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The MacRumors Show: AppleCare One Announced and Automakers Snub CarPlay Ultra

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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through this week's announcement of AppleCare One and automakers' opting out of CarPlay Ultra.



AppleCare One is Apple's new subscription for customers to cover multiple devices with a single plan. It starts at $19.99 per month for up to three products, with the ability to add more for $5.99 per month for each additional device. The plan incudes all of the benefits that come with AppleCare+, such as unlimited repairs for accidents, priority support, battery coverage, and more.

Subscribers can freely move their devices in and out of the plan at any time. AppleCare One also enables users to add products they already own that are up to four years old, providing they are in good condition, extending beyond the current 60-day window to purchase AppleCare+. When a customer trades in a covered product with Apple, it is automatically removed from their AppleCare One plan and replaced with the new device.

AppleCare One also expands theft and loss protection to the iPad and Apple Watch. Previously, it was only available for the iPhone.

AppleCare One's pricing is the same regardless of the products that are covered. Apple says that a customer who enrolls their iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch could save up to $11 per month versus enrolling in separate AppleCare+ plans for each device.

Customers in the United States can now sign up for AppleCare One on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or by visiting an Apple Store.

We also discuss the news that automakers including BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, Polestar, Renault, and General Motors will not support CarPlay Ultra. It seems to be a major retreat from Apple's 2022 announcement, which originally named 14 automakers as future CarPlay Ultra partners.

CarPlay Ultra goes far beyond traditional CarPlay by taking control of the entire dashboard experience. The system displays vehicle information like temperature, speed, and fuel levels alongside iPhone apps, creating what Apple calls "a unified and consistent experience across all the driver's screens."

Currently, only Aston Martin offers CarPlay Ultra in production vehicles. Hyundai and its Kia and Genesis cars remain committed partners, while Porsche plans future support. Other originally announced brands like Ford and Nissan have provided no updates on their CarPlay Ultra plans.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

​


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about all of the latest rumors about Apple's first foldable iPhone amid a multitude of reports about the device and its launch firming up for next year.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards,... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: AppleCare One Announced and Automakers Snub CarPlay Ultra
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/07/25/the-macrumors-show-applecare-one-announced/
Last edited:
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So they just need to trim down Ultra to where it's going to be used by these companies. If for some reason they won't or can't do this, and soon.......
 
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Radeon85 said:
Automakers can shove their cars where the sun doesn't shine. No CarPlay of any kind, no sale.
Click to expand...
I imagine they'll still support standard CarPlay. I can't blame them for not wanting the headache of additional integration into the vehicle; integration of CarPlay is already enough of a testing workload. Source: used to work with infotainment groups at a major OEM.
 
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HomePod Mini is a very strange device to buy AC+ for, I never would have thought it needed that. I have 4 of them and there's no way I'm spending basically the cost of 2 more per year to cover them all.

AppleCare One might make sense for me, I'd need to check what it costs to add AC+ to my MBP, iPhone 15 Pro, and Watch Series 8. Ideally, I'd have something more valuable than the AW to add to my 3 devices, but I don't know if my APP2 are worth adding to it.
 
The concept is dead for all practical purposes. Apple is too late and the more flexible Google Built-In platform has been adopted by many mfg. already.

Car makers have moved on and want their own UI in the car they control and can make money off of.

Many may still support the current CarPlay for the time being but mainly for basic com and music functions... that's about it.
 
ifxf said:
It is a solution in search of a problem.
Click to expand...
It's Apple's solution born of the $10B spent for the Apple Car cancelled project. Apple is trying to recover those costs.

I'll tell you why there are few or no takers (IMHO).

No OEM wants Apple to any other company to be the face or interface of their brand inside the car or anywhere.

That's why CarPlay is being dropped left and right and that's why CarPlay2 is DOA.

Plus, OEMs are already spending money to create the dashboard and infotainment screens and don't want to pay a license fee on every car to support a feature only some iPhone users will use.
 
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CarPlay Ultra is a neat concept, but I understand why automakers might be reluctant on implementing the full dash display. Too much liability and it cuts into the automaker design. I’m fine with standard CarPlay how it is functioning on my infotainment screen.
 
