What to Expect From CarPlay on iOS 18

[spazzcat]

I don't really want CarPlay to take over the whole car. I wish Apple would update their existing interfaces instead. Map apps seem to disallow any kind of interaction with them. I can't find a way for Apple Maps to display a list of upcoming directions. Messages are probably the most annoying since it forces you back into CarPlay just to display a dialog box that asks if you want to hear the message instead of just showing the message.

Podcasts don't want to show more than a dozen or so episodes. The Now Playing button is on the far right of the screen, far away from the driver.

You don't have to use CarPlay, but cars will have full digital interfaces, so you can use CarPlay or the automaker's interface.

 

[AppleTO]

Seems like not much more can be done based on the original CarPlay spec. It's kind of too bad considering on the amount of vehicles out there with it, but at least it will stay up-to-date with iOS.

It would be neat if they would add more features to the existing CarPlay whose vehicle's screens are a higher resolution than the typical 800x480. I know portrait screens already get a semi different UI.

 

[DoctorMesmer]

I’d settle for being able set my default CarPlay navigation app to Google Maps so that when I issue a voice navigation command, I don’t get Siri replying that it couldn’t find my destination.

 

[one more]

Any CarPlay improvements are welcome, but they need to be backward compatible, at least partially, so the existing CarPlay (V1) users can still benefit. With Google Auto being integrated in more and more cars, Apple really need to up their game, IMO.

 

[AppleTO]

Seems like Apple dropped the ball here. Android Automotive is already the native OS in a lot of vehicles. Ironically, most still support CarPlay.

 

[Mr_Ed]

• Voice Control: This feature will allow users to navigate CarPlay and control apps with just their voice.

Can someone clarify how this works? We can already use Siri (when it actually works right 🤣) to do things while driving. When I read “navigate”, it sounds like directing cursor or CarPlay focus via voice. If so, that sounds just as distracting/dangerous as reading a text message.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Can you put CarPlay on an iPad for old repairable cars?

I have one car with CarPlay and the other without. In the one without I use an air vent MagSafe mount and a Lightning to 3.5mm to plug in to the aux port.

I like the old car way just as well or better. Does all the same stuff with less lag, charging is optional, still only one cable to plug in. There's nowhere good to store the phone in the CarPlay car anyway. With the mount it keeps the phone out of the way and fully, legally usable. CarPlay can be buggy sometimes.

Actually, writing it all out, I vastly prefer the "old" way.

 

[SmokyT18]

Just give us the option to show the current temperature without having to ask Siri for it. Not all vehicles show that after CarPlay takes over the entire screen.

 

[Cheesehead Dave]

Can someone clarify how this works? We can already use Siri (when it actually works right 🤣) to do things while driving. When I read “navigate”, it sounds like directing cursor or CarPlay focus via voice. If so, that sounds just as distracting/dangerous as reading a text message.

That's probably exactly what it is. If you didn't have use of one arm, it'd be dangerous to take your hand off the wheel to use CarPlay, and even if you were stopped, it'd be a stretch (pun intended) to reach across your body with your left hand of you couldn't use your right. With this I could say "Open settings" "Scroll down" "Select display" "Select light mode", which you can't do with Siri commands.

 

[Cheesehead Dave]

Just give us the option to show the current temperature without having to ask Siri for it. Not all vehicles show that after CarPlay takes over the entire screen.

If I'm using an app to listen to a game, let it be able to display the score. I'm not looking for replays or detailed stats, just the score and maybe the inning/quarter/whatever in a large font that I can see at a glance.

 

[Razorpit]

Wouldn’t it be just incredible if you could send voice messages without that endless beeping and the inevitable “Something went wrong” obliterating your entire recording, despite having perfect signal?

And wouldn’t it be a miracle if we could actually listen to voice messages longer than 60 seconds? A truly revolutionary idea.

On a serious note I really want them to fix the above, and also give is the 'next gen' CarPlay UI for the version the rest of us actually use every day (and before any smartypants comments, obviously I know we can't get the instrument cluster stuff, I mean what we already have).

Add to it, not sending "NO" to whomever when Siri asks if you'd like to respond. 🙄 And while we're on the subject, why is there sometimes a button that says something to the effect of "Don't Reply" for some messages, and doesn't show that for others? I've noticed that button usually appears when Android phones are in the message group. That's a nice button to have. Saves a lot of grief. Have sent "NO" more than once to people who thought I was being an ass to them, but instead it was an inconvenient time to respond.

