iOS 26.4's New CarPlay Video Feature Shown in Action

[Morgon]

I hope this means they're fixing the lag with Wireless CarPlay. Casting audio to it (e.g. PlexAmp) results in at least 1 full second delay when using play/pause, skipping tracks; watching any video on the screen (while parked, of course) is unusable if the audio is through wCP.

(Though I guess on the other hand, maybe it'll look synced if they're both streamed)

 

[icwhatudidthere]

So, essentially forget about this feature being implemented in any vehicle older than a year. No auto-maker is gonna roll this out for anything but their brand new models.

Yeah, much ado about something people won't see for years, if ever.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Apple's website indicates that automakers will need to implement support for the CarPlay video functionality, due to the safety requirement that the vehicle be parked, so it may take some time for the feature to widely roll out.

Ah, so I will never see this functionality in my existing car. Cool.

 

[Kottu]

My car could only play videos from a USB drive when it was stationary. I used the Carly app to code it so videos can play while driving. I enabled it mainly for when my wife is traveling with me. I normally listen to youtube through carplay or Airpods while driving.

 

[Tagbert]

Great. One more reason for people to not pay attention to their driving. Thanks, Apple. Way to follow the herd instead of innovating, as has been the trend for years, now. Apple glasses would make this SO much better. 😐😐 That is sarcasm.

Did you see the part of the article where it states that this only works when the car isn't moving? You have to be parked. Either waiting , charging, or whatever, but not driving.

 

[k1121j]

Guess Apple saw all the other companies making money off that by selling third party devices...

 

[maruyama]

I’m curious about these. I have a wireless CarPlay adapter (I’ve tried 3-4 and finally found one that’s reliable; the first several
from Carlinkit were quite flaky but the latest one from Ottocast is solid) that I like, but if another one did this sort of thing and was reliable I’d consider it.

Anyone have one they could recommend?

I was a late adopter and got lucky, my first one was a CarPlayKits and it's been super reliable. I'd be torn with one that supported video; I'm not sure I'd want to spin the reliability wheel just to occasionally watch a video while parked.

 

[Böhme417]

The funniest thing about this is that several years ago, you could literally stick a DVD in some cars and watch movies or shows that way. Don’t you just love this regressive progress?

 

[TehFalcon]

I have a sneaking suspicion that wireless CarPlay dongles will have firmware updates to support this since they are a man-in-the-middle device they can support the feature even if the car manufacture doesn't.

 

[ke-iron]

Why would this be needed? CarPlay already knows when you’re moving, for example you can only use the keyboard when you’re stationary

Well, read yesterdays MR article

CarPlay can do this already, not sure how but it can

I can confirm my CarPlay definitely knows when my car is moving. The keyboard is not available, even if creeping at 1 MPH!

 

[Rogifan]

Will this get rolled out to after market systems like Kenwood?

 

[Truckondo]

What sucks is that 99% of the automakers won’t bother to update the already released infotainment units on sold vehicles. Could come in handy if you are in your car waiting at the airport to pick someone up.

 

[Jamie0003]

I can confirm my CarPlay definitely knows when my car is moving. The keyboard is not available, even if creeping at 1 MPH!

Yup!

 

[Eminemdrdre00]

What sucks is that 99% of the automakers won’t bother to update the already released infotainment units on sold vehicles. Could come in handy if you are in your car waiting at the airport to pick someone up.

They probably won't need to. That requirement seems to be based on assumption. As others have pointed out, CarPlay can already tell if you're moving from the sensors on your iPhone. Apple will likely use that to allow CarPlay Video.

 

[riverguide]

or you can watch on the much superior screen of the phone itself...

or on the much much superior screen of the AVP? 😊

 

[GimmeDatApple]

Might be the only reason to upgrade to iOS 26. My Kia has a color screen and a AV button but there’s no video options anywhere even if I plug in a USB stick with a MP4 it refuses to play it. 🙄 📺

A lot of times these infotainment systems have very specific parameters for video playback. Can't be over a certain resolution or audio/video codec bitrate. I have a special preset in HandBrake for converting videos to play on the MMI in my cars.

 

[riverguide]

My car has a huge screen and Dolby Atmos audio. Not even close.

For now. But windshields will also function as projection screens some day. I bet Apple has experimented with it as part of its car venture and filed a patent. I predict, the Apple CarDisplay will be announced on January 24, 2029. It will have a 240Hz refresh rate.

 

[Rychiar]

or on the much much superior screen of the AVP? 😊

Well that might prove dangerous but any other time lol

 

[normwood]

or you can watch on the much superior screen of the phone itself...

I believe you missed the point. Minivan full of kids are going to watch a movie on a single iPhone?

 

[riverguide]

What about cars like mine that had Car Toys add CarPlay to my car? Will I get Apple TV movies as well when I am parked?

Yes, of course. But there is a caveat: Scenes with moving cars will be just still photos. So, if you have not seen it yet, you may want to watch F1 The Movie at home.

 

[Radeon85]

or you can watch on the much superior screen of the phone itself...

Because I can watch it on a bigger screen with proper speakers and a subwoofer vs a phone screen and tinny speakers compared to the ones in my car (17 PM).

Not even a close comparison.

 

[gbc204]

So, essentially forget about this feature being implemented in any vehicle older than a year. No auto-maker is gonna roll this out for anything but their brand new models.

I don't think that's necessarily true. My 5-year old car got wireless CarPlay last year, which was a pretty significant upgrade. I didn't even know it happened until i turned on the car one day, took a little too long fumbling with the USB cord to plug in my phone, and CarPlay just turned on.

 

[gbc204]

This functionality already exists. It's why you can't use a keyboard in Maps while you're in any other gear besides Park, even as a passenger.

Yeah, I feel like they're erring way too much on the side of caution. Though recently when my passenger tried to use Maps, CarPlay displayed a warning that said only the passenger should be using the keyboard and FINALLY let Maps be used while driving.

 

[gbc204]

Great. One more reason for people to not pay attention to their driving. Thanks, Apple. Way to follow the herd instead of innovating, as has been the trend for years, now. Apple glasses would make this SO much better. 😐😐 That is sarcasm.

You can't use it while driving.

 

[xDeadTechx]

So, essentially forget about this feature being implemented in any vehicle older than a year. No auto-maker is gonna roll this out for anything but their brand new models.

plus, most auto makers are pushing their own infotainment options since the majority of them are powered by android automative they have the regular suite of apps (YouTube etc..) I know with Ford you need to purchase the connectivity package to use those features.. so I can predict the automakers dragging their feet on this update which communicates the gear position to the infotainment system/phone