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iOS 18 Adds These 5 New Features to CarPlay

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Apple did not mention CarPlay during its WWDC keynote this week, but iOS 18 includes a handful of new features for the in-car software.

iOS-18-CarPlay-Feature.jpg

Overall, there is not a whole lot new for CarPlay on iOS 18, with changes seemingly limited to the Messages and Settings apps so far.

Below, we recap everything new for CarPlay on iOS 18.

New for CarPlay on iOS 18

1. Contact Photos in Messages App

iOS 18 adds contact photos next to names in the Messages app, making it easier to identify conversations at a glance.

iOS-18-CarPlay-1.jpeg

The contact photos are also visible in Messages app notifications.

iOS-18-CarPlay-4.jpeg

2. Silent Mode Settings

In the Settings app, you can now choose to have Silent mode on your iPhone automatically turn on or off when the device is connected to CarPlay.

iOS-18-CarPlay-5.jpeg

3. Color Filters

Apple has expanded Color Filters to CarPlay. This accessibility feature can help individuals with color blindness to differentiate colors on the CarPlay interface.

iOS-18-CarPlay-3.jpeg

There is a grayscale option and three other color filters available to choose from.

iOS-18-CarPlay-2.jpeg

4. Voice Control

Voice Control is another new accessibility feature that allows you to control CarPlay entirely with Siri voice commands through a connected iPhone.

iOS-18-CarPlay-7.jpeg

5. Sound Recognition

Sound Recognition is expanding to CarPlay to provide notifications for driving-related sounds, such as car horns and sirens. This feature can be especially beneficial to drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

CarPlay-Sound-Recognition.jpg

We did not see Sound Recognition in the CarPlay settings on iOS 18 beta 1.

Update — June 14: Sports Score Card via Siri

We found another feature after publishing: if you ask Siri for a sports score, it will now show a card on the CarPlay interface. This works for the NBA and NHL at a minimum.

CarPlay-iOS-18-Sports-Siri.jpeg

Next-Generation CarPlay

Apple shared some updated next-generation CarPlay images during WWDC 2024, revealing new Vehicle, Media, and Climate apps on the screen for the first time.

Next-generation CarPlay will be highly customizable, allowing automakers to tailor the design of the system to uniquely match their vehicles. Apple revealed a variety of different design options and layouts that will be available to automakers.

Next-Generation-CarPlay-Design-WWDC-2024-2.jpeg

Automakers will be able to show custom notifications on next-generation CarPlay.

Next-Generation-CarPlay-WWDC-2024-Charging.jpg

Apple's website continues to say that the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay will arrive in 2024, but it has yet to provide a more specific timeframe, and it did not provide any timing-related updates in its WWDC coding sessions. Aston Martin and Porsche previewed next-generation CarPlay vehicle designs late last year.

Article Link: iOS 18 Adds These 5 New Features to CarPlay
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/06/13/ios-18-carplay-features/
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For phone calls its infuriating that you can't switch to the phone while on CarPlay. Only speakerphone or car speakers. You have to disconnect CarPlay to do that which is so dumb.

I wish there was a charge only option since CarPlay heats up the phone a ton and actually causes battery drain. Especially when using wireless CarPlay.
 
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I really hope manufacturers take to this...But I feel deep down that they don't want Apple to monopolize their cars, and will be hesitant.
 
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DotCom2 said:
Toyota is the most stubborn of all!
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My 2023 Corolla seems to work reasonably well, including with Wifi. Its not like other companies who are either charging or removing it entirely.

I just want to be able to tell Siri to replace a specific word in a sentence over text. What happens now is 3-4 times of having to re-say the entire sentence because it keeps changing the wrong word.
 
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ifxf said:
Have they fixed car play taking over the entertainment system if you browse to a website that has sound?
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Well in theory you wouldnt be browsing while driving as you shouldnt be using the phone while driving? ;)

To be honest this happens any time the phone goes to play audio as it sees the CarPlay connection much the same as having a connection to earphones or an external speaker when if you were browsing the web etc while listening to music it would do the same. For things like Twitter and Facebook you can turn off autoplaying of videos and it fixes it but not sure there is an option to do that in safari.
 