The other one I hate is when Siri gets on the kick to include the person's first name in every response.
Sender: "Would you like to meet up for drinks?"
Me: "Yes."
Siri: "Philip, yes"

Sender: "Where do you want to go?"
Me: "How about we meet at Joe's Bar?"
Siri: "Philip, how about we meet at Joe's Bar?"

Sender: "Ok, see you there in a little bit."
Siri: "Would you like to reply?"
Me: "No"
Siri: "Philip, no"

🤬

 

[Razorpit]

Oh and wasn't lyrics supposed to be a thing now for Apple Music? I remember reading about that some time ago but I don't have them. Something I need to turn on somewhere?

 

[brofkand]

The head units are also I think better suited to being left in hot cars than an iPad would. You can get a head unit for as little as $100 but the reviews for the cheapest ones are mixed (unreliable connections, less responsive). I spent $250 on this one and have been very happy with it. Within about 10-15 seconds of starting the car, it's connected to my phone wirelessly. Very bright, very responsive.

Yeah I think once summer comes and the iPad blows apart because the battery swelled in the hot car, they realize why a real head unit is a better idea.

 

[ignatius345]

If iOS 18 is (supposedly) going to focus heavily on AI, does that mean there'll be generative AI for CarPlay?

...which probably sounds weird, but I like to think it means Siri will give good responses to me asking for vague directions on Maps ("where's the nearest street taco place?") or for music ("I want a playlist that's just all meme songs").

An actually-smart Siri would make a HUGE difference in the car. I'd love to be able to say "find a good burger place along my route for around 1pm" and have that just happen.

 

[Mr_Ed]

That's probably exactly what it is. If you didn't have use of one arm, it'd be dangerous to take your hand off the wheel to use CarPlay, and even if you were stopped, it'd be a stretch (pun intended) to reach across your body with your left hand of you couldn't use your right. With this I could say "Open settings" "Scroll down" "Select display" "Select light mode", which you can't do with Siri commands.

Don’t get me wrong, I completely see the reason/utility in the use case you describe. I just think that the reasons for not displaying text messages (taking your eyes off the road, distraction level, etc.) lose some weight when this “navigate by voice” feature is also available.

Ideally, the user could have just asked Siri to “change the display to light mode” or something like that instead of navigating through menus. It is definitely true that Siri does not allow you to do much in controlling the device itself. This has been one of my complaints about Siri for a long time. I’ve said in other posts that if Apple put it on the device (native app, setting, capability), they should have made sure Siri could handle requests associated with it. Big fail on Apple’s part.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Responding to messages with Siri is downright dreadful. I really hope Apple puts some work into Regular Carplay, and doesn't put the onus on carmakers to adopt v2.

 

[alexandr]

Make it work with my HUD. The native GPS will show me navigation instructions in the heads-up display but if I use Apple Maps, it only shows on the main display. But I still use Apple Maps anyway because it's so much better than the built-in system. Still....would be nice.

Hm, what year/make? My  maps show up in the HUD.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Wouldn’t it be just incredible if you could send voice messages without that endless beeping and the inevitable “Something went wrong” obliterating your entire recording, despite having perfect signal?

I get absolutely INFURIATED when this happens

 

[Egregius]

I would already be happy if Carplay would work everytime I get in my car.

 

[quietstormSD]

My dream would be that Apple announces a partnership with Tesla to bring carplay there. But I know Elon wouldn't let it happen.

 

[markusfarkus]

Make it work with my HUD. The native GPS will show me navigation instructions in the heads-up display but if I use Apple Maps, it only shows on the main display. But I still use Apple Maps anyway because it's so much better than the built-in system. Still....would be nice.

That depends on the manufacturer. Our Volvo has added Apple Maps nav in the instrument panel and the HUD in the past year.

 

[markusfarkus]

It's taken way too long to add radio support. Looking forward to having that and climate controls so I don't have to switch back to the crappy Android system in our car.

 

[Razorpit]

It's taken way too long to add radio support. Looking forward to having that and climate controls so I don't have to switch back to the crappy Android system in our car.

I don't know if Apple would let themselves create an interface for something as "inferior" as a radio interface. 😉

 

[wbeasley]

CarPlay made sense when vehicle manufacturers made awful interfaces.

They've learned a lot since then and few are truly awful anymore.
Some are a bit rough. Some aren't always logical. Some bury settings away too deep in obscure places.

But overall most are now quite usable.

 

[bigheaddoug]

Not that I have a better idea, but I think the “Now Playing” screen could use a refresh. Half the time, most of the text gets cut off.