“If all you want to do is play music from your phone in the car, cheap and easy solutions abound, from a regular audio cable, to picking up a head unit with Bluetooth,” Susie Ochs reports for Macworld. “Fancy in-dash ‘infotainment’ systems promise more, combining music, navigation, and hands-free communication. But the few I’ve sampled have had clunky interfaces that made me go right back to performing those tasks with my phone—yes, I’m that jerk futzing with her phone at stoplights until you honk at me to go.”
“Apple’s CarPlay software is intended to bridge the chasm between your iPhone and your car stereo, letting you access Maps, Messages, Music, and more, including compatible third-party apps like Spotify, Beats Music, Rdio, and iHeartRadio. CarPlay has a lot going for it—all the data it needs is on your iPhone already, and the Siri integration can be a godsend, letting you reply to incoming texts without taking your eyes off the road. But in a few cases I found myself reaching for my iPhone when the touchscreen and Siri weren’t getting things done—just like I would have done before upgrading to CarPlay,” Ochs reports. “But navigation and hands-free communication work well, and it’s nice to have an Apple-designed interface on a car stereo. Since it’s so easy to update the software and apps on your phone, CarPlay should keep improving. It’s already better than other infotainment systems I’ve tried — and a lot safer than trying to use my phone while I drive.”
More details, screenshots, and video in the full article here.
Related articles:
Alpine Electronics in-dash receiver with Apple CarPlay now shipping – October 27, 2014
Pioneer releases Apple CarPlay for vehicle systems in US and Europe – October 2, 2014
First vehicle with Apple’s CarPlay hits the road in Ferrari FF – September 8, 2014
ABI Research: Over 24 million new cars to ship with Apple’s CarPlay in 2019 – July 10, 2014
Apple announces 9 new CarPlay partners – July 1, 2014
Audi to support Apple’s CarPlay along with Google’s ‘Android Auto’ – June 26, 2014
Apple adds MLB At Bat to list of CarPlay-supported apps – June 24, 2014
WWDC 2014: Sneaking a peek at Apple’s cool CarPlay – June 5, 2014
Pioneer demos aftermarket CarPlay systems set to debut in next few weeks – May 16, 2014
Apple CarPlay hands-on (with video) – April 17, 2014
Hyundai brings Apple CarPlay into the new 2015 Sonata – April 16, 2014
Pioneer delivers Apple CarPlay to your vehicle via NEX in-dash firmware update – April 15, 2014
Alpine to sell aftermarket console for Apple’s CarPlay infotainment system – April 14, 2014
Apple’s CarPlay looks like the future of in-car infotainment – April 13, 2014
Apple’s CarPlay is already starting to have impact – March 19, 2014
Toyota accidentally leaks CarPlay plans, says feature coming to 2015 models – March 13, 2014
Apple’s CarPlay is the best smartcar choice – March 12, 2014
Pioneer Electronics preps aftermarket Apple CarPlay compatibility – March 12, 2014
Apple’s CarPlay: Just how big a deal is it? – March 11, 2014
Automakers plan to offer aftermarket Apple CarPlay installations for older vehicles – March 10, 2014
Apple’s CarPlay and safety – March 7, 2014
Will Apple’s exclusion of Pandora hurt CarPlay? – March 7, 2014
Apple’s CarPlay will have a huge long-term payoff – March 7, 2014
Apple’s new CarPlay API allows developers to easily add CarPlay support to third-party apps – March 6, 2014
Why Apple’s CarPlay, Siri make AAA nervous – March 6, 2014
Despite no one yet having used it, Apple’s CarPlay draws safety criticism from some – March 5, 2014
No, Apple’s CarPlay does not ‘run BlackBerry’s QNX’ – March 5, 2014
Apple CarPlay uses BlackBerry’s QNX platform – March 4, 2014
Hands on with Apple’s CarPlay in a Ferrari FF; plus how Apple will push new third-party apps to the system – March 4, 2014
Apple’s ‘CarPlay’ set to take automotive industry by storm – March 4, 2014
Apple’s new CarPlay system will turn tens of millions of cars into iPhone accessories – March 3, 2014
Apple rolls out CarPlay giving drivers a smarter, safer and more fun way to use iPhone in the car – March 3, 2014
want.
