iOS 13.4 Beta Reveals 'CarKey' Feature That Would Turn Your iPhone or Apple Watch Into a Car Key

[thawk9455]

My opinion hasn't changed. You keep saying the same thing. I don't have to like it because you do. I'm sorry you feel that you need my approval.
p.s. I'm not the only one who thinks it's a ridiculous process...just to unlock your car.

What's so ridiculous unless you're not understanding the process. The only step that takes more than a heartbeat or two is the initial configuration. From what I've read, once you configure it once, it works in low power mode (or potentially without power) just be being near the door, just like your FOB.

Even if it does require extremely close proximity to the NFC reader to activate, you still won't need to launch anything on your phone, or potentially even take it out. I never take any of my NFC access cards out of my wallet, just brush by the reader to open doors at work.

Heck, Land Rover currently sells an option to get a "active band" that lets you wear a bracelet to replace your FOB. This would completely eliminate the need for something like that and since it works on a standard, should be available on any brand that decides to support it.

 

[Braderunner]

What's so ridiculous unless you're not understanding the process. The only step that takes more than a heartbeat or two is the initial configuration. From what I've read, once you configure it once, it works in low power mode (or potentially without power) just be being near the door, just like your FOB.

Even if it does require extremely close proximity to the NFC reader to activate, you still won't need to launch anything on your phone, or potentially even take it out. I never take any of my NFC access cards out of my wallet, just brush by the reader to open doors at work.

Heck, Land Rover currently sells an option to get a "active band" that lets you wear a bracelet to replace your FOB. This would completely eliminate the need for something like that and since it works on a standard, should be available on any brand that decides to support it.

I'm just going by what was in this article.
"This would allow you to approach your vehicle, hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near an NFC reader in the vehicle, authenticate with Face ID, and have the vehicle unlock automatically".
This procedure is required every time you want to unlock the car...according to THIS article.
Obviously, it would be convenient if all you had to do was approach the car with your phone on your person.
That is not how it works...according to this article. I know I repeated that twice. Seems I have to.

 

[Ruggy]

It sound like it's adding a layer of security.

Sure, there are apps that can open the car already- mine can open the windows, sounds the horn, check the mileage, oil level etc., loads of things too.

And keyless entry works fine so you don't even need to take the fob out of your pocket to start the car.

But the article mentions you need to unlock using Face ID, so it means the lock is linked to your face is linked to you.

Because in Europe at least the vast majority of cars now are stolen by boosting the signal from the fob.

Typically, thieves come to your home. One goes to the back door with a transmitter/receiver and the other stands by the car with a similar box.

Once they've picked up the signal from the key (which can be up to about 20 feet away) the signal is bounced to the guy next to the car and the car opens.

Because the car doesn't need a key inserted to be started and driven away the car is then gone in seconds without forced entry.

Afterwards, they can open the diagnostic port and with a gizmo that costs about $40, do pretty much everything they want.

Another increasingly popular trick is to wait in a car at the supermarket for someone to arrive nearby.

As they lock their door with the fob the thieves emit a scrambler signal. As most people lock their car walking away they don't notice the car hasn't actually locked.

The thieves then enter the unlocked car and disable the alarm etc., through the diagnostic port as mentioned before.
These sorts of thefts are making up well over half of all car thefts in mainland Europe now.

Usually, as you increase car security you cause the thieves to change tactic and they start to steal the cars when they are occupied.
This is in many ways worse of course and I for one would rather they came to my drive in the night than attacked me, my wife and kids.

But if the lock is linked to your face ID then this might help in both cases.
Certainly they won't be able to boost the fob signal and maybe they won't be able to unlock the phone (maybe they can still force you to unlock the car for them however. )
I expect there will be other layers of security to make it more difficult in the app

But otherwise, I don't know about you but when I go out I always carry house keys so carrying a fob with them makes no difference to me.

 

[incoherent_1]

I want this for all NFC locks, like building access. Not sure why they’re limiting it to cars.

 

[JosephAW]

Hey I just noticed that Apple has stopped nagging me to install iOS 13.3. I guess their campaign to bother us non-adopters is over for now.

 

[Marshall73]

Hopefully more secure than keyless entry which allows thieves to easily drive away with your car.

 

[Rainshadow]

My car already does this with my key fob. not sure why I need to get my phone out.

So you don’t have to find/carry a key fob? Duh. One less thing to keep track of. I’ve already automated my home doors, but I still have to carry my car keys. This would finally free me from all keys.

and the article Says you may not have to get your phone out. Read the article.

 

[_Steve_]

I'm just going by what was in this article.
"This would allow you to approach your vehicle, hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near an NFC reader in the vehicle, authenticate with Face ID, and have the vehicle unlock automatically".
This procedure is required every time you want to unlock the car...according to THIS article.
Obviously, it would be convenient if all you had to do was approach the car with your phone on your person.
That is not how it works...according to this article. I know I repeated that twice. Seems I have to.

Um, just being helpful here, I think you need to read this whole article as you seem to not understand the next sentence after what you quoted. Maybe you don’t use or understand “express mode” and Apple Pay for transit. It is a faster way to pay by choosing the card and authentication in advance, one time. Also, Apple Watch on authenticates once, when you put it on and if it senses your heartbeat/skin it doesn’t ask for re-authentication until it’s removed from the wrist and put back on so it’s easier/faster than faceID.
This is the sentence right after the one you quoted from this article:

“Similar to Apple Pay for transit, Express Mode would be an option, eliminating the need to authenticate.

To use CarKey, hold iPhone or Apple Watch to reader. It will work automatically, without requiring Face ID. You can change express mode settings in Wallet.”

This means, as it says in this article, “without” Face ID” which I’m not sure how to make clearer for you but it works without unlocking phone as long as phone/watch is Near enough (N in NFC stands for Near)

Also this article in the last few sentences mentions Apple working with the consortium on a standard to support making it very easy process:

“This would allow you to leave your iPhone in your pocket or backpack when accessing or starting your vehicle. Apple added Ultra Wideband support to its iPhone 11 lineup and promised it would lead to "amazing new capabilities." “

I’m excited to only need a watch and not carry clunky fobs, I think the future has to start somewhere and like Apple Pay at first not every place supported it but every day more and more people do. We stopped carrying buggy whips a long long time ago

 

[The Bobster]

Most America middle class families (target iPhone market) have more than one car. The value here is not carrying multiple keys around but one phone that works for all of your cars. Count me in. Less stuff to keep in my pockets.

 

[Alan Wynn]

I'm just going by what was in this article.
"This would allow you to approach your vehicle, hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near an NFC reader in the vehicle, authenticate with Face ID, and have the vehicle unlock automatically".

Followed by the next sentence:

To use CarKey, hold iPhone or Apple Watch to reader. It will work automatically, without requiring Face ID. You can change express mode settings in Wallet.

In addition, with the Apple Watch, one authenticates once and remains authenticated until one takes it off, so no need to do it more than once a day usually.

This would make life much easier for my boyfriend and me. Given how expensive key fobs are, we leave our spare at home and take only one of them. That means only one of us has keys to the car when we are out. With this, both of us would always have keys. It would also make it much easier to loan a friend our car, as we would not have to get him/her our keys.

This procedure is required every time you want to unlock the car...according to THIS article.

No it is not, “according to this article”.

Obviously, it would be convenient if all you had to do was approach the car with your phone on your person.

Glad you acknowledge obvious convenience.

That is not how it works...according to this article. I know I repeated that twice. Seems I have to.

Except, according to the article, you are incorrect.

 

[ds2000]

No way ANY factory nav is as good as using Waze.

I'd have agreed until I got my model 3 a month ago. Since then I've not missed waze or carplay. My parents Hyundai has a brilliant modern tomtom system built into it as well. Waze is great, but its spoken directions aren't always the best.

 

[D3xbot]

I've never understood appeal of CarPlay. I have it but prefer factory nav sys & Sirius XM radio. CarPlay is just a 2nd screen for iPhone.

My biggest pro for CarPlay is that factory nav in many vehicles:

a) costs money to update and map updates are only available at the dealer​

b) doesn't get real-time traffic info​

c) updates may be free but only come once a year and require you to turn your car on and idle for an hour while you load data onto a USB stick, then you can turn your car off, plug the USB stick into a computer, run Garmin Express, have it read the data and download maps for 2 hours, then plug the USB stick back into your car for another hour while you idle and waste gas just to get the stupid maps update (an actual experience I've had with Honda's Garmin maps)​

d) has less-accurate voice input than Siri (e.g. "Navigation. Saved Places. Home." 'navigating to work' - an actual exchange I've had with Honda voice controls)​

​

while on CarPlay:

a) map updates are usually free and download to your phone quickly​

b) mapping apps usually have real-time or near real-time traffic info​

c) Siri, as bad as it is sometimes, is actually pretty great at handling simple navigation commands​

​

(plus, you can use Waze and not violate hands-free laws or have to stick a thing to your windshield)

 

[4487549]

My car already does this with my key fob. not sure why I need to get my phone out.

1. You lock yourself out of your car
2. You go surfing, lock and unlock your car with your watch (instead of hiding a key or stuffing it in a sketchy wetsuit pocket)

Let's keep this list going...

 

[zorinlynx]

Wouldn’t it be nice not to need the fob?

If you read the article, with Bluetooth/UWB you won’t need to “dig for an app, hold the phone next to the door”.

I'm already carrying my keychain with my house keys, work keys, etc... carrying the fob really isn't any extra work.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I'm already carrying my keychain with my house keys, work keys, etc... carrying the fob really isn't any extra work.

Sounds like you’re not in the target market.

 

[Alan Wynn]

I'm already carrying my keychain with my house keys, work keys, etc... carrying the fob really isn't any extra work.

Funny, moved to HomeKit locks at home, and have a NFC card for my office at the Studio (I hope it will move to my Apple Watch soon). I use Apple Pay for almost all my purchases so do not need to carry credit cards much of the time. Waterparks, the beach, etc. make carrying my car keys a pain.

 

[Meglanon99]

"This would allow you to approach your vehicle, hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near an NFC reader in the vehicle, authenticate with Face ID, and have the vehicle unlock automatically". Wow! It's that easy? Why would anyone bother with pushing a single button on a fob?

Not sure when car companies started this, but with my 2017 car I never have to take the FOB out of my pocket. The car senses the fob and I'm able to open the door and push button start the car. When I leave the car, it will automatically lock. To your point, couldn't be easier!

 

[_Steve_]

Not sure when car companies started this, but with my 2017 car I never have to take the FOB out of my pocket. The car senses the fob and I'm able to open the door and push button start the car. When I leave the car, it will automatically lock. To your point, couldn't be easier!

My 2015 car also does this. Iit’s pretty nice to just push the button on the dash and leave the fob in my pocket, and when Apples CarKey is released I can leave the car fob at home next to my wallet! it couldn’t be easier! Ok I supposed I could leave my iPhone at home since I have an Apple Watch which has nfc/Bluetooth/WiFi/cellular so it couldn’t be easier than just a watch.....at least until the Apple Glass is released if/when that is a standalone product as I’d guess that might be reliant on the iPhone or watch at first. But hey if Apple starts entering the auto tech space then in future they just embed faceID into the self driving cameras on the side of the car and the car recognizes you without any key, fob, phone, watch or glasses! Then it couldn’t be easier. (until the faceID fails cause you are wearing a mask! Lol.