guidance in the HUD.

Whilst an infotainment platform is still under development updates tend to be available, Land Rover’s PIVI has been good for that.

Again, if it is just an API, there’s no reason it could not work with HUD. A lot of HUD implementations already share video input with the instrument cluster.

Wow that looks slick, I have a 2022 Tiguan with a digital cluster, but I can't see mine getting that update.

I wonder what legalities Apple open themselves up for if the speedometer isn't accurate and someone gets busted speeding or something?

There’s a lot of safety/legal stuff for the instrument cluster. I’m also interested to see how this is handled.

So I am supposed to ditch the car manufacturers driving instrument display and use Apples? No thanks on this for now.

The OEM interface will still be there, as the car would never get type approved requiring an external device for basic features.

So how exactly is this new CarPlay going to be received? Is it over the air updates like Tesla's updates are, or is it only going to be for specific car models?

iOS update, new features will show up on cars that call the APIs is my best guess.

If the new Car Play implementation is successful this will probably serve as the beginning of the end of third party head units from brands like Pioneer etc. They're on their way to becoming obsolete, similar to Google Maps/Waze + iPhone basically rendering 3rd party GPS units from Garmin etc. obsolete.

All the Carplay integration from the FM Radio App to the HUD seems impressive. Hopefully it is bug free and does not bug out while the vehicle is in motion. The only thing I wish CarPlay had which I know Apple won't add is the ability to watch video when the car is stationary. Like if I'm parked waiting to pick up a family member, I should be able to watch youtube or some other video source... to kill time.

I doubt it. CarPlay has actually driven a resurgence of aftermarket headunits, as people want CarPlay. The type of cars that this will be going on, with distributed infotainment architectures, wouldn’t be suitable for aftermarket headunits anyway.

It will be interesting to see what market share CarPlay gets over Android Auto. Will automakers be able to install both in their cars to allow consumers to choose after purchase? Or will automakers have to make two different versions of their vehicles forcing consumers to have to choose before purchase? Do automakers pay a royalty or licensing fee to apple to install CarPlay in their vehicles?

The hardware required for CarPlay and Android Auto are very similar, and both can be supported on the same infotainment module. I’m not sure about royalties, but Apple do have to sign off on the CarPlay implementation.

This is not going to be well integrated. They have no control over the cars hardware, this is just a sidejob for the time being.

I expect that Apple will have their APIs ready long before the vehicle OEMs will be ready to use them to their full extent.

I am concerned about the increase in the number of apps and windows that would unavoidably distract drivers. Keep visuals to the minimum; rely on voice (yes, that includes improving Siri)

Apple are actually really good at this, CarPlay/Siri is generally better than OEM interfaces.

Until this is on a shipping car, it is highly theoretical. BMW, Mercedes, and Hyundai won’t have it. Volvo and GM in bed with Android / Google Automotive.
Honda maybe? (2025/26 Odyssey?)
And does this tap into the Blackberry QNX car IoT bus?

It will just be another set of APIs, it should work with both Android Automotive and QNX. It will be down to the vehicle OEMs to implement.

I find this really interesting from an integration and standards point of view. Gonna have to read around on it, would love to know what’s been agreed.

You’d imagine that all the big car companies are gonna jump on such a standard it given how much they struggle with software, but of course they’ll need to continue building their own software anyway as you can’t sell a car that’s reliant on a phone to operate. Might Apple have a long term plan to release a carOS? 🤔

I think that they see CarPlay as a necessary evil. Car companies want to keep/sell the data produced by the car, not give it away to Apple. However consumers love CarPlay.

I wonder if aftermarket head units will receive support?

they will get some of the features, but given that most of them are to do with vehicle integration it will be tricky. Maybe there will be some support where there are gateway modules to the vehicle networks, for example I know of some model specific aftermarket headunits where HVAC control is included.

There is very little information about what exactly this new generation of CarPlay is going to be.

Does it run on the phone? What is you have a non-iPhone? Will vehicles have two modes? CarPlay Gen2 mode and factory mode

From the limited information, it almost sounds like this is Apple's answer to Andoid Automotive (not Android Auto). To achieve this level of integration, it needs to run on the automobile's hardware, and not be a screen share, which the current integration of Car Play is.

The question is what auto manufacturers are willing to give up control of their in car infotainment. I just bought an ID.4 and have found that I use the built-in system way more than Car Play. Neither is what I would consider great, but I like the integration of the built-in Nav to other features in the car.

All valid points. I doubt that it is an Android Automotive competitor though.

I can think of nothing less than I want in a vehicle than these apps clouding up my space. My first order of business is to delete and disable all of Apple’s functionality that does anything not absolutely pivotal to the ability to work with the apps I actually want to use on there.