I am contemplating swapping out the non-CarPlay Harman Kardon navigation unit that comes with the new 2015 Subaru Forester when I pick it up this Friday and heading immediately over to have the top of the line Pioneer AVIC-8000NEX unit installed that does CarPlay.
Any reason I shouldn’t?
Does anyone know if Carplay will be upgradeable later?
Depends what you mean by upgradable. As she says it upgraded the software as on the phone. No doubt it will do so as long as the hardware can handle it which should be again pretty comparable to other Apple products. Only question I guess is the technology in the player itself but as the phone is doing most of the heavy work one would hope it is pretty future proof though there may be done limits eventually with certain new functionality that may be introduce in CarPlay as with older iPads and phones for example.
Ah good point so the software for CarPlay comes from the iPhone? That’s good news. Hadn’t read that carefully. Thanks! Full speed ahead for CarPlay!
Check out the Alpine offering as well:
http://9to5mac.com/2014/10/27/alpine-carplay-display-ilx-007/
If you are going to use CarPlay for everything, just get the 4000NEX since most of the functionality of the more expensive models is just duplicated by CarPlay. The 4000 also has the same size screen of the more expensive 8000.
Actually the 8000NEX is supposed to have a superior touch screen. Plus it’s 7″ and not 6.2″.
I’d love to use CarPlay in my Tesla. The Tesla is unfortunately Google centric. Probably because Elon is such a buddy with Google founders.
Right now my plan is to attach an iPad air 2 on top of half of the huge Tesla screen and then use Apple maps and Siri for everything. BUT would love CarPlay to startup on my iPad. Anyone know if that can be done?
That would be interesting wouldn’t it, certainly offers a cheap way for CarPlay to be introduced into cars especially as an after sale option. Have seen iPads built into dashes before CarPlay was ever announced so this would be an interesting option.
It would be extremely lame for the Elon Musketeer to ignore Apple technology especially since he actually has more in common with Apple than Google. And Google ethos and ethics are low class gutter trash.
I doubt you can have CarPlay start up on your iPad, because CarPlay is integrated into the car’s software system. CarPlay is mostly hooks for your iPhone to connect with and display in a limited manner certain apps. There is no CarPlay app for the iPhone.
I’ve been trying to read as much as possible about swapping out my in-dash MS SUCK system in my Ford Cmax. There are a few things that are stopping me from running out and doing that today …
1) I listen to Sirius a lot while I’m driving. I think the Sirius unit is separate from the MS SUCK system. If it is, I need to know if a Pioneer CarPlay system will integrate with the current Sirius unit? Or if I need a completely new Sirius unit to connect to the Pioneer CarPlay unit?
2) Will my installed backup camera work with a Pioneer CarPlay unit?
3) Does someone make an Apple CarPlay badge to replace the POS MS SUCK badge that’s currently stuck on my dashboard?
MS STYNC is dragging down Fords’ car ratings. Look for Ford to stem the bleeding soon.
If you know someone with a cnc machine (who will take cash to avoid copyright considerations :D), they could run you up a nice little Apple Logo badge…ahem…it’s quite easy. If you make a mold of the badge you want to cover, they can form the base to cover exactly the original…ahem…it avoids covering trim which fades and thus would show when you remove it.
You could also produce a basic version with a 3D printer.
Ahem!…all purely hypothetical of course.
So CarPlay only works with native apps? Well, that sucks
CarPlay itself is basically an App! It is driven by an iPhone on the hardware of the car + the hardware of the iPhone. It IS an Apple App.
You were maybe expecting an Apple App to…..what?…..use Google Apps?
Moron!!!
Hey Paul. Go fuck yourself. Bitch.
I’m glad I didn’t buy a car running MS SUCK.
Honestly, all I really need in my car is interchangeable Bluetooth or lightning wired connection, which I already have, but would love if the useless button on my steering wheel could activate Siri, and all the scren needs to be is an AirPlay mirror of the iPhone screen. It doesn’t need its own interface if you have Siri. Siri alone is already a good enough interface. Don’t make this too over complicated or add junk that doesn’t provide a seamless experience or more than a driver would need. Otherwise it’s just going to be a distraction on the road