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Here's What's New for CarPlay on iOS 17 Ahead of Next-Generation CarPlay Later This Year
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Was expecting to hear something about CarPlay at WWDC. Disappointed.
I suspect the ability to layer digital buttons down in sub menus is the main differentiator vs physical buttons. Some primary controls are always best with first level access.
Precisely, give dimensions of the various portions of the driver’s display and allow them to select which tool fills those sections.
Having to use Audi’s terrible navigation and mapping tools in my driver’s display and HUD makes them unusable as I’m only ever in Waze or Google Maps. Although I really like the concept of having other mapping software control those driver sections of the displays.
I love GM and am enjoying my Wrangler 4xe…so this kind of sucks for me. I would never buy a Ford and have always had bad family experiences with Mercedes. Polestar looks like the only option, but I’m not sure they make a mid-sized SUV like I prefer (note I said SUV, not crossover!). Porsche could work too
Sharing Music is fine, but does this also allow route/POI sharing from a passenger as well?
Currently, if the driver is busy driving and the passenger/s are searching on their device for a stop or POI, there is no easy/safe way to share it with CarPlay. Of course the driver can ask Siri, but in areas of poor service or Siri offers multiple choices, sharing would be much easier.
I have sent a Feature Request to Apple, however if this is already available, perhaps someone could share how.
PS. I think Siri is trying to be more human - recently on CarPlay, Siri starts to give a direction and then hesitates and starts again: "At the next... I'm sorry let me try that again. At the next set of lights make a right turn".
Currently, if the driver is busy driving and the passenger/s are searching on their device for a stop or POI, there is no easy/safe way to share it with CarPlay. Of course the driver can ask Siri, but in areas of poor service or Siri offers multiple choices, sharing would be much easier.
I have sent a Feature Request to Apple, however if this is already available, perhaps someone could share how.
PS. I think Siri is trying to be more human - recently on CarPlay, Siri starts to give a direction and then hesitates and starts again: "At the next... I'm sorry let me try that again. At the next set of lights make a right turn".
I completely agree, that’s why I don’t pay for it and rely on Google Maps on the console screen instead. What I’m getting at is that Audi won’t give up that driver’s display for free to CarPlay.
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New feature: it not longer takes over your entire screen when using Siri or listening/replying to messages. It’s a much smaller tidier modal window that floats over whatever app you’re in. Surprised Macrumors haven’t noticed yet…
I *really* wish Tesla would change their mind about CarPlay. It's the one "stickler" that I don't like about my car. I'm looking at aftermarket solutions that would solve this ONE hole in an otherwise fantastic car (bought my Model 3 five years ago). If I can solve that issue for $1,000 or less, installed, then the fact that Tesla doesn't offer it becomes a non-issue.
I hear a lot of people say that, and I don't think it would be a bad option to have, but IMO it would look out of place on a screen that size. Maybe a modified version of CarPlay with just the app row, but the actual default screen when you plug in an iPhone would seem strange on a Tesla.
As someone that has a Tesla and used to switch back and froth between the Tesla UI and a vehicle with CarPlay, I am not sure that I am actually missing anything outside of my love for Apple Maps. I like the way they look, specifically with the traffic light indicators. I don't use messages in the car, I actually find even with CarPlay it is distracting.
I disagree. My (side) job involves driving a huge variety of cars and touchscreen controls aren't intuitive, they're less safe and near impossible to use without looking. There is plenty of research that backs this up. I'm not intimidated by new ideas, I just don't like unsafe/poorly thought out ones.
I think you are sort of making my point. You drive a wide range of vehicles, so I completely understand that logic. I mean in your personal vehicle, once you adjust to the display buttons, it becomes just as easy to use as physical controls. You just have to really lock down the interface. I won't argue that physical buttons are safer, but digital buttons, once you learn the interface are not difficult to use or unsafe. I'll also add that most vehicles with digital buttons have a voice command that can do the same. Eg, "set temperature to 70."
My point is that I've spent long enough to learn an interface in cars with touchscreen AC controls (for example) to know that it's not 'just as easy'.