The reasons I love the iPhone:
* It provides a secure and relatively fluid OS experience. This specifically excludes the hoards of inane settings and STUPID preloaded apps that all completely and utterly suck! This includes but is not limited to: Reminders, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Compass, Weather, Stocks, Health, Fitness, and largely, Safari (which I am for no reason still forced with if I want to do something so simple as to auto-fill my address… obnoxious.)
* Oh wait, this was a love list. Um, and iMessages and contact synching.

Please, someone tell me what awful UI/UX designer decided I need to see two separate lists of every single app installed on my phone (one in Siri & Search) and one underneath the already massive list of settings menus). This is the software equivalence of a a crime against humanity.

The reasons I love a car:
* It moves my rear end from the place I am to the place I want to be.

What makes me hate a car:
* When it distracts me more to be in it and I have to physically ignore what I’m doing so it can take over the experience “smartly” for me and make me more liable to crash suppressing its stupidity…

So what is presented so far looks like my idea of a nightmare. I’d sooner ride around in a lawnmower. I can’t believe they’re still trying to push Apple Maps on people for as long as that product has blown chunks. The best feature they could provide would be an “Uninstall All” and the ability to load up what I actually want on there. Why can no company simply provide a working OS platform with important things (efficient memory management and security) without forcing their crap UI/UX and privacy SINS onto me until the world fights them tooth and nail not to? We need to build a real alternative to both of these evils… where is the beautiful, simple, minimalist, generic OS that macOS used to at least somewhat represent? Now it’s a popup Hell worse than Windows Vista!!!!

Don’t plug your iPhone into your car infotainment system then.

It is not CarPlay anymore it should call CarOS from now

I doubt that would be the case.

So  wants to take over more of the car
Since when has  made reliable software??? Huh? Huh?

Car companies aren’t exactly famed for their infotainment software quality either…

 

[tomtad]

Is it just me that doesn't want Apple everywhere? Like I have an iPhone, Mac, Watch. It's actually quite nice to see a display that isn't set in the SF font when I drive the car.

I have no issue with Apple operating the back end and services being integrated but feel car manufacturers should be able to customise the interfaces and speedos to reflect their brands.

 

[fatTribble]

I like CarPlay and use it all the time but I really, really prefer real dashboards and real knobs and buttons to activate things. It is so much easier to use when not looking and it is less distracting plus it doesn't cause you to lose night sight adaptation in darker situations.

Totally agree. It was a big reason I didn’t buy a Tesla. I want to make changes in the car without taking my eyes off the road.

 

[Neepman]

Its the future. your 60 thousand dollar car gets bricked because your carplay cant be updated because it only has 1gb of RAM

 

[Marsikus]

When do they release fist from the dashboard for distracted drivers?

 

[codelode84]

You don't actually even have CarPlay do you? If you did, you would know that CarPlay takes over the infotainment screen and the audio of your car. In order to see (or more importantly hear) the radio, you have to exit CarPlay. It has been that way since the beginning.

In my Bronco there is a 1/3 of the screen on the right that is can of other non-CarPlay features.

 

[fatTribble]

Is it just me that doesn't want Apple everywhere? Like I have an iPhone, Mac, Watch. It's actually quite nice to see a display that isn't set in the SF font when I drive the car.

I have no issue with Apple operating the back end and services being integrated but feel car manufacturers should be able to customise the interfaces and speedos to reflect their brands.

I go back and forth. I like the idea of all of my iPhone stuff being readily available in the car. But like you I also enjoy a different interface based on the car.

 

[Techwatcher]

Looks great! Haven't had a car since the start of the pandemic (sold it), but it appears it's time to choose something again.

 

[0924487]

Will they be available in Mercedes in mid 2023? I want a new car.

 

[codelode84]

Last few times I put in directions thru a weather event it warned me if conditions ahead on the map screen. Let me see if I can find a screenshot.

They need to let radar apps such as RadarScope on CarPlay. Tired of going to my phone to see how bad the storm is.

 

[lovehateapple]

CarPlay should be Apple's top #1 priority in 2023.

Apple's top priority in 2023 should be diversifying their supply chain so they're not so totally dependent on China.

 

[Kottu]

I know that Volvo is relying on Google for their infotainment in their latest models. My last volvo was a 2018 model and it wasn't an easy task to control via voice command. Luckily being made in Sweden, it could understand Swedish to a certain extent. Controlling navigation isn't easy though.
Now I have a BMW without support in Swedish voice command. Damn thing can't understand Swedish towns or streets if I changed the language to English. So, it doesn't matter how good the car manufacturers are, they are all suck in delivering a good infotainment system.

 

[PsykX]

Toyota will probably adopt it in 5 years lol...

It was my favorite car maker, but my god are they SLOW to implement tech such as CarPlay...

 

[twiebnoyagad]

Since they aren't releasing the Apple Car?

They aren't? Isn't this Apple pushing out a larger Carplay experience so they can harvest more data for their own car?