..It's a feature, but not all that useful. I/we don't typically sit around in our cars, at least not long enough to watch anything.
If someone wants to watch something, they usually have their own phone already.
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iOS 26's Biggest CarPlay Feature Was Quietly Hiding on Apple's Website
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..It's a feature, but not all that useful. I/we don't typically sit around in our cars, at least not long enough to watch anything.
If someone wants to watch something, they usually have their own phone already.
"Apple says that automakers need to add support for CarPlay with AirPlay video"
If automakers need to add support, how the hell does this work with aftermarket CarPlay head units? I'd assume it would just work because I'm the one installing it, not the car company.
And as this is CarPlay, why does any car company need to add support? It should have nothing to do with them, considering everything is being streamed from the phone.
If automakers need to add support, how the hell does this work with aftermarket CarPlay head units? I'd assume it would just work because I'm the one installing it, not the car company.
And as this is CarPlay, why does any car company need to add support? It should have nothing to do with them, considering everything is being streamed from the phone.
Is this a feature I'm too combustion engine to understand?
If there's ever some reason I'm sitting in my car while parked, my iPhone screen will do fine.
If there's ever some reason I'm sitting in my car while parked, my iPhone screen will do fine.
Did you read this? Why would it be a liability when the car is in Park?
Unfortunately another CarPlay feature that no one will adopt. The biggest CarPlay issue is adoption.
Apple recently announced that iPhone users will soon be able to watch videos right on the CarPlay screen in supported vehicles.
This is arguably the biggest new CarPlay feature coming with the iOS 26 update later this year, and yet Apple did not even mention it during its WWDC 2025 keynote last month. Instead, it was buried on Apple's developer website.
iPhone users will be able to wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to detect when the vehicle is in motion and end playback.
Apple says that automakers need to add support for CarPlay with AirPlay video, so it will likely take some time to roll out. It appears that the AirPlay functionality will be available for both regular CarPlay and the higher-end CarPlay Ultra, but it is unclear if it will be enabled in any existing vehicles, or if it will be limited to new vehicles.
From the CarPlay page on Apple's developer website:This feature would be especially beneficial in electric vehicles with CarPlay, as it would provide the driver and any passengers with entertainment while they are parked at a charging station. Some electric vehicles already offer this capability natively. Tesla, for example, has long offered a Theater app that can play videos from apps like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Twitch on the dashboard screen, while the vehicle is parked.
Apple has not shared any further details or images for AirPlay video in the car. Availability of the feature might vary by country based on safety regulations.
There were already some unapproved ways to watch videos through CarPlay, with various jailbreak tweaks and TestFlight beta apps promising to unlock such functionality. Now, it is something that Apple will officially allow.
Article Link: iOS 26's Biggest CarPlay Feature Was Quietly Hiding on Apple's Website
Yes, this is mostly for EV owners taking trips and end up sitting for 15-30 minutes while charging.
Because nobody really cares about this feature. Who the heck wants one screen for all passengers to view? Everyone carries their own screens. The screen in the car is generally ergonomically poor and everyone wants to watch their own content.
Waiting to pick someone up at the airport? Picking kids up from school/clubs/parties etc? Depending on your car it’s potentially a bigger screen and more comfortable to watch than either looking down at, balancing or holding a phone, especially if there’s two of you.
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And even if it were, what’s the point? Unless you’re a sad EV owner waiting for your golf cart to get charged, why bother about a feature that only works when the car is stationary?
While this is specific to CarPlay, other car technologies have facilitated this in the past. My 2009 BMW would allow playing a DVD on the navigation screen while the vehicle was in "park". I'm assuming a similar restriction will be used for CarPlay. While it does not seem that big a deal of a feature, the fact that it will be available at all is nice.
Hey kids! How about we all grab some popcorn and jump in the car parked in the driveway to watch the new movie on a 11" screen!
What is this actually for?
What is this actually for?
CarPlay could be the most important part of iOS ... only if someone will creare the right car around it.
Yup, us EV owners drive for 2+ hours and then sit in the car while charging and then drive for 2+ more hours and so on... we are uber-human and don't need bio breaks, move our legs, get a snack or drink...
/s
Yes, sometimes us EV owners do that. But also sometimes we don't. Obviously video playback is for those times when you just wanna sit in the car and watch some videos.
It's a common enough feature that every one of the four EVs I've had has had some form of video playback app. Having AirPlay support would be great since then I wouldn't be reliant on whatever came with the car.
People like Uber drivers do while they wait for their next fare.
Your car screen is larger and connected to your stereo which makes it nicer than your phone.
Should people be watching videos as they are driving??? The answer is no.
Apple recently announced that iPhone users will soon be able to watch videos right on the CarPlay screen in supported vehicles.
This is arguably the biggest new CarPlay feature coming with the iOS 26 update later this year, and yet Apple did not even mention it during its WWDC 2025 keynote last month. Instead, it was buried on Apple's developer website.
iPhone users will be able to wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to detect when the vehicle is in motion and end playback.
Apple says that automakers need to add support for CarPlay with AirPlay video, so it will likely take some time to roll out. It appears that the AirPlay functionality will be available for both regular CarPlay and the higher-end CarPlay Ultra, but it is unclear if it will be enabled in any existing vehicles, or if it will be limited to new vehicles.
From the CarPlay page on Apple's developer website:This feature would be especially beneficial in electric vehicles with CarPlay, as it would provide the driver and any passengers with entertainment while they are parked at a charging station. Some electric vehicles already offer this capability natively. Tesla, for example, has long offered a Theater app that can play videos from apps like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Twitch on the dashboard screen, while the vehicle is parked.
Apple has not shared any further details or images for AirPlay video in the car. Availability of the feature might vary by country based on safety regulations.
There were already some unapproved ways to watch videos through CarPlay, with various jailbreak tweaks and TestFlight beta apps promising to unlock such functionality. Now, it is something that Apple will officially allow.
Article Link: iOS 26's Biggest CarPlay Feature Was Quietly Hiding on Apple's Website
I would guess because it won't be available on all vehicles and depends on when Manufactures also implement the functionality.