Cars with physical controls are just easier to use, and usable by muscle memory.
Digital controls almost always require taking eyes off the road to locate the control and further distraction maintaining eye contact to interact with the screen, compared to physical controls which can often be interacted with, without looking away from the road.
I guess I just have never blind reached for a physical control on a car, outside of a turn signal or volume control on the steering wheel, which still seems to be present on these vehicles (damn you Tesla for removing stalks, which seems the route they are heading across the board). My point was that you are still looking away for a period of time either way.
As a car driver. Physical tactile buttons are superior in everyway. Easy to find without looking and needs only one action to do instead of multiple actions for one simple interaction.I mean yeah, I can't drive so it's not something I have personal experience with. I can give the benefit of the doubt there, I just recall this DF post (that took a fair bit of Googling to find):
Study Suggests That Hardware Buttons in Cars Are Safer and Quicker to Use Than Touchscreens
Link to: https://futurism.com/the-byte/study-finds-that-buttons-in-cars-are-safer-and-quicker-to-use-than-touchscreensdaringfireball.net
but then, whilst doing said Googling, I found this:
AAA: Apple CarPlay is less distracting to drivers vs. built-in systems designed by automakers
While many of today’s infotainment systems create potentially unsafe levels of distraction by allowing drivers to perform complex tasks...macdailynews.com
so the jury is out thus far. I guess my fear is centered around people who are newer to driving, and the possibility that this kind of infotainment system will become standard on many consumer-level cars (i.e. ones more easily accessible to newer drivers). Apple is making it quite obvious that they're aiming for a higher-end market initially, with many (not all, but many) of the carmakers listed for initial support having vehicles that are priced for people who have saved up the capital over time to purchase them. that said, we've all seen Apple go from sky-high prices (iPhone 2G) to far more consumer-minded prices (the SE—no, it's not lost on me that the SE is technically more expensive than the 2G after the $200 price drop, but it comes without the stipulation of a two-year contract that subsidizes it). MacBook Air is perhaps a better example, when $1799 got you a horrendous computer in the beginning and now $1099 (even $999 with the M1) gets you a beast.
I have the KIA EV6 and dislikes the infotainment system and fans aren't two distinct controls but requires a touch function to chsnge >.>
Really hate this about it.
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Well the thing is. It should be just as easy to use your turn signals, higwaybeems or answering a call.
You don't need to look away as you get physical feedback when doing the action. Such as lowering/ increasing the volume or fan speed etc. Some things can be simplified. Best control interface right now I think polestar have.
Right balance of physical and touch buttons. Physical for everything needed to operate the veicle and touch for anything not needed such as GPS and infotainment system
BMW has other features they really need to work on first.
The biggest one being detecting a lane change attempt and automatically activating the turn signal since the driver is too stupid to do it.
Really, all I care about is that they fix the annoying bug where CarPlay automatically activates the in-car mic, thinking you invoked Siri when you didn't. It happens consistently in the first few minutes after plugging in, and it doesn't seem to matter model/make of car, because it's been happening regardless of what vehicle I'm in.
It's at the point where I'm plugging my phone into my car less and less.
It's at the point where I'm plugging my phone into my car less and less.
I found the best way to avoid this with cars that have their own voice assistant is to long press the voice activation button. Holding it down for a few seconds goes to Siri.
oofie, yeah, that doesn’t look fun. I’m always someone who’s forward-looking in tech but, on a personal note, the touch controls just don’t do it for me in theory. it feels like such a slippery slope with a method of transportation that’s already so dangerous.
Yea. And sure it's just a small thing but it can really get irritating even tho it's just 0.01% of the experience.
Have a little byers remorse almost a year later and wish I bought the polestar 2 instead. I just love the red color of the KIA tho.
Odd the VW aren’t mentioned as Audi and Porsche are and they are both owned by VW.
You're good. The Wrangler is not a GM vehicle. It belongs to the Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM family run by Stellantis.
Looking forward to the updates for CarPlay…. I wish Apple Music had easier access to favorite radio stations or playlists… almost like presets for my favorites…