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I added my iPhone, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and Apple Watch Ultra to AppleCare One. The math worked out to be $12 more per year for the four devices on AC One then what I was already paying so I did it.
 
SemperMac said:
Well, it's very simple ... I will (as probably many other iPhone / Apple users) just have to choose between the cars that (continue to) offer Apple CarPlay Ultra and forget about the others.
Click to expand...

Car manufacturers do not seem to be too concerned about that decision or yours.

I will forget about the cars that offer CarPlay Ultra. As Apple is loath to fix the numerous bugs in their various OS, I damn sure do not want Apple CU integrated deeply into the car dashboard system or anywhere else in my car. Suppose an Apple update to CU follows the same standards as their updates to iOS. In that case, I can expect my car battery to overheat, the fuel gauge to be inaccurate, and advertisements for Apple products to be displayed on the screen. I certainly do not want to pop open the bonnet and disconnect the car battery to reboot CarPlay Ultra. No thank you.
 
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MacRumors said:


On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through this week's announcement of AppleCare One and automakers' opting out of CarPlay Ultra.



AppleCare One is Apple's new subscription for customers to cover multiple devices with a single plan. It starts at $19.99 per month for up to three products, with the ability to add more for $5.99 per month for each additional device. The plan incudes all of the benefits that come with AppleCare+, such as unlimited repairs for accidents, priority support, battery coverage, and more.

Subscribers can freely move their devices in and out of the plan at any time. AppleCare One also enables users to add products they already own that are up to four years old, providing they are in good condition, extending beyond the current 60-day window to purchase AppleCare+. When a customer trades in a covered product with Apple, it is automatically removed from their AppleCare One plan and replaced with the new device.

AppleCare One also expands theft and loss protection to the iPad and Apple Watch. Previously, it was only available for the iPhone.

AppleCare One's pricing is the same regardless of the products that are covered. Apple says that a customer who enrolls their iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch could save up to $11 per month versus enrolling in separate AppleCare+ plans for each device.

Customers in the United States can now sign up for AppleCare One on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or by visiting an Apple Store.

We also discuss the news that automakers including BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo, Polestar, Renault, and General Motors will not support CarPlay Ultra. It seems to be a major retreat from Apple's 2022 announcement, which originally named 14 automakers as future CarPlay Ultra partners.

CarPlay Ultra goes far beyond traditional CarPlay by taking control of the entire dashboard experience. The system displays vehicle information like temperature, speed, and fuel levels alongside iPhone apps, creating what Apple calls "a unified and consistent experience across all the driver's screens."

Currently, only Aston Martin offers CarPlay Ultra in production vehicles. Hyundai and its Kia and Genesis cars remain committed partners, while Porsche plans future support. Other originally announced brands like Ford and Nissan have provided no updates on their CarPlay Ultra plans.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

​


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about all of the latest rumors about Apple's first foldable iPhone amid a multitude of reports about the device and its launch firming up for next year.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards,... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: AppleCare One Announced and Automakers Snub CarPlay Ultra
Click to expand...
Great show as always! Looking forward to seeing Dan’s Aston Martin and fully expect Hartley to drop his iPhone-showing-its-age right on his Mac and destroying both! But at least the French profanity will be properly enunciated!

Diggin’ public beta 1 and only seeing a few things on the iPad to rectify. Backup phone runs pretty warm… wish it were winter. But feels stable otherwise.

Take care!

Bill…
 
So what sucks about AppleCare changes is that the price of basic annual AppleCare went up for some devices (Apple Watch now $50 instead of $40). I prefer the lump-some amount for 2 years of AppleCare+. I don’t like subscriptions and I am far less likely to buy AppleCare now.

But this is just another attempt for Apple to monetize what they have already sold rather than make products and features that strongly incentivize upgrading.

I love Apple historically and their products are still the best available on several fronts but they seem to be lagging more and more and spending more time on building moats around their existing stuff.

What I want to see from Apple:
- a functional Siri that does not make people roll their eyes (been waiting since iPhone 4s)
- a music app that make recommendations and automated radio stations around a group of songs better than Pandora from 12 years ago or Spotify today
- a HomePod with an intercom feature that let’s you talk 2 ways instead of just crossing your fingers and hoping the person upstairs heard what you said.
- an iPad Air with a Touch ID button that works as well or better than an iPhone 5s
- an Apple Watch with a working SpO2 function in the USA (license the stupid patent for 3 years until it expires and eat the cost for your customers)
- a photos app with a design that prioritizes function over form

I am sure there is more. Just so many missteps recently that the list was longer than I expected as I started typing.