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alexandr said:
Came here to say just that. They solved this 'issue' on iOS ages ago. But not here...
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I suppose part of the thinking is that you ideally want nice big buttons you can see to press when driving not fiddle about hitting a much smaller banner to answer\reject. That said it would be handy if once answered it went back to where you were before or possibly the summary screen that shows map, directions and either phone controls or music info.
 
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I wish it had the ability to choose the Garage door it shows in Carplay as a Siri suggestion instead of it guessing. I have 2 garage doors, and it's a fun random option to which door it actually opens. Really irritating.
 
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FSMBP said:
I really hope manufacturers take to this...But I feel deep down that they don't want Apple to monopolize their cars, and will be hesitant.
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I'm on the fence about it. I don't want auto manufacturers to get more lazy about their interfaces/features and just depend on Apple/Google. Then 10+ years later we then have a bunch of vehicles that are now worthless because you need a compatible phone to access a feature. Auto makers are better off going with an open OS for their infotainment system like many have already.

Many vehicles were already affected by carriers retiring 2G/3G services and Apple going from 30 pin to lightning to USB-C.
 
bransoj said:
I suppose part of the thinking is that you ideally want nice big buttons you can see to press when driving not fiddle about hitting a much smaller banner to answer\reject. That said it would be handy if once answered it went back to where you were before or possibly the summary screen that shows map, directions and either phone controls or music info.
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Yes and yes. However, I usually answer from my steering wheel anyway, but sometimes I do click on the screen. Listen, I didn't say it has to be identical to iOS — it can be a HUGE banner that appears in the middle of the screen with enormous buttons, but as you said — goes away once the call is answered. Instead I'm looking at a black screen with the phone call timer, thanks! And btw the button that I have to press in order to go back to the general display — is tiny AF, so they had no issue doing that in that instance :)
 
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Wasn't mentioned but now when you ask siri to remind you to do something, which I do countless times in the car, when it does it, it now shows the todo in the center of your screen, overlaying maps and everything. Hopefully they refine that, otherwise make sure not to ask to add a todo while your approaching a turn or anything where you will need to see the carplay screen since it lasts several seconds before it goes away.
 
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macduke said:
I’m 100% convinced @Joe Rossignol only wrote this article to flex that they have John Gruber’s contact info.
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I was about to make a joke about that, too, so I’m glad someone beat me to the punch.

That said, I haven’t read Daring Fireball in years. Gruber was terminally online before it was a cool thing, and he was super tribalistic about politics even back in the early 2010s. I can only imagine how much more insufferable he’s gotten with how insufferable and tribalistic politics has become in the meanwhile. And, objectively speaking, Apple is probably less interesting than it had been (on account of their product categories generally being pretty mature, with the obvious exception of Vision Pro), making Gruber’s Apple comments less interesting as a result.
 
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Siri stopped playing playlists around 17.4b4 - CarPlay and on the phone.
"It looks like Apple Music can't play that."
iOS18b1 - Hey Siri via watch will play playlists, but launches the Music App on the watch 👎
iOS18 b2 - Hey Siri will again play playlists on the phone, but not in CarPlay
Using the voice activation button on steering wheel will not play playlists in CarPlay
 
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grobik said:
TIL deaf people can drive. Huh.
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It probably depends on local laws, but the only issue I can really think of would be hearing emergency sirens (and that’s what the lights are for) and horns.
 
Good for the accessibility settings.

I don't understand the sound recognition though. If the phone can hear something that the driver can't, seems like the driver is not qualified to drive safely.

Someone tell me what I'm missing?
 
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kc9hzn said:
It probably depends on local laws, but the only issue I can really think of would be hearing emergency sirens (and that’s what the lights are for) and horns.
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Everywhere I'm aware of, it's illegal to drive with your ears plugged by headphones. Seems to be the same thing.

Driving is 90% visual, but I'm thinking I would definitely notice if I couldn't hear anything while driving.

Horns and sirens alone are enough reason, those two things are there to warn of potential danger.
 
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