Right now I plan to hold on to my iPhone 14 Pro Max and Apple Watch Series 9 and iPad Air M1 until they wear out and maybe by then there will be features and devices worth the upgrade money. Most exciting iPhone rumors I have heard recently is a Pro 8x zoom telephoto lens — I would use that daily.
 
Quicksilver867 said:
I imagine they'll still support standard CarPlay. I can't blame them for not wanting the headache of additional integration into the vehicle; integration of CarPlay is already enough of a testing workload. Source: used to work with infotainment groups at a major OEM.
Click to expand...
There are still quite a few car manufacturers who do not want me to buy their cars.

I mostly drive my 1993 car, it’s either that, or if I drive a new car, one with CarPlay, not to speak of Mrs. doolar.

A new car without CarPlay is not entering my fleet, I won’t even accept a rental without unless it’s the last car on the lot.

I bet I’m not alone. 😊
 
doolar said:
There are still quite a few car manufacturers who do not want me to buy their cars.

I mostly drive my 1993 car, it’s either that, or if I drive a new car, one with CarPlay, not to speak of Mrs. doolar.

A new car without CarPlay is not entering my fleet, I won’t even accept a rental without unless it’s the last car on the lot.

I bet I’m not alone. 😊
Click to expand...

I suspect you are more alone about this matter than you realise. Apple users tend to believe the entire planet thinks the way they do. It simply is not the case. From the actions of the automobile manufacturers, it seems they are not concerned about how long you drive a 1993 automobile, or whether they add CarPlay Ultra to their vehicles.

Apple has gone a step too far with CarPlay; the manufacturers do not like that. The one vehicle it presently is in is from a company that is financially in trouble, and the car it is in is out of the price range of most consumers. We will see if CarPlay Ultra saves Aston Martin.
 
FatLouie said:
I suspect you are more alone about this matter than you realise. Apple users tend to believe the entire planet thinks the way they do. It simply is not the case. From the actions of the automobile manufacturers, it seems they are not concerned about how long you drive a 1993 automobile, or whether they add CarPlay Ultra to their vehicles.

Apple has gone a step too far with CarPlay; the manufacturers do not like that. The one vehicle it presently is in is from a company that is financially in trouble, and the car it is in is out of the price range of most consumers. We will see if CarPlay Ultra saves Aston Martin.
Click to expand...
AM's problems are much more fundamental than including vs. not including a feature like CarPlay Ultra. I suspect history will repeat itself, and they'll find (yet) another new owner before too long.
 
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FatLouie said:
I suspect you are more alone about this matter than you realise. Apple users tend to believe the entire planet thinks the way they do. It simply is not the case. From the actions of the automobile manufacturers, it seems they are not concerned about how long you drive a 1993 automobile, or whether they add CarPlay Ultra to their vehicles.

Apple has gone a step too far with CarPlay; the manufacturers do not like that. The one vehicle it presently is in is from a company that is financially in trouble, and the car it is in is out of the price range of most consumers. We will see if CarPlay Ultra saves Aston Martin.
Click to expand...
There's always a billionaire somewhere willing to become a millionaire with Aston Martin. 😊

I was not referring to CarPlay Ultra in my post, just CarPlay just for reference.

And I'm actually not in some belief that the entire planet think like me (I thought about including Android Auto too in my post, but it's really not relevant if you read my post for what it was and not interpret something else into it).

CP and AA is updated on your phone, completely standalone from the car. It can theoretically be updated forever. Most likely way longer than the car manufacturer will keep it updated (for free non the less). Both AA and CP are very easy to use, and is the same on all vehicles.

How this can be thought of as negative for the consumer by anyone but the car manufacturers are beyond me.

And frankly I don't care what the car manufacturers like or not. The consumers experience and want should always come first, if they want to continue selling cars in the long run. And in every single car of any make or model I've driven with CP and AA, there's always an option to just not use it and use the in build system instead, so it is entirely up to the manufacturer to make a better system and let it compete.
